Unlucky 13...

Thirteen has always been an omen of ill fate, and Sunday night's ALDS game in Boston was no exception. Josh Beckett looked more than a little rusty in his first start in 13 days. And while the outing yielded a no decision, I have no problem with what I saw. 

As you hear time and again, the intangibles are the important things this time of year, and that is why I am calling a stellar start next time Beckett takes the mound. 

If you've ever seen Beckett pitch, you know that last night's attempt was unacceptable to the Boston ace. Missed strikes, base hits and missed bags are not par for the post-season lights out pitcher we have all come to know in Beckett. 

And aside from Beckett, the game was less than a grand outing for the Red Sox. If not for a field mix up by the Angels, the game would have been over long before the 12th last night. We have been suffering from an inability to get runners off the bases and on to home plate. Boston has the ability to be a great small ball team, and I think that matches up extremely well against the Angels, a team with great struggles producing offense. 

I am looking forward to tonight's game(s). I hope Chicago takes another from the Rays and I hope Lester continues his winning ways. It may not be bad to rest Lowell for a few games and give Casey or Kotsay a chance at first. Afterall, that's why we have utility players. It will be a good game tonight, and I see my prediction of Red Sox in four being a reality. We're better than the Angels, and we should take the series and tonight's game 3-1.