Time For the ALCS
We're ready to go. You get the days off in between, but
to us, that really doesn't matter. We're excited just to be moving on to the American League Championship Series. It's
tough enough to get here. It was a tremendous series against the Angels, but
now we're focused and ready to go for this one.We had a workout today at Tropicana Field, and we're just trying to stay in rhythm. You're not going to change any of your routines or anything. Get whatever necessary work you need in. Stick to the same schedule. That's the biggest thing.
Playing the Rays in the ALCS, I think you just have to realize that whatever series you play in, pitching and defense is going to be the biggest difference. Timely hitting, that will be another key to this series.
We had a tough time at Tropicana Field this year, losing
eight out of nine. While the season is going on, you don't really think about
that stuff. So I don't really know what we've done differently here or haven't
done differently in this park. We'll stick to our game plan and stick to our
approach and have quality at-bats, playing solid defense and coming with a lot
of energy. This is do or die. If you lose, you go home. You win, you go to the
World Series.You have to respect what the Rays have done this year. Their bullpen has been solid all year. Their starting pitching has been great, and they've played great defense. And that's why they're here.
As for our team, we've got a lot of confidence. It's a different guy every night. We don't have to rely on one person to carry the team. I think that's what has made us strong. Any given night, it could be someone different. But everyone through the line contributes. Everybody has a role and they execute it.
I feel confident. My body feels good. I'm excited for the ALCS. It's a great opportunity. We're looking for one win at a time, but we're one series from the World Series. So it's one game at a time -- the old cliché!
Congrats Jacoby and to the rest of the Red Sox. Another parade this year sounds good to me. Celtics and Sox going all the way would be great for Boston. Do work.
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Good luck Jacoby!!!! PLay hard just like you guys did Mon. night (I was at the game and I have never felt such excitement as I did that night). Keep on believing and go for the big prize. We do need another parade and with each day you guys get one step closer. Not to long ago my volleyball told my team this quote and I know that it will help you "I never said it was going to be easy, just worth it" We love you guys, keep on going!!!!! ~Dana
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Good Luck!... even the kids in the high schools are rooting for you, which obviously isn't a surprise... you should have seen "red sox" day during spirit week... it was insane.. but anyway, good luck (again). I wish I was as lucky as you and didn't have any more tests to take, you're playing in the ALCS! I mean not many people get to do that. Savor it! :-)
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[responding to the above]
omg i wish my school had Red Sox Day in spirit week! that's awesomee!
the Sox can deff take the Rays in this series even though we lost 8 out of 9 in Tampa, Jacoby said it best, "It is the postseason. It's different than the regular season."
congratrs on making it this far Jacoby, you can go all the way! (:
not many people get the chance to get TWO World Series rings in their rookie year, lol
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I agree with everything you said. It's do or die in every game. Man, I can't wait for this series to start. One game at a time, eliminate the Rays!! GO BOSTON!!
Kaybee- http://kaybee.mlblogs.com
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The best of my whishes for you, Jacoby and all the red sox, is good respect to Rays, but remember, in the regular season the Angels won eight of nine games, but in playoffs the history change, could be something similar against Tampa.
Lets go, Red Sox!!!!!!
Lets go, Red Sox!!!!!!
Lets go, Red Sox!!!!!!
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Friday is upon us, and HERE WE GO! Best of everything to you, Jacoby, and your entire team of proven grind-it-out winners...the Boston Red Sox. We in Red Sox Nation will be cheering you on from coast to coast! And, of course, as your great manager reminds us all, it is truly one game at a time. Do not worry about being 1-8 at the Trop this year, because if you think about it, that was your exact record against the Angels all season, and just look how that worked out! Oh, yeah! I can't wait for tonight's game to get underway, and to witness some of the greatest baseball of my life. My family, including my four awesome kids, will all be front and center to cheer you and the Boys from Boston on to victory once again! All the best...Amy in CA
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One game at a time and YES you guys can definitely win at Trop with their dumb catwalks and fake grass! Thanks for signing Justin's guestbook at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/justincondoluci
Please tell Jon that his buddy is pulling for him in major ways. When Justin is getting his chemo on Tuesday morning he knows he'll be looking back on another great Lester win! Now go get 'um!!!
Amy Condoluci
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Very pleased to see you initiate a blog and let your fans know your outlook on the game. You, Jed Lowrie, Jon Lester, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis are the proven future for the Bosox.
Win or lose you are all winners. But I expect you to win ;^)
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Old cliche or not, that is exactly what it takes. One game at a time. Stupid Trop. I was joking with a kid in work, we said what if the ball just gets stuck up there? How long will the game be waiting for it to come down? They'll have to fill the gatorade pots with coffee! "the ball is still in play!" Good luck to everyone. I'll be at home having a heart attack, as usual.
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yah'teeh Jacoby,
Good luck tonight and through the ALCS. It's not about who you play, It's about how you play.........Go Red Sox.....win it one inning at a time................
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Hey Jacoby,
You're getting quite spoiled enjoying all of these post-season advancements in a young major league career. Jason Bay can tell you how the other half lives (haha). Best of luck to you all tonight and don't be shy about showing them who still rules the American League. Set that table as early as possible!
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Go get 'em tonight boys!
http://nationofone.mlblogs.com/
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Lets go show them whose boss tonight boys. Keep up the good work. We are rooting for you all in California tonight.
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Hi Jacoby,
It really shows how strong this team is to see you guys in the ALCS. Other teams have been through the amount of injuries you guys have had, but I don't think anyone could have seen the team getting so far and being so persistent. All everyone keeps talking about is how bad your record was at the Trop, but look at how the Angels handled you in regular season. None of that stuff matters now its in October. I believe you guys can get -at least- one win at the Trop in games 1 and 2 and I'm sure you can win at least 2 of 3 at Fenway. And Games 6 and 7 are Beckett and Lester again. I just really think you guys have the better odds and are the better team.
Good luck in Florida and enjoy the warm weather while you can! See you back in New England.
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Been a loyal fan my whole life...remember crying when the sox came so close only to lose in the end. You gotta believe...always! Three world series after 80+ years would be great! But win or lose...sox are no longer the lovable losers...just lovable!! Thanks Jacoby for taking the time during the ALCS to write on your blog :) We love ya!!
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good luck jacoby!!! i just know you are going to do amazing...you are the greatest baseball player alive...i swear i'm in love with you...you are my everything...i wish you the best of luck and i'll be watching...i have a feeling we are going back to the world series again this year...i love you!!!
carissa xoxo
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Good Luck. The Sox have come a long way. Suggestion- if you ever come up with the bases loaded- paricularly with none or one out- Look for the fastball down the middle on the first pitch. Take the cut- swing with aggressive, conviction. You know they are going to try and get ahead on the count. Take advatage of it. If it's a curve ball or change up- lay off of it. But if it's a fastball- put it away.
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Good luck tonight Jacoby! How awesome would it be to go to the World Series again??!!!! We love you guys!! - Emily
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Good Luck Jacoby!!!!!
I'll be rooting for you guys tonight. I love you guys.
Even though we may have a few injuries, I know we can win the ALCS> Red SOX allll the ways.
LETS GO RED SOX!!!!!!!!
LETS GO BOSTON!!!!!
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I don't know what to say about this club except guts & heart. Tell ya what, I'm a So Cal guy who was bred a Sox fan by my entire family. I was born on the East coast, but never forgot my roots. I was at the second game in Anaheim, and was mixed in with a lot of hot headed Angel fans until J.D. put the tape across their lips... It was Awesome! The clincher was incredible though. Seems every time I watch the Sox I am near either a stroke or an ulcer, either way I keep comin' back for more, and the Sox keep giving the love right back. Keep up the great work Jacoby & give Jed & J.B. a big thank you from the West Coast! Go Get 'Em Sox!
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You are all right. The postseason is a completely different game! As far as our record with the Angels this year, keep in mind that when we were in Anaheim, it was during the peak of manny's stupidness and having an obvious effect on the clubhouse. I was at the Anaheim game when Manny rolled around on top of that baseball in the outfield. I was SO EMBARRASSED! Well those days are over and a new postseason with a great team attitude is upon us. We can do this AGAIN!!!
The downside of living in southern California as a sox fan (born and raised in Boston) is now I have to see Manny's stupid self absorbed idiotic face on the news it seems daily now that he is with the LA Dodgers. If one of his reasons to leave Boston was his lack of privacy-always in the public eye...well he is in the media even more now, and frankly I think he loves it as much as he loves himself.
What greater statement can the sox make then winning this world series without Manny, leaving him in the dust.
GO SOX!!!!!!!
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Ellsbury will be all over the bases at the Trop this weekend. He is built for the postseason.
Steve T
http://soxblog.mlblogs.com
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Good Luck Jacoby!!!!!!!
GO BOSTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Jacoby Ellsbury you are a beast in the postseason. The only thing i am worried about is how the Rays homefield advantage is going to affect us, like you said. Just remember you have millions of fans backing you up! Let's Go Sox!
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hi jacoby!!!
good luck in the game 2night! i can t wait to see u guys play! its great that we r in the ALCS, and will kick some tampa bay *** :) dont worry about the 1-8 record at Trop, its ok. we always come out on top! i love seeing u guys play (espesically u!) because making it to october is wat its all about! good luck to everybody on the team!!! i will be watching and cheering u guys on!!! i kno we have wat it takes to win 2night! :)
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Ive never been more proud to be a Red Sox fan. First of all, congratulations on a great regular season. You guys proved your strengths by still competing every night without your whole team healthy. Second, Congratulations on a successful ALDS vs the Angels. You guys proved you deserve to be playing in october to defend your crown. You guys keep doing what you do, play baseball. Like you said, take it one game at a time and don't look to win the series in one night. I know it must be hard not to think ahead to the world series , being you play for the Boston Red Sox, you must hear it every day. Put those distractions behind you and focus on outplaying that Rays team. Keep it simple, just play baseball and I have every confidence that you will end up where you need to be. You guys got the pitching, defense, and hitting that is needed to win baseball games. Oh and you got one of the greatest baseball minds of all time putting the signs down behind the plate. Finally and most importantly, have fun. It's October man!
The best of luck to you Jacoby and the rest of the Red Sox
Go Sox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Jacoby:
Good luck tonite in Tampa Bay. You are a great player on a great team and very exciting to watch. As all the other posts say -- you are the greatest. Hit well, run fast, steal a base or two, and score 3 runs tonight. And of course, hit one or two of your signature doubles.
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way to go jacoby - u rock, and u have since u stepped onto the field last post-season!! u, pd, youk, lester, big papi, fenbay, jd, jed, mikey (so bummed he's broke but he'll get better aft his surgery), kotsay, coco, pap, ace beckkkkkkkkett, lester, dice, delcarmen - all of ya!! i gotta tell ya i'm sooooo proud of my boys - GO RED SOX!!!!!!!!! i gotta tell ya, last post -season is when i literally fell in love with this team and baseball as i was nursing the worst heartbreak of my life that nearly destroyed me...was channel surfing in aug and there ya were, winning, winning, winning...i got hooked immediately (course one of my best friends born/raised in boston started the destiny for me 3 yrs ago and gave me his ballcap). i knew last oct u all would win and ya did! and despite all the injuries we've had this yr, u guys are a rock solid TEAM - that's what i believe is your best strength - we all could learn something from the way all of u get in there and cover ea other - it's amazing!!! and i admire all of u for it!
well then the new season started and i knew more about the game and i had told myself last oct, "next yr i'm gonna see the red sox play live" and my first game was at the crappy trop (i live in tpa bay but gonna move to boston soon), pd $125 for my seat (8 rows from the field and just 2 seats from the RS dugout) - it was so way cool!! i bought so many souvenirs that nite in april, and we lost but i didn't care bc i knew we'd win again - and we did over & over until here we are again in the alcs series. my next dream was coming to boston at fenway & watching u guys live and i made that happen this past labor day - saw a nite game on 9/1 and a mat on 9/3 - what a way to sweep them birds!!! i got to sing sweet caroline w/ the other fans and wrote my name on top of the RS dugout then took a pic - awesome! everyone was jealous. but one of the most amazing blessings i got on 9/3 after the game was on my flight back home to tpa...tek was on my flight and he autographed the inside bill of my cap and even included his #33 so now gotta retire it but wearing it now waiting for game 1 to start on tv for good luck for all of u. pls tell tek the young woman w/ the red hair at logan airport on 9/3 really appreciates that he took time to do that "just for me". even my boston friend was so impressed he gave me a new cap so gotta break it in, but not till next season.
beat the rays for us and u got so many boston fans here in tpa bay area...we love u all and r so proud of ur accomplishments as THE team in baseball!! also let the team know as my very broken heart last year was on the mend and i thought i wouldn't get past the pain, the red sox team and baseball literally SAVED my life. u guys don't know how u affect so many lives out there in the world but just know u do, and u did make a difference in mine. thx for blogging and drink it all in ellsbury - u have all earned every bit of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Good luck in the post season, the Red Sox obviously deserve to be there. Thanks for taking the time to keep us fans updated. I will be rooting for you all the way!
GO RED SOX!!!
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I wish you good luck in tonights game.
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Way to go Jacoby and the Red Sox!! As of AZ time right now, it's 2-0 so I am going to assume you guys will win tonight's game! YEAH!! This must be so much fun for you guys and hope its the Sox vs LA in the WS. To be able to beat LA/Manny/and Joe Torre would be awesome!! Good luck Jacoby and the rest of the team. You have MANY fans here in Phoenix, AZ!!
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Yay you guys won today!!!
only three more games and were back to the world series!!!
i really want you guys to play the dodgers so i can got to the game...but then again i dont want the dodgers in the world series. well anyways good luck tomorrow!!! we have to win again!!!
oh and by the way...
I LOVE YOU!!!
IM YOUR NUMBER 1 FAN!!!!
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Wonderful game, everyone! Daisuke was great tonight. Keep up the good work.
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Go......Jacoby! You are awesome to watch! Keep winning for you're fans in Portland maine. We love ya!
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Good luck in the series Jacoby! Play hard and keep up the confidence! I'll be watching at home probably screaming my guts out, but that's okay!
I'll be cheering for you and the team.... along with the rest of Red Sox nation!
GO SOX! And Jacoby my favortie player!
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Jacoby, Sorry,but when I see you swing more at balls low almost in the dirt, I want to give you a GOLF club for your birthday.
Also you got to have more POWER in your swings some times you swing like a girl. GET TO KNOW YOUR STRIKE ZONE. With all of your abilities you could make the H.O.F.
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