I don’t know about you but I am ready for this series to finally get underway tonight. In just a few short hours or so, the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays will take the field to start what should be a very entertaining American League Championship Series.
The series throughout the regular season was dominated by the home team as the Red Sox went 7-2 at Fenway and the Rays went 8-1 at the Trop. So it’s very important for the Rays to take the first two games at home. Of course, we’d like to see the Red Sox take both games but a split would work too.
Terry Francona chose Daisuke Matsuzaka as his Game 1 starter and it’s up to him to get the Red Sox on the right track. Dice-K has faced the Rays 3 times this season and 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA. The problem in those 3 starts though was the amount of innings Dice-K threw. He only lasted 5 innings in each of his three starts against them, including two at Tropicana Field. In his career, he is 2-3 with a 3.75 ERA in 8 starts and is just 1-2 with a 3.41 ERA in 5 games at the Trop.
For the Red Sox to not have to overuse their bullpen in Game 1, they need Dice-K to go out and give them at least 7 strong innings tonight. With their no day off between Games 1 & 2, I’m sure Francona doesn’t want to have to trot all of his bullpen out all night long especially with Josh Beckett and his uncertain health status going tomorrow night.
It won’t be easy though for the Red Sox tonight as Rays skipper Joe Maddon chose his horse, James Shields, to give them a chance to win in Game 1. Shields has faced the Red Sox 4 times this season and is 2-2 with a 5.85 ERA. Both wins came at the Trop and both losses at the Fens. Overall in his career, he is 2-4 with a 5.23 ERA in 8 starts.
Here is the transcript of the press conference from Rays manager Joe Maddon and Red Sox manager Terry Francona.
Terry Francona talked about the role Manny Delcarmen will play in the ALCS.
Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe has some pregame ponderings.
Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe has her latest mailbag.
Alex Speier of WEEI.com takes a look at the oddity of Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Red Sox Hall of Famer and current NESN analyst Jim Rice has his Game 1 & 2 thoughts over at Ask 14.
Here’s 10 reasons the Rays are going down.
Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe has a video preview of Game 1.
I forgot this one in the morning but Jacoby Ellsbury checked in over at his postseason blog.
Dick Vitale agrees with Tim McCarver’s assessment of that guy who played left field for the Red Sox.
This poor Courtyard By Marriott worker has to wear a Rays jersey even though she is a Red Sox fan.
Lineups and batter/pitcher matchups after the jump.
0-0
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. J.D. Drew, RF
6. Jason Bay, LF
7. Mark Kotsay, 1B
8. Jed Lowrie, SS
9. Jason Varitek, C
– Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP
0-0
1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. B.J. Upton, CF
3. Carlos Pena, 1B
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. Carl Crawford, LF
6. Cliff Floyd, DH
7. Dioner Navarro, C
8. Gabe Gross, RF
9. Jason Bartlett, SS
– James Shields, SP
And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starters during the regular season in their careers.
