Any way you slice it, Boston figures to win their second World Series title in four years.
Hey, I’m a firm believer in the whole “team of destiny” label that seems to have attached itself to the Colorado Rockies. But winning 21 out of 22 games and then having to wait more than week before playing again? I’m sorry; I can’t imagine that not having a negative impact on Clint Hurdle’s club.
The Rockies have tried to stay sharp by playing intrasquad games at Coors Field: us versus us. There’s not much of value that can come out of those matchups; the players themselves don’t take them very seriously. All they can hope for is that no one gets hurt.
The Red Sox were involved in a delay before the Series more than 60 years ago. They won the AL pennant in 1946, but the NL winner came down to a best-of-3 playoff between the Cardinals and Dodgers. St. Louis won the first two games to settle it, but it wasn’t over until October 3, 5 days after Boston finished the regular season. A much shorter layoff than Colorado has had to endure; nonetheless, Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey decided his team would schedule a series of 3 exhibition games against a group of big league players to keep it sharp for the World Series.
Sometimes the best ideas are the ones you keep to yourself, and in hindsight, Yawkey surely wished he’d kept his mouth shut. Despite the presence of players like future Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio, Hank Greenberg and Luke Appling, the contests attracted fewer than 2,000 fans per game at Fenway Park. Adding injury to insult, in the fifth inning of the first game, Washington lefthander Mickey Haefner hit Ted Williams on the right elbow with a pitch. Ted’s elbow wasn’t broken, but he opted to not play again until the series began. The resulting soreness affected his swing, and he batted only .200 for Boston as the Cards won it in seven games. Williams had 5 singles, 5 walks and a solitary RBI in what was ultimately his only World Series opportunity.
The Red Sox and Rockies have met before. During interleague play this season Colorado played a 3-game series at Fenway Park, winning the final two by a combined score of 19-3. It matters little, even though the Rockies were the first team to hang an L on Josh Beckett after a 9-0 start. Boston’s mix of veterans like Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek, combined with youngsters like Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury, added to a deep rotation and solid bullpen — though I think I’d let Eric Gagne watch from the press box — presents quite an obstacle to a continued Rockies’ run.
I’ve got tremendous respect what Colorado has accomplished with a $54 million payroll. That said, if I were a Rockies’ fan I’d feel a whole lot better with a few more grizzled types in uniform. When Florida won championships in 1997 and 2003, their roster was sprinkled with guys who’d been around the block a little bit, like Jeff Conine, Gary Sheffield, Pudge Rodriguez and the aforementioned Lowell. The best the Rockies can offer are names like LaTroy Hawkins, Josh Fogg and Todd Helton. Helton’s in his first postseason at 34, and may finally get some national recognition.
But, the Red Sox should be able to finish off the Series in five games.
Hear Phil Wood Saturdays at 10 a.m. on SportsTalk 980 AM and weekly on Comcast SportsNet’s WPL through the World Series.
