The view from Tampa Bay
The Rays come to Boston today, clinging to a 1 1/2 game lead over the Red Sox, to play "hopefully some of the most exciting baseball of the year," Sox manager Terry Francona said yesterday. The Red Sox, 10-3 in their last 13 games, are playing perhaps their best all season. The Rays, just swept in Toronto, have given their detractors reason to puff their chest for the first time all year.
Both teams are six-for-six at home against the other, and if the Red Sox continue that trend, they'll be in first place by the time they go to bed Tuesday night. Here's a look at the state of the Rays from the beat writers who cover them:
David Singh writes the first portion of the most important road trip in Rays history began on a bad note. Marc Lancaster writes that the Rays wasted another great start from Matt Garza. At the end of this Lancaster story, Joe Maddon calls the series “uncharted territory” for the franchise. Marc Topkin writes that the Rays aren’t worried about the pennant race affecting their play, despite the sweep at Toronto. Topkin’s notebook has Maddon sticking with Troy Percival as his closer. Topkin also has three important questions for the Rays.
What's your prediction for this series? Are the Rays fading, or was the Toronto series a blip? Will Jon Lester keep Boston's momentum rolling?
Sox are playing to win. Rays are playing not to loose. Usually that means the Sox will win.
Many have said that the Rays would fade in September. The Blue Jays are a deceptively dangerous team - they always give the Sox fits. I don't think anyone can guarantee anything at this point.
If the Toronto series was a blip, it was their second consecutive "blip series," having lost 2 of 3 to the lowly Yanks before that.
I wouldn't count the Rays out just yet, but having them on this losing streak opens the door for the Red Sox as long as the Sox keep playing great baseball. The key for the Sox will be winning the home series against the Rays, playing well against Toronto and, especially, winning some games down at the Trop. If they can take at least one or two games down there, where they haven't won all season, that would be an auspicious sign for their winning their second straight division title. Go Sox!!!
Look for the Rays to squander due to the added pressure of a pennant chase. While they are a great story, they've lost that cushion of a 4 or 5 game lead and that's going to impact them the rest of the way.
If the pitching stays solid for the Sox, it will be at least 2 out of 3 for this series.
*checks to be sure his broom is in the closet just in case*
You see, I disagree with all of this stuff about "pressure's on, now they squander." That's been far from their MO this season. It's looked more to me like they've dovetailed a bit due more to complacency than anything. Everybody's been singing their praises and calling them an AL East lock and it looks like they're buying into their own hype and playing lazy baseball.
All season, they've been fighting tooth and nail to shut up every single detractor and now that the pressure is on, I can imagine them fighting tooth and nail for every inch.
One way or another, I predict some great September baseball.
It would have been nice for Tito and Farrell to have pulled Wakefield earlier Saturday's slug fest it could have been for first place tonight ! Go Sox
No matter what the Rays do the rest of the year, this season will have been a success for them. Joe Maddon deserves manager of the year honors. They were always a team with "potential" but I never thought they'd get much of a shot in the AL East. I've been a die hard Sox fan for 30+ years and far from a Rays fan but you have to admit they've really opened some eyes this year. Too bad most eyes weren't in their own stadium. I really wonder why they even bother having baseball teams in Florida...the Marlins aren't drawing many fans either.
"It would have been nice for Tito and Farrell to have pulled Wakefield earlier Saturday's slug fest it could have been for first place tonight ! Go Sox"
Earlier than 1 2/3 innings in? Seriously?
Lester's pitching? Then who, Dice-K? Should be good for two wins right there.
I haven't been this excited all season! The Sox are playing really well right now, their team chemistry looks great, and even Coco is on fire! I'm praying for at least two wins, but this series is going to be a nail-biter, for sure. Let's go, Red Sox, let's GO! West Coast Red Sox Nation is alive and kickin' tonight!
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