Yes, the American League series continue on while the National League Championship Series is ready and waiting.
The Rays send Andy Sonnanstine to the mound to face the White Sox and Gavin Floyd. Even though I love Nick Swisher, the truth is that I must love Dan Johnson and Carlos Pena more because I really want the Rays to go to the ALCS. Funny thing is that I'm noticing a huge sentiment that feels that same exact way. I just like to see teams (and people for that matter) that have been perennial doormats rise from the ashes and become something better. It's what so many of us think of as that American story, no?
Sonnanstine's season stats are:
Floyd's stats are:
It would appear that the White Sox have the starting pitching edge. We shall see.
The second game is the one I happen to be more interested in because the Red Sox failed to shove the stake into the hearts of the evil Angels of Anaheim last night. The Red Sox were so close to ending the Angels season that it nearly pained me to watch them not score with the bases loaded on K-Rod. It would've been sweet to see his Angels career end that way. Any way, the task becomes a bit tougher today because the Sox will now have to beat Slingblade Lackey in order to move on. Man the postseason makes for weird rooting interests. Who ever thought I'd be cheering for the Red Sox as hard as I am? That's just how much I can't stomach the team from Anaheim that claims it's really from Los Angeles.
Lackey faces Jon Lester who was remarkably good during game one. Here are their stat lines from the season:
Let's go Rays!!!!! Let's Lose Angels!!!!