Projo Sox Blog

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tight or not so tight. That is the question.

Soon after the Red Sox' 2-0 win in Game One of the ALCS on Friday night, David Ortiz said he noticed the youthful Rays wore a different look on their faces than in the regular season. Was the pressure of the playoffs getting to the upstarts?

"Regular season is totally different than playoffs," Ortiz said. "I'm the kind of guy that I watch everybody's faces. I've got that opportunity because I don't have to go out there and play defense. I'm telling you, I saw faces tonight that were different from what I see in the regular season. I don't blame nobody. There's a lot of pressure out there right now because you know you have to win otherwise you go home. That relaxed type of thing that you have in the regular season, that wasn't out there tonight.''

The Rays were told of Ortiz' comments and while the players shrugged off the claim, their manager actually agreed with Big Papi's thoughts.

"I agree and I did see it," said Joe Maddon. "That's why I thought it primarily manifested itself in the pitches that we swung at. However, [the Red Sox] had the same look themselves. It was a very close game.''

Maddon is hoping the Game One experience will only help his team going forward in this series.

"That was our first foray into that situation and I'd like to believe we're going to come out and be more typical [in Game Two]. But I can't disagree with him.''

Outfielder Gabe Gross, however, did.

"We're not tight," the Rays' right fielder said. "There is pressure and intensity in the ALCS, but I thought we were more amped up in the [ALDS against the White Sox]."

Gross said that even as the Red Sox pulled ahead in the late innings, the Rays remained confident that they'd continue the type of play that helped them build a major league-best 57-24 record at Tropicana Field.

"We've won that type of game all year," he said. "We felt we'd win that game somehow, some way."

So does Ortiz' remarks stick in the minds of the Rays?

"It means absolutely zero," said Gross. "To me or anyone on this team.''

 Tags  David Ortiz Red Sox

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