Gabe Kapler has a Blog

Former Red Sox benchman/outfielder, the affable Gabe Kapler has a blog on boston.com. It can be found HERE

Pitching Matchups

ALCS first games:

1. Sabathia vs. Beckett in Boston
2. Carmona vs. Schilling in Boston
3. Westbrook vs. Matsuzaka in Cleveland
4. Byrd (?) vs. Wakefield (?) in Cleveland

ALCS is Set

The Indians did away with the Yankees last night, which cheered me greatly. That means they will face the Red Sox in the American League Championship Series, a best of seven format with the first two games being played at Fenway Park because the Red Sox had a 5-2 winning season over the Indians.

The Indians concern me. They are popping on all cylinders right now. This is not to say that the Red Sox aren't, but as per my previous post, I don't think the Angels were a really good test for them.

Sabathia and Carmona are the two aces of the Indians' staff with Paul Byrd looking very good last night. The Red Sox Josh Beckett is a confidence instiller, and Curt Schilling can mix it up with the best of them, even at 41. It looked as if he finally figured out how not to be a power pitcher the other night, and he worked his repertoire quite well.

But Matsuzaka is still something of a bother. Though he didn't do badly against the Angels, it wasn't a stellar performance. There has to be an adjustment period for him. To be honest, though, I wonder if the Red Sox really got their money's worth. I guess we won't really know until next season or beyond, maybe? He is needed now, and he is needed to revert back to the MVP of the World Baseball Classic form that he displayed before.

There are many on talk radio who are saying that the Red Sox needed to go through the Yankees in order to validate their postseason success. That is because the Yankees had a winning record over the Sox during the season.

I say that's a bunch of hogwash for a couple reasons.

1. The Sox and Yankees aren't the only teams in their leagues or division. Both teams have to validate their standings by defeating everyone, more than losing to them.

2. The Sox, by virtue of clinching the division title, already validated their postseason standings.

3. If the Sox beat Cleveland, then will they not have defeated the Yankees by proxy?

Any team can get hot for a spell, and any team can cool down. That's why you have the Royals beating the Yankees some times. Or the Devil Rays beating the Sox some times. And so on.

The postseason is really all about who is hot and who is not for that stretch of time.

Predictions? Too early to tell. The Indians are clicking, and they will be the real postseason test for the Sox. If I had to guess, I'd say Cleveland in five.

Make that six.

Or seven.

Or something.

No sweep, though.

Here's to October.

OK, so that didn't work

The Yankees ended up winning game 3 of their series against Cleveland.

But that may not be such a bad thing. If the teams can string this out the full five games, then who will be more rested when going into the ALCS? The Sox or their opponent. There are some that think a layer of rust may develop over the next 4 days because the ALCS doesn't start til Friday, but, really, isn't that what practice is all about?

Speaking of winning the ALDS, I see the pictures of the Red Sox squirting champagne over each other and the only thing I can think is - act like you been here before boys.

Not that I'm unhappy to see the Sox in the postseason, but is it really necessary to have a champagne party every three games? At least Papelbon wasn't dancing around with a beer box on his head this time.

Seriously, the celebration when they clinched the division title was understood. And they did a fantastic job against the Angels. But I'm thinking that New York or Cleveland would have done just as well. The Angels, for whatever reason, injuries and all, were in a downtrend while the Sox were in an uptrend.

Well, at least the Sox have 4 days to wash the champagne out of their ears and eyes before they face a new (old?) opponent in their quest for the AL Pennant.

Luck to you and yours.

Congratulations Red Sox

The Red Sox trounced the Angels convincingly with pitching, timely hitting and great defense. Granted the Angels were without the services of Gary Matthews and Garret Anderson (third game), and Vlad Guerrero wasn't up to snuff - in other words, injuries took their toll. Even so, it's not so much what the Angels didn't do, but what the Sox did that was impressive.

Beckett threw a complete game shutout in game one. Manny got his first ever walk-off homerun in post season in game two, and Schilling worked the plate like the old pro he is. It was all very fascinating to watch and hopefully it bodes well for the ALCS.

The NLCS has already been settled. It will be between Colorado and Arizona. Both teams swept their rivals, Philadelphia and Chicago which really has to nettle Major League Baseball. Two major market teams swept out of contention. Gotta wonder what it does for ratings.

As of this writing, Cleveland is two runs ahead of the Yankees in their game three being played at Yankee Stadium. Steinbrenner has stated that if the Yankees lose, Torre's head will be on the block. It's a shame really. I like Torre, think he's a good manager.

I'd like to see the Sox play Cleveland in the ALCS only if for no other reason than I'm sick of seeing the Yankees. Go Cleveland!!

But as per my last post, I predict the Yankees will win tonight. ;-)

Got it?

What He Wrote

I'm not a big fan of Dan Shaughnessy. I'm not even a little fan.

But I have to say that I like what he wrote here:

The playoff-bound Red Sox are home tonight to start the final six games of the regular season, and manager Terry Francona continues to straddle the line between playing for the division title (and the best record in the league) and getting his team ready for the postseason.

I say go for it. Beat the Yankees. Win the division. Cop the best record in the American League to give yourself home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Use Jonathan Papelbon the way you'd use him in July and August. Find out if Manny can play before he calcifies at the end of the bench. Tell Eric Gagné to find his mojo on somebody else's watch. Stop babying Clay Buchholz and get the kid ready for playoff action. Play Jacoby Ellsbury until he's no longer hitting .372 or until he gets thrown out stealing one time. Fire all your guns at once and explode into space.

You know where that last sentence comes from dontcha?

Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space

Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf
Words and music by Mars Bonfire

Here is the rest of Shaughnessy's article:

In the season's last week, they need to stay on top of things

Since the Prediction....

When I predicted that the Red Sox would cede the division to the Yankees, they were 3-1/2 games ahead of New York. Now they are only 1-1/2 games ahead with series coming up against Tampa Bay, Oakland and Minnesota to end the season.

The Yankees, on the other hand, just swept Baltimore and will face Toronto, Tampa Bay and the Orioles one last time again before October.

With a non-existent offense and a bullpen in disarray, I still think it's a safe bet to reiterate my prediction.

So now, the Red Sox have HAVE to make sure they don't give up the wild card.

Here's to seeing you on the other side.

My Prediction

Not one to prognosticate (yeah, right!), I have decided to put my prediction in print (sort of) here with regards to the American League East pennant race.

Here is what I think.

Ready?

Really Ready?

OK... let's do it.

I think the Red Sox will cede first place to the Yankees in September. Their offense (the Red Sox) is inconsistent, and except for the first four spots in the order, practically nonexistent. The Yankees, on the other hand, have been productive all the way down through their batting order.

So, the Sox will make it into the playoffs as a wild card team, but not as a division winner.

That's my prediction.

Let's see what happens.

More Non-News News Headlines...

At Least 190 Arrested at Iraq Protest

GORE WINS EMMY

ALBRIGHT: HILLARY NOT A 'COLD FISH'

Vicente Fox on Bush: 'The cockiest guy I have ever met in my life'

Britney Mess: Custody of Kids Imperiled

and last but not least....

O.J. Simpson taken into custody at Palms Hotel

Belichick's Bungle

So Bill Belichick got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

So what?

In principle and practice it was wrong. It was cheating - stealing signs. Trying to gain leverage over another team with 'inside' knowledge.

Professional and college sports teams (should I mention high school?) all do it. No one is clean.

That doesn't make it less wrong. But it is common practice.

And again, I say,

So what?

It doesn't affect me. Nor does it really affect you or anyone else. We still get our mortgages paid, taxes paid, try to raise our kids to be upright, moral citizens.

I hope.

So what it's done is taken down the glamour or mystique of a team and its leader - that which was trying to be taken down regularly anyway by those who are jealous of the Patriots' success.

That's really what naysaying a successful team is all about.

Jealousy.

So again I say,

So what?

I am not training my kids to revere sports people. After all, they only exist for their entertainment value. And what's entertainment ultimately based on anyway? Nothing real important.

Unfortunately, celebrity is raised to godhood status as a normal part of our culture, and I think that is the saddest statement I take from all this.

Not that a sports figure was caught cheating.

After all, so what?

What else is new?

So Predictable, They're Boring....

These news headlines are so predictable, they beg the question of whether they are really news at all:

De Palma wins Director Honors for Anti-Iraq Film

MTV to Debut Bisexual Dating Show

Researchers find Kids Smarter than Chimps

GIULIANI: Illegal immigration not a crime, should not be a crime

Republicans dig up crude humor from Al Franken's past

'GREEN' GORE GOES GULFSTREAM: VIDEO CATCHES ECO-WARRIOR ON LUXURY PRIVATE JET

'HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL' STAR CONFIRMS ONLINE NUDE

Atheists of America, Unite!

Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins have made it fashionable again to be an atheist. No longer do you have to hide in Atheist Anonymous meetings. Instead you can bring your mantra to the fore with full voice, "There is NO God, and I hope I don't meet Him!"