ALCS Game Seven: What Terry Francona Should Say in His Pregame Speech

As a Red Sox fan, the following is my ideal pregame speech by Terry Francona to his team prior to the start of Game Seven of the American League Championship Series.

"Men: In life, people are given opportunities. And any time spent working with those opportunities creates progress. So what is our progress?

Well, for the third time in the last five years, this organization has won the fifth and sixth game of the league championship series. The first two times led to World Series titles.

Tonight, we are given one more opportunity. With a win tonight, we go for one more title.

Complacency occurs when people become satisfied with their progress. But we are not complacent. And we are not satisfied. This organization is not satisfied unless we fight for, battle for, earn, and win another World Series.

So how are we going to get back to the World Series? We exploit opportunities. Why? Because success is guaranteed for those who exploit opportunities.

Tonight, we must give effort, and you all must have desire and discipline. Specifically in the game, we exploit opportunities by doing the following:

On the mound, we are going to make efficient and effective pitches to their hitters. In the field, we are going to hustle, communicate, and play perfect defense. At the plate, we are going to attack by using every advantage possible to score runs. And on the bases, we are going to push by forcing runs in every way possible.

This is how we do it. When we do this, we win. This organization wins.

This organization is the best at exploiting opportunities. And the more we do this, the more we win. Why? Because winning is Boston Red Sox baseball. And people expect that.

Let's leave it on the field tonight because there is no other opportunity to do so."