{"id":1128,"date":"2009-04-06T13:28:27","date_gmt":"2009-04-06T20:28:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2009\/04\/06\/shl-world-series-preview\/"},"modified":"2009-04-06T13:40:20","modified_gmt":"2009-04-06T20:40:20","slug":"shl-world-series-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2009\/04\/06\/shl-world-series-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"SHL World Series Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cleveland Indians finally defeated the upstart Montreal Expos last night<\/a> to advance to the Seamheads Historical League World Series where they’ll face the Boston Red Sox.\u00c2\u00a0 The Sox have yet to lose in the playoffs, but a World Series victory is far from a foregone conclusion.<\/p>\n

Here’s how the teams stack up:<\/p>\n\n\n
Pitchers<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Cleveland Indians<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\nBoston Red Sox<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
POS<\/strong><\/td>\nPlayer<\/strong><\/td>\nW-L<\/strong><\/td>\nERA<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\nPOS<\/strong><\/td>\nPlayer<\/strong><\/td>\nW-L<\/strong><\/td>\nERA<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SP<\/td>\nAddie Joss<\/td>\n19-12<\/td>\n3.50<\/td>\n<\/td>\nSP<\/td>\nCy Young<\/td>\n27-5<\/td>\n2.65<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SP<\/td>\nGaylord Perry<\/td>\n12-4<\/td>\n4.22<\/td>\n<\/td>\nSP<\/td>\nPedro Martinez<\/td>\n19-10<\/td>\n3.32<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SP<\/td>\nStan Coveleski<\/td>\n13-9<\/td>\n4.25<\/td>\n<\/td>\nSP<\/td>\nLefty Grove<\/td>\n14-10<\/td>\n3.14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SP<\/td>\nSam McDowell<\/td>\n16-12<\/td>\n4.57<\/td>\n<\/td>\nSP<\/td>\nJoe Wood<\/td>\n15-9<\/td>\n3.26<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CL<\/td>\nDoug Jones<\/td>\n39 SV<\/td>\n2.68<\/td>\n<\/td>\nCL<\/td>\nJonathan Papelbon<\/td>\n35 SV<\/td>\n2.59<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

The Red Sox appear to have a clear advantage in the pitching department, especially among the starters.\u00c2\u00a0 Boston’s four-man postseason rotation boasts a 3.07 regular season ERA, while Cleveland’s is a full run higher at 4.08.\u00c2\u00a0 But the Indians’ starters have done better than Boston’s during the postseason.\u00c2\u00a0 Cleveland’s rotation has posted a 3.96 ERA in 84 playoff innings<\/a>, and if you remove Bob Feller, who’s been banished to the bullpen, it falls to 3.23.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Red Sox’s four primary hurlers have posted a 4.44 mark in 52 2\/3 postseason innings<\/a>. Most of that can be blamed on Pedro Martinez, who’s allowed 12 earned runs in 11 2\/3 innings.\u00c2\u00a0 The other three starters have the same 3.07 ERA in the playoffs that they had in the regular season.\u00c2\u00a0 If Pedro can’t turn it around and the series goes six or seven games, the Sox have Roger Clemens (12-4, 4.70) to fall back on, although they’d probably rather not go that route.\u00c2\u00a0 The Indians’ hurlers have done better against the Sox than the Sox’s hurlers have done against the Indians, which could prove troublesome for Boston.<\/p>\n

Boston also holds a decisive edge in bullpen strength.\u00c2\u00a0 Southpaw Mel Parnell (2-1, 3.20) anchors a middle relief corps that also includes Clemens and Dick Radatz (1-5, 4.90), setup men Bob Stanley (3-1, 2.57) and Derek Lowe (4-1, 3.18) have been very good all season, and Jonathan Papelbon has blown only five saves all season and boasts a 1.85 ERA in his last 33 appearances dating back to June 1.\u00c2\u00a0 Papelbon has had particular trouble against Cleveland’s hitters, though, allowing six runs to the Tribe in only four innings.<\/p>\n

The back end of the Indians’ bullpen is also very good.\u00c2\u00a0 Don Mossi (4-0, 3.55) and Bert Blyleven (7-5, 3.32) form a solid duo of setup men, and Doug Jones was even more impressive than Papelbon in converting save opportunities, going 39-for-43 during the regular season.\u00c2\u00a0 He’s 2-for-2 in save opportunities in the playoffs and hasn’t allowed a run in four appearances.\u00c2\u00a0 The front end, however, leaves much to be desired.\u00c2\u00a0 C.C. Sabathia (2-2, 4.54), Bob Lemon (0-1, 5.27), and Feller occupy the middle relief and mop-up spots, and the trio has posted a 6.67 ERA in the playoffs so far.\u00c2\u00a0 The Indians might be best served if they moved Blyleven to middle relief and relegated Sabathia and Lemon to the end of the bullpen bench.<\/p>\n\n\n
Starting Lineups<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Cleveland Indians<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\nBoston Red Sox<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
POS<\/strong><\/td>\nPlayer<\/strong><\/td>\nAVG<\/strong><\/td>\nHR<\/strong><\/td>\nRBI<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\nPOS<\/strong><\/td>\nPlayer<\/strong><\/td>\nAVG<\/strong><\/td>\nHR<\/strong><\/td>\nRBI<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2B<\/td>\nNap Lajoie<\/td>\n.327<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n73<\/td>\n<\/td>\nCF<\/td>\nTris Speaker<\/td>\n.330<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n76<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CF<\/td>\nTris Speaker<\/td>\n.325<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n63<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3B<\/td>\nWade Boggs<\/td>\n.332<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n57<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RF<\/td>\nJoe Jackson<\/td>\n.334<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n103<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLF<\/td>\nTed Williams<\/td>\n.330<\/td>\n22<\/td>\n105<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3B<\/td>\nJim Thome<\/td>\n.294<\/td>\n25<\/td>\n82<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1B<\/td>\nDavid Ortiz<\/td>\n.253<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n76<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
LF<\/td>\nAlbert Belle<\/td>\n.293<\/td>\n36<\/td>\n125<\/td>\n<\/td>\nRF<\/td>\nReggie Smith<\/td>\n.308<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n73<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1B<\/td>\nHal Trosky<\/td>\n.299<\/td>\n16<\/td>\n78<\/td>\n<\/td>\nSS<\/td>\nNomar Garciaparra<\/td>\n.287<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n85<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SS<\/td>\nJoe Sewell<\/td>\n.321<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n61<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2B<\/td>\nBobby Doerr<\/td>\n.245<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n56<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
C<\/td>\nSandy Alomar<\/td>\n.257<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n53<\/td>\n<\/td>\nC<\/td>\nCarlton Fisk<\/td>\n.229<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n83<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n\n
Key Bench\/Platoon Players<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Cleveland Indians<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\nBoston Red Sox<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
POS<\/strong><\/td>\nPlayer<\/strong><\/td>\nAVG<\/strong><\/td>\nHR<\/strong><\/td>\nRBI<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\nPOS<\/strong><\/td>\nPlayer<\/strong><\/td>\nAVG<\/strong><\/td>\nHR<\/strong><\/td>\nRBI<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
C<\/td>\nJohnny Romano<\/td>\n.295<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n50<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1B<\/td>\nJimmie Foxx<\/td>\n.270<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n41<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2B<\/td>\nRoberto Alomar<\/td>\n.279<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n36<\/td>\n<\/td>\nSS\/3B<\/td>\nJoe Cronin<\/td>\n.278<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3B<\/td>\nAl Rosen<\/td>\n.241<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n37<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLF<\/td>\nCarl Yastrzemski<\/td>\n.263<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SS<\/td>\nLou Boudreau<\/td>\n.208<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLF<\/td>\nManny Ramirez<\/td>\n.249<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n55<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Both lineups are pretty even at the top; the Red Sox hold an edge in batting average and power in the 1-3 holes, but the Indians make up for it with Jim Thome, Albert Belle, and Hal Trosky in the heart of the order.\u00c2\u00a0 From top to bottom, Cleveland’s lineup is also more consistent, and when you add Johnny Romano to the mix, it becomes even more impressive.\u00c2\u00a0 Alomar and Romano split catching duties right down the middle and combined to hit .276 with 21 homers and 103 RBIs as opposed to the Red Sox’s catching tandem of Carlton Fisk and Jason Varitek, who batted .235 with 17 homers and 90 runs batted in.<\/p>\n

The Indians lose a little something when they face lefties as Thome rides the pine in favor of Al Rosen and Sewell takes a seat while the underachieving Lou Boudreau plays shortstop.\u00c2\u00a0 But Lajoie’s ability to play first allowed Roberto Alomar to slide into the lineup at second base and help take the sting out of losing the bats of Thome and Sewell.<\/p>\n

The Red Sox lost a little something with a southpaw on the hill as well, but not as much as Cleveland.\u00c2\u00a0 Jimmie Foxx had a better OPS than Ortiz, Manny Ramirez provided good power in right field, hitting 15 homers in only 305 at-bats, and Joe Cronin posted an OPS only 34 points lower than Wade Boggs.<\/p>\n

Cleveland led the SHL in runs scored with 885, and finished second in average at .291 and OPS at .806.\u00c2\u00a0 Boston finished fourth in runs scored with 853, fifth in OPS at .787, and eighth in average at .279.\u00c2\u00a0 Both are good at drawing walks\u00e2\u20ac\u201dBoston finished second with 577, Cleveland was fifth with 551\u00e2\u20ac\u201dand neither team strikes out much\u00e2\u20ac\u201dthe Indians fanned less than any team in the SHL (637), while Boston finished with the sixth fewest whiffs (698).<\/p>\n

Last, and perhaps most important, is that Cleveland has been a thorn in Boston’s side all season.\u00c2\u00a0 The Red Sox went 101-45 against the rest of the SHL, a .692 clip, but lost six of eight to the Indians and were outscored 49-39.\u00c2\u00a0 The Red Sox finished with nine more wins than Cleveland in the regular season and according to the Pythagorean Theorem, the Sox were actually 13 games better than the Tribe.\u00c2\u00a0 But don’t size those virtual championship rings yet.\u00c2\u00a0 The Indians just might walk away with an upset victory and bring a baseball championship to “The Forest City” for the first time in 60 years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Cleveland Indians finally defeated the upstart Montreal Expos last night to advance to the Seamheads Historical League World Series where they’ll face the Boston Red Sox.\u00c2\u00a0 The Sox have yet to lose in the playoffs, but a World Series victory is far from a foregone conclusion. Here’s how the teams stack up:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1128\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}