YankeesRedSox.com

Really, 9:37pm ET for a playoff game?  Ouch.  2 playoff games?  Ugh.  A 9:37 pm ET start for a ALDS playoff game is tough to chew.  That's a late start, isn't it?  I know the LAAofA fans need time to get home from work, but seriously, they don't really care that much about these games anyway, do they?  I mean, they'd have an NFL team if they cared for sports, no?

Maybe I'm just getting old and grumpy (or older and grumpier).

No matter, the Red Sox are going to throw Lester, Beckett and Buchholz (and then pray for...can't think of anything that rhymes).  Talk has it the Angels don't handle power pitchers that well while talk also has it that the Angels are going to run their pants off against the Red Sox.  We shall see.

Given his monster sized slump in the second half, Jason Varitek should not play an inning this post-season as Victor Martinez has proven himself the far-superior bat and at least an adequate backstop.  It's sad to say, but I think Varitek is a fringe major-league at this point.

The only other question is with Alex Gonzalez.  He received a pitch to the hand in the last week of the season and it was questionable if he'd be able to play.  With Jed Lowrie not 100% and Chris Woodward at home with his new baby and wife, the Red Sox told Gil Velásquez to hold off on his off-season job at the Home Depot.

Good news seems to be in, as Gonzalez's hand wasn't broken.  My bet is he plays.

Certainly the Red Sox have the psychological advantage having won 9 of the last 10 against the Angels in post-season play, but the Red Sox have found themselves facing such history before and prevailed, so they need to stay focused and avoid the Miguel Cabrera all-nighters.  Now get some rest.