Hunt for Red October: Red Birds vs. Red Sox

Since the Wild Card era began 18 years ago it is rare to see the two best teams square off in the Fall Classic. 

Luckily, this is one of those rare occasions. 

For the third time since 1995, the top two teams from both leagues face off in the World Series, and for the first time in 14 years. 
 To go even further back in the history bank, this is the first time since 1979 that feature two division winners that led their league in wins and run differential. 



And yes, that Fall Classic went seven games with the Pittsburgh Pirates being the last team to win a Game 7 on the road against Baltimore. 

This is one of the most evenly matched World Series ever and I am guaranteeing we will hear the two best words in sports (besides Super Bowl):

Game Seven. 

We have a chance to see something that hasn't happened since 1962, an NBA Finals and World Series both reaching a Game 7 in the same year.


There have only been six Game 7's in the last quarter-century and there's a good chance it could be as dramatic the last time it went seven. (Best baseball game ever played.) 


Both teams finished with identical 97-65 records during the regular season and the similarities between these team are insanely close, the biggest difference is the Red Sox' beards are way better, sorry Jason Motte. 

The Red Sox have the slight edge offensively but the Cardinals are right there. 

Both teams finished in the top five in runs, hits, average, doubles, and on-base percentage during the regular season. Boston's 4.5 runs/game are tops in the postseason and St. Louis' 3.8 runs/game are third most.

The Cardinals have the slight edge in pitching heading into the World Series, thanks to their rookie stud Michael Wacha. 

The reigning NLCS MVP took down the best pitcher in baseball, twice. 

St. Louis was facing elimination against Pittsburgh in Game 4 on the road, no big deal for the 6'6" 210 pound rookie. He entered the 8th inning with a no-hitter and walked away with the 2-1 win, handing the ball off to Adam Wainwright in Game 5. 

In three postseason starts he's 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA. He has 22 strikeouts and only four walks with a 0.57 WHIP.

Wacha became the first rookie to ever post two scoreless starts in a single postseason series and is the third rookie to be named the League Championship Series MVP. This Wacha isn't "Going Hard in the Paint", he's going hard on the hill, doing it with "One Hand", and even getting a "Round of Applause" from Drake.  



While the Cardinals have the slight edge in starting pitching, the same can't be said in the bullpen thanks to Koji Uehara. 

Craig Kimbrel, Kenley Jansen, Mariano Rivera, Aroldis Chapman, and every other closer wasn't as good as Uehara during the second half of the season.

Just look at his numbers from July until the end of the regular season, prepare yourself to do a double-take because these numbers are eye-popping. 

3-1 0.22 ERA (17) SV, 40.1 IP, 52 K / 2 BB, 0.34 WHIP

He has allowed two earned run in 45 games since July 1st (including the postseason). 

In eight postseason appearances he's 1-1 with a 1.00 ERA and has a playoff leading five saves. He's a perfect 5-5 in save opportunities. He's faced 31 batters and has only allowed five base runners. 

Wacha and Uehara have been clutch this postseason, but when talking about clutch in October it all starts
with Carlos 

Beltran and David Ortiz. You can make a strong case that either one of these two dudes are the best to ever play in October.

During Beltran's postseason career he's batting .337 with 16 bombs and 37 RBI. He's also scored 44 runs with a .449 OBP., .724 SLG%, and a 1.173 OPS. 

His .440 batting average with runners in scoring position is better than anyone in postseason history with at least 25 at-bats. He passed Babe Ruth this postseason for 8th all-time in HR's,  7th in slugging and OPS, and his 44 runs scored are tied for 10th most all-time. 

Now it's your turn Big Papi.

David Ortiz showed how clutch he was in Game 2 when he blasted the game-tying Grand Slam in the bottom of the 8th off Joaquin Benoit that changed the entire series. It was his fifth career game-tying or go-ahead hit in the 8th inning or later in his postseason career. Only Pete Rose and Bernie Williams have more career hits in that scenario with six. 

During his playoff career he's batting .272 with 15 long balls and 54 RBI. He's tied with Babe Ruth in HR's (9th), has the fifth most RBI in postseason history, tied with Manny Ramirez with the fourth most doubles (19), and is tied with Carlos Beltran and Tino Martinez in runs scored (44) for 10th all-time. 

Of course before we wrap up the World Series preview we gotta look at the two X-factors for both teams.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS X-FACTOR: ALLEN CRAIG

St. Louis is sure glad to have their RBI leader back for the World Series. He finished the year with the seventh most RBI in the National League, and his 99 RBI were third most in the NL before he went down with a foot sprain on September 4th. Craig finished the year leading all of baseball with a .454 batting average with runners in scoring position and his .448 average with runners in scoring position with 2 outs was third best in all of baseball. The big question heading into the World Series is how effective can Craig be after not playing in a game in for 49 days. The one benefit the Cardinals have with the series starting at Fenway is Craig can DH. They won't have to worry about him playing in the field until Saturday, if he is even healthy enough to go at first base by then. Even if he can't, he adds depth to a thin bench to pinch hit in a crucial situation when the series goes back to Busch Stadium. 

BOSTON RED SOX X-FACTOR : XANDER BOGAERTS

I mean he kinda has to be the X-factor with his name beginning with the letter X. This postseason he became the youngest Red Sox to ever start a playoff game, the other was some guy named Babe Ruth in the 1916 World Series. Bogaerts didn't play like a 21-year old when John Farrell threw him in the fire before Game 5 of the ALCS. He had tremendous plate discipline in Game 6 against the favorite to win the AL Cy Young, Max Scherzer. No one had better at-bats against Scherzer. He was 1-1 with a double and reached base safely all three times with two walks and scored two runs, the second run was the game winning run. Everyone talks about Shane Victorino's grand slam to clinch Game 6 of the ALCS, but that might not of happened if it wasn't for Xander Bogaerts walk against Scherzer. If Bogaerts gets an out in that spot, no way Scherzer doesn't finish the 7th inning. Bogaerts was the last batter Scherzer faced in 2013 and the rest is history. 

I guess it is finally that time to throw on the prediction hat.

I got Boston in seven. The Red Sox and Cardinals are as close to a pick em' as it gets but this is Boston's year. The Beards' are going to come up with just enough big hits and win their third World Series since 2004. If Boston gets the lead late, it's as close to a nail in the coffin with Koji Uehara at the backend. A guy that doesn't get enough love from this team is Jonny Gomes, not because of what he does on the field but for what he brings inside the clubhouse. His personality has been huge for this team, starting with the beard. Once him and Mike Napoli started growing out their beards in Spring Training, everyone joined in. This team plays for the city and the name on the front of the jersey, which is a total 180 from last year's team. His relentless attitude is exactly what the Sox needed after a 93-loss season. He was a huge addition to the clubhouse and don't be surprised if he comes up with a big hit at some point in the World Series. Call me crazy, but Jonny Gomes was the best move the Red Sox made during the offseason. Playing as a team is the most important aspect of baseball, just ask the 2010 and 2012 San Francisco Giants, and Gomes is their Hunter Pence inside the clubhouse. You can't fake passion, and Gomes bring out the best in every single teammate. 

This would be a great story for the city of Boston, six months after the horrific Boston Marathon bombing, the city stuck together, Red Sox nation stuck as one, and both helped each other stay #BostonStrong. 


WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE - FOX

Game 1 - 10/23 8:07 ET

 Adam Wainwright (2-1, 1.57 ERA) vs. Jon Lester (2-1, 2.33 ERA)

Game 2 - 10/24 8:07 ET

Michael Wacha (3-0, 0.43 ERA) vs. John Lackey (2-0, 3.00 ERA)

Game 3 - 10/26 8:07 ET

Clay Buchholz (0-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. Joe Kelly (0-1, 4.41 ERA)

Game 4 - 10/27 8:15 ET

Jake Peavy (0-1, 8.31 ERA) vs. Lance Lynn (2-1, 5.40 ERA)

Game 5 - 10/28 8:07 ET

Game 6 - 10/30 8:07 ET

Game 7 - 10/31 8:07 ET