One has been around since 1912, the other since 1995.
But in the next week, Boston?s historic Fenway Park and Colorado?s hitter-friendly Coors Field will provide the backdrop for potentially one of the wildest World Series in the illustrious history of the Fall Classic.
“To go to Fenway? That?s dripping with drama and history,” Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. “For us, it?s good. I?m really looking forward to it.”
The Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 to break an 86-year championship drought. Colorado is making its first appearance on the game?s biggest stage, providing fans their first glimpse at October in the Rocky Mountains.
“We won?t have to mess with rain or snow,” National Weather Service meteorologist Robert Glancy told the Associated Press. “We?re between storms. It won?t be bitterly cold. But stay tuned. Forecasts do change.”
Forecasts for the Rockies? fortunes certainly changed in the past two months, as the team enters the World Series having won 21 of its past 22 games ? including a 13-inning victory over San Diego just to qualify for the postseason. However, Colorado?s sweeps over Philadelphia and Arizona left the team with a nine-day break before its first World Series. Boston defeated Cleveland in Game 7 of the ALCS on Sunday night.
“We?ve played a lot of intense games but we?d rather go in seeing live pitches in a couple of days than nine days off,” Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia told reporters. “They?ll be ready. They?ve waited their whole lives to be in this situation so I don?t think nine days of rest is going to affect their play at all.”
Colorado has won its past 10 games, but the Red Sox played brilliantly in its past three games. After falling behind three-games-to-one in the ALCS, the Red Sox batted .381 and outscored the Indians, 30-5, to advance to the World Series for the10th time.
The Red Sox?s rally against Cleveland was reminiscent of when Boston rallied from a three-games-to-none deficit to defeat the New York Yankees in the ALCS in 2004 before sweeping St. Louis in the World Series.
But don?t expect Colorado to be intimidated of Boston or its fabled stadium known for its 37-foot high “Green Monster” in left field.
“We?re not going to be awe-struck by the field,” Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs said. “We?re not going to be shocked by the size of the locker room or the narrow alleys or by any of the field?s quirks. We?ve been there, we?ve played well there. We played with the fans yelling at us. It?s not going to be new.”
This past June, the Rockies won two of three games against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, as Colorado?s Josh Fogg defeated Curt Schilling and Jeff Francis beat Boston ace Josh Beckett. But one pitcher the Rockies won?t see is right-handed knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (17-12, 4.76 ERA), who was left off Boston?s roster for the World Series.
“That, at least, gives us some familiarity with the ballpark and a little bit with their pitchers recently,” Colorado left fielder Matt Holliday, the Most Valuable Player of the NLCS, said. “But that doesn?t mean anything in the World Series.”
