RIGHT TO THE CHIN

Why the Red Sox will win this series.

(July 24, 2004: Alex Rodriguez about to be disciplined by Jason Varitek)

The Red Sox will win this series because they are a better team, playing better baseball, with better things to do than worry about a fictitious "curse." There is no curse. As a native New Englander and lifelong fan of the Red Sox, I can hereby testify that the team has beaten itself in each of its last few postseason experiences, whether through bad managing, sloppy play or letting themselves get psyched out.

The 2004 Red Sox were shaky early on this season, but have turned it up a notch over the last two months and have team much deeper than that of the Yankees. The Red Sox have two or three "lines"--a la hockey--where they can change the whole look of their team and keep the opponent off balance. The Red Sox have NEVER had a team this deep, and that includes last year, which was the deepest Sox team up until that point in history.

The KEY reason the Red Sox will win is Nomar Garciaparra. Because he's no longer with the team. Besides being banged up and not 100% in the field, his lackadaiscal and panicked attitude was the last holdover from the "we can't quite do it" Red Sox. Ok, except for Derek Lowe. But even Lowe struck out Terrence Long looking to beat Oakland in last year's division series. Nomar struggled throughout the entire postseason, often looking lost at the plate. Orlando Cabrera is a great shortstop, and in a 7-game series, defense and pitching are most important. The Red Sox have the advantage there, as well as the better lineup. Bill Mueller, last year's A.L. batting champ, regularly hits EIGHTH for this team.

Despite a shaky roster of players--especially in the pitching department--the Yankees are team that people (including their megalomaniacal owner) still expect to win. The Red Sox are the team that people WANT to win. The pressure is on the Yankees.

Don't be surprised if Boston sweeps. Yep. I said it. Sweeps.

Oh yeah...Click below to see my updated softball stats. We're rained out today. Can I stop by somebody's house to watch the game?

Games: 10

At-Bats: 34
Hits: 17
Doubles: 3
Triples: 2
Home Runs: 0
Runs: 7
RBI's: 16
Strikeouts: 1
Walks: 2
AVG: .500
OBP: .528