Rox vs. Sox

[StrykerFSU]

The nice thing is that this is something that StrykerFSU and I see eye-to-eye on!!

Amen to that brother! First sports memory involves a certain Game 6...ugh.

Having watched approximately 140 Red Sox games this year, I feel supremely confident going into the series. The only real questions come up once the series moves to Colorado.

I see Tito sending Ortiz out there because he is nothing if not supremely loyal to his players (see Pedroia, Dustin and Drew, J.D.). I don't know anything about the Rox pitchers but if they send a lefty out there we might see Youk starting at first with Ortiz as a possible pinch hitter. No way they sit Lowell, the man of 120 RBIs and the one who kept the Sox winning during Manny and Papi's slumps.

Love seeing Jacoby flying around that outfield. I expect to see Coco back in there at some point though if for nothing else but to prove his knee is okay and to entice potential trade partners.

As for pitching, Beckett and Schilling should be nearly unbeatable in Boston. Who knows which Dice-K shows up but let's not forget we are talking about the MVP of the World Baseball Classic and he is coming off a strong effort against the Tribe. Lester (THE best story in baseball) is a young lefty that I has my confidence. He just beat cancer, you think some thin air is going to bother him? Then we have Timlin, Delcarmen, Lopez, Okajima, Snyder, and Papelbon (I don't know anyone named Gagne).

I'm sorry, the Rockies are a nice story but Sox in 5.

[laxfan25]

Well that game was a lot of fun for Sox fans - not so much for the Rox. Nice to have a Josh Beckett in your lineup, and I think the Sox scored 11 runs with two outs - impressive. Don't know if it was the long layoff or "deer in the headlights" syndrome, but watching Speier walk three straight with the bases loaded had to be embarassing.
The Sox are a streak team though, and if they do win it all it's always nice to do it at home. Of course Red Sox Nation travels very well and with the ticket deal may have more fans there. I was in San Diego in June and couldn't beleive how many Sox caps and shirts I saw in the airport as Boston was in town for a series with the Padres.

[onpoint]

That was gross last night. I feel a little bit dirty and ashamed. Laxfan, I think it was a bit of both last night, but the game was well out of hand when Speier got in. McCarver was right (there's a first time for everything) - the pitchers were far from sharp (dull?) and you can't serve up meatballs up in the zone to those hitters. Ortiz and Ramirez are too much right now and it's not like anyone else in that lineup is slacking off either. I thought a turning point, or at least as much of one as there can be in a 10 run + game, was the early intentional pass to Lowell when he was 0-2 with two weak outs to load the bases.

The meat of the Rockies order hasn't been hitting since the early part of the Philly series and if they don't get it going, this thing will be over before it starts. The Rox haven't been beaten like that since our little road trip to Toronto in July, so hopefully that removes whatever pressure there was on them to perform. It can only go up from here, right??

[StrykerFSU]

watching Speier walk three straight with the bases loaded had to be embarassing.

Anyone else wishing they had Uecker up there in the announcer's booth? Ball 4...Ball 8...Ball 12!

[onpoint]

What was with the gratuitous shot of the Buckner play midway through the game? Did Fox figure that the Boston fans were having it too good at that particular moment and just wanted to bring them down a notch? What does that play have to do with ANYTHING at this point?

[StrykerFSU]

In case you didn't know, Fox hates the Red Sox. My exact comment when they showed the clip can't be repeated here but suffice to say I was confused as to the relevance.

Nothing will ever compare to the '04 ALCS and the Babe Ruth/Curse crapola every 5-10 minutes. Not to mention Buck and McCarver openly rooting for the Yankees in the press box. I hate those two so very much.

[FLAK]

watching Speier walk three straight with the bases loaded had to be embarassing.

Anyone else wishing they had Uecker up there in the announcer's booth? Ball 4...Ball 8...Ball 12!

Juuuuust a bit outside...

[onpoint]

No huge fan of Buck and McCarver either and I certainly remember 2004. I wish there was more footage of Deion Sanders dumping ice and water on McCarver and all he can do is hold his microphone up screaming, "Big man, Deion! Big man!" across the room. Classic moment.

[laxfan25]

Well Game 2 wasn't a blowout, but the Sox still head to Colorado up 2-0. Can the Rockies take 4 out of 5?

[StrykerFSU]

Mike Lowell...pay the man Theo!

Methinks we saw Curt in a Red Sox uniform for the last time last night. I think he has firmly cemented himself in Cooperstown but there are just too many miles on the odometer to warrant the kind of money he is going to be asking for.

I have been wondering why some of the pundits have been lauding the home field advantage afforded the Rox by Coors Field. I get it, thinner air makes pitches stay straight but doesn't that affect both teams equally? If I was a Rox pitcher, I think I would be concerned about Manny, Papi, Mikey, and the artist formerly known as Nancy Drew zeroing in on one of MY hanging curves. Another point has been about the expansive outfield at Coors and the fielding "technique" of Manny. I'm not concerned at all. The Sox have two exceedingly swift outfielders in Drew and Ellsbury to shade to left and help Manny in the alley. They also have Crisp coming off the bench for a late inning defensive upgrade. You think Manny's going to get you more runs on offense than he may potentially give up in the field? I think I'm sticking with one of the greatest right handed hitters of all time.

The Rox did not have a significant home field advantage during the regular season. They finished 51-31 at home, by my rough calculation the 7th best home record in the Majors...good but not overwhelming.

I'm sticking with my prediction of Sox in 5 and adding that there is a strong possibility that Papelbon may get naked at some point during the victory celebration.

[laxfan25]

So who is going to take a seat in Colorado? I think it makes sense to keep your defensive lineup out there and bring in Papi as a pinch-hitter. If they take Game 3 then you can let him take first base for a game.

[StrykerFSU]

I agree with you. Youk is too good out there and the thought of Papi ripping his knee apart gimping to a bunt gives me chills. The only way I start Papi is against a righty in a potential clinching game. I'll sacrifice Papi's power and intimidation factor for Youk's defense, relative speed on the bases, and consistent hitting.

In no scenario does Mikey Lowell see the pine. Is anyone else out there having a hard time buying that he's only 33??? I'll be 29 next month (oh God, oh God, oh God) and he looks at least 15 years older than I do.

Does anyone know if the pitchers hit in the Japanese leagues?

[onpoint]

Manny will struggle in the outfield at Coors, but only if the Rockies actually hit some line drives into the gaps and make him move around. Frankly, I've been really surprised about how tight the Rockies have looked after they played for three weeks like there's nothing to lose. The Rockies certainly CAN win four of five, but it obviously is a little desperate now. The story to me is how hot the Red Sox bats are. They are hitting pitches out of the strike zone all over the park right now. It's been more a case how good the Sox are than how bad the Rockies' pitchers are to me.

I agree with your lineup. If I'm the Red Sox, I bring Ortiz off the bench and let Youkulis hit.

Here's my McCarver-ism for the day: If the Rockies win against these two non-Beckett/Schilling pitchers, they will be right back in this thing!

[Dan Wishengrad]

Given that the Sox have a 2-0 lead, I think Francona's decision will be an easy one -- sit Big Papi in all three games. If the Series was tied 1-1 instead, he might really be torn over what to do, but not now. Youk and Lowell have to play, this is the no-brainer of all no-brainers.

But don't start celebrating your title just yet, you Chowda-heads. Colorado isn't going to just roll over, and if they can win Game 3 this thing might be competitive yet. Of course I don't see any way the Rox can beat Beckett in game 5, but since Josh can't also start Games 6 & 7 we shall see what happens IF the Rockies can take the next two games. But they better start hitting soon or they will get swept!

[onpoint]

A sickening thought from the Sports Guy:

Monday night is set up for a possible Denver sports apocalypse -- a Broncos home loss coupled with Josh Beckett clinching the World Series in Game 5 in Coors Field. That looks so tasty on paper, I can't resist.

I'm really growing to hate you Boston people. Where do I buy my wife a pink Yankees hat?