2013 World Series: Staff Picks
By Andrew Padyk
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
After three rounds of the postseason so far, we now come down to the final match, the Fall Classic. This year’s World Series features a match up of balance versus balance, as the Boston Red Sox take on the St. Louis Cardinals for what has the potential to be a seven game series, and will be an exciting back and forth series. With so much baseball left to be played, here at Call to the Pen, we can’t hold our collective breath with all that is left to play and what will be an exciting series. So without further introduction here are our picks for this year’s World Series:
Cordell Oberholtzer
I think the Cardinals offense will be the difference in this series. They obviously have great pitchers too, but they seem to always get hits when they need them and take advantage of opportunities. The Red Sox struggled to establish a consistent offense against the Tigers and the Cards have arguably a deeper staff.
Cards in Six.
Chris Lacey
I think the Cardinals will win the series in six games because of their offense that comes through when the team needs it most. They also will have Allen Craig back in the line up, he was their best hitter during the regular season with runners in scoring position.
They are also stacked with great pitching, as indicated by what Michael Wacha did for them in both the NLCS and NLDS. The kid has got ice water running through his veins. The word pressure means nothing to him, with him winning two elimination games for St. Louis this postseason.
There is also Adam Wainwright, the workhorse in the rotation for the club. It’s almost a given he will pitch into the seventh inning or later when he starts. The bullpen has been spectacular with Carlos Martinez and Trevor Rosenthal lighting up the radar gun with their fastball that no one can touch.
I predict that Michael Wacha and Adam Wainwright will be Co-MVP’s.
Cardinals in Six.
Sawx in 6. Fear the beards.
Joe Wedra
It’s simple! They have the pitching, they have the hitting, they have the heart!
Boston Strong!
Sox in Six.
Steven Engbloom
Going with the Cardinals in 6. The old gut says so.
Sam Clancy
The Red Sox have the feel good story but the Cardinals have an undeniable mo-jo in the playoffs. There is no disputing that these are the two best teams in the league which should make for an unbelievable series. Both have powerful offenses, dominant bullpens and starting staffs that have really hit their strides. It will come down to the wire, but the location of the games will play a huge role. I think the Red Sox are at a greater disadvantage playing under NL rules than the Cardinals are under AL rules with Allen Craig returning to DH.
For that reason I’m going with the Cardinals in seven.
Paul Festa
This has the potential to be one of the most evenly matched World Series in years. Each team has a strong lineup featuring clutch postseason performers like David Ortiz, Shane Victorino, Carlos Beltran, and David Freese. The starting rotations are similar – top-heavy, with the potential of either great or bad performances from the back end. Each bullpen has performed well in the postseason, with the Red Sox relievers getting a slight edge.
I’m going with the Red Sox in 7 games.
Ryan Ritchey
The Red Sox have the home field but I don’t believe it will matter. Allen Craig will be huge for the Cardinals in the series as the DH in Boston. While the Red Sox will either lose Mike Napoli or David Oritz out of their lineup in St. Louis. That will really hurt them.
I’m going with the Cardinals in 6.
Ray Kuhn
The Red Sox have the home field but I don’t believe it will matter. Allen Craig will be huge for the Cardinals in the series as the DH in Boston. While the Red Sox will either lose Mike Napoli or David Oritz out of their lineup in St. Louis. That will really hurt them.
I’m going with the Cardinals in 6.
Andrew Padyk
Between a bearded Red Sox team that has overtones of the 67′ impossible dream team, and a Cardinals team that looks like there are no cracks in the foundation, this a tough series to predict. What will tip the balance will be depth of either the team, and in this case its St. Louis who will have the favor in terms of depth. The fact that Allen Craig is back in the lineup for St. Louis, is a massive bonus for the team as a designated hitter away and a starter at home, where as the Red Sox have to deal with the fact that either David Ortiz could potentially be benched at St. Louis. It is also that the Cardinals have Michael Wacha and Adam Wainwright starting as well. One final note, is that the Cardinals are getting hits and runs productions when it is needed, which will put them over the top and can also keep the trio of Junichi Tazawa, Craig Breslow, and Koji Uehara in the pen. It will be a back and forth series.
Cardinals in Seven.