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  • December 05, 2007 12:49 PM ET

The Red Sox are the Best team in the AMerican League.

Mario Manningham (13-26-1) vs awc1230 (37-13-1)
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The Red Sox are the best team in the AL.


For the sake of argueing, I'll take the Detroit Tigers, who have just acquired D-Train and Cabrera. I know the Red Sox are the champs, but I think the Tigers are just as good, if not better than the Red Sox. Their offseason has made the differnce. Keep in mind that the Sox dont have Santana, so dont add him into your arguments. The Sox might be shopping Coco, but as of now he is considered the starting CF.

Please vote on arguments, not stances.

The Tigers have a better lineup first and foremost. The have the best #2 hitter in the game with Polanco, and Granderson leading off. They have the best contact hitter in the game in Ordonez, and legit power from Miguel Cabrera, Edgar Renaria, Sheffield, and Carlos Guillen. The only downside in their lineup is Thames/Jaque Jones.

However, the Red Sox do have holes in their lineup. Lugo is a horrible hitter w/ speed, too bad his OBP is horrible. JD Drew and Veritek have declined greatly, and Coco is not what he was three years ago. The Red Sox last year had an off production from Big Papi, who went from 50+ HR down to 35. Manny is also declining. He only hit 20 HR last year with less than 90 RBI for the 1st time since 1997

Pitching next


The Red Sox still have great players to contend with the Yankees.


Okay? That has nothing to do with anything. The Red Sox rotation at the moment in overrated. Hear me out, and dont just vote for him because you are from Boston or like the Red Sox more. Beckett is a great pitcher, and they have the better closer, however, the Tigers have a better rotation. Curt is becoming over the hill, and Dice-K is overrated. His ERA was 4.50, and batters have figured him out, and it will only get worse for him as more teams get hands on tapes of his pitching (the same thing happened to Lidge). Wakefield can be good, but is not reliable. He has days where his knucker is good, and others where it isnt, hence his 5 ERA.

The TIgers have the better rotation with Verlander, Dontrelle, Bonderman, Robertson, and Kenny Rogers.

The Tigers bullpen is very good, with Zumaya and Rodney. Im not saying the Sox have a bad bullpen, but the two are both very very effective. Neither get a huge favor here.


The Red Sox have Okajima and Papelbon


i guess ill have to argue someone else over this

Comments (18) Add A Comment

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December 5, 2007  01:12 PM ET
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Yeah, congrats on accepting another stupid TD.

December 5, 2007  01:15 PM ET
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Mario - The Red Sox still have great players to contend with the Yankees.

Does this mean you think the Yankees are the best team?

December 5, 2007  01:15 PM ET
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Congrats awc on a soon to be easy TD victory.

December 5, 2007  01:16 PM ET
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Holding off on voting to see if Mario actually makes an argument for a change, otherwise awc will get my vote for at least arguing not just making 1 sentence statements

December 5, 2007  01:27 PM ET
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hows this a stupid TD gruden? I didnt know from his first statement that he wasnt going to argue throughout the rest of the arguement.

December 5, 2007  01:41 PM ET
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Voted for the arguments

December 5, 2007  01:43 PM ET
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Mario, what is up? 1st Michigan logo, then Hawaii, then New Orleans, and now Detroit. I mean I can understand Michigan and Detroit, but what is up w/ the other 2?

December 5, 2007  01:45 PM ET
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I agree that the Red Sox are the best team in the American League. But Mario Manningham is a dumbass and gave the worst arguments. If they other guy said the Indians that I would vote for him, but the Tigers, puhlease, they are average at best. Vote to neither

December 5, 2007  01:48 PM ET
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*sigh*

He is not an actual Michigan fan. Please ignore him...

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December 5, 2007  01:57 PM ET
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blow sox suk

December 5, 2007  02:13 PM ET
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Wow very insightful you jealous Yankee fan. Don't be mad the Red Sox have double the amount of rings the Yankees do since 2000.

December 5, 2007  02:20 PM ET
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The Indians came within one game of eliminating the Sox and destroyed the Yanks. They lose virtually no one from their starting lineup

December 5, 2007  03:38 PM ET
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screw the Sox and the Tigers

December 5, 2007  04:31 PM ET
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Brewers!!!

(yeah, I know, wishful thinking...and yes I know they're not an AL team - at least currently).

December 5, 2007  05:34 PM ET
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pitching people! that's what wins. the tigers lineup looks the yankees murderors' row a couple of years ago when sheffiled was there and giambi was good. they didn't win. their pitching is questionable and zumaya's out until they prove to be sick like in 06, they're the best team. honestly i'm an indians fan and i'm still confident they will the central

 
December 5, 2007  06:15 PM ET
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Mario...I love my Sox, but I vote against you...no member of RSN should have the skillset of debating that you have.

Good job, AWC. I am not fond of the Tigers, but nice deal.

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