YankeesRedSox.com

First off, sorry to not post more frequently during this ALCS, but I've been moving around a bit and frequently find myself without internet access.

On to the ALCS:

Boston hasn't hit and hasn't pitched.  That basically sums up their performance since game 2 (not that they hit much in game 1).  David Ortiz is lost, Jacoby Ellsbury is lost, Jason Varitek remains lost, Kotsay, Drew, Lowrie, all lost!  the only ones producing are Pedroia, Bay and Youkilis and to a lesser extent, Coco Crisp.

As a team the Red Sox are hitting .232/.323/.415 in the ALCS.  Not good.

But surely their pitching has been good, right?  No.  7.17 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP.  Ugly.

Well, we can go on and on about who is doing what and what the underlying issues are, but that is a waste of time.  The fact is, the Red Sox seem to do this to themselves in every post-season.  2003, down 0-2 to the A's in the ALDS.  2004, down 0-3 to the Yankees in the ALCS.  2007, down 1-3 to the Indians (after winning game 1).  Why do they let it get to this point?  The Red Sox are a good team, why such a flop in crucial games?  Why make life so difficult?

The good news about the aforementioned series is that they did come back in all 3 to win the series in question and in 2 of the 3 years, went on to win the World Series.

But doing it again would be going to the well one too many times.  I mean, there is no way they can come back again, right?  An absurd thought, correct?

We'll find out tonight and hopefully Friday Saturday and Sunday too.  Daisuke Matsuzaka is on the mound and will try to actually pitch well unlike his fellow starters Josh "I'm healthy" Beckett, Jon Lester and Tim Wakefield.

As for Terry Francona, I was frustrated with his decision making in game 2, but there was nothing he could have done in games 3 and 4.  The Red Sox players just stunk.

These are maddeningly frustrating times (as in Joe Maddon).  Man it would be sweet to see this team put it together tonight with good lead-off hitting and table-setting, good middle of the line-up hitting and productive at bats from the bottom third.  In other words, just seeing the Red Sox play how they're capable would be rewarding.

Tampa Bay is a good team, so no matter how well the Red Sox play, it is likely to be tough, but at least go down with a fight.