RedSox 가 Yankee 보다 나은 5가지 이유(ESPN)

[스톤콜드]

Five means alive for Red Sox

The Division Series hadn't even begun, and yet, the questions came from every angle to members of the Boston Red Sox.

	Manny Ramirez's upbeat attitude is another upgrade from last year.

Do you think you can beat the Yankees this year?

Kevin Millar, never reluctant to share his opinion or shy about filling a notebook, didn't duck the queries.

"I'm pretty sure we're five outs better than last year,'' Millar said.

The reference, of course, was a not-so-subtle reference to last year's American League Championship Series when the Red Sox had a three-run lead over the Yankees in Game 7 with one out in the eighth.

Then it all unraveled for the Red Sox, who've taken 51 weeks to get back to square one. The rematch begins Tuesday in the Bronx.

Let us count the reasons for Millar's optimism, one for every out not recorded last Oct. 16.

1. Starting pitching

Last year, the Red Sox started Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, Tim Wakefield and John Burkett in the ALCS. This year, their quartet is Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez, Bronson Arroyo and Wakefield.

If you accept the theory that Arroyo and Lowe -- since exiled to the bullpen -- are a wash, the Red Sox have effectively switched from Burkett to Schilling, a sizeable upgrade.

	Schilling

Schilling entered this month with a career 1.66 ERA in the postseason. He dominated the Angels in Game 1 of the ALDS for six innings before tiring and allowing two runs in his final inning of work when the game was already decided.

He's battling an ankle problem that may require him to take a shot before every outing, but he did the same thing in the first half of the season and never saw much of a dropoff.

Remember, Schilling was the co-MVP in the 2001 World Series against the Yankees, and in his last start against them, just two weeks ago, he limited them to a single hit.

Not a bad trade up for the Red Sox, considering Burkett, who pitched well enough to help the Sox win Game 6 last year, retired after the season.

2. The Bullpen
The Red Sox got to within an inning or so of the World Series in 2003, and did it without ever really settling on a closer.

For the first two months, they experimented -- with disastrous results -- a bullpen-by-committee approach. Then, they turned to -- in order -- Brandon Lyon, Byung-Hyun Kim and finally, Scott Williamson.

	Foulke

This time, they've got Keith Foulke, who despite blowing seven saves during the season, was for the most part remarkably consistent. He blew five of his seven saves in two stretches, and otherwise was both reliable and durable.

Foulke didn't record his first career postseason save until Game 2 of the ALDS sweep of the Angels, but anyone who had any doubts about his ability to pitch in big spots had to be convinced when he struck out both Garret Anderson and Troy Glaus with the bases loaded in the ninth inning of Game 3, preserving a tie.

Like Mariano Rivera, Foulke thrives on work and can be used for multiple innings or in tie games.

The setup duo of Mike Timlin and Alan Embree were brilliant in the '03 postseason (opposing hitters were 1-for-35 against Timlin). And although Timlin coughed up the game-tying grand slam to Vladimir Guerrero in Game 3 on Friday, he was the key to the Red Sox's victory in Game 2.

3. The defense

The Red Sox are now better at three of four infield positions in the late innings of games than they were a year ago.

	Bellhorn

Orlando Cabrera is far steadier than was Nomar Garciaparra, with a more accurate arm and greater range. Mark Bellhorn is only a bit above adequate at second, but still gets to far more balls than Todd Walker. And first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, who comes off the bench when the Red Sox are ahead, may be the best glove man in the American League.

Earlier in the year, the Red Sox consistently beat themselves by not making the necessary plays. They lead the league in unearned runs allowed and were next-to-last in fielding percentage.

But the swap of Garciaparra for Cabrera and Mientkiewicz overhauled the infield defense and instilled greater confidence in the pitching staff.

The Red Sox know firsthand how important it is not to give the Yankees extra outs. In their 1999 ALCS against the Yankees, a couple of misplays by second baseman Jose Offerman proved costly. In midseason, the Red Sox lost a game when a ball went through David Ortiz's glove.

Now, Ortiz sticks to DH and the infield has undergone a much-needed makeover. This Red Sox team may not beat the Yankees; but it's highly unlikely they'll beat themselves.

4. The bench

Seldom have the Red Sox gone into the postseason with as much depth as this year's model.

Outfielder Dave Roberts, one of the fastest players in the game, provides a nice pinch-running option in the late innings. The aforementioned Mientkiewicz makes all the plays -- and then some -- at first.

	Reese

Reserve middle infielder Pokey Reese is a two-time Gold Glove winner at second base and capable of eye-popping plays at short, too.

Outfielder Gabe Kapler can play all three outfield positions and runs well. Catcher Doug Mirabelli, who catches only Wakefield, provides a formidable right-handed bat for pinch-hitting situations, and hit .317 against lefties. Mirabelli also owns a career .375 batting average in Yankee Stadium.

Rookie third baseman Kevin Youkilis belied his relative inexperience by hitting .339 with runners in scoring position and a remarkable .361 with runners in scoring position and two out.

About the only thing the Red Sox lack is a legitimate power threat in reserve (though Mirabelli hit nine homers in just 160 at-bats). Then again, with six players with 17 or more homers, how often do the Red Sox need to find sock off the bench?

5. The opponent

Despite winning 101 games, this is, in the opinion of many people in the game, the least impressive Yankee team of the Joe Torre era, especially in the pitching department.

Beyond Mike Mussina, the Yankees lack another front-of-the-rotation starter. Gone are postseason reliables Roger Clemens, David Wells and Andy Pettitte. In their place: Jon Lieber, Javier Vazquez and a brittle Kevin Brown.

The bullpen isn't as deep as years gone by. Sure, Tom Gordon and Rivera are still a superb duo. But if the Yankee starters falter, Torre and Mel Stottlemyre will have to hold their breath through the middle innings.

Sean McAdam of the Providence (R.I.) Journal covers baseball for ESPN.com

보시다시피 출처는 ESPN, 라이터는 Sean McAdam 입니다.

마리아노 리베라가 제 시간에 복귀할 수 있을지.

2년 연속 두 팀이 맞붙는 ALCS 라.. 참 흥미롭네요 ㅋ~

보스턴 over 휴스턴에 1만원 건 상태라 --;

보스턴 올인입니다 ㅋㅋ

[케빈21]

이런 글이 존재한다는건 대세는 양키스라 이거죠..

[골수 Lakers]

수비쪽에서 보스턴이 정말 괜찮네요. 그래도 에이로드와 지터가 보스턴 깨줄겁니다... ㅎㅎㅎ

[매니 라미레즈]

매경기 우황청심환 먹으면서 볼려고요.. 올해만한 기회도 없을듯...리베라의 결장의 은근히 기대하고 있습니다...ㅎㅎㅎ

[Dirk T-Manny Pedro★]

저도 케빈 님 말에 동의하는데- 보스턴 팬으로써 믿어봐야죠^^;; 보스턴 정말 이번이 최고의 기회입니다.

[Ru Geric]

역설적으로 보면 그렇네요... 흠~ 어쩌면 전문가들 사이의 의견이 분분해서 이런 칼럼을 내놓은 것일수도 있겠구... 로스터구성과는 무관하게 그간의 전적에서 대개 양키가 앞서니까 보스통이 아무리 전력이 좋아도 안심하면 안될 것 같습니다.

[Go!Starbury~~*^^*]

Wakefield가 양키즈 킬러라고 개인적으로 생각되는데요!!!제가 이제까지 봐온 경기중 웨이크필드가 양키즈전에 나오면 타자들이 고전하더라구요!!!작년 챔피언쉽시리즈에서도 잘했던걸로 기억하는데!!

[Kewell]

ESPN 전문가들의 우승팀 예상 중 보스턴이 여유있게 1위였던 것 같은데요. 대세가 양키스라서 이런 글이 나온 건 아닌것 같습니다만.. 시즌 득점 및 실점이나 팀간 성적 그리고 PO에서 중요한 투타 원투펀치 및 수비력 모두 보스턴이 앞서죠.. 물론 밤비노의 저주나 양키스의 저력때매 결과는 어찌될지 모르겠지만요..

[마지막 한방!]

작년 챔피언쉽에서 웨이크필드 마지막에 분인간한테 끝내기홈런 맞지않았나요?

[타이순]

애런분에게 끝내기 홈런 맞아쪄

[Miller Time]

현재 많은 도박사들도 보스턴의 우위를 예상한다던데요..일단 보스턴의 수비력은 끝내주지만....이를 공격력과 밸런스 맞추기는 쉽지 않을거 같네요..수비력으로 팀을 구성하자니 공격력이 조금 떨어질테니까요..그리고 웨이크필드 양키즈에 강하죠..그러니까 리틀감독이 7차전 마지막 승부수로 그를 보냈으니까요..

[Miller Time]

페드로마저 고집으로 무너진 그 시점에....

[[J.K]]

전문가들의 예상이 제발 좀 맞았으면하네요

[Chicken rib mania]

보스통 매니아로서 전력상 앞서는 게 확실한데도 긴장이 되긴 하네요. (아직도 작년 7차전의 막판 뒤집기가 생생하다는....--;) 아무튼 수억의 야구팬들을 엄청 설레게 하는 시리즈 임엔 틀림없네욧..

[Baron&Veron]

전 보스턴 팬도, 양키즈 팬도 아니지만 양키즈가 이길꺼 같습니다. -_- 아무나 이겨도 상관은 없지만...ㅋㅋ

[타이순]

이번만큼은 보스통이 꼭 이겼음 하네여

[覇者Peja]

이런 예상하고 떡하니 양키가 이겨버리면 상당히 뻘쭘할듯.. 그나저나 저도 제발 예상대로 되었으면 좋겠네요

[제이윌써커스]

모르죠...이 둘의 대결은

[light of the moon]

불펜에 김병현도 있네 ㅎㅎ 빨간양말 가자가자가자~~ 제발 우승 한번 해죠~~

[V.CARTER]

올라가자 보스턴!!

[Penny+T-mac=NO.1]

김병현이 올해 나온다는게 아니라 예전과 비교하는데 나온거 같은데요..예전엔 브랜든 라이언, 김병현, 스캇 윌리엄슨 이었는데...지금은 이렇다..는 식으로~

[keen-GoKnicks]

ESPN 칼럼니스트들이 특히 양키를 싫어하고 보스턴 편을 많이 들어줍니다.--; ESPN보는순간 신빙성이 없어지네요.^^;;

[love maker]

김병현 씨는 포스트 시즌 로스터에 포함 안 됐다고 들었습니다.