Looking ahead to ALDS v. Rays

[Frater Perdurabo]

Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon has set his rotation for the ALDS (http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080930&content_id=3575936&vkey=news_tb&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb):

Game 1: James Shields
Game 2: Scott Kazmir
Game 3: Matt Garza
Game 4: Andy Sonnanstine (if necessary)
Game 5: Shields (presumably, if necessary)

Based on who already has pitched and when, some speculated the Sox would lead with Vazquez for Game 1, followed by Buehrle, Floyd and Danks. But Dan Roan (WGN) just reported that Buehrle likely will start Game 1.

Vazquez is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in two games in Tropicana.
Buehrle is 0-1 with a 5.54 ERA in one start at the Trop.
Floyd has never faced the Rays.
Danks is 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA against the Rays and did great at the Trop.

[Frater Perdurabo]

Shields is 0-0, 1.50 ERA against the Sox this year.
Kazmir is 1-0, 2.08 ERA against the Sox in 2008.
Garza is 1-1, 4.97 ERA against the Sox from 2005-2007. He did not face the Sox in 2008.
Sonnanstine is 1-0, 3.00 ERA in three starts against the Sox this year, but got roughed up in one start at the Cell.

[Jurr]

When the hell would we know what time the home game is? I have a plane to book!

[WisSoxFan]

I see game five is next Wednesday, Oct. 8. The Sox broke my heart on my 20th birthday (Oct. 8, 1983 - game four ALCS - Tito ****ing Landrum game) and got me hammered on my 30th birthday (Oct. 8, 1993 - promised to do a shot for each run the Sox scored that night. They scored 8 and I lost count:o:). I hope, if it is necessary, they make my 45th a great one!

[Frater Perdurabo]

Call me Captain Obvious, but the biggest key is for the Sox to steal a game in Tampa. Very few Rays players have much postseason experience. They will come into Thursday's game after a big layoff. Yes, they will be rested, but they also "may" be flat. If so, the Sox need to take advantage of it. If they can steal one game there, I think the Sox will come home and win it in four.

The Sox need to keep Rays runners off the bases. They have a lot of speed and will steal at will off of AJ. The biggest thing is to avoid giving up walks.

The Sox also need to play airtight defense. Earlier this year, the Sox botched a rundown in Tampa and it led to Buehrle giving up a big inning and a Sox loss.