This isn't OVER! Nothings OVER! HIMMMMMMINEYYYYYYYYAHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Benjamin: Some Sox are superstitious, too...


Drew gets a lifetime Red Sox Nation pass...



Paps is comfortable (don't doubt the Sox!)...


Ryan confirms this is a BIG win in Sox lore

and...

I CAN FEEL IT COMING IN THE AIR TONIGHT!

De Ja Vu All Over Again

I'm ready for the Sox to take on the Rays tonight in a do or die game with Dice K on the mound. I know Tek is ready after reading this. I know the Sox are ready after nearly ever player was at today's "Optional" practice. They are going to leave it all out there for however many games it takes. I know this team and they won't quit.

While the Rays decided to take a day off yesterday and to move up Kazmir to tonight. Why? Why would Maddon change his rotation when he has the Sox down for the count? He's scared of the Sox. He knows his rookie team can't keep up the hitting and doesn't want Kaz to throw against the sleeping giant that is the Sox offense in a pivotal game 6 (if necessary). They threw out some excuse that Kaz has a history against the game 6 umpire, but why would you worry about game six when all you need is game 5? You're scared Maddon. You're very very scared of what could happen to your young, cocky, overconfident squad. You've seen the Sox come back form the dead last year. You know what is coming. Just take it like a man.

basically the message tonight for the Rays from Tek and the Sox is...

NOT IN OUR HOUSE!

So you're telling me there's a chance.

There hasn't been much to blog about the past couple of days the Sox lost their thunder the Pats got handled by their rivals the Chargers. Things seem all doom and gloom in the nation. But, then something like this happens and the voice in my head says there is still a chance the a big chance that the Sox will steal this series.

Kazmir will start Game 5
In a surprise move, Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon announced this morning that he will start Scott Kazmir in Thursday's Game 5 of the ALCS at Fenway Park. James Shields was pushed back to Game 6.
- boston.com

To the fans ready to jump. Act like you've been there before. I remember this same bull$shit last year with the Indians. What are we going to do they are so much younger and more athletic then the Sox they have a better staff. Blah Blah Blah. Dice K, Beckett, and Lester in the clutch. I'll take those odds. You know the Sox are taking game 5 in a big way. This team has come to far to quit now. Plus Sr. Octobre had a bit of a slump buster in his last ab if you were still watching. Time to check yourself and find out if you're a real Sox fan. Because I know I haven't quit on this team. KEEP THE FAITH!

Loaded Dice K

I can say as a Sox fan I have seen cleaner performances (Big Schill '04). I can say I've seen better pitchers (Pedro '98-'99). But, I can't say I've seen a guy flirt with a no-no after that wild and wacky a first inning. If there were any questions as to who Dice K is I think they were answered. He isn't going to wow you but he will hit the corners and drive you crazy all night. As a hitter you must think you have a great shot against him with all the walks he deals out, but then he finds a way to throw the smoke-and-mirrors at you. Next thing you know he's no hit you through 6 innings in game one of the ALCS. When all the cards are on the table I'll take the Dice man any day. In the end all I can say about his performance is WOW. Very unconventional pitcher, but what a horse. He doesn't back down to any hitter and doesn't change his approach. What a gem. Guts of a burglar indeed.

By the way Carl Crawford nice catch. I thought you were better than Gary Matthews defensively. I guess I was wrong.

It's time to get NASTY!

If you're like me you are probably not getting much work done with the Sox vs. Rays ALCS match up on the mind. Well don't worry the world economy is about to crash and we will all be returning to caveman days so stock up on perishables and get your firearms ready. But, I'm getting off track here.

As for the Rays.

You know something Mean Gean! The Pythons are ready. The juices are flowing. You punks better get ready for the Soxster and Sox-amania to run wild all over you Brother! Don't fool yourselves, Nasty Knobbs ain't gonna be able to save your hides either. Get ready for Papi's 24 inch pythons.

Bulletin Board Material

Well it looks as if the Rays are getting a little too big for their britches. These are not the greatest pieces of bulletin board material, but it shows the Rays are not "Acting like they've been there before." We've seen this before haven't we? A young team with a bunch of momentum and nothing to lose. (Cleveland and The Rockies last year.) I think we know how well that turned out.

"We don't want to get ahead of ourselves," left fielder Carl Crawford said, "but we definitely feel good about our chances." -AP Reminds me of no-name Rams player "I like our chances" line during the 2001 Pats win.

"We don't feel any pressure. The pressure is on them (Red Sox)" -(Freddy Garcia) Uhh Matt Garza (ALDS Stats: 7 hits, 5 EARNED runs, 4 walks) Don't even get me started.

"Please, ask around," Floyd said. "Call the other general managers and ask them what they think. And if they say anything other than this team is stacked, not just for this year but years to come, then maybe they shouldn't be a GM." - Cliff Floyd Cliffy buddy your lucky if you even get to pinch hit in this series yah bum.

"We just know what to expect out of them," Really you know what to expect from the Sox? This is the playoffs! You know what to expect hunh? Pal you gave up 2 runs 8 hits and only made it 5 innings your last start. Son, you have no idea what your up against. - Scott Kazmir

Face it Tampa Bay Rays your middle relief scares me more than your supposed stud pitching staff. Sox have pressure on them hunh. I know the Rays were 8-1 at home against the Sox. But, if the Sox they take one of the first two games at your pinball stadium who's the pressure on? Because the Sox then get to smack the Rays around at Fenway for three games; where the Sox have are 7-2 this year against the Rays.

Hah Pressure you wouldn't know pressure if it shat on your chest.


Papelbon, whose fastball consistently hits 98 mph, has given up nine hits, struck out 16 and walked five in the postseason."I don't know about other guys, but me? I love pressure," Papelbon said."When I get in those pressure situations, it gets me going. That's my comfort zone. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be in this job." - LA Times

Sox kept rollin

After dismanteling the "better team" the Sox are now on to their biggest challenge the pesky Rays. The Rays did win the season series and the division, but they can't match the experience of the Sox. This will be the biggest test for the Sox because the Rays have good starters, a deeper middle relief crew, and a serviceable closer in Percival. But, If the White Sox can take a game from these kids then you know the Sox can do some damage.

Let's look at the match up. Ultimately the Sox have the better offense. If Papi (.235 1 RBI 4 K's in ALDS) and Pedroia (.059 1 RBI in ALDS) can start providing some pop this series the Sox will have a much easier time with the Rays. It will take a lot more than a combined 2 RBI's and a couple of walks from them to get the job done. I was a little surprised to see Dice starting game 1 but he can do it. I like Beckett getting some rest before game two and Lester (3-0, 0.90 ERA vs. Tampa in '08) in the pivotal game 3 at Fenway where has owned all season (also game 7 @ TB if needed). Francona feels throwing the vet Wake is the way to go. I think it is wise to have him go at Fenway (even though he was 9-0 up until last year this year he has lost two at the Trop and he has a 5.87 ERA with 12 runs 10 earned given up there.) He has mostly dominated the Rays over his career except for this season and hopefully will have that knuckler floating like a butter fly for game 4.

The key for the Sox in my opinion will be limiting the damage of young studs Longoria and Upton. Longoria hit bombs in his first two post-season ab's and went hit less in his last 8. Upton had 3 HR's and was 4-9 with 4 RBI's against the Pale Hoes in the ALDS. These guys are young so keeping them quite early will set the tone for the rest of the series. Aki Iwamura has also been a thorn in the Sox side. Sometimes guys step up against the Sox like Enrique Wilson. While the Rays starters are good they were hit by the White Sox in the ALDS. Each of their four starters gave up at least two runs. It will be their relievers that win them the series. Balfour, Wheeler, Howell, and Bradford have been pitching over their heads this season and could be the key to this series. Percival is a veteran, but I have to give the Sox the huge edge with Paps.

Overall it looks like a pretty even series I'd say the Sox have the momentum off the emotional Angles series though as well as uber-playoff-experience. In the end I feel this series will go 7 strong. I see the Sox pulling it out with Lester (projected) on the hill building on his legend. Eventhough my gut says Sox in 5 and my balls say Sox in 4.