ALCS Winner

[HoustonGM]

Momentum has to be on the Sox side, even though they're going back to Tampa Bay for games 6 and 7.

If you believe in such a thing as "momentum" actually having any effect.

From Rob Neyer's blog this morning:

Between Friday morning and Saturday evening (and perhaps beyond), you're going to hear a great deal about momentum. Me? I don't put a great deal of stock in it. Not in baseball. If momentum's so important, then how did the Red Sox come back from seven runs down in the first place? Shouldn't they have just rolled over, those last few innings? Because the Rays had as much momentum, in both the series and the game, as you'll see a team have. Does the Red Sox's newfound momentum mean more, because they've been in this spot before? Perhaps. I'm smart enough to know there are things I don't know. But in this case, what I don't know will likely be smashed by the starting pitchers in Game 6.

[FRENCHREDSOX]

If you believe in such a thing as "momentum" actually having any effect.

It is one of those "intangibles" However,the "comeback" did have some positives to players' confidence WHICH does have an effect (even if it is infinitesimally small) on play.

For example "Big Papi" was in a "rut" & his confidence is certainly better today after that HR in the 7th.The pen (apart from Delcarmen) feel better ETC etc.Confidence does affect play,as a batter "you swing" freer as a Pitcher you will be more aggressive - usually the 2 gain better results than the opposite.

[Swampdog]

You know, looking over the 11 teams that have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a postseason (7 game) series, the majority of those teams...6 to be exact...had to win the last 2 games on the road. Just like the Sox will have to do. I would have thought that it would have been more common for teams that accomplished this feat to have 2 home games of the remaining 3, rather than the other way around.

Red Sox made history in '04 when they beat the Yankees after trailing 0-3 in games, and now they have again made history with Thursday nights historic comeback. Red Sox go all the way. You heard it here. If the Rays win...then never mind.

[BINGLEBOP]

If you believe in such a thing as "momentum" actually having any effect.

"Momentum" is probably the wrong word. I was thinking of it in terms of their confidence. Obviously anything can happen, but with them experiencing that big of a comeback and Tampa Bay blowing the game, the Red Sox are feeling a little better than they did before the game, and the Rays probably a little worse.

[EVEN11323]

Nice work TBS. The Steve Harvey Show is on thanks to your technical difficulties.

[Moot]

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

[EVEN11323]

Well, Garza vs. Lester tomorrow.

[BINGLEBOP]

The people who voted the Rays in this poll after they went up 3-1 might want to reconsider it now.