ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Yankees have the rings and the Twins have the ace but the best bang for your Division Series buck is the very hot Angels playing the very good Red Sox. Neither the Yankees nor the Twins wanted to face the Red Sox or the Angels, each of whom, for different reasons, is too hot to handle right now.

So, baseball fans in New England and California are in for a treat. The obligatory pick here is the Red Sox in four but the fervent wish is simply to witness a clash that brings out the best in each of these talented and likable teams. With the Angels’ Rally Monkey rested and available for three games and the Red Sox’ collection of freaks and midgets at the ready, odds are good that something unexpected is going to affect the series’ outcome.

Let’s hope it does, while readying ourselves for the resumption of hostilities between the Red Sox and Yankees next week.

WHY THE RED SOX SHOULD WIN

STARTING ROTATION It was only three short years ago that Curt Schilling, then a Diamondback, proved to the Yankees just how great he could be in October, and here he is again, all but chomping at the bit for an encore. With the exception of the Twins’ dazzling Johan Santana, Schilling is the best and hottest pitcher in the league.

As for Pedro Martinez, the former Sox ace is primed to excel. He has pitched poorly down the stretch and was bumped to the no. 2 start, but Martinez usually thrives when his pride is wounded. Pitching on extra rest tomorrow night, he should be spry, formidable, and hungry. Bronson Arroyo has yet to prove he can pitch well at Fenway Park and Tim Wakefield has been inconsistent but with Schilling available for Game 5, the Angels don’t have enough offense to utter a proper or adequate response.

OFFENSE Top to bottom, the Red Sox lineup is simply the best in the league. Case in point: Leadoff hitter Johnny Damon drove in 94 runs this season. Tops in the league in runs and on-base average and second in walks, the Red Sox create conundrums for opposing pitching staffs. The batters enjoy taking their pitches and wearing out starting pitchers. Given the weaknesses of the Angels’ starters and the greatness of the Angels’ bullpen, the Red Sox will look to build big early leads and thus neutralize the role of the Angels’ relievers.

DEFENSE The Angels won four of their first six meetings against Boston, but wound up getting swept by the Red Sox in three games in early September. The difference was the improved Red Sox defense, which neutralized a traditional Angels strong point. Since the Angels put the ball in play so much – they are last in the league in walks and struck out the second fewest times – the Red Sox are extremely fortunate to have a reliable defense.

DEFINING NUMBER: 52 More runs scored by the Red Sox (949) this season than their second-closest competitor in the league, the Yankees, and 113 more than the seventh-place Angels.

THIS YEAR’S K-ROD WILL BE… Shortstop Orlando Cabrera. Reliable, sometimes spectacular, at shortstop, Cabrera could have an Adam Kennedy, circa 2002, type post-season.

WEIRD BUT SEMI-TRUE The flowing locks of Johnny Damon, the funky beards of his teammates, and the loosey-goosey atmosphere of the Red Sox clubhouse will be analyzed like never before, but curious fans are waiting for a special moment from a special person. If the Red Sox activate Pedro’s special friend, the 28-inch tall, 23-pound Dominican Nelson de la Rosa, he could become baseball’s most famous little person since Eddie Gaedel.

WHY AN UPSET IS POSSIBLE

VLADIMIR GUERRERO Throwing or hitting, Guerrero is a joy to watch but a major pain to run on or pitch to. He exploded for nine RBI in one game against the Red Sox on June 2, so the Boston pitchers know they must handle him with care. In fact, they may choose not to handle him at all, a la Barry Bonds and the intentional walk. Nonetheless, in Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, the Red Sox have twice the firepower of the Angels’ sole, true slugger.

MIKE SCIOSCIA Scioscia deserves all the credit one can heap on any manager. His players play hard, they play sound fundamental baseball, and they can trust that Scioscia’s demonstrated strategic prowess will come into play. There are enough players left from the Angels’ 2002 squad to remember what it takes to win 11 games in October. For the newcomers, Scioscia will be there to lead them.

BULLPEN The Angels’ relievers are there to pick up the expected slack from the starters, so the Red Sox should not count on many late-inning heroics from their lineup. Trying to catch a break against the trio of Troy Percival, Francisco Rodriguez, and Brendan Donnelly is akin to straightening out Florida’s ballot box system – the Red Sox had better hope that their offense is clicking on enough cylinders in case an Angel starter turns up twirling a gem.

DEFINING NUMBER: 150 Fewer times the Angels struck out this season (935) than the Red Sox.

THIS YEAR’S K-ROD WILL BE… K-Rod. After his 2002 post-season heroics, Rodriguez dropped off a little in 2003, but looks primed for another superlative postseason.

WEIRD BUT SEMITRUE It is not yet clear if the Angels will be passing out the deafening Rally Sticks from two years ago, but it is certain the Rally Monkey will be hopping away like the over caffeinated, leering critter he is. Often imitated, never duplicated, the simian is a life force to be reckoned with. Perhaps this series will be settled with a sumo-style cage match between the monkey and de la Rosa.

Mr. Silverman covers the Red Sox for the Boston Herald.