The old saying goes that "momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher" but you'd forgive the Rays and their fans for wondering if there isn't something cosmically aligned against them at this hour. Seven outs away from the World Series and seven runs up just three days ago, losers of two straight to a team that can't seem to lose with the season on the line today. It's a story that the late Gene Mauch, former manager of the Phillies and Angels, knew all too well. In 1964, his Phillies lost 10 straight games and the pennant to the Cardinals. In 1982, his Angels had a 2-0 lead in the ALCS but lost to the Brewers and then there's 1986. That's perhaps the most relevant, thanks to the score in the series and the Angels' opponent. Up 3-1 against the Red Sox, the tragic Donnie Moore served up a home run to Dave Henderson in Game 5 that tilted the series in Boston's favor for good.
Why does any of this matter? Because Joe Maddon, manager of the Rays, calls Mauch "one of my favorite baseball people of all time." The Rays surely need some baseball spirits on their side if they want to pull this out tonight but Mauch may not be the best ghost in the machine.
