Someone explain to me why this picture came up when I searched for "Rays vs. White Sox".White Sox: 12th in ERA, 9th in Starter's ERA, 12th in Bullpen ERA, 6th in Runs Scored
Rays: 3rd in ERA, 6th in Starter's ERA, 5th in Bullpen ERA, 13th in Runs Scored
So ... the Rays are better pitchers, and the White Sox are better hitters. Why can't any of these matchups have a clear winner? The Rays did have the advantage of playing against better competition, but in a five-game series, that really doesn't matter much, does it?
Why the White Sox win:
They just hammer the home runs. They led the majors in home runs, and the Rays weren't exactly stingy in giving up homers (11th most allowed). Then, when they've gotten the lead, they absolutely ride Matt Thornton, Octavio Dotel, Scott Linebrink, and Bobby Jenks through the rest of the game. They also win when the Rays realize they have never been here before and shrink away from the spotlight. Experience counts, and the White Sox have much more than the Rays. Then again, they're also much older. Could that work against them?
Why the Rays win:
Crawford comes back and plays well, Longoria continues to shock the world (because I bet most people still haven't heard of him), and Peña helps carry the team. They continue to win because Kazmir, Shields, Garza, Jackson/Sonnanstine is better than Vazquez, Buerhle, Floyd, and Danks. Then, Howell, Price, Wheeler and Balfour dominate the late innings. They then get some help from the White Sox being really tired from all the hard work and emotion poured into the last three games, all of which had playoff implications.
Offense: White Sox
Defense: Tampa Bay
Game 1: Kazmir vs. Buerhle --> Rays
Game 2: Shields vs. Floyd --> Rays
Game 3: Garza vs. Danks --> Even
Game 4: Jackson vs. Vazquez --> Even
Game 5: Kazmir vs. Floyd --> Rays
Bullpen: Tampa Bay
Closers: Wheeler vs. Jenks --> White Sox
Of all the series, I feel most confident in declaring the Rays the winners in 3. Of course, that means the White Sox win in four, but I don't see the White Sox winning. The Rays just have a better staff all the way through, and their offense should be able (and has been able) to produce enough to win. It'll be difficult to get past the Angels in the ALCS, but I don't think the White Sox derail the Cinderella story just yet. Rays in 3.
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