The New Dynasty?

It took 86 years to get the last one. This one only took 3.

The Boston Red Sox are the World Champions of baseball for the second time in four years. And their team is good enough to continue on the same path. The team only has two free agents to worry about– World Series MVP Mike Lowell and SP Curt Schilling (who may retire).

By winning “2 in 4,” the Red Sox are now the most successful baseball franchise in the past 5 years. And for the first time in a long time, people can talk about a baseball dynasty with no mention of their rival New York Yankees.

Speaking of the Yankees, Alex Rodriguez followed in Joe Torre’s leaving path as he opted out of the final three years of his contract yesterday. Talk about adding salt to a fresh wound.

And while the Yankees’ ship sinks, there is a new team to beat in Major League Baseball– the Boston Red Sox.

Rockies on the Brink

After winning 21 of 22, the Colorado Rockies have dropped three games in a row against the American League Champion Boston Red Sox.

This leaves them in a spot all too familiar to the Red Sox organization. In 2004, the Boston Red Sox were down 3-0 to the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series. The Red Sox were able to win four games in a row and advance to the World Series, which they won. The Red Sox are the only baseball team in history to accomplish that feat.

Last night in Game 3, the Red Sox jumped out to an early 6-0 lead. Colorado would cut the lead to 6-5 in the 7th and seemed like they finally had some life. However, Boston would add 3 runs in the 8th and 1 in the 9th to cruise to a 10-5 victory.

Tonight, Colorado needs to begin on that same path Boston traveled in 2004. If any team knows how to win 4 games in a row, it would be the Rockies. But the only question is: Can they pull a “Red Sox” against the Red Sox?

Word of Mouth: Back to Clint

“Two runs in 18 innings in this ballpark. That makes it tough to win.”

- Clint Hurdle, manager of the Colorado Rockies, after
going down 2-0 in the World Series to the Boston Red Sox

My grandmother could have told me that, Clinty.

Captain’s Inside Analysis: The 2007 World Series, The Best vs. The Hottest

Tonight, at 8:35 PM, the Major League Baseball World Series begins at Fenway Park.
The Boston Red Sox host the Colorado Rockies in Game One.

Here’s what the pitching matchups look like for tonight and the series:

Tonight, October 24th, Jeff Francis (COL) vs. Josh Beckett (BOS)
Thursday, October 25th, Ubaldo Jiménez (COL) vs. Curt Schilling (BOS)
Saturday, October 27th, Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS) vs. Josh Fogg (COL)
Sunday, October 28th, Jon Lester (BOS) vs. Aaron Cook (COL)
Monday, October 29th, Josh Beckett (BOS) vs. Jeff Francis (COL)
Wednesday, October 31st, Ubaldo Jiménez (COL) vs. Curt Schilling (BOS)
Thursday, November 1st, Josh Fogg (COL) vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS)
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If necessary

Who has the Advantage?
(based on 2007 Season Statistics)

Batting: Rockies (.280-.279)
Home Runs: Rockies (171-166)
Runs Batted In: Red Sox (829-823)
Stolen Bases: Rockies (100-96)
Earned Run Average: Red Sox (3.87- 4.32)
Saves: Red Sox (45-39)
Strikeouts: Red Sox (1149- 967)
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Intangibles

The Boston Red Sox were without a doubt the best team in baseball this year. They finished with the best record (tied with the Indians who they just disposed of) and their pitching was solid all year long. Their division rival, the New York Yankees, posted a 51-23 record after the all-star break and the Red Sox were so good that they still won the division by two games.

But then again, the Colorado Rockies are in the process of redefining the word hot. While they certainly weren’t the best team in baseball this year, they have won 21 of their last 22 games. And in the MLB Playoffs, they are currently undefeated. They have the NL Batting Title winner in Matt Holiday to go up against the AL Wins leader Josh Beckett, and surprisingly, look like they have a good chance to win the series.

Odds say that usually the hotter team does beat the better team in the World Series, at least since 2001. Since then, the underdog has beaten the top team 4 out of 6 times.

2001- Arizona Diamondbacks (91-71) defeat New York Yankees (95-65) in 7 games
2002- Anaheim Angels (99-63) defeat San Francisco Giants (95-66) in 7 games
2003- Florida Marlins (91-71) defeat New York Yankees (101-61) in 6 games
2004- Boston Red Sox (98-64) defeat St. Louis Cardinals (105-57) in 4 games
2005- Chicago White Sox (99-63) defeat Houston Astros (89-73) in 4 games
2006- St Louis Cardinals (83-78) defeat Detroit Tigers (95-67) in 5 games

2007- Boston Red Sox (96-66) vs. Colorado Rockies (90-73)
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POSITION BY POSITION BREAKDOWN (Starters)
BA- Batting Average / HR- Home Runs / RBI- Runs Batted In / SB- Stolen Bases / FPCT- Fielding Percentage

Catcher-
Jason Varitek (Boston) .255 BA, 17 HR, 68 RBI, 1 SB, and .994 FPCT
Yorvit Torrealba (Colorado) .255, 8 HR, 47 RBI, 2 SB and .991 FPCT
ADVANTAGE- BOSTON

First Base-
Kevin Youkilis (Boston) .288 BA, 16 HR, 83 RBI, 4 SB, and .997 FPCT
Todd Helton (Colorado) .320 BA, 17 HR, 91 RBI, 0 SB and .999 FPCT
ADVANTAGE- COLORADO

Second Base-
Dustin Pedroia (Boston) .317 BA, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 7 SB, and .990 FPCT
Kaz Matusi (Colorado) .288 BA, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 32 SB, and .992 FPCT
ADVANTAGE- SPLIT

Third Base-
Mike Lowell (Boston) .324 BA, 21 HR, 120 RBI, 4 SB, and .961 FPCT
Garret Atkins (Colorado) .301 BA, 25 HR, 111 RBI, 3 SB, and .964 FPCT
ADVANTAGE- BOSTON

Shortstop-
Julio Lugo (Boston) .237 BA, 8 HR, 73 RBI, 33 SB, and .968 FPCT
Troy Tulowitzki (Colorado) .291 BA, 24 HR, 99 RBI, 7 SB, and .987 FPCT
ADVANTAGE- COLORADO

Left Field-
Manny Ramirez (Boston) .296 BA, 20 HR, 88 RBI, 0 SB, and .990 FPCT
Matt Holliday (Colorado) .340 BA, 36 HR, 137 RBI, 11 SB, and .990 FPCT
ADVANTAGE- COLORADO

Center Field-
Coco Crisp (Boston) .268 BA, 6 HR, 60 RBI, 28 SB, and .998 FPCT
Willy Taveras (Colorado) .320 BA, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 33 SB, and .983 FPCT
ADVANTAGE- SPLIT

Right Field-
J.D. Drew (Boston) .270 BA, 11 HR, 64 RBI, 4 SB, and .974 FPCT
Brad Hawpe (Colorado) .291, 29 HR, 116 RBI, 0 SB, and .977 FPCT
ADVANTAGE- COLORADO

Designated Hitter-
David Ortiz (Boston) .332 BA, 35 HR, 117 RBI, 3 SB
Ryan Spilborghs- (Colorado) .299 BA, 11 HR, 51 RBI, 4 SB
ADVANTAGE- YOU TELL ME

Pitching
Boston- 3.87 ERA, 1149 Strikeouts, 45 Saves
Colorado- 4.32 ERA, 967 Strikeouts, 39 Saves
ADVANTAGE- BOSTON

Managers
Terry Francona (Boston) 660-636 Career Managerial Record, 1 World Series Title Win
Clint Hurdle (Colorado) 442- 509 Career Managerial Record
ADVANTAGE- BOSTON
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Captain’s Prediction:

It’s going to be a quick series, so Getcha Popcorn Ready.

IN FIVE GAMES