MLB.com - James Shields talks to the Media the day before Game 1 of the ALCS.
“Q: Just talk about facing David Ortiz. He’s put up some good numbers against you. What problems does he pose for you?
JAMES SHIELDS: Oh, man, I mean, David Ortiz, I’ve always told people he’s one of the most feared hitters in the box. This guy gets in the box and he pretty much covers the whole entire box.
We’ve just got to be careful. I’m going to try to hopefully get the guys out beforehand, and if he hits one off me, hopefully it’s a solo home run. But I’m going to try to change my approach a little bit as far as he goes.
But other than that, I mean, he’s going to hit you at any time, at any time of the game, and he’s definitely a threat. But I’m going to pitch my game and try to do my best.”
MLB.com - Dice-K talks to the Media the day before Game 1 of the ALCS.
“Q: Can you talk about the importance of getting that first pitch for a strike for you and what that does for your confidence and how it sets up the way you attack a pitch or attack the strike zone?
DAISUKE MATSUZAKA: It’s true for any pitcher, but getting that first pitch strike puts you at a big advantage for that at bat. But I wouldn’t say that being able to get that first pitch strike boosts my confidence in any way.
And on the other hand, just because I couldn’t get the first pitch strike, it doesn’t cause any anxiety on my part.”
TBO.com -Rays reliever J.P. Howell does an interview with Marc Lancaster, talking about pregame rituals and such.
“Q: Do you eat anything specific before the games?
Howell: Yeah - PBJ and Doritos. That’s it, man. Just simple.
Q: Every game?
Howell: Every game.
Q: Since when?
Howell: Aw, man, it probably started because my mom used to pack it in my lunch. She packed my lunch in high school, and then college I stopped in my freshman year and got hit. So sophomore year, I said, hey, I’ve got to go back, during the season, to eating my PBJs and Doritos, man. So I did and everything’s been good.”
OverTheMonster.com - The wise R.J. Anderson answers some questions in a swap with OTM.
“Q: Dropping the ‘Devil’: did this actually make a difference?
Anderson: Of course. Although my definition of making a difference is anytime you can get satanic worshippers to disown you”
DRaysBay.com - Randy Booths answers on the other side of this swap.
“Q: The decision to play Mark Kotsay over Sean Casey is a bit odd to me. Is Kotsay really that much better than Casey to eclipse any offensive shortcomings?
Booth: Kotsay is much better defensively. Casey can hit the ball, but he’s not going to produce at the plate much more than Kotsay. Kotsay, however, has other, much better tools like speed, which we both know can change a game.”
