Series between youthful Rays, veteran Red Sox is a toss-up

Many have said the NLCS with the Phillies and Dodgers has the makings of a classic. That may have changed after the first two games, but the ALCS has no reason to take a second seat.

Up front is the 4th youngest team in the majors, the Rays, against the defending World Series champs loaded with experience.

Then there is the incredible season of the Rays, good enough to beat out the Sox for first in the division. The fact these are two division rivals means all the underlying issues that may have lain dormant in the off season come front and center now.

Pick a winner? Good luck. Is the sum more than the parts for one or both teams? Compare and choose from last night’s starters.

Make your picks. Do you like Evan Longoria or Kevin Youklis at third? First, realize the loss of Mike Lowell is no small matter. He is a leader on the team, a clutch hitter, and if healthy, leaves Youklis at first where he means so much to the infield defense.

Youth and power vs. experience and clutch hitting. Youklis seems the pick there.

How about Jed Lowrie or Jason Bartlett at third? Bartlett has been the glue that tied this outstanding infield together. He is a leadoff type man who hits at the bottom of the order with power. Bartlett wins this.

Select Dustin Pedoria or Akinori Iwamura at second? Iwamura can hit and play defense. Pedoria is the engine of the Sox. Pedoria is the choice, but not by much.

Pick Mark Kotsay or Carlos Pena at first? Pena has fought injuries this year, but appears ready to be a factor in the post season. He has power and plays a solid first. Kotsay is there for defense, to mask the loss of Lowell and the move of Youklis to third. Pena here.

Do you like Jason Bay or Carl Crawford in left? Toss this one up. Bay has been sensational. Crawford runs like the wind and can completely disrupt a game on the bases.

Jacoby Ellsbury or B.J. Upton in center? Both can fly-what a race this would make.

Ellsbury wins on the power side, but Upton had two homeruns in one game against the White Sox in the ALDS. Ellsbury is the pick, but a tough call.

J.D. Drew in right or Gabe Gross. Drew has the better bat and can play defense. Gross did not hit all year and is in for defense. Drew is the choice here.

Jason Varitek or Dioner Navarro at the dish? Varitek runs the pitching, but did not hit this year. Navarro grew solid behind the plate and did hit. How much does the very presence of Varitek mean to the Sox. That may move him past Navarro as the choice, but Navarro’s bat is vital to the Rays.

David Ortiz and Cliff Floyd will handle the DH. Take Ortiz on experience and the fear factor. Floyd had an injury prone season and is not the danger he once was.

How about the vital starters? Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Tim Wakefield against James Shields, Matt Garza, Scott Kazmir and Andy Sonnanstine is a comparison weighed towards the Rays.

Middle relief is the Rays. They have been outstanding all season against a much maligned Sox middle pen.

Jonathan Papelbon is the closer of the series because Troy Percival is injured for the Rays. That means a Dan Wheeler or Chad Bradford will do that work for the Rays. They are good, but Papelbon gets the nod.

The result, a series that is a toss up. The Rays will not play young and the Sox know just what this time of season calls for. That’s exactly the kind of match-up a pennant fight deserves.

bdnsports@bangordailynews.net