IS ANOTHER COMEBACK IN THE CARDS?

The Tampa Bay Rays routed the Red Sox 13-4 last night in game four to take a commanding three games to one lead in their best-of-seven American League Championship Series. Red Sox fans all remember that in years past, the Sox have been able to make magic happen with their backs up against the wall. In 2004, Boston stormed back from down 3-0 to win four straight against the rival New York Yankees. And then in '07, they won three straight after falling behind 3-1 to defeat Cleveland and advance to the World Series.

If the Red Sox are going to claw back into the '08 ALCS, it is going to take an incredible effort. They are going to have to improve in nearly every area. The team's hitting has been anemic since returning to Boston with the series even at a game apiece. Tampa has outscored Boston 22-5 in the two games at Fenway Park, where the Red Sox were 56-25 in the regular season. Home hasn't been so sweet in the post season, however, where the Sox are just 1-3 (they are 3-1 on the road). They scratched across two runs in game one of the series, a shutout victory, then pounded out 8 runs in game two. Since then, the Sox haven't been able to do a thing with Rays pitching.

Pitching is another problem Boston is facing. Josh Beckett has had a dismal post season, and the seemingly invincible Jon Lester was pounded by Tampa in game three. Wakefield was tattooed in game four, further taxing an already overworked bullpen.

Daisuke Matsuzaka will face Scott Kazmir in game five on Thursday night. If the Sox are going to have any chance at repeating history and making a comeback for the ages, they will have to improve in every phase of the game.