It was a playoff atmosphere this week at Fenway with the 3-game series against the Rays. Every game featured great pitching & runs scoring at a snail's pace. Each game could have gone differently given the number of runners left in scoring position by both teams.
Here's a few of the things that I hope the Sox take away from this series.
1) The Rays are for real.
2) Our best 3 starters can match-up with their best 3 starters.
3) The offense needs to deliver with RISP as we won't get that many opportunities.
4) Don't pitch Papelbon 3 days in a row.
5) Don't pitch Timlin - period.
6) Use Sean Casey as the 1st pinch hitter instead of letting him collect splinters on the pine. Why have him if you're not going to use him? His OBP is over .400.
7) Don't pinch run Coco for Lowell with 2 outs unless you're going to have him steal. We could have used both players later in last night's game. Instead Lowell & Coco are out for the rest of the game in the 6th inning.
8) Don't pitch Timlin - period.
9) Don't pitch Timlin - period.
It doesn't get any easier for the Sox & Rays. The Rays go to New York while the Sox host the red-hot Blue Jays for 4 games in 3 days. I don't like the pitching matchups with Wakefield, Byrd & Colon going in the 1st 3. Best thing is we should miss Halladay since he pitched last night.
This week has been two nights of opportunity lost. I'll take a 2-2 weekend against the Jays which should keep the Sox in a comfortable lead in the AL Wild Card as games wind down.
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