BOSTON – Sure, we all know the Yankees have a few guys who can hit. Guys like Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui.
But now let’s see what the Red Sox pitchers can do against a real lineup.
OK, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But the truth is, while the Yankee “O” is certainly formidable, the Red Sox haven’t faced any lineup as complete as the one they’ll face over the next seven games.
Sox pitchers, say hello to the Cardinals.
“It’s as good a lineup as any that’s ever been put on paper,” Sox catcher Doug Mirabelli said.
The core of the St. Louis lineup is its 2-through-5 hitters, a group which has been heralded as a modern-day Murderers’ Row. Start with right fielder Larry Walker (.298, 17 homers, 47 RBIs in just 258 at-bats), then move on to first baseman Albert Pujols (.331, 46, 123), third baseman Scott Rolen (.314, 34, 124) and center fielder Jim Edmonds (.301, 42, 111).
Dizzy yet?
“Basically,” Sox ace Curt Schilling said, “you’re talking about four legitimate MVP candidates or past winners hitting second through fifth.”
Pujols is the most luminous star (“To do what he’s done offensively, he’s a different breed,” Schilling said), a brilliant talent who won the NLCS MVP by hitting .500 with four homers and nine RBIs and is probably the best right-handed hitter in the game.
But while Pujols is sensational, part of what also makes him so good are the players around him. Not only are Walker, Rolen and Edmonds there (by the way, in an exceptional display of balance, two of the sluggers are righty and two are lefty), but the other hitters in the lineup are pretty good, too.
Shortstop Edgar Renteria? He’s one of the most complete infielders in the game, having hit .287 with 19 homers, 72 RBIs, 84 runs and 17 stolen bases. Leadoff man Tony Womack? He hit .307 with 26 steals and 91 runs. Number No. 7 hitter, Reggie Sanders? He belted 22 homers.
“It’s ridiculous,” Cards outfielder Roger Cedeno said.
It’s also the reason why the most compelling in-game storyline of this series will be whether the mighty Sox pitchers (Schilling and Pedro Martinez, in particular) can control the thunder of the Cards’ hitters.
Said Cards manager Tony La Russa, “You win a game by stopping them in putting points up there.”
Not many people have been successful so far.
