Boston Red Sox Boston Celtics Boston Bruins New England Patriots

It’s kind of like when the Detroit Pistons couldn’t get past the Boston Celtics back in the 80’s. It was a playoff rivalry that wasn’t much of a rivalry, because it was always so lopsided and the Celtics would always come out on top. That was, until the Pistons finally broke through the big green wall that was the Big Three in 1987 and made it over that hurdle.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have been here before. In 2004, they were swept by the Boston Red Sox who eventually went on to win the World Series. In 2007, it was the same story. So what about 2008? Will it be a repeat? Will the Red Sox take three and be done or will the Angels being the best team in baseball slip past the Red Sox to win the ALDS?

Time will only tell what will become of this East Coast v. West Coast rivalry that has developed quietly in the last couple of years. It’s certainly not Lakers v. Celtics or Red Sox v. Yankees, but it has developed into, at the very least, a far more intriguing series then any of the other first round match-ups for Major League Baseball this year. Does anyone really care what happens in the Brewers-Phillies tilt? I didn’t think so.

The Red Sox may be without Josh Beckett for this entire series. Terry Francona is talking that he should be good to go for game 3, but really do we want that scenario to play out? Wouldn’t we rather get two in LA and not even have to throw Beckett at all in this series? Let’s keep him fresh to the end for the ALCS. I know, it’s basically a dream scenario, but one that I wouldn’t put out of reach.

We’ve heard the injury stories before though. In 2004, it was Schilling who probably wouldn’t be able to go against the Yankees, he did. This time though, the injuries are piling up for the Red Sox. Beckett is hurt, Lowell is hurt, JD Drew is hurt, but they will all “play.”

It always comes down to injuries right? When the Celtics were finally defeated by the Detroit Pistons, they were banged up. Bill Walton was no longer on the team. The big three were banged up and getting older. Danny Ainge and DJ were a step slower and the bench was not nearly as deep as the 1986 team. On the other hand, the Pistons were hitting their stride. Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars were hitting their prime and the front court for the Pistons was stronger, younger and healthier then that of the Celtics.

While this series with the Red Sox and Angels is not a mirror image, certainly the injury situation is similar. It is a matter of health and the Angels are the healthier of the two teams, but if I were a betting man, I wouldn’t bet against Terry Francona, David Ortiz and the rest of the Red Sox in Soxtober.

GO SOX!!

adam@wickedpissadude.com

Labels: Bill Walton, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Pistons, Isaiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim, New York Yankees

Sorry Phil, a franchise record 64-18 in '05-'06 didn't help. The push to game 6 in the '08 conference finals with a volatile Shady Wallace, less than 100% Chauncey B-B-B-B-Billups will just not do either.

The Detroit Pistons fired Flip Saunders today just six days after the team bowed out of the conference finals to our beloved Celtics. What is next for the Pistons? God willing - an interview with hometown favorite Isaiah Thomas. That would make my day. Sorry Phil, see you at TNT in the fall.

-timmy
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