Confidence

The Phillies were rained out, but the Red Sox, playing in the rainproof Tropicana Dome, were on TBS as they tried to salvage a split against Tampa.

When we left for a dinner commitment, the Sox trailed 3-1 in the 6th, but I was confident they'd come back, if for no other reason than Brad Penny was starting. If he gives up only three runs in six innings, the Sox should win.

But when we returned, it was a 5-3 Rays win, so the Sox head to their first games in Yankee Stadium closer to the third-place Yankees than the first-place Blue Jays.

David Ortiz, who hopefully takes advantage of homer-happy Yankee stadium this week, took another oh-for-three.

He spoke today, saying he is starting to relax and confident things will turn around. I hope so, because MVP or no MVP, it has to be humiliating for Big Papi to have Dustin Pedroia intentionally walked in front of him.

He's confident this is just a slump, not the end of a fabled Red Sox career: "I'll be back," he said. "Write that [expletive] down."

Confidence was a topic during Saturday's Phillies game while Brad Lidge tried to get through the 9th inning. Christine was nervous. I reminded her she was more confident in him the last time we saw him in person with the World Series clincher on the line. She said she had more confidence in the team then. {The inconsistency and playing from behind is killing me. I know that's how the Phillies played during most of 2008, but when it mattered, they buckled down and left no doubt that every game was winnable. This year, I'm not feeling that yet.}

Conversely, from the Mets' perspective, this morning I heard New York Post columnist Mike Vaccaro interviewed on radio. He was asked whether he had any doubt Shane Victorino would walk to end the game.

He said he knew it was over when the Phillies had two men on and the Mets didn't bring in Francisco Rodriguez.

I guess confidence is all a matter of perspective.