White Sox vs. Red Sox

It's great that the Red Sox have to play a cursed team. Call it the Shoeless Joe curse, as the Pale Hose have not won a World Series since the Black Sox Scandal.

I hate the way the rotation is lining up for Boston. Matt Clement has been shot since he took a liner in the head a couple months back. His Game 1 mound opponent is Jose Contreras, who has been dominant in the second half. I guess Boston fans can hope that Contreras wilts under the pressure, but I always felt that was overstated when he was in the Bronx. There has to be more pressure pitching for Castro than for Steinbrenner, don't you think? I mean, George can't throw your family in prison, can he?

Wells vs. Buerhle can go either way in Game 2. The offenses will decide that one. That means, the Red Sox win because the White Sox aren't in the same offensive class. Game 3 is the key to the series. Wakefield was so bad in the big spot against the Yankees. Jon Garland has been a revelation in '04 and, yes, he's been a little lucky. But he's average-to-good. Who do the White Sox start in Game 4? Why isn't Freddy Garcia listed? He was great in his last start and claims to be healthy. I'm assuming the AP made a mistake. Garcia actually should start Game 3.

Both teams have trouble in the pen. I don't believe in Mike Timlin in a big spot. Papelbon is untested in the playoffs. But that's nothing compared to the White Sox, who have very raw Bobby Jenks, who can fire it up there at 100 mph. Dustin Hermanson is the putative closer, but he's been fighting back problems all summer.

Net OPS has this matchup basically even, with a so slight edge to the White Sox. These teams are evenly matched. I don't like Ozzie Guillen's game management and he could cost them with stupid baserunning and other questionable decisions like putting Garland ahead of Garcia in the playoff rotation. Can Schilling and Wakefield come through after Clement spits the bit in Game 1? I don't think so. White Sox in five.