Power Glove Love

The stage is set. World Series 2007 is starting today!

The matchup? The American League’s Boston Red Sox vs. the National League’s Colorado Rockies.

Place your wagers, gentlemen!

Here’s the breakdown: 

 Boston Red Sox
+ Superb starting pitching rotation of Josh Beckett/Curt Schilling/Daisuke Matsuzaka, with ALCS MVP Josh Beckett (3-0, 1.17 ERA this postseason) being the anchor;
+ Formidable Bullpen, IF things go sour for the starting pitchers;
+ Reliable set-up man who can play at least 2 innings: Hideki Okajima;
+ Lights-out closer who can play at least 2 innings: Jonathan Papelbon;
+ Red-hot leadoff hitter: Dustin Pedroia
+ Red-hot tablesetter: Kevin Youkilis
+ Productive 3-4-5-6 (middle of the lineup): Ortiz/Ramirez/Lowell/Drew
+ A good core of players with World Series experience (Beckett, Schilling, Ortiz, Ramirez, Varitek, etc.)

- Previous 7 game series with the Cleveland Indians might’ve worn them out;
- Will have to play in a cold environment at Colorado, which they may not be used to;
- Lost a series against the Colorado Rockies in the regular season;
- Tim Wakefield removed from the playoff roster, which makes cuts their starting rotation to 3 pitchers rather than 4
- Bottom of the lineup unproductive (Julio Lugo, Coco Crisp)

Colorado Rockies
+ Coming off an AMAZING 20/21 win streak, which includes their tiebreaker game with the San Diego Padres for the Wild Card spot;
+ Core of fearless, loose, and confident young players;
+ The best fielding% in the MLB regular season, with the least amount of errors;
+ NLCS Matt Holiday is red hot, and is key for Rockies’ RBIs;
+ Almost anyone in their lineup is capable of making decisive defensive plays, situational hitting, and game-winning RBIs;
+ Plenty of rest because of their rout of the entire NL in the playoffs;
+ Playing in AL rules may be an advantage, as it gives them an extra hitter in the form of a DH

 - Will have to play their toughest road games yet, in Fenway Park
- Had an 8-day layoff, so their “hot streak” might be over, cooling down from their break
- Inexperience may play a factor
- Jeff Francis is their only money pitcher in their starting rotation (Red Sox has a high batting% against left-handed pitchers)

Head-to-Head Comparison:

Coaching: Edge-Red Sox
Offense: Edge-Even
Defense: Edge-Rockies
Starting Pitching: Edge-Red Sox
Bullpen: Edge-Red Sox

Prediction: Boston Red Sox in 6 games

However, I do like the Rockies. Their resiliency, confidence, and enthusiasm are very reminiscent of the 2005 White Sox. So I’m pulling for the underdogs! (Sorry, Josh, haha!)