The Sports Zoo

Angels, thanks for coming.  It was fun, really.  Boston is now on to the ALCS for the 3rd time in 6 years, behind a suprisingly dominant night from Curt Schilling and an absolute manly effort from David Ortiz and Man-Ram, two HR’s each.

The Yankees apear to be showing signs of life, so we won’t pencil Cleveland in yet, but things are looking a whole lot like Yankee fans are going to be watching this thing from home again.  Tear.  Although I would never like to see the Yanks winning, another head to head in the ALCS would be MOST entertaining.

Now, tribute to tonights winning pitcher.  He played wicked hard.

Manny Ramirez was the hero Friday night, as the Red Sox took a 2-0 lead in the American League Divisional Series against the Southern California Los Angeles Angels of the Greater Anahiem Area United States of America.  The Boston fan karma continued, as a 17 year-old son of a Red Sox owner stole a fly pop from the glove of catcher Jeff Mathis, keeping a Ramirez at-bat alive and leading to the run that forced the tie.

Both teams travel to the West Coast for Sunday’s game 3, and we will have an interesting pitching matchup, with Old School Curt Schilling vs New School Jarrod Weaver.  If I had to guess, Schill will get run by the 4th inning and Weaver will pitch 7 solid…its the way things work with Schilling early in playoff series.

Either way, only one more victory vs the Angels, and Paps dances again.  Lets keep that dance going all month.

Little late on this post, because as I’m typing this Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell just hit back to back homers to cut the lead to 3-2 Rockies.  It still has to be a thrill for Denver to have relevant baseball being played, and who says the Rocks can’t acually pull this thing off?  One has to wonder how Mets fans feel, because on paper they are far better to both of these teams, at least at the plate and in the field.  Welcome to the start of a wild month of baseball, people.  The official Zoo picks:

Rockies over Phils in 5, DBacks over Cubs in 4    -    DBacks over Rockies in 5

Red Sox over Angels in 4, Yankees over Indians in 5    -    Red Sox over Yankees in 7

Red Sox over DBacks in 5

Playoff MVP: Mike Lowell

(Note:  None of that will probably happen.)