The Red Sox Have a Chance To Clinch The American League Tonight...With David Price on the Mound

Going into this series a lot of people were picking the Astros, saying the Red Sox had no chance with the way their current roster is built, that the  bullpen would cost them.

I thought it would, along with most rational Red Sox fans. I was extremely nervous going into the series and still am.  The Astros won 103 games this year...they don't suck.  The series isn't over until a team has four wins and I have a hard time believing the Red Sox will sweep the Astros in Houston.  All Red Sox fans should know that a series isn't over until it's over that given this team's history.  They own the most famous comeback in the history of sports in addition to one of the worst collapses in baseball history.

Somehow (outside of Kimbrel) the pen has been lights out all postseason, and in Houston the bats have come alive from the Sox.  They've scored 8 runs the last two nights to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Lead by the most unlikely of power sources (to some,,,, I've believed in Jackie all year).

JBJesus has saved the @RedSox. #ALCS pic.twitter.com/AFOrdQDiVp

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2018

I'm not getting into it because the right call was made, but if you don't think that was interference by the Astro fans last night with Mookie you're macadamia nuts. The fans hit his glove and stopped him from making the play. Plain and simple. I will say this... 8:40 start times are idiotic. Some people have these things called jobs in the morning that they need to sleep for @MLB. Nobody gets in their own way quite like baseball.


As for the game tonight, Houston has just the man they want on the bump down 3-1 in Justin Verlander. Verlander is IMO the best RHP of this generation and had shown time and time again (except in the World Series..although he didn't suck in it last year) that he can get it done on the biggest of stages. He's a big game horse. 

JV won game one of this series pitching 6 innings allowing 2 runs (neither which scored via a hit), and striking out 6.  Verlander has been a stud in the postseason for Houston. He was the ALCS MVP last season and is 6-1 over the last two postseasons for the Stros. I still can't believe they were able to get him last year.

The Red Sox have David Price pitching on short rest. 

Despite holding the series edge, starting pitching has been the biggest weakness for the Red Sox this October. Chris Sale is hurt and has a stomach issue, Porcello has been himself, but struggled last night, Evo has been lights out, and then there's David Price. Neither his starts were really promising, although he did get that elusive "team win" monkey off his back in his last start.

On paper the Astros should win tonight. They have their ace going and are pissed over the controversy regarding the Mookie play. They're at home, fighting for their lives.

That is exactly why I love David Price in this start.

Sure in about 5 hours I could be eating my words, but as a noted narrative guy, I love the story-line tonight: David Price can exercise all his October demons to lead the Red Sox to the World Series. Knock out the defending champs, in their house. This is some movie script shit in the making.

Now between the short rest, and emphasis on taking starters out early in the playoffs, it seems unlikely that Price would even make it the full 5 innings to qualify for a win, even if he was pitching well. Dudes used to be men in baseball and pitch on short rest in October. Now it's a win if they go 5. 

I just have this feeling that tonight is going to be his night. No stats to back it up, just my (big ass) gut. David Price has given Red Sox fans plenty of reasons to not like him over the years, but I still am a fan.  This is the perfect chance to not only win, but to shove it down all the haters who have said he just can't do it in October. I've been that guy on this blog many times, but I still believe in him.  The sample size is still pretty small in relation to his entire career. Like David Price does not suck. Plain and simple. He can do this. The man has won a Cy Young. I truly think that his no decision in game 2 is going to get the ball rolling for him. Over the years it's been the same song and dance for him, pitch like shit, team loses, and goes home. Not this year. Not with this team. David Price has a chance to put all that shit behind him. If he can keep the Astros at bay and pick up the W his life is going to change forever.  Plus it's his manager's fucking birthday. Like if you are a good guy, you'll win tonight as birthday present. 

Sure some people will remember the 0-9 start to his postseason (starting) career. But a win in a pennant clinching game is  a pitching nice trump card. Not a bad time to pick up his first win in October as a starter. 

I do not want to see this series go back to Boston, end it now, don't give the Astros any life, because they for sure can beat this three straight games. Who knows what's up with Sale? Kimbrel is giving away runs like he's handing out flyers on a sidewalk. Just kill them now, do not give them any life, break their necks, don't let the Astros nurse themselves back to health and then kill you. Because they for sure can.  You don't wanna be screaming I should've killed you when I had the chance watching the Astros celebrate a pennant at Fenway Park.

The time is now, if David Price is ever going to shake the loser label, this is the perfect fucking spot to do so. He can do it.  Put your nuts on the fucking table and pitch like you're a 217 million dollar pitcher. I'm fully talking myself into it. Price has this tonight.  Go Sox! Go David! and Happy Birthday AC!! 

Happy Birthday to our manager! ❤️

Let’s make it the best birthday ever! pic.twitter.com/BS0iWP3asM

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) October 18, 2018