?Perry?s Perspective?
Linesmaker @ BetWWTS.com
SHOWDOWN AT FENWAY: BIG BANGERS AND SOFT TOSSERS
Same old, same old. But ain?t it cool?
One of the greatest rivalries in pro sports will be in the spotlight this weekend when the Bronx Bombers visit Beantown for a three-game set versus the BoSox in what promises to be a fall classic.
The winner of this series will probably capture the American League East crown and a trip to the post-season. The loser might still have a shot at the Wild Card spot, but will likely need an Indians? meltdown in their nail-biting finale with Chicago.
A series sweep by either the Yanks or the Red Sox would significantly increase the possibility of eliminating the other team from the postseason.
As such, successfully orchestrating a sweep will be of particular motivation for both teams since they are arguably each other?s biggest obstacle to World Series glory.
On the plus side, this means that this weekend?s series could be as dramatic as last season?s American League Championship Series.
?We?d be kidding ourselves if we didn?t think this weekend was going to dictate the outcome of the season,? Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon told reporters.
?We know it?s going to come down to this weekend. It?s the master plan. God?s way. Yankees-Red Sox.?
On the negative side, if one of these two teams is eliminated from the playoffs, whatever happens afterward could be as anti-climactic as last year?s World Series. (Does anyone remember much about the Red Sox sweep of St. Louis?)
While this weekend?s series may seem as natural as a Steinbrenner tantrum, this is just the second time in history that these two storied franchises have met in a season-ending series with first place hanging in the balance.
The only other time was in 1949 - trailing Boston by a game, the Yanks won the final two head-to-head matchups to take the AL pennant.
Based on that result 56 year ago, the odds would suggest that New York has a good chance of winning this time around as well?just kidding. It has no bearing in this weekend?s series.
This year?s meetings might give us a better gauge of what will happen. Unfortunately, in the 16 games they've played this season, the Yankees have a marginal 9-7 lead in the series. No real dominance there.
The Yanks, however, have had Boston?s number recently. New York is 5-2 in their last seven against the Red Sox and 3-1 in their last four visits to Fenway.
With both teams littered with superstars and future Hall of Famers, this series promises to be tightly contested with neither team listed as heavy favorites.
At the same time, we can safely assume these games will not be low-scoring affairs. With players like Big Papi, A-Rod, Damon, Jeter, Godzilla and Sheffield, both teams feature the top sluggers in the league.
In fact, with averages of .282 and .276, the Red Sox and Yankees respectively have the top two batting averages. They also are No. 1 and No. 2 in OBP and No. 3 and No. 4 in SLG. In their 16 meetings this season, each team has blasted 23 homers.
Conversely, despite multi-millionaire arms like Johnson and Mussina, Schilling and Wells, both teams have struggled on the mound this season. The BoSox and Yanks are near the bottom third of the league in ERA.
Boston pitchers have been especially awful in relief, owning the worst bullpen ERA in the American League.
So what does this all mean? High posted totals, of course. In the last seven meetings, the posted totals have not dipped below 9.5. Yet, the OVER has still gone 5-2. Something to consider when you?re laying your bets this weekend.
The scheduled starters on Friday will feature 25-year-old rookie Chien-Ming Wang (8-4, 4.02 ERA) versus 42-year-old southpaw David Wells (14-7, 4.47 ERA).
On Saturday, a 42-year-old Yankee lefty Randy Johnson (16-8, 3.79 ERA) will face 39-year-old knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (16-11, 3.96 ERA).
The third game could see Curt Shilling (7-8, 5.98) face Mike Mussina (13-8, 4.41).
The fact that Wakefield has the lowest ERA among these illustrious names says a lot about the state of pitching on these two clubs.
Good luck with your bets.
Linesmaker @ BetWWTS.com
SHOWDOWN AT FENWAY: BIG BANGERS AND SOFT TOSSERS
Same old, same old. But ain?t it cool?
One of the greatest rivalries in pro sports will be in the spotlight this weekend when the Bronx Bombers visit Beantown for a three-game set versus the BoSox in what promises to be a fall classic.
The winner of this series will probably capture the American League East crown and a trip to the post-season. The loser might still have a shot at the Wild Card spot, but will likely need an Indians? meltdown in their nail-biting finale with Chicago.
A series sweep by either the Yanks or the Red Sox would significantly increase the possibility of eliminating the other team from the postseason.
As such, successfully orchestrating a sweep will be of particular motivation for both teams since they are arguably each other?s biggest obstacle to World Series glory.
On the plus side, this means that this weekend?s series could be as dramatic as last season?s American League Championship Series.
?We?d be kidding ourselves if we didn?t think this weekend was going to dictate the outcome of the season,? Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon told reporters.
?We know it?s going to come down to this weekend. It?s the master plan. God?s way. Yankees-Red Sox.?
On the negative side, if one of these two teams is eliminated from the playoffs, whatever happens afterward could be as anti-climactic as last year?s World Series. (Does anyone remember much about the Red Sox sweep of St. Louis?)
While this weekend?s series may seem as natural as a Steinbrenner tantrum, this is just the second time in history that these two storied franchises have met in a season-ending series with first place hanging in the balance.
The only other time was in 1949 - trailing Boston by a game, the Yanks won the final two head-to-head matchups to take the AL pennant.
Based on that result 56 year ago, the odds would suggest that New York has a good chance of winning this time around as well?just kidding. It has no bearing in this weekend?s series.
This year?s meetings might give us a better gauge of what will happen. Unfortunately, in the 16 games they've played this season, the Yankees have a marginal 9-7 lead in the series. No real dominance there.
The Yanks, however, have had Boston?s number recently. New York is 5-2 in their last seven against the Red Sox and 3-1 in their last four visits to Fenway.
With both teams littered with superstars and future Hall of Famers, this series promises to be tightly contested with neither team listed as heavy favorites.
At the same time, we can safely assume these games will not be low-scoring affairs. With players like Big Papi, A-Rod, Damon, Jeter, Godzilla and Sheffield, both teams feature the top sluggers in the league.
In fact, with averages of .282 and .276, the Red Sox and Yankees respectively have the top two batting averages. They also are No. 1 and No. 2 in OBP and No. 3 and No. 4 in SLG. In their 16 meetings this season, each team has blasted 23 homers.
Conversely, despite multi-millionaire arms like Johnson and Mussina, Schilling and Wells, both teams have struggled on the mound this season. The BoSox and Yanks are near the bottom third of the league in ERA.
Boston pitchers have been especially awful in relief, owning the worst bullpen ERA in the American League.
So what does this all mean? High posted totals, of course. In the last seven meetings, the posted totals have not dipped below 9.5. Yet, the OVER has still gone 5-2. Something to consider when you?re laying your bets this weekend.
The scheduled starters on Friday will feature 25-year-old rookie Chien-Ming Wang (8-4, 4.02 ERA) versus 42-year-old southpaw David Wells (14-7, 4.47 ERA).
On Saturday, a 42-year-old Yankee lefty Randy Johnson (16-8, 3.79 ERA) will face 39-year-old knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (16-11, 3.96 ERA).
The third game could see Curt Shilling (7-8, 5.98) face Mike Mussina (13-8, 4.41).
The fact that Wakefield has the lowest ERA among these illustrious names says a lot about the state of pitching on these two clubs.
Good luck with your bets.
