It’s pretty simple folks for the Boston Red Sox. Win or join the other teams not in the playoffs on the golf course or on vacation. As you might expect, the pressure is on the Red Sox tonight. A win in Game 5 can change all that and put the pressure back on the Rays.
Recent history tells us we can’t count the Red Sox out as they came back in the 2004 ALCS and the 2007 ALCS. Can it happen again this year? Sure it can. Will it happen? I don’t know but I’m sure hoping so as is the rest of Red Sox Nation. Anything is possible. And as our friend Texy at Center Field said, TBS won’t probably be as awesome as FOX back in 2007 in firing up the Red Sox Faithful.
In order for the Red Sox to force a Game 6 back at Tropicana Field, Daisuke Matsuzaka will need to pitch the game of his life and hopefully that means that the “Houdini magic” that he always seems to have and that entails he’s silencing the hot bats of the Rays and not working himself out of a jam. Dice-K earned the win in Game 1 of the ALCS as he threw 7 scoreless innings allowing 4 hits and 4 walks while striking out 9.
James Shields had originally been scheduled to start Game 5 tonight but Rays skipper Joe Maddon decided to flip-flop him with Scott Kazmir who struggled in Game 2 of the ALCS. Kazmir gave up 5 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks in 4 1/3 innings. The Rays eventually won that game 9-8 in 11 innings.
Terry Francona said the report about Josh Beckett tearing his oblique is not true at all.
Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe gives us his video preview of Game 5.
Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe takes a look at the differences between the 2007 and 2008 teams.
Extra Bases has the transcripts of the pregame press conferences. Video of Terry Francona’s press conference is after the jump.
Red Sox Hall of Famer and NESN analyst Jim Rice shares his thoughts about tonight’s game over at Ask 14.
Here is the transcript from Adam Kilgore’s chat over at Boston.com this morning.
The Red Sox and Lee County officials met this morning to talk about the Sox staying in Southwest Florida for spring training.
If there is a Game 6 at Tropicana Field, there are no tickets available as the game sold out this morning.
Gary Marbry of WEEI.com has yet another ALCS nuggetapoolza for us.
Michael Berger of WEEI.com takes a look at the LCS’ that have gone the distance.
Alex Speier of WEEI.com has his take on Joe Maddon’s thinking about the switch of James Shields and Scott Kazmir.
Red from Surviving Grady is hoping some Red Sox pop culture mojo will help them out tonight.
Terry Francona’s press conference, lineups and batter/pitcher matchups after the jump.
3-1
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
– Scott Kazmir, SP
1-3
1. Coco Crisp, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. Jason Bay, LF
6. J.D. Drew, RF
7. Jed Lowrie, SS
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Mark Kotsay, 1B
– Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP
And here is a look at how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers in the regular season for their careers.
