In Spring Training the Rays brawled with the Yanks over a hard slide at second base. Earlier in the regular season, the Rays and Sox brawled when Coco Crisp rushed the mound after a hard slide the game before. Credit the Rays, particularly Joe Maddon, for not backing down to the established "bullies" in the division.
Let's not put too much stock in this series and the upcoming series vs Toronto and the visit to the Trop. The winner of the division will play the White Sox and the wild card gets the Angels. Traditionally among the "big three" sports, home field advantage matters least in baseball. In 2004 the Sox went to Anaheim and New York to win series. We would love to play as many games at Fenway as we can but considering how well the team has played on the road of late, it is not crucial.
It will be fun to see how the Rays react after struggling of late. This is their first true significant series. The home team has swept the visitors each time this year.
Bold predictions for the series:
- Ortiz is ready to go on a tear
- The Rays pen will falter as the season gets into crunch time
- Lester (I jinxed him last time) will pitch well tonight
- Rays win Tuesday night Kazmir over Dice-K
- Beckett wins Wednesday over Sonnanstine
- Toughest out for the Sox will be Pena
- Maddon will walk Ortiz at least twice intentionally
- Varitek will struggle against the entire series
- Lowell will one game by knocking in the winning run
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