RED SOX VS ANGELS BREAKDOWN

Many people consider these teams to be the best two in baseball, which makes for an intriguing ALDS, beginning tonight at 10 p.m. est. The Red Sox are dealing with a couple of key injuries (Mike Lowell and Josh Beckett), while the Angels are the best all around team in the American League, and maybe all of baseball. They do everything well and they should be the AL World Series representative come late October. Both managers have postseason experience, but I think Mike Scioscia is going to get the best of Terry Francona this year. With Manny Ramirez now a Dodger, I have a feeling that Jason Bay is going to have a tough time coming through this postseason. He knows that Manny was a stud in the playoffs while he was in Boston, and now he must fill those shoes. He's going to feel the pressure, and I wouldn't be surprised if he struggles against the Angels pitching staff.

This series is bound to be a five-game affair, with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim-San Jose-Sacramento taking care of business. The only question mark I have with this team is John Lackey. He has struggled the past couple of starts in September. Maybe it was because the Angels had clinched the division already or maybe it wasn't. If he struggles, momentum could easily turn toward Boston. The other key in this series is K-Rod vs. Papelbon. With the extra days off, both teams can stretch two innings out of their closer, which could be the deciding factor.

ANGELS IN FIVE GAMES

Shawn Marosek