The Hunt For...

[HoustonGM]

I dont think the Angels even had a #2 guy as good as Moyer is for the Phils.

They had 3 - Lackey, Ortiz, Appier. Plus, again, Moyer's batting practice fastball is not likely to work well against the Rays.

[Swampdog]

If Lackey was on that team, he must have been a rookie. Nonetheless, the primary point is still valid. Washburn was the ace, and he pitched poorly, losing both his starts. What chance would anyone have given the Angels if you knew, going in, that their best pitcher would go 0-2? Would anyone have given the Angels a chance? No. Not likely, anyway. Despite this, they still won the WS.

[HoustonGM]

If Lackey was on that team, he must have been a rookie.

He was.

Nonetheless, the primary point is still valid. Washburn was the ace, and he pitched poorly, losing both his starts. What chance would anyone have given the Angels if you knew, going in, that their best pitcher would go 0-2? Would anyone have given the Angels a chance? No. Not likely, anyway. Despite this, they still won the WS.

It's not impossible, it's just unlikely. And it did take the Angels 7 games to win that. They didn't get ANY good starting pitching that World Series, but the Giants pitching was even worse. It's unlikely that the Rays pitching will be as bad as the Giants was that World Series, especially considering that the Giants starting staff wasn't all that good to begin with.

[justanewguy]

I bet there's a curse on any team that takes Barry Bonds into a 7 game series.

But only if it goes to 7 games.