Can Indians Overcome Lack of Playoff Experience?

When analyzing the matchups between the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox, the two teams are not far apart in hitting, starting pitching, or even the strength of their bullpens.

One area that appears to be a significant advantage for Boston is playoff experience.

The Indians are a mystery in that regard.

Looking at the Indians roster, here are the players with playoff experience, how many games, and how many World Series rings they have won:

Yan Gomes 1 game

Mike Napoli 51 games, 1 World Series ring

Jason Kipnis 1 game

Rajai Davis 3 games

Lonnie Chisenhall 1 game

Carlos Santana 1 game

Chris Giminez 2 games

Coco Crisp 31 games, 1 World Series ring

Andrew Miller 6 games

Cody Allen 1 game

Bryan Shaw 5 games

The Indians ALDS roster has played a combined 103 playoff games and has two World Series rings.

The Boston Red Sox on the other hand…

Hanley Ramirez 13 games

Xander Bogaerts 12 games,1 World Series ring

David Ortiz 82 games, 3 World Series rings

Dustin Pedroia 44 games, 2 World Series rings

Chris Young 13 games

Aaron Hill 5 games

David Price 14 games

Rick Porcello 8 games

Clay Buckholz 5 games, 1 World Series ring

Koji Uehara 17 games, 1 World Series ring

Craig Kimbrel 6 games

Joe Kelly 11 games

Brad Ziegler 2 games

The Red Sox have a grand total of 232 games of playoff experience and eight World Series rings on their ALDS roster.

This is not to say the Indians don’t have a chance, but it’s certainly one advantage on Boston’s side.

One thing the Tribe does have going for them in playoff history is two-time World Series champion Terry Francona, who knows Ortiz and Pedroia as well as anybody.

John Farrell has one World Series ring as a manager and was a pitching coach on Francona’s staff from 2007-2010.