Greg M. Cooper/US Presswire

On Friday night, the Red Sox will face the Rays for the 19th time this season in ALCS Game 1.

ALCS AT A GLANCE

By Mark Simon, ESPN Research

The Red Sox and Rays dispatched their respective opponents in Game 4 on Monday to set up a showdown for the right to go to the World Series. Boston and Tampa Bay matched up almost evenly wins-wise during the regular season, though the contrast in approach was stark.

The Rays won with timely hitting, their starters and bullpen thriving in close games. When the Red Sox won, they did so with an overpowering offense. Boston has the edge in experience, but the Rays seem to have the kind of magic that wins in October -- and that makes for a fascinating matchup.

2008: Red Sox vs. Rays
	Red Sox	Rays
Wins	8	10
One-run wins	0	6
Home record	7-2	8-1
Runs	87	67
Batting average	.253	.233
Home runs	18	18

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE PHILS' MANUEL

By Buck Showalter

I think the job Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has done this year has been so underappreciated. I've known Charlie for a long time. He doesn't pontificate and is pretty plainspoken, but he's a lot sharper than most people give him credit for. He understands the game and the personalities involved. He understands the ebb and flow of the long season and the finality of the shortened postseason.

The best managers in the postseason understand the finality of it. It's not like you are setting things up for the long haul. You have to recognize the immediacy and do what's best for your team's chances that night and, if your players don't understand that, then they don't understand a manager's job description. Sometimes you have to be willing to step out of the box a little bit in the postseason, and that's what Charlie's done. Look at how he flipped his lineup around in the Division Series against Milwaukee. It worked like a charm, and they swept the Brewers.

He's sly like a fox and I guarantee you that's just the way Charlie wants it. Back home they call it "laying in the weeds." If you underestimate him, you'll pay a price.

The postseason is full of people that step up and play unexpected roles. Who says that can't include the manager? They have had obvious success so far, but they are far from satisfied, and it'll be interesting to see if the Phillies make any changes to their roster heading into the best-of-seven NLCS.

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