Red Sox/Cardinals Set For Fourth World Series Matchup

The Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals will meet in the World Series for the fourth time beginning tonight at Fenway Park.

While Dennis and Callahan may lament that this series “lacks color” and Dan Shaughnessy may complain about the lack of “villains” or controversy in the series, baseball fans should be treated to a well-played series between the best two teams in baseball this season.

If you find actual baseball talk boring, the Boston Globe (and both radio stations this morning) accommodates you by running a front page story about how it is time to end the tradition of Sweet Caroline. The only thing I’ll say about that piece is that when your only quote comes from Tony Massarotti, there’s a good chance the entire premise is tainted.

A few links before handing you over to RedSoxLinks.com:

Know your enemy: An MLB scout breaks down the Cards – Sean McAdam with the scouting report.

Finally, full circle: Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester and a long-awaited return – Alex Speier looks at the home-grown trio as they return to the World Series.

Great start for Ben Cherington – Scott Lauber looks at how the Red Sox GM and his vision for this season and the future is playing out.

Patience pays off for Bogaerts – Jackie MacMullan with a feature on the rookie who has shown himself to have poise beyond his years. Christopher L. Gasper also has a feature on the 21-year-old.

Long line of loyalty – Gordon Edes submits a feature on how Mike Napoli has made lifelong friends at every stage of his career.

How wrong were the projections for 2013 Red Sox? – The Globe looks back at their incorrect expectations for this season.

This series may prove one to remember – Steve Buckley thinks that this one has the makings of a classic – even without the storylines that a Dodgers series would’ve provided.

Speaking of the Dodgers, I can’t help but be grateful that the Red Sox have avoided both the Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Dodgers this postseason. Not out of any fear of those clubs, but for all the way-too-easy storylines that would’ve been generated from each. The games definitely would’ve been secondary to the off-field dramas that each series would’ve provided.

Red Sox radio voices silenced in most of Maine – If you missed this yesterday, this piece from the Portland Press Herald explains that unless you live in Boston and in range of WEEI itself, you’ll be getting the ESPN Radio broadcasts of the World Series games, and not Dave O’Brien and Joe Castiglione.