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Angemeldet: 27.11.2018 Beiträge: 63
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Verfasst am: 20.02.2019, 04:30 Titel:
Why the Red Sox Can Pay on the MLB |
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Adam Glanzman/Getty ImagesThere will be no shortage of star power on display in the 2018 World Series.The Boston Red Sox finished the regular season with the best record in baseball http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-rod-carew-jersey , as Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez led a high-powered offense and veteran lefties Chris Sale and David Price anchored a starting rotation that has hit its stride in October.The Los Angeles Dodgers needed a Game 163 to secure a sixth straight NL West title, but they're back in the World Series after the Milwaukee Brewers took them to seven games in the NLCS.Who will come out on top when two of baseball's most storied franchises do battle in a best-of-seven series for the 2018 World Series title?Ahead we've made a few bold predictions for this year's Fall Classic. There Will Be at Least One Major On-Field IncidentKevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesDodgers sluggers Manny Machado and Yasiel Puig tend to rub both opposing fans and players the wrong way at times, and that was on full display during their NLCS series with the Brewers.Bench-clearing incidents are usually few and far between in the World Series, as players don't want to risk being suspended for the most important games of their careers.That said, don't be surprised if we see some fireworks this year.Puig has always played with the pedal to the metal, and Machado has fully embraced the heel role ahead of his upcoming free agency.Whether it's a hard slide, a hit batter, trash-talking on the bases, or something else entirely Brian Dozier Jersey , we're betting that someone is pushed a bit too far and things escalate to the point that the benches clear.Mookie Betts Will Shine at Second BaseThere's already been talk of the Red Sox using Mookie Betts at second base when the series shifts to Los Angeles. Designated hitter J.D. Martinez would then take over in right field, and the Red Sox would still have their two MVP candidates in the lineup.Betts played primarily second base at the start of his pro career, before moving to the outfield upon arriving in the big leagues, but that was five years ago.At the big league level, he's played a grand total of 128 innings at second base, with all but six of those coming during his rookie season.The other six innings came this season, and he handled his two defensive chances cleanly in that game.Christopher Smith SmittyOnMLBAlex Cora didn鈥檛 rule out Mookie Betts playing second base in the National League ParkSo what can we expect out of Betts in three full games when every out is crucial?Expect him to impress.The 26-year-old is one of the best athletes in the game, and while right field is a different animal entirely, you don't win won back-to-back Gold Glove awards in the outfield without possessing at least a few skills that translate to the dirt.Here's predicting at least one brilliant http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-justin-morneau-jersey , run-saving defensive play from Betts at second base before the World Series is over.David Freese Will Add to His Postseason Resume with MVP HonorsJayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty ImagesDavid Freese authored one of the greatest postseasons in MLB history back in 2011 while he was playing with the St. Louis Cardinals.He hit .397/.465/.794 with eight doubles, five home runs and 21 RBI in 18 games, winning NLCS and World Series MVP after delivering one clutch hit after another.Now 35, he's settled into a platoon role with the Dodgers after coming over in an August trade, playing first base against left-handed pitching.He was 2-for-3 with a double and a home run in Game 6 of the NLCS, and he could play an even bigger role in the World Series.The Red Sox will send lefties Chris Sale and David Price to the mound in Games 1 and 2, and then presumably again in Games 5 and 6if the series gets that far.Freese hit .321/.387/.489 with six doubles and five home runs in 155 plate appearances against left-handed pitching during the regular season.We'll say the Dodgers win the series in six games and Freese adds another World Series MVP trophy to his resume, as he takes Sale and Price both deep at least once. All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted. HOUSTON (AP) — Tyler White continues to come through in big situations for the Houston Astros.White hit a go-ahead two-run double in a five-run eighth inning Kirby Puckett Jersey , Alex Bregman homered and the Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-3 on Saturday night.“Those guys setting the table is the big thing,” White said. “Kemp getting the hit and George (Springer) with the interference and Carlos (Correa) coming up with the big two-out hit is what got me in that situation. I just tried to get a good pitch to hit and take the same as any other at-bat.”With the score tied in the eighth, White hit a pitch to left field off Hansel Robles that missed being a home run by just feet. The ball bounced off the top of the metal scoreboard and back into left field. Springer and Correa came around to score, putting the Astros ahead 5-3.Since the All-Star break, White has 16 extra-base hits with 26 RBIs. This is the second time this week White has provided the eventual game-winning runs. White hit a tiebreaking home run in Wednesday’s 5-4 win against Oakland in the ninth inning.The Astros entered leading the American League West by 1 1/2 games over Oakland.Correa drove in the tying run earlier in the eighth with an RBI single to center off Cam Bedrosian (5-4).“It was big,” Astros manager AJ Hinch said. “The swings have gotten a little bit better, his preparation has been great. He carries the burden and is so hard on himself and he wants to come through.”Bedrosian (5-4) gave up three runs and two hits while striking out one in two-thirds of an inning.“There was all these things that were going the wrong way but still Cam had the chance and made a pitch to Correa to get out of it,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “He just left a fastball over the heart of the plate and he lined it to center.”The Astros piled it on as two more runs scored off a misplayed ball by Eric Young Jr. Marwin Gonzalez hit a deep fly ball to left-center, which Young attempted a leaping catch on but missed and crashed into the wall. White and Josh Reddick came into score http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-byron-buxton-jersey , capping the five-run eighth and making it 7-3.“That eighth inning was about the reverse of what last night’s eighth inning was,” Hinch said.”We got the big hit, we got the big connected at-bats one good at-bat after another and delivered a couple of big swings.”The Angels committed four errors on the night.Joe Smith (5-1) got the win after giving up one hit and striking out one in two-thirds of an inning.The struggles of the Angels’ bullpen wasted one of Felix Pena’s best starts of his career. Pena gave up just two runs in seven innings.“Felt good. Really good actually,” Pena said through a translator. “I felt positive even though the result wasn’t on our side.”In the sixth, Bregman crushed his 26th home run of the season, making it 3-2. This extended his reached base safely streak to 29 games.Josh James made his major league pitching debut for the Astros and gave up three runs and five hits. He walked three and struck out nine — tying the second-most by an Astros pitcher making his debut.“Josh James did a great job of channeling a lot of adrenaline early,” Hinch said. “That first inning has to be the most adrenaline-filled inning he’s ever pitched in his life. He came out, showed great arm strength and kind of stayed away from his strength of the secondary pitch until later in the outing.”Kole Calhoun provided the only offense for the Angels with a three-run home run in the second inning. It was Calhoun’s 18th of the season.Justin Upton, who went 0-3 Ervin Santana Jersey , left the game with a mild concussion after nearly colliding with shortstop Andrelton Simmons chasing down a popup in shallow left field. Upton slid under Simmons as he made the catch. He is listed day-to-day.SEPTEMBER CALLUPSAngels: RHP Miguel Almonte and INF Jose Fernandez were called up from Triple-A Salt Lake and also selected RHP Junichi Tazawa to the major league roster.Astros: OF Jake Marisnick and C Brian McCann were both activated from the 10-day disabled list and LHP Cionel Perez was called up from Triple-A Fresno. Marisnick and McCann both played on Saturday.TRAINER’S ROOMAngels: RHP Matt Shoemaker (forearm) will start for the Angels on Monday at the Texas Rangers. It will be his first since March 31, which has been his only start of the season.UP NEXTAngels: RHP Shohei Ohtani (4-1, 3.10 ERA) will make his first start since June 6 on Sunday. Ohtani’s 61 strikeouts through his first nine starts are the most in franchise history.Astros: RHP Gerrit Cole (12-5, 2.85 ERA) gets the start in the series finale. Cole has 234 strikeouts, which ranks third in the majors. |
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