MLB Playoffs

[See Red]

5-0. Game over.

Please no more Wakefield next season.

And we're into the bullpen... ballgame.

[TFoA]

And Wakefield gets the hook.

Damn he got tagged. 5 runs in 2 2/3?

[Cujo]

5-0. Game over.

Please no more Wakefield next season.

And we're into the bullpen... ballgame.

Well, maybe we can see a fight later on. The game's getting out of hand and Sox and Rays are due for another one, right?

[Swiss]

Seems like some of you Sox fans giving up on your team -- the same team that came back from 3-1 against the Yankees and won the series last year -- should probably take a look at just how much of a fan you are.

Boston fans. For Christ's sakes.

EDIT: I may well be confusing the Sox bellyaching with the Patriots bellyaching. Either way, if there were ever a city that lost its right to complain about poor sports performance, Boston is it. Sorry guys, but amongst all of your 7,000 championships in the 2000's, you lost the right that right.

They were down 3-1 to the Indians last year, and down 3-0 to the Yankees in 2004.

We believe! (We believe!)

We believe! (We believe!)

We believe! (We believe!)

Hahahahahaha!

You two made me smile. Thank you.

[FiddySicks]

Seems like some of you Sox fans giving up on your team -- the same team that came back from 3-1 against the Yankees and won the series last year -- should probably take a look at just how much of a fan you are.

Boston fans. For Christ's sakes.

EDIT: I may well be confusing the Sox bellyaching with the Patriots bellyaching. Either way, if there were ever a city that lost its right to complain about poor sports performance, Boston is it. Sorry guys, but amongst all of your 7,000 championships in the 2000's, you lost the right that right.

They were down 3-1 to the Indians last year, and down 3-0 to the Yankees in 2004.

We believe! (We believe!)

We believe! (We believe!)

We believe! (We believe!)

Hahahahahaha!

You two made me smile. Thank you.

IMO the biggest problem Boston is facing is that Tampa has about a million times more heart than either of the teams Boston came back to beat. If they go up 3-1 they'll do everything, including tossing kitchen sink at Boston if need be to win. This team is on a mission.

EDIT: Wow. Boston just WALKED in a run. 8-1. This is an ugly game for Boston.

[TFoA]

This is honestly amazing. The Rays have had more trouble with the Sox AT HOME than they have had at Fenway.

[BBTV]

What are the dirt circles for that are next to the first and third base lines at Fenway?

[Pharos04]

What are the dirt circles for that are next to the first and third base lines at Fenway?

i was always under the impression that those were the old on-deck circles from when the deadball era existed and they've just kept them there for historical sake. though i could be totally wrong

[jkrdevil]

Who is the home team for these middle 3 games? The Rays seem more comfortable playing at Fenway than the Red Sox do.

10-1 Now.

[BBTV]

Did I just hear Buck Martinez say that the Phillies were great at home, but struggled on the road? I think he was contrasting the NLCS teams to the ALCS clubs. The Phillies won 44 road games, four more than Tampa and five more than Boston.

[TFoA]

Who is the home team for these middle 3 games? The Rays seem more comfortable playing at Fenway than the Red Sox do.

10-1 Now.

It's like they're saying "So this is the "big stage" that everybody was talking about? Like we're supposed to be scared of it? ...really?" and proceeded to take a dump all over it.

This is seriously amazing.

[pcgd]

What are the dirt circles for that are next to the first and third base lines at Fenway?

i was always under the impression that those were the old on-deck circles from when the deadball era existed and they've just kept them there for historical sake. though i could be totally wrong

Actually those are for Fungo hitters in pre-game. IE...hitting ground balls to the infielders. They are in those locations so two can go at once. The first base side hits to the short stop and third base while the third base side hits to second at first. Sometimes this is done during BP in between pitches. But I doubt that happens as much at the ML level.

[BBTV]

What are the dirt circles for that are next to the first and third base lines at Fenway?

i was always under the impression that those were the old on-deck circles from when the deadball era existed and they've just kept them there for historical sake. though i could be totally wrong

Actually those are for Fungo hitters in pre-game. IE...hitting ground balls to the infielders. They are in those locations so two can go at once. The first base side hits to the short stop and third base while the third base side hits to second at first. Sometimes this is done during BP in between pitches. But I doubt that happens as much at the ML level.

Do they really need dirt cutouts to know where to stand? It seems a little unnecessary... unless it's just there because "it's always been that way."

[infrared41]

Who is the home team for these middle 3 games? The Rays seem more comfortable playing at Fenway than the Red Sox do.

10-1 Now.

It's like they're saying "So this is the "big stage" that everybody was talking about? Like we're supposed to be scared of it? ...really?" and proceeded to take a dump all over it.

This is seriously amazing.

The Rays, so far at least, have not been fazed by anything. Pennant race? No big deal. First ever playoff appearance? Nothing to it. Fenway Park and The Mighty Red Sox? How does outscoring Boston 22-5 in two games so far (they might not be done yet) look to you? Seriously amazing indeed.

And where are all the media people who were calling for the Rays to choke right up until...well today actually?

It's our era's version of the '69 Mets. Enjoy it folks. This doesn't happen very often.

[Brass]

The Rays are just playing better. That's all it is. But even if the Sox lose and go down 3-1, they can still come back. They've done it twice before in the ALCS. Not giving up on the Sox!

[NJTank]

Who is the home team for these middle 3 games? The Rays seem more comfortable playing at Fenway than the Red Sox do.

10-1 Now.

It's like they're saying "So this is the "big stage" that everybody was talking about? Like we're supposed to be scared of it? ...really?" and proceeded to take a dump all over it.

This is seriously amazing.

The Rays, so far at least, have not been fazed by anything. Pennant race? No big deal. First ever playoff appearance? Nothing to it. Fenway Park and The Mighty Red Sox? How does outscoring Boston 22-5 in two games so far (they might not be done yet) look to you? Seriously amazing indeed.

And where are all the media people who were calling for the Rays to choke right up until...well today actually?

It's our era's version of the '69 Mets. Enjoy it folks. This doesn't happen very often.

Simply A-Raysing

[BadSeed84]

Who is the home team for these middle 3 games? The Rays seem more comfortable playing at Fenway than the Red Sox do.

10-1 Now.

It's like they're saying "So this is the "big stage" that everybody was talking about? Like we're supposed to be scared of it? ...really?" and proceeded to take a dump all over it.

This is seriously amazing.

The Rays, so far at least, have not been fazed by anything. Pennant race? No big deal. First ever playoff appearance? Nothing to it. Fenway Park and The Mighty Red Sox? How does outscoring Boston 22-5 in two games so far (they might not be done yet) look to you? Seriously amazing indeed.

And where are all the media people who were calling for the Rays to choke right up until...well today actually?

It's our era's version of the '69 Mets. Enjoy it folks. This doesn't happen very often.

Actually it won't happen, as the phillies are gonna win the world series.

[infrared41]

Who is the home team for these middle 3 games? The Rays seem more comfortable playing at Fenway than the Red Sox do.

10-1 Now.

It's like they're saying "So this is the "big stage" that everybody was talking about? Like we're supposed to be scared of it? ...really?" and proceeded to take a dump all over it.

This is seriously amazing.

The Rays, so far at least, have not been fazed by anything. Pennant race? No big deal. First ever playoff appearance? Nothing to it. Fenway Park and The Mighty Red Sox? How does outscoring Boston 22-5 in two games so far (they might not be done yet) look to you? Seriously amazing indeed.

And where are all the media people who were calling for the Rays to choke right up until...well today actually?

It's our era's version of the '69 Mets. Enjoy it folks. This doesn't happen very often.

Actually it won't happen, as because the phillies are gonna win the world series.

"as" the phillies??? But seriously, you get what I am saying. No matter how it ends up, we have seen quite a story with The Rays this season. No one saw this coming.

[pcgd]

What are the dirt circles for that are next to the first and third base lines at Fenway?

i was always under the impression that those were the old on-deck circles from when the deadball era existed and they've just kept them there for historical sake. though i could be totally wrong

Actually those are for Fungo hitters in pre-game. IE...hitting ground balls to the infielders. They are in those locations so two can go at once. The first base side hits to the short stop and third base while the third base side hits to second at first. Sometimes this is done during BP in between pitches. But I doubt that happens as much at the ML level.

Do they really need dirt cutouts to know where to stand? It seems a little unnecessary... unless it's just there because "it's always been that way."

Well if you think about it...hitting ground balls every day all summer in the same location is eventually going to beat down the grass. Its just there to reduce wear and tear on the turf. Just look at outfield position areas in some fields towards the end of the summer. You can see the exact location of where they are playing most the time. When hitting grounders the coach is going to be in the same 3 foot circle for hours every day. Just like the big padding/tarp that gets put in front of the cage during batting practice.

[Swiss]

IMO the biggest problem Boston is facing is that Tampa has about a million times more heart than either of the teams Boston came back to beat. If they go up 3-1 they'll do everything, including tossing kitchen sink at Boston if need be to win. This team is on a mission.

EDIT: Wow. Boston just WALKED in a run. 8-1. This is an ugly game for Boston.

I agree with you 100%. When Boston came with such 3-0 and 3-1 deficits in 2004 and 2007 in both ALCS, I could sense there were some heart. In 2004 I believed the Yanks buried us but I can see the heart the guys were putting on the field except the Game 3.

This time the 2008 Boston played like the 2005 Boston against Chicago White Sox with the difference that the Red Sox are crudely thrashed at Fenway.

The Rays not only are getting the AL pennant and the WS ticket, they are getting all the Boston pride.

This crushing defeat surely will bring some inauspicious consequences for the future of the Boston franchise.