10-12-2004, 10:14 AM
The series will come down to whether Heredia will be able to get anybody out, mainly Ortiz. Anaheim had no left-handed relievers so had to use Washburn with the series on the line to pitch to Ortiz. Heredia is the only lefty on the entire roster, and at some point will need to pitch to Ortiz with the game on the line.
Both teams depend heavily on homers to score the majority of their runs, but Boston has more ways to score overall. They sacraficed fewer than any team, but when needed Damon, Bellhorn, Cabrera, and Mueller (among starters) can and will drop a bunt down. Plus they have one of the best basestealers in baseball on the bench with Roberts. Jeter and Cairo are the only Yankees you could bunt with. Every game in the series will be close, so whoever can manufacture more runs will end up on top. This is THE last chance Boston has to win with this core of players; if they don't win this year they never will.
Both teams depend heavily on homers to score the majority of their runs, but Boston has more ways to score overall. They sacraficed fewer than any team, but when needed Damon, Bellhorn, Cabrera, and Mueller (among starters) can and will drop a bunt down. Plus they have one of the best basestealers in baseball on the bench with Roberts. Jeter and Cairo are the only Yankees you could bunt with. Every game in the series will be close, so whoever can manufacture more runs will end up on top. This is THE last chance Boston has to win with this core of players; if they don't win this year they never will.