BOSTON -- Joe Maddon and the Rays have been right so much in this postseason that they deserve the benefit of the doubt.
So maybe we should trust that Maddon's decision to start Scott Kazmir in Game 5, rather than James Shields, makes sense. Or maybe this is the first sign that this ALCS isn't over yet.
Maddon said he likes Kazmir in Game 5 because there's an off day after it (and not after Game 6), and Kazmir's high pitch counts often force the Rays to use their bullpen extensively in his starts. That was certainly true in Game 2, when Kazmir couldn't hold a 4-3 lead and couldn't make it out of the fifth inning.
Maddon also pointed out that Shields has been better at home (9-2, 2.59 in the regular season, vs. 5-6, 4.82 on the road). He didn't have to mention that Kazmir had a problem earlier this year with umpire Derryl Cousins, who will be behind the plate for Game 6 (although Maddon insisted that wasn't the reason for the switch).
All that makes sense, except for one thing: The Rays shouldn't be worrying so much about Game 6. If Shields really is "Big Game James," as the Rays call him, they should want him on the mound for Game 5, pitching the biggest game this franchise has ever played, and trying to end this series as soon as possible.
Maddon told the St. Petersburg Times this morning that if the series was tied 2-2, Shields would be pitching Game 5, because "you just feel at this particular juncture Shields has been more consistent."
In other words, he gives you the best chance to win Game 5.
*****
One more stat to show how historic the Rays' ALCS offensive outburst has been.
According to research through baseball-reference.com's play index, the Rays are the first team EVER to hit three or more home runs in each of three consecutive postseason games. Before this week, no team had ever homered more than seven times in a three-game postseason span (several teams had done that, most recently the 2004 Astros).
Subscribe to this blog
