With the League Championship Series finally over, it is now time to turn our attention to the biggest stage baseball has to offer.
The World Series.
In it this year are the Boston Red Sox, winners of the ALCS against the Houston Astros in 5 games, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, winners of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers in a full 7. It’s a perennial showdown between two of the biggest markets Major League Baseball has to offer. Simply put, this matchup is their wet dream for gaining revenue.
As such, it’s no surprise to see the two teams being advertised in excess throughout social media. Big-time names such as Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Chris Sale, Clayton Kershaw, Yasiel Puig, and Manny Machado will be present for this prestigious stage which will end in a new champion being crowned at the end of this month. Furthermore, stars from separate fields will also come out to witness the game’s best in action but that’s not what I’m going to talk about.
What I want to put forth is a preview piece in anticipation for the fall classic which will happen later today. Both Boston and Los Angeles have weapons that can make or break their postseason such as the ones featured above, but it’s imperative to look out for these additional key aspects on the baseball diamond before the first pitch is thrown in Fenway Park on Tuesday night.
BOSTON RED SOX
The Daunting Trio on the Outfield
This trio of excellent ballplayers consisting of Jackie Bradley Jr., Andrew Benintendi and Mookie Betts is one of the Red Sox’ biggest assets for this World Series. Each player contributed to their team in their own way during this stretch of games in October.
Bradley Jr. did his part by making the ALCS his own which culminated in him receiving MVP honors. In the 5 games played, he was downright smoking. He had a slash line of .200/.400/.667 (AVG, OBP, SLG) against Houston’s pitching—a historic pitching team at that, with them being leaders this year in nearly every pitching category this game has to offer–which was outstanding. Furthermore, he proved in specific instances that he can hang in the face of one of the most-feared pitching corps baseball has ever had.
In the bottom of the 3rd inning from Game 2, with his team down 4-2 while having the possibility of trailing the series two games to none in the back of their minds, Bradley Jr. hit a double off of Gerrit Cole, the 2nd place holder in the AL strikeout column (276), to send 3 runners home and give them the lead where they would ultimately hold on to win.
The next game, he hit a grand slam off Roberto Osuna, the Astros’ closer who has been nothing but money for them since being acquired via a trade in the middle of the year, to seal it and take a commanding 2-1 series lead in their opponent’s backyard.
And finally, in the fourth game, he hit a first-pitch go-ahead 2-run homer to put them up 6-5 which would end in a big W. Of course, there is much more to highlight when it comes to Mr. Jackie Bradley Jr., but I think these examples should be enough for anyone to understand how valuable he is to the Sox for the World Series.
Andrew Benintendi put out all the stops defensively with his glove, in which he put it to use on a highly-clutch grab on a line drive ball that ended Game 4 of the series against the Astros. With the bases being loaded at the time of the ball being hit in the air by Alex Bregman, a lethal hitter who thrives under pressure, had he not been able to catch the ball and have it roll past him, the series would’ve been tied with no clear winner in sight. Either way could’ve happened, but I guess we’ll never know since we saw the events that transpired on that night which makes for the whole speculation into the many what-if scenarios fully void.
After Benintendi comes Betts. I mean, what is there to say about Mookie Betts? I think I already have in the past. Regardless, just to remind those who are not up to speed in baseball, he’s one of the leading candidates for the AL MVP this year and is revered as the top guy for Boston.
Wherever Betts go, the Red Sox goes with him. Along with being a huge threat in the offense, he can be a high-caliber defensive fielder as well. He certainly proved that in Game 4 with his excellent throw to second base in order to nab Astros’ outfielder Tony Kemp from getting a double and starting a potential rally for his team.
And let’s also not forget about the supposed catch he was billed to make by the right field wall in Minute Maid Park. Though controversial, this play undoubtedly shifted the momentum towards his team for the remainder of the series.
And now that they’re in the World Series, the Red Sox are looking to move him to the infield, most specifically in second base, to make room for J.D. Martinez, another dangerous hitter, who they’ll need to contend in Dodger Stadium since there is no DH allowed in a National League ballpark. It can happen because Betts played in that position before in his high school days. Whatever the case may be, expect for Betts to contribute in any way, shape, or form to help the Red Sox reach the championship summit for the first time since 2013.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
