The World Series is just about to get underway with the Boston Red Sox taking on the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park on Wednesday. Today, digital sports editor Victor Flores and sports reporters Andrew Bantly, Madison Guernsey and Chris Mosch preview the Fall Classic and predict who will become world champs.
1) Where does Shane Victorino’s grand slam rank among the most exciting home runs in MLB playoffs history?
Victor Flores — It wasn’t nearly as big as Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run for Pittsburgh in the Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, or Joe Carter’s walk-off in 1993 to win it all for Toronto. But Victorino’s will certainly be remembered for a long time. Like Carter, Victorino hit his home run while his team was trailing in Game 6. Victorino’s wasn’t a walk-off and didn’t come in the World Series, but it was still huge. Plus, it was a freaking grand slam! Victorino’s blast might even rank higher than Kirk Gibson’s in the 1988 World Series. Maybe.
Andrew Bantly — Judging this home run against some of the great home runs in playoff history is a tough challenge. I do not believe this one will be remembered like Bobby Thomson’s “shot heard round the world” or Kirk Gibson’s first pump home run. This home run propelled a good team, against tough opposition, to the Fall Classic. And for that, it will be real close to Carlton Fisk’s home run where he waved the ball to the right to stay fair.
Madison Guernsey — Not that high. It may not have even been the biggest home run of this postseason. Juan Uribe hit a game winner in the deciding game of the divisional series. David Ortiz’s grand slam in Game 2 of the ALCS capped a comeback for the ages and set up a walk-off win. Mike Napoli’s solo shot in the seventh inning of Game 3 was the only run of the ballgame. Although Victorino’s slam vaulted the Red Sox to the World Series, Joe Carter, Kirk Gibson, Bill Mazeroski, Aaron Boone, David Freese and Ortiz stand in an elite class of playoff homers.
Chris Mosch — I’d argue that David Ortiz’s grand slam in Game 2 will go down as the more memorable moment from this series. Memorable home runs often come when a team’s back is against the wall and that was certainly the case with Big Papi’s blast. The Red Sox had a 92.5 percent chance of heading back to Detroit down 2-0 prior to Ortiz’s blast, but that home run single-handedly switched the series’ momentum in Boston’s favor. Plus, I doubt anyone will forget this image anytime soon.
2) Did either LCS series surprise you? Why or why not?
Victor Flores — The outcomes of the series weren’t too surprising, but there certainly were surprising moments. Seeing the Red Sox hit two grand slams that basically won them two games was shocking, almost unprecedented. In the other series, Los Angeles’ ace Clayton Kershaw lost both games, including a pounding in the series’ final game where he gave up seven runs. This brought back memories of the beating Justin Verlander suffered against the Giants in Game 1 of last year’s World Series.
Andrew Bantly — Not at all, really. My biggest surprise is how dominating the Cardinals were in Game 6 against Clayton Kershaw. With the mindset of getting to Game 7, the LA Dodgers put Kershaw on the hill in St. Louis but the Cardinals knocked him around scoring seven runs (all earned) on 10 hits in just four innings.
Madison Guernsey — I expected the NLCS to be more competitive. The Dodgers cruised through the Braves and threw Clayton Kershaw twice, but the offense was shut down by Michael Wacha and Adam Wainwright. The Cardinals proved themselves as the most complete team in baseball.
Chris Mosch — The NLCS was nearly impossible to predict, as the first three games were won by the team throwing the inferior starting pitcher. The Dodgers were unable to win Game 1 with Clayton Kershaw on the mound or Game 2 with Zack Greinke pitching, while the Cardinals dropped Game 3 with Adam Wainwright on the hill. The Cardinals had to steal at least one of the games that Kershaw started and they won both, which was one of the reasons they won the series so convincingly. The Dodgers not winning either of Kershaw’s starts was easily the most surprising part of either series.
3) Are you satisfied with a Red Sox-Cardinals World Series? Why or why not?
Victor Flores — Completely. This is the first World Series matchup since 1999 between two teams with the best records in their respective leagues. While seeing underdogs win in the playoffs can be exciting, they don’t always produce the best baseball. The Red Sox and Cardinals have been producing good baseball all season, including the playoffs, and they should continue to stay on that level in the World Series.
Andrew Bantly — Oh yeah. This series is so difficult to call. Both teams have great pitching and solid hitting. They both have dependable bullpens and good defenses. More than that, though, this is a matchup for the ages with two historic ball clubs. These two clubs have been to 31 combined Fall Classics’ with 18 total World Series titles between them.
Madison Guernsey — Absolutely. A Cinderella Series would have been exciting, but watching the best two teams in baseball pitted against one another with everything on the line is unbeatable. Both storied franchises have won two world championships in the last nine years and will settle the “team of the decade” debate once this series is over.
Chris Mosch — Definitely. These are easily the best two teams in baseball right now and the series features arguably the two greatest postseason performers of our era. Carlos Beltran is cementing a Hall of Fame-worthy career and Ortiz has been responsible for some of the most memorable postseason moments of the century. There will be plenty of drama to go around in this one.
4) Who will win the 2013 World Series?
Victor Flores — Red Sox in seven games. Both teams went 97-65 in the regular season. Both have elite lineups with solid-not-great pitching staffs. They’re incredibly similar teams that should be close every game of this World Series. Then again, we’re trying to predict playoff baseball, where a team can hit two miraculous grand slams and Clayton Kershaw can look mediocre. So nobody really knows, but I think the Sox will eek this one out.
Andrew Bantly — I might as well flip a coin. This series is going to be a battle each and every night. I wouldn’t be surprised if this series was decided in Game 7 in Boston. But I have to take the St. Louis Cardinals. I can’t say that the Cardinals have better pitching or have a better bullpen. But I am convinced that their young players, like Michael Wacha, will continue to shine in the bright lights of October and their leaders as well. Keep in mind that this team got to the World Series without Rafael Furcal, Chris Carpenter or Allen Craig.
Madison Guernsey — The Red Sox, but just barely. This matchup is incredibly even in every aspect and will boil down to home field advantage. The “Boston Strong” Red Sox will win in seven, leaving the Cardinals as the best team to lose a World Series since the 2004 Red Birds, who won 105 regular season games.
Chris Mosch — These two teams are so evenly matched and this series could easily go either way. I’ll go with the Red Sox in seven, as Boston has more team depth than the Cardinals. Boston has 12 hitters on their roster that were better than league average this season while St. Louis has the offensively incumbent Pete Kozma in their starting lineup and found themselves having Adron Chambers pinch-hitting in key situations in the NLCS. St. Louis probably boasts the two best starting pitchers on either team with Wainwright and Michael Wacha, but Boston arguably has the next best four with Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, John Lackey and Jake Peavy. This one could easily come down to Boston’s home field advantage.