BOSTON - Given all the energy they exerted and emotion they invested in beating the Yankees, it would be perfectly logical to suggest the Red Sox could have something of a letdown against the Cardinals.
And, according to several Boston players, absolutely wrong.
"I don't see it happening," closer Keith Foulke said. "Just because the Yankees are gone doesn't mean our job is done. Every guy on the club is aware of that. I guarantee you we'll come out with as much or more intensity."
"There's not going to be an ALCS hangover like people think," pitcher Derek Lowe said. "We're not New York and won 26 World Series and say, "Oh, well, here we go again.' It's been 18 years since we've been here. A lot of people think we're just happy to get here. No way. Guys realize we're four wins away from one of the greatest parades in the history of sports."
MAKE A PITCH: St. Louis named Woody Williams to start tonight, but didn't go beyond that. The most likely scenario would be to use Matt Morris in Game 2 Sunday on short rest, Jeff Suppan in Game 3 on Tuesday (with an eye on a potential Game 7) and struggling Jason Marquis in Game 4 Wednesday. ... Manager Tony La Russa declined to name his DH, though he said he would be right-handed.
GOING BATTY: Championships are usually won with pitching. But both teams have lineups stacked with power and pitching staffs pockmarked with questions.
The result could be a lot of high-scoring games, especially in Fenway Park.
"They're like an American League offense," Lowe said. " They have the potential to score a lot of runs, too."
"Every guy they have is a tough out," Morris said. "They have guys who put the ball in play, guys who hit for average, guys who hit the long ball, and some of them are combined into one.
"It should be exciting for the fans, but probably not for the pitchers."
TAKE THAT: La Russa knows all about the decades of suffering Red Sox fans have endured. But he still won't feel bad about being a party pooper. "I come from St. Louis and talk about pooping on a party - we haven't been there in 17 years," he said. "There's been a lot of doggy bags."
SITTING BACK: Brooksville's Bronson Arroyo had no problem with the Red Sox's decision to move him to the bullpen and put Lowe back in the rotation. "That's fine," he said. "D-Lo comes on the plane (after Wednesday's pennant-clinching win) and says, "What game are you starting?' I'm like, "Are you retarded? You're pitching Game 4 and I'm going to the pen.' That's obviously our best chance."
CATCHING ON: With knuckleballer Tim Wakefield on the mound for the Red Sox, Doug Mirabelli will be behind the plate. Mirabelli was Wakefield's usual catcher during the season, and regular starter Jason Varitek had serious problems with the floaters during the ALCS.
SOMBER NOTE: Some of the Red Sox were saddened to hear that a college student celebrating their pennant-clinching victory was killed by police on a street near Fenway Park. "I'd give Game 7 back to have her back," outfielder Trot Nixon said of 20-year-old Victoria Snelgrove.
MISCELLANY: The Cardinals are likely to be without injured left-handed reliever Steve Kline. ... Aerosmith's Stephen Tyler will perform the national anthem tonight and American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson will sing God Bless America. ... The Cardinals have lost their last six Series road games.
