August 14, 200818 yr They do have the best manager in baseball period. With steroids out of the game and managers actually having to manage now that no one is hitting 70+ home runs it has finally become fun watching again.
August 14, 200818 yr No one in the NL is, Cubs included.... C-Soto vs. Varitek---If we go this year alone, obviously the advantage is Cubs. 1B-Youk vs. Lee----If we go this year alone, Youk. 2B-Pedroia vs. ???---Either way, Pedroia easy. SS-Lugo vs. Theroit---I'll give the edge to the Cubs, but its a push IMO.3B-Lowell vs. Ramierz---Lowell by a hair, but I could see the arguement for a push. OF-Fukadome, Soriano, Edmonds vs. Bay, Ellsbury, & Drew---I'll take all 3 of the Sox over either Edmonds or Fukadome, so I'll give the edge to Boston. DH-Ortiz vs. ???---Ortiz is the best in the game at what he does. SP- Z, Dempster, Lilly, Harden, and Marquis vs. Beckett, DiceK, Lester, Byrd, Wakefield---This is tough to compare, as I think the Sox have the best guy (Beckett), but the Cubs have more depth....I'll give it to the Cubs. RP-Sox Manager- As much as I love Lou, Tito is one of the best two in the game right now along with the man in Anaheim.... First off you are off if you still consider Lugo the shortstop. Jed Lowrie is now the shortstop. He will be the shortstop whenever Lugo comes back. He is hitting .295 with 28 RBIs in 41 games. Lugo only had 22 RBIs in 82 games, he is no longer the shortstop. Plus in the postseason the Sox will likely only use 3 pitchers and Beckett trumps Dempster, Lester (who is the real #2) is a wash with Harden, and Dice K beats Lilly. The Red Sox would be a clear favorite over the Cubs. Now that said, I'm not sure that they can get past the Angels this season. Either way if the Sox or the Angels come out of the AL they would be favored over the Cubbies.
August 14, 200818 yr First off you are off if you still consider Lugo the shortstop. Jed Lowrie is now the shortstop. He will be the shortstop whenever Lugo comes back. He is hitting .295 with 28 RBIs in 41 games. Lugo only had 22 RBIs in 82 games, he is no longer the shortstop. Plus in the postseason the Sox will likely only use 3 pitchers and Beckett trumps Dempster, Lester (who is the real #2) is a wash with Harden, and Dice K beats Lilly. The Red Sox would be a clear favorite over the Cubs. Now that said, I'm not sure that they can get past the Angels this season. Either way if the Sox or the Angels come out of the AL they would be favored over the Cubbies. I realize Lowrie is now the SS, but for the majority of the season Lugo has been, that's why I went with him. Also I think you're forgeting Zambrano is the ace of the Cubs staff so Lilly wouldn't be in the discussion if we're only talking 3 guys.
August 14, 200818 yr I realize Lowrie is now the SS, but for the majority of the season Lugo has been, that's why I went with him. Also I think you're forgeting Zambrano is the ace of the Cubs staff so Lilly wouldn't be in the discussion if we're only talking 3 guys. I did skip Zambrano, thanks. That makes it much more even. Beckett would get the nod between him and Zambrano, Dempster and Lester is even and I'd say the same about Harden and Dice-K with a bit of an edge to Harden.
August 14, 200818 yr No one in the NL is, Cubs included.... C-Soto vs. Varitek---If we go this year alone, obviously the advantage is Cubs. 1B-Youk vs. Lee----If we go this year alone, Youk. 2B-Pedroia vs. ???---Either way, Pedroia easy. SS-Lugo vs. Theroit---I'll give the edge to the Cubs, but its a push IMO. 3B-Lowell vs. Ramierz---Lowell by a hair, but I could see the arguement for a push. OF-Fukadome, Soriano, Edmonds vs. Bay, Ellsbury, & Drew---I'll take all 3 of the Sox over either Edmonds or Fukadome, so I'll give the edge to Boston. DH-Ortiz vs. ???---Ortiz is the best in the game at what he does. SP- Z, Dempster, Lilly, Harden, and Marquis vs. Beckett, DiceK, Lester, Byrd, Wakefield---This is tough to compare, as I think the Sox have the best guy (Beckett), but the Cubs have more depth....I'll give it to the Cubs. RP-Sox Manager- As much as I love Lou, Tito is one of the best two in the game right now along with the man in Anaheim.... I realize Lowrie is now the SS, but for the majority of the season Lugo has been, that's why I went with him. Also I think you're forgeting Zambrano is the ace of the Cubs staff so Lilly wouldn't be in the discussion if we're only talking 3 guys. :sssh:
August 14, 200818 yr :sssh: Did you overlook the "Z" I had before Dempster? I swear if you just reread it, it's there....
August 14, 200818 yr Did you overlook the "Z" I had before Dempster? I swear if you just reread it, it's there.... I did overlook, he prefers Big Z;):lol:
August 14, 200818 yr No one in the NL is, Cubs included.... C-Soto vs. Varitek---If we go this year alone, obviously the advantage is Cubs. 1B-Youk vs. Lee----If we go this year alone, Youk. 2B-Pedroia vs. ???---Either way, Pedroia easy. SS-Lugo vs. Theroit---I'll give the edge to the Cubs, but its a push IMO. 3B-Lowell vs. Ramierz---Lowell by a hair, but I could see the arguement for a push. OF-Fukadome, Soriano, Edmonds vs. Bay, Ellsbury, & Drew---I'll take all 3 of the Sox over either Edmonds or Fukadome, so I'll give the edge to Boston. DH-Ortiz vs. ???---Ortiz is the best in the game at what he does. SP- Z, Dempster, Lilly, Harden, and Marquis vs. Beckett, DiceK, Lester, Byrd, Wakefield---This is tough to compare, as I think the Sox have the best guy (Beckett), but the Cubs have more depth....I'll give it to the Cubs. RP-Sox Manager- As much as I love Lou, Tito is one of the best two in the game right now along with the man in Anaheim.... At this point in their careers, Soto is clearly the better catcher. I'd give the Red Sox the edge at 1B, 2B and maybe two of the three OF positions ... not totally sure about CF. I think SS, 3B and LF is a wash. Pitching ... Zambrano over Beckett, Harden (if healthy) slightly over Lester, Dempster (if he stays healthy) and Lilly about even with Wakefield and Matsuzaka. In the postseason, only four starters matter. The Red Sox get the edge in the bullpen.
August 14, 200818 yr 1B, Youk is better with the bat D. Lee, better fielder- PUSH 2B, Advantage BoSox SS, You can't quiet the Riot, Edge Cubs 3B, Aramis is better than a injured Lowell-Cubs C, Soto, hand's down this year-Cubs LF, I'd say Bay is better Defensively but AS is better w/ the stick-Push CF, I'd take Edomonds over Drew anytime- Cubs RF, Fukodome is a great in the field but is struggling on O, -edge Redsox SP, Complete wash-push Bullpen, again, I think too close to call MGR, sweet Lou
August 14, 200818 yr I would take Zambrano over Beckett ... Not in the playoffs (World Series)... Beckett has proven to be one of those guys who brings his best in the post-season. The jury is still out on Zambrano... In 3 World Series starts, Beckett is has pitched 23.1 innings and allowed 3 earned runs. Here's a look at their post-season stats... Josh Beckett (10 Games, 9 Starts) 6-2, 1.73 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, 82 K, 14 BB (Total) 2-1, 1.16 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 28 K, 6 BB Carlos Zambrano (4 Games, 4 Starts) 0-1, 4.37 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 20 K, 6 BB I like the Red Sox chances in the playoffs with Josh Beckett. It doesn't mean they're going to win another title, but they've got the best big game pitcher in the majors right now. Edited August 14, 200818 yr by 5wide
August 14, 200818 yr I'm rooting for the D'backs. Dunn hits a game winner in game 7. B. Webb has 2 wins and a save as he closes game seven to win it over......who cares. B.Webb is MVP and Dunn hits the lotto in FA market.
August 14, 200818 yr Not in the playoffs (World Series)... Beckett has proven to be one of those guys who brings his best in the post-season. The jury is still out on Zambrano... In 3 World Series starts, Beckett is has pitched 23.1 innings and allowed 3 earned runs. Here's a look at their post-season stats... Josh Beckett (10 Games, 9 Starts) 6-2, 1.73 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, 82 K, 14 BB (Total) 2-1, 1.16 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 28 K, 6 BB Carlos Zambrano (4 Games, 4 Starts) 0-1, 4.37 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 20 K, 6 BB None of which really matters that much right now ... or in October.
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