MADDON SHUFFLES ROTATION FOR GAMES 5 AND 6

It was announced today that Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon decided to swap his scheduled starting pitchers for games 5 and 6 of the American League Championship series - going with Scott Kazmir in game 5 and moving James Shields back to game 6 (if necessary).

The logic behind the move is that Shields is "very good" at home. Revealed later was that the switch also prevents Kazmir from pitching with umpire Daryl Cousins behind the plate. Kazmir and Cousins exchanged angry quotes about one another following a game on June 11, when Kazmir was extremely dissatisfied with the strike zone Cousins was calling.

To me, this move is very puzzling. Kazmir has been terrible so far in the playoffs (and at the end of the regular season). Here are his two playoff starts:

10/3 (CWS, W) 5.1 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 4 K, 2 BB, 98 pitches
10/11 (BOS, ND) 4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 HR, 2 K, 3 BB, 98 pitches, (1-13 ground ball to fly ball ratio!)

In his past two starts against the Red Sox, Kazmir has allowed 14 earned runs and seven home runs. Clearly, he is the weak link on what has been a dominating Rays staff. So why move him up a game when you have a chance to end the series? Even if Maddon thinks that moving Shields back home to face Beckett all but ensures a game six victory, why even throw the Red Sox a bone when they are desperately grasping for one? The Sox are in need of any glimmer of hope or momentum they can get at this point, so why give it to them?

Maddon is right about one thing: Shields' home numbers are significantly better than his road stats. But the Rays are about as hot as a team can possibly be at this point, why shake things up?

Of course, this will all be moot unless Dice-K gives us another spectacular performance in game 5.

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.