Opinion

The Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals are tied at one game apiece in the 2013 World Series, and Game 3 should be fantastic.

The Sox took the first game in dominant fashion, but the Cardinals showed resiliency in taking Game 2 in Boston.

What are the keys going forward for both teams? What does each team need to do to win the series?

Read on to find out.

Boston Red Sox

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is probably wondering why he got snubbed when Rawlings announced the finalists for the 2013 Gold Glove Awards.

When you have two teams playing for a championship, the hope is the play on the field is clean to determine who is best without having to focus on mistakes being made. 

The 2013 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox hasn't followed that formula. It is tied one-all heading to St. Louis following two defensive miscues by the Red Sox in Game 2 that led to three runs for the Cardinals. 

Contrary to what it may seem, the Seattle Mariners are a mess at first base. 

Justin Smoak was supposed to be Seattle's first baseman of the future, but has been wildly inconsistent, even getting demoted to Triple-A for stints in each of the past two seasons. The relegations have helped, but he hasn't made great strides in his offensive game. 

The San Francisco Giants have overpaid once again. This time, Tim Lincecum is the benefactor of the Giants' generosity.

Careful: The question posed above might just be a trick one. But we'll get to that in a bit.

First, let's remind readers what Carlos Beltran and David Ortiz have done so far this October in helping get their respective teams, the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox, to the 2013 World Series.

This is how you want it if you're a baseball fan. The two best teams during the regular season are facing off in the World Series.

Both the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox finished with identical 97-65 records, earning the top seeds for the playoffs in their respective leagues. Often you see the giants get slain before they can make it to the Fall Classic.

This is only the third time since 1994 that the No. 1 seeds in both leagues have gotten this far, via ESPN Stats and Info.

When the St.

Thomas Robbins very nearly stole Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli's glove this past Sunday, and he would've gotten away with it too if it weren't for those meddling security guards. 

Heading into each respective League Championship Series, the Detroit Tigers felt like the team that most needed to capture a World Championship in 2013.