Sox vs. Rox - the prediction
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by Hoops2662
Yes, Colorado, there actually is a World Series. After eight days off, the Rockies will finally set foot on the beloved grass at Fenway Park to start World Series 2007 against the Boston Red Sox. Let the questions begin...
Will the lay-off hurt the Rockies? Yes, it will. Not so much because of the momentum of it all. Winning 21 of 22 is quite a feat, don't get me wrong, but momentum in baseball goes as far as the next day's starting pitcher. Unfortunately for the Rox, the Red Sox start Josh Beckett, the most dominating pitcher in the game right now, in game one. That kills any momentum the Rox have going in. And yes, I don't really care about the six runs that Beckett gave up back in June in the Rockies win at the Fens. I don't really care that Beckett is 4-1 against Colorado in his career. It's about the here and now and right here and now, Beckett trumps Jeff Francis in game one.
Will the Red sox miss Tim Wakefield? Not really. I say this because in my opinion this will be, at best, a five game series and that means Beckett pitches two wins and closes it out in game 5. Jon Lester and the bullpen will be fine in game four given the fact that you didn't know what you would get from Wakefield in the first place.
Biggest obstacle for the Red Sox: How to fit three pegs in two spots. When the series shifts to Colorado starting with game 3, the Sox have to figure what to do with David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell. Ortiz is your co-stud, along with Manny Ramirez, so even with that ailing knee, he's going to play at least two games at first. That means Terry Francona has to manage his way through Youkilis and Lowell at third and trying to keep their hot, clutch bats in the series while away from Fenway. My guess is that along the three games in Coors Field, each guy sits one game.
Biggest obstacle for the Rox: The beginning and end. Facing Beckett twice is a task and right now the end of the Boston bullpen is untouchable with Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon closing the door.
Line-ups: both are potent with the Rox having a slight edge up and down the order with 5 guys driving in at least 90 runs this season. If the Sox lower part of the line-up (Jason Varitek, Jacoby Ellsbury, Julio Lugo) continues to get on as they did in games 6 and 7 of the ALCS against the Indians, this one could get ugly for the Rox.
My prediction: Sox in 5 and wouldn't be surprised if it's a sweep. It may be the first time I actually agree with John Kruk from ESPN!
