Dustin Pedroia is really short

3 down, 8 to go.

The Boston Red Sox finished up a workout this afternoon and headed to St. Petersburg to prepare for their matchup in the American League Championship Series against their AL East rivals the Tampa Bay Rays. It should be a heck of a matchup at Tropicana Field starting Friday night.

During his press conference today, Red Sox head honcho in the dugout Terry Francona announced his rotation for the ALCS. Just moments later in St. Petersburg, his adversary Joe Maddon did the same. So now the 2008 ALCS pitching matchups are set up. Neither team has announced their rosters yet but both should have announcements during tomorrow’s press conference.

Here is what Terry Francona and Joe Maddon had to say during their press conferences today.

If you didn’t win the chance to purchase World Series tickets, a select number of them will be available by phone only at 3 PM on Friday.

Some members of the Red Sox are sporting postseason goatees. Even I’ve jumped on that wagon.

There might be bad blood between the Red Sox and Rays but neither team plans to act on it.

FOX baseball analyst Tim McCarver called Manny’s act in Boston “despicable”. It’s too bad he wasn’t talking about his broadcasting abilities.

Curt Schilling’s doctor, Dr. Craig Morgan, said if the Big Schill had the surgery way back when, he’d probably be back pitching right now.

Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe talks about the Red Sox rotation in the ALCS and the decision to start Daisuke Matsuzaka in Game 1.

Please let us know who you want to win in the ALCS by voting in the poll on the left sidebar.

If you’re interested, Anthony of the Oriole Post and myself will be previewing the ALCS & NLCS on our radio show tonight, The Hits Keep Coming…., at 7 PM.

Friday night can’t come quick enough!!