Video: ALCS triple play

It seems that all three pundits would REALLY like to give it to the Rays (as logic would suggest),but just can't go (openly) against the hometown Sox. I feel much the same way. Our team COULD win the ALCS, but I am a realist (and a Sox fan for decades before 2004) and they are going to have to be very good and very lucky to beat the Rays.... but the Red Sox are and always will be my team. However it turns out, 2008 has been a tribute to their ability to overcome the adversity of injury and team distractions and make the post-season.

Ryan- the Angels won the most games in the AL this year!

Also, Ryan- the Red Sox are either fourth or fifth in payroll this year behind the Yankees, Tigers, Mets and, I think, Dodgers.

Since Amalie Benjamin was the only one of the columnists to call the ALDS series correctly (and I admit that I predicted Angels in 4 myself), it would be nice to see her take on the ALCS.

GO SOX! Never, never, never give up and we will triumph again!

I agree w/ comment # 4. Bring on Amalie.

I know everyone is working hard to make a buck these days, and every job is precious, but speaking of young, new talent, does anyone else think that Tony Massorotti was the only one who had any substance here??

Of course Bob Ryan called us lucky. We all knew. He talked more about the Angels mistakes than anything. What about Jason Bay, Jon Lester, Papelbon vs. overrated K-Rod, or Ellsbury - and all the things we did right to win. Oh, he mentions Cora. That's nice. Ultimately, Ryan the "pessimist" thinks we got lucky and I called that with as much ease as saying he has white hair.

And Shaughnessy looks like he had a couple of bloodies at lunch. Mentioning the Devil Rays > Rays name change and Wade Boggs?? Are you kidding me?

Seems like the Boston Globe could use Theo to scout some young new talent. However, in these tough times I'm not wishing job loss on anyone, but maybe Ryan and Shaughnessy could find some other more managerial/editorial role to play for the Globe. They're really a couple of old salty dogs at this point...

Hope these guys don't get hurt jumping on and off the sox bandwagon.

Will someone please give the Red Sox credit for being the defending champions!! The Sox have a clear edge with their starting pitching for the first three games. I cannot understand why Wakefield is slated for Game 4; that could be a disasterous decision. I look for the Sox to win the series rather easily. Pedroia and Ortiz and overdue for breakouts. Ellsbury will be the series MVP. Sox in 5.

Bring on Amalie Benjamin!

Logic suggests that this is going to be a close fought intense series. The pundits not unlike most of us can offer there opinions and make predictions, some have merit others don't. It's all just that hypothesese... Luckily the games are played on the field. I don't see either team with a hugh advantage. I will be in front of my set on Friday pulling for the Sox...Many from the sunshine state will pull for thier boy's. There's little reason for doom & gloom were playing for a chance to go to the World Series for the 4th time in six years...We've hoisted 2 flags...enjoy the moment, who cares what the pundits think and predictions are like _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ every one has one and all are subject to the results of the play on the field!

All that said -- "Can you feel the Rays love tonight" -- I think experience does matter. It usually does. Sure there are some exceptions like the Marlins, but they are seriously trumped by the Twins, As, Angels, Cubs, Brewers, et. al., it eventually even caught up with the Tigers in '06. And the Rays have been one of those exceptions all year.
But not against the deep, loaded and experienced Sox.
Sox in 5. Lester and Beckett at home in games 1 and 2 vs. the Phillies (but I sure wish it were Manny so we can all toss our 24 jersey on the field "throw it back, throw it back!"). You have to believe Beckett would drill number 99 between the number right? But again, experience matter and the Phillies will use last year's defeat and the last two years of playoff race experience to best the Dodgers in six.

Sox in seven. Bring on Manny!!!

Yes, Lets hear what Amalie has to say. In my opinion she is, by far, the best at analysis and her commentaries are always cogent and insightful. I've been a nut Red Sox fan since '67 and in all my years following Boston sports she's the best of all the Sox reporters.

Where is Amalie's opinion? She was the ONLY 'expert' who knew the Soxs were going to crush the Angels. She is a rising star and deserves the face time. Globe, you got lucky with this hire. Now let her shine

Experience matters. History matters. Franchise matters. The Tampa Bay Rays (what ?!) have a good team. The Boston Red Sox will win. And it will feel good, beacuse the Sox players really want to beat this, specific, group of Rays.
Boston wins in 5. Lester fantastic. Beckett back. Dice-K surprising. Ortiz...well, Ortiz.

GO SOX!

RAYS WIN IN 6
FEEL THE HEAT!!!!

Since Amalie Benjamin was the only one of the columnists to call the ALDS series correctly (and I admit that I predicted Angels in 4 myself), it would be nice to see her take on the ALCS.

Posted by Maryellen October 9, 08 11:32 AM

I agree w/ comment # 4. Bring on Amalie.

Posted by Ayliena Soyer October 9, 08 01:50 PM

My guess is she's got the day off for Yom Kippur.

The post season is a 'different animal'. Witness the Halos beating the Sox 8 of 9 in the regular season. The Rays defeated the far inferior White Sox in their series while the Red Sox took out the team with the best record in the majors. The Sox are at their focused best in October and they will defeat the Rays in this series.

Do not ever count out the Red Sox in the post season! They BELIEVE and I BELIEVE! Red Sox will be playing in the WS!

I to am a Red Sox fan long before 2004. First, the pundits as they are referred to are entitled to their opinions, in fact that's what they are paid for. So that doesn't make the comments right or wrong, just there comments, much like all these you read. The truth is that this is going to be a very hard fought series where I think mistakes are going to be the difference. To win this series it is going to come down to pitching, releif pitching and defense. Unlike the presidential race this is to close to call. I will cheer on the SOX. Keep in mind, the regular season is the regular season, this is the playoffs and the SOX are well managed and well prepared, Good Luck SOX.

Experience pays heavy in the LCS, I like the Sox's chances. Split in Tampa and take 2 out of three at home! 7 will be heaven for the Sox

Don't forget... Amalie is better looking than these guys too.

BoSox tried and true. Our "idiots" are the hardest working boys in the league right now. Living up to the 2004 come back team to the current roster, the Red Sox are definitively the best all around team in baseball right now. Regardless of overall stats, the talent surpasses all other teams.

Tight series that's a tough call. Lester will be the difference as he has basically become a MONSTA. Look for the Sawx to close this one out in 6.

It's always interesting to hear old guys talk about stuff like they are professional experts. Well, they do get paid.....and have a lot of experience.......but, in the end, they are just glorified fans with a platform to speak from.

I agree the Sox had some luck in the series with the Angels. They also had tremendous grit and determination. That comes from playoff experience and knowing the game. The kids did really well. The vets kicked in. Newbies to the whole playoff thing....Bay comes to mind....are feeding off the calm energy of veteran play off guys. Pedroia and Ortiz aren't even doing their thing, yet, and the Sox had other guys step up to take the team to Tampa.
Regular season means little now. Sox are driven, pissed, hungry to defend a title, and won't let an upstart, hard-playing and tough team take away the ring this year. The series will be a battle, as the Rays tend to annoy with an ability to score when they need to, get a good pitching performance when necessary, play some good D, run the bases, and do little things to win. Sounds like a particular team from Boston I like to watch. I also find it interesting that the Rays play in front of a crowd that never showed up all year (one of the lowest attendence figures in AL?) until the end games when playoffs are imminent. Could that help or hurt em? Sox fans are real fans (at least most of them are).

My head says the Rays will be pesky and come out on top, but after all the these years, especially the last few, I feel the heat in the Beantown's direction. I just would like some blowouts to make it easier to watch! GO SOX!!! SLAM THEM THAR RAYS!!!

Yea - where IS Amalie? She is easier on the eyes than Shaughnessy for sure and what a set of analytical skills she has!

Come on, Ryan and CHB are the best. Why? They have perspective. Ryan is absolutely right that the Angel F'd up the series, and yeah, the sox capitalized, but the sox did not over power or out fox or out anything. OK maybe a Wade Boggs reference was a little out there, but none the less these two constantly provide interesting stuff. First 2 articles I read, regardless of the sport, are by them. Tony Maz is fine, but these guys bring it all together. Plus, I don't care who they think will win, does it matter? They provide a different view, which is the damn point of a newspaper, is it not? By the way, I'm not 'old salt' pander-er. I am 23.

Bob--postseason winners are always determined by the unpredictable moments and who comes out on top as a result (remember the A's goofball who forgot to touch home?)...that's what separates the men from the boys at this time of year.

If we take Game 1 tonight, we will win the series...if not, it could go either way. Go Sox!

Was someone holding up naked pictures of Don Zimmer behind the camera while Shaugnessy was offering up his prediction?

Ive been a REDSOX fan since the Impossible dream year.Thru thick and thin.They have the players and coaching staff to get by the Rays.Kodiak Alaska.Loves the SOX.John