Teh One Who Knocks
10-21-2013, 11:48 AM
Red Sox vs. Cardinals: 2013 World Series predictions
By Eye on Baseball staff
http://i.imgur.com/0F0YBz8.jpg
With Boston's 5-2 win over the Tigers in game 6 of the ALCS, the World Series matchup is set. The Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals will face off in a rematch of the 2004 World Series. Game 1 is set for Wednesdsay, October 23 at 8:07 p.m. (ET). Who will win? Who knows? But that won't keep out baseball experts from giving their predictions. So without further ado, here are the 2013 CBSSports.com World Series predictions:
Jon Heyman -- Red Sox in 7
Feels like the Red Sox have something special going. Hard to imagine Big Papi and Pedroia taking them this far, then not sealing the deal.
Danny Knobler -- Red Sox in 6
Both these teams have reason to believe they have a good thing going. Either of these teams is easily good enough to win. But the Red Sox seem just the slightest bit more complete, and just seem to be having the slightest bit more magical season.
Scott Miller -- Cardinals in 6
Are you kidding me? St. Louis will do two things against the Red Sox the Tigers couldn't: Shut them down in the late innings and not blow themselves up with self-inflicted wounds. The Cardinals are strong on the mound with Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha/ Their young bullpen arms -- Trevor Rosenthal, Carlos Martinez, Seth Maness et. al -- will present problems for Boston in the late innings. Carlos Beltran will do what Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder couldn't. The Cards are far more versatile and athletic than the Detroit team we just watched. The Sox will discover this for themselves.
Mike Axisa -- Red Sox in 7
These two clubs feel very much like the two best teams in baseball, but the separator for me is the Red Sox's sheer amount of depth. Deeper rotation, deeper lineup, deeper bullpen, much deeper bench. They're also healthier. Given my Game 7 prediction, I also think home-field advantage is going to be end up being factor. The Red Sox seem to have that whole "Team of Destiny" thing going on.
Dayn Perry -- Red Sox in 6
The back of the Cardinal rotation -- Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn -- won't be able to hold its own against the powerful Boston offense. As well, the Cardinals' struggles against lefties will hurt them against Lester. Boston also boasts a much better bench than St. Louis, and John Farrell is willing to use it.
Matt Snyder -- Cardinals in 6
The Cardinals have their starting pitching set up so that Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha can go in Games 1, 2, 5 and 6 respectively. Now, the Red Sox overcame dominant starting pitching in the ALCS due to getting to the Tigers bullpen and having John Lackey shut down a Tigers offense that is weaker than the Cardinals'. If the Red Sox struggle to score runs against dominant starting pitching this time around, they'll be met with a stellar bullpen and a better offense. The odds of them surviving woeful early-game performances in the batter's box are much, much lower this time around.
By Eye on Baseball staff
http://i.imgur.com/0F0YBz8.jpg
With Boston's 5-2 win over the Tigers in game 6 of the ALCS, the World Series matchup is set. The Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals will face off in a rematch of the 2004 World Series. Game 1 is set for Wednesdsay, October 23 at 8:07 p.m. (ET). Who will win? Who knows? But that won't keep out baseball experts from giving their predictions. So without further ado, here are the 2013 CBSSports.com World Series predictions:
Jon Heyman -- Red Sox in 7
Feels like the Red Sox have something special going. Hard to imagine Big Papi and Pedroia taking them this far, then not sealing the deal.
Danny Knobler -- Red Sox in 6
Both these teams have reason to believe they have a good thing going. Either of these teams is easily good enough to win. But the Red Sox seem just the slightest bit more complete, and just seem to be having the slightest bit more magical season.
Scott Miller -- Cardinals in 6
Are you kidding me? St. Louis will do two things against the Red Sox the Tigers couldn't: Shut them down in the late innings and not blow themselves up with self-inflicted wounds. The Cardinals are strong on the mound with Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha/ Their young bullpen arms -- Trevor Rosenthal, Carlos Martinez, Seth Maness et. al -- will present problems for Boston in the late innings. Carlos Beltran will do what Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder couldn't. The Cards are far more versatile and athletic than the Detroit team we just watched. The Sox will discover this for themselves.
Mike Axisa -- Red Sox in 7
These two clubs feel very much like the two best teams in baseball, but the separator for me is the Red Sox's sheer amount of depth. Deeper rotation, deeper lineup, deeper bullpen, much deeper bench. They're also healthier. Given my Game 7 prediction, I also think home-field advantage is going to be end up being factor. The Red Sox seem to have that whole "Team of Destiny" thing going on.
Dayn Perry -- Red Sox in 6
The back of the Cardinal rotation -- Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn -- won't be able to hold its own against the powerful Boston offense. As well, the Cardinals' struggles against lefties will hurt them against Lester. Boston also boasts a much better bench than St. Louis, and John Farrell is willing to use it.
Matt Snyder -- Cardinals in 6
The Cardinals have their starting pitching set up so that Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha can go in Games 1, 2, 5 and 6 respectively. Now, the Red Sox overcame dominant starting pitching in the ALCS due to getting to the Tigers bullpen and having John Lackey shut down a Tigers offense that is weaker than the Cardinals'. If the Red Sox struggle to score runs against dominant starting pitching this time around, they'll be met with a stellar bullpen and a better offense. The odds of them surviving woeful early-game performances in the batter's box are much, much lower this time around.