Rays
Red-Sox Angels: What To Watch For
TBO.com
The Tampa Tribune
Published: October 1, 2008
SERIES SCHEDULEThe Tampa Tribune
Published: October 1, 2008
GAME 1: Today, at Anaheim, Calif., 10:07 p.m.
GAME 2: Friday, at Anaheim, Calif., 9:37 p.m.
GAME 3: Sunday, at Boston, TBA
x-GAME 4: Monday, Oct. 6, at Boston, TBA
x-GAME 5: Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Anaheim, Calif., TBA
All games on TBS; x-if necessary
Season Series: L.A. won 8-1
PROJECTED LINEUPS
RED SOX
Pos.PlayerAvg.HRRBICFJacoby Ellsbury.2809472BDustin Pedroia.3261783DHDavid Ortiz.26423891BKevin Youkilis.31229115RFJ.D. Drew.2801964LFJason Bay.286311013B Mike Lowell.2741773SSJed Lowrie.258246CJason Varitek.2201343 ANGELS
Pos.PlayerAvg.HRRBI3BChone Figgins.276122LF-DHGarret Anderson.29315841BMark Teixeira30833121RF-DHVladimir Guerrero.3032791CFTorii Hunter.27821782BHowie Kendrick.306337DH-OFJuan Rivera.2461245CMike Napoli.2732049SSErick Aybar.277339 PROJECTED ROTATIONS
RED SOX
Th.PlayerW-LERALHJon Lester16-63.21RHDaisuke Matsuzaka18-32.90RHJosh Beckett12-104.03 ANGELS
Th.PlayerW-LERARHJohn Lackey12-53.75RHErvin Santana16-73.49LHJoe Saunders17-73.41 BOSTON MEDICAL GROUP: Will Josh Beckett (sore muscle in side) be healthy enough to pitch Game 3? J.D. Drew (strained lower back) and Mike Lowell (sore left hip) planned to travel with the team to California and test their injuries right up until the deadline for submitting the playoff roster. Lowell appeared in only 12 games the last six weeks, and Drew played just two games in September.
KOOL-ROD: The seemingly unflappable Francisco Rodriguez was a sensation as an untested rookie in the 2002 postseason, so he knows what it's like to perform under intense pressure on baseball's biggest stage.
POWER OUTAGE: Kevin Youkilis provided unexpected punch in the cleanup spot after Ramirez was traded, but the Red Sox could have trouble hitting homers, especially if Lowell and Drew don't play. They can compensate, however, with tough at-bats and pure speed. Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia and Coco Crisp were the first Boston trio to steal at least 20 bases apiece since 1914. Ellsbury's total was the third-highest in team history behind Tommy Harper (54) and Tris Speaker (52).
DOWN AND DIRTY ANGELS: They're a typical Mike Scioscia team that stays busy on the base paths, always dusting off their uniforms after hitting the dirt to stretch a hit or take an extra base.