BOSTON — The two best teams in baseball are exactly where they belong, and the difference between the Cardinals and Red Sox is real slim.
It should make for a wonderful World Series that opens Wednesday night at Fenway Park, where Adam Wainwright starts for the Cardinals and Jon Lester goes for the host Red Sox.
Red Sox DH David Ortiz is balanced by Cardinal outfielder Carlos Beltran. Each team has more than one lock-down reliever and closers who have been almost unhittable in October. The Red Sox love to run and Yadier Molina is the best throwing catcher in baseball. The Red Sox’s experience is countered by the Cardinals’ river of young talent.
“I think it’s a team that is very similar to ours, they take a lot of pride grinding out at-bats,’’ Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Tuesday at Fenway where each team worked out, the Red Sox under a rainbow. “And playing tough, playing hard and playing all the way through nine. Those are things I believe set good teams apart and that’s what they are all about.’’
Being unfamiliar with each other adds to the intrigue. So, too, does the possibility of playing four games in Fenway, which houses not only the Green Monster in left, but the triangle in center and lot of room in right-center. Experienced outfielders sometimes struggle playing balls off the Green Monster and in the triangle, so the Cardinals could be hurt.
“It’s going to be a tough series,’’ said Lester, who won Game 4 of the 2007 World Series in Denver when he was 23 and admittedly nervous. “Having the DH for them adds the little X-factor. They have Allen Craig coming back. But when it comes down to it, you have to execute pitches. Obviously, with their pitching staff it’s going to be tough against us.’’
The Red Sox felt the same way about the Tigers’ pitchers and pitched and hit well enough to beat them, 4-2, in the ALCS.
With the teams evenly matched, the bullpens and Molina against Boston’s ability to steal bases could decide it.
Koji Uehara, the MVP of the ALCS when he saved three games and posted a victory, is a contrast to Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal. Uehara’s splitter, which he throws about half the time, was magical against the Tigers, who fanned nine times in six innings. In nine postseason frames, Uehara has fanned 13.
“Hopefully we don’t have to face him,’’ Molina said of the right-handed Uehara, who has only pitched to Beltran among the Cardinal hitters.
While Uehara gets the split to disappear, Rosenthal is all power with a fastball that averages 97 mph. The only Red Sox player with an at-bat against Rosenthal is Shane Victorino, who has one.
Inserted as the closer late in the season, Rosenthal, a 21st-round pick, has thrived. In six postseason games, he hasn’t allowed a run and fanned nine in seven innings.
Then there are the Red Sox, who led the AL with 123 steals in 142 attempts going against Molina, who threw out 20-of-46 runners attempting to steal.
Asked if he felt he could be the difference in the Series, Molina shrugged and said, “No, it’s about our team.’’
According to Rosenthal, Molina’s work behind the plate is a big part of the Cardinals.
“I am not a slide-step guy, I try to be quick to the plate,’’ Rosenthal said of combating the Red Sox on the bases. “Luckily, we have one of the best throwing catchers in the game.’’
And one that won’t force Victorino to change his approach even though he respects what Molina can do.
“It’s not changing anything for me. I will be aggressive,’’ Victorino said. “I know how good he is, but if I go up there with that attitude I am already behind the eight ball. I will be aggressive, but you also have to be smart because he is that good.’’