Some Sort of Homecoming - Rays Run Over Sox, 9-1

V-Tek tags out Carl Crawford at home in a rare Game 3 highlight. (AP Photo)

So hopefully last night was the part of the movie where Clubber Lang really lets Rocky have it, only to find that Rocky still has a little juice left in the tank in later rounds. Between the Pats Sunday night clobbering by the Chargers and last nights Game 3 loss to the Rays there hasn't been too much sporting joy in the greater New England area in the past few days.

Once your team gets down a game in a playoff series things instantly take a turn for the more serious. Suddenly you realize your team's only two losses away from being eliminated and things start to get a little more intense. You glance at the scoreboard more often, countdown outs, and break out the strangest of rituals. We have to remember that the Red Sox have come back from a 3-0 deficit as well as a 3-1 deficit in the ALCS so there is certainly no need to panic yet. What is concerning for the Sox is that they truly look tired and spent. David Ortiz, Josh Beckett, & J.D. Drew are obviously playing through some pain, Mike Lowell is sitting on the bench, and our pitchers seem to be wilting a bit under the October pressure.

You can't say anything too bad about Jon Lester, he is after all human, and in the long run I'm sure he learned a lot from last nights game. Having the Rays beat both Beckett and Lester back to back sure must give the Rays a lot of confidence, but in reality, they don't need anymore, they've had it all year long. I'm sure all of Red Sox Nation as a whole is a little hesitant with Wakefield on the mound tonight, however he may be the perfect switch to help cool of these Rays hitters.

And although Paul Byrd did give up that three run jack, effectively ending the game, he ate up valuable innings that has now made our bullpen fresher then fresh. Remember when Wake pitched those innings in the 19-8 loss to the Yanks in the 2004 ALCS? Very similar. The bullpen has now ALL had two complete days off, and I would suspect that if tonight's game is close Tito will be quick to pull the trigger and send in a new pitcher. This is what I take out of the loss, yes it was 9-1, but it only counts as one game. If you're going to lose this was the smartest way to do it, by saving the bullpen, and I'd very much suspect Game 4 to have an all hands on deck feel.

Yeah last night sucked, yeah our team's pretty beat up, but there's certainly no fat lady singing yet, the 2008 Rocky Sox need to take a few blows before they can stage their comeback. Let's just hope it's not as drama filled as the last two ALCS's, where the Red Sox never were able to tie it up 2-2.

Comments

[Melissa]

Awe last night was soooooo sad!!! I am still in shock, but like you said Lester is only human, and he has been our ace all year long, our one dependable pitcher, and honestly I have nothing bad to say about his outing last night, yeah he did not pitch as good as he can, but I feel bad for the guy more then I feel discouraged. It's not just on his shoulders though, our 1,3,5,6,7,8 and 9 hitters are just not hitting. Youk, Pedroia and Bay can't carry this whole team into the WS, we need everybody hitting and getting on base. I agree with you, Papi just looks out of sorts at the plate lately, I think this year has really taken a toll on him, and that wrist is hurting him more then he'll let on. This is not the same Red Sox team of last years ALDS, maybe Papi needs to call another team meeting.

I don't know, I still believe and I still hope. Go Red Sox.

[Derek Hixon]

I agree Melissa. Our lineup just seemed to be lacking any real punch at all last night. We have to remember that we did score 8 runs the night before so the potential is there, just have to go the ol' cliche rout and take it one game at a time. We're in the Final Four of baseball with a ton of life left. There's a ton of other baseball fans out there that would love to still have life left so we and the Sox have to cherish the opportunities. Positive vibes can carry a long way I believe. Wakefield or bust.

[Melissa]

I agree!!! I did not ever think I would utter these words, but is Wake going to give us that extra boost tonight?! Who knows, I don't wanna jinx it, but the Rays have struggled against his knuckle ball this year. You never know=)

And besides, were Red Sox Nation dammit!!! We NEVER stop believing, not in 2004 and not in 2007, and certainly not this year either.

[Andy]

It was sad to watch last night - they just didn't look to have any fight in them and as a result the game felt out of reach pretty early on. I refuse to believe they won't respond positively though and yes, it's a good job the pen are fresh - I'm sure we will need them tonight. Let's hope we bounce back and take two on the spin, then the pressure would shift massively.

[Derek Hixon]

No doubt Andy. If the Sox can take 2 out of the next three ALL momentum would be shifted. That being said, have to win Game 4 before you think about Game 5.

[Tito = Fredo]

Tito killed us with his lineup last night.

1) Ellsbury needs to be dropped in the order. Better yet, sit him down in favor of Crisp, who's been pretty hot of late. Putting Ellsbury at the leadoff spot means that Pedroia and the rest of the good hitters are starting out with at least one out, and probably no baserunners.

2) Varitek needs to be batting 8th or 9th. His bat sucks. Period.

3) Do not f-ing start Alex Cora again. I don't care if he is a "good fastball pitcher". He is still Alex fricking Cora.

4) We should be considering moving Papi down in the order. And Papi should be considering the bunt at this point.

Last night's lineup had 5/9 players effectively being automatic outs (Ellsbury, Varitek, Cora, Kotsay, and sadly, Papi). We just can't keep winning if Pedroia and Youkilis are our only offense (ask the SF Giants of the Bonds era).

[Derek Hixon]

@ Fredo:

My feelings on your numbered comments:

1) Maybe he should have been dropped in the order last night, but he shouldn't have been benched. I belive Jacoby's splits against Garza had him hitting something like .400+ off of him. On a side note, how much of a bizzaro reverse flip on 2007 would it be if Coco ends up replacing Jacoby in the ALCS and rest of the palyoffs? Would this kill young Jacoby's confidence down thte road? I'm not sure, but either way, he needs to hit or sit going foward.

2) Varitek need to be batting 9th in the lineup, if at all. I believe it was Jeremy Crasnick from ESPN who wrote (I'm paraphrasing here) "It looks like Jason Varitek has a bad case of the 'olds' and it looks to be terminal."

3) I like Cora, and he had a big hit for us last night that helped produce our only run by moving V-Tek to third. That being said, I'd rather see Jed 7/7 days.

4) No way in 2008 will you see Papi hit anything but in the #3 slot. If someone else is hitting 3rd it's because Papi's on the bench. And give Kotsay a break! he was 2/4 last night, couldn't have asked much more from him there.

[Melissa]

I am in total shock and disbelief this morning.!!!! The Rays sure do love hitting long balls into the Green Monster.

I have no words, I am just shocked!!!

[lbluca77]

I already have nervous knots in my stomach for tonight's game. I almost don't want to watch, but I don't think I can do that. Every time big papi gets up to bat I have to look away.