The Colorado Rockies learned the hard way: the Boston Red Sox are just too talented. The 2007 World Series champions swept the Rockies and earned their second title in four years. The Red Sox were on the ropes in the American League Championship Series by trailing 3-1 at one point, but when you give a team like Boston a second life, they will make any team pay. The Cleveland Indians saw that first hand and the Rockies just experienced how deep and talented Boston truly is. The Red Sox do everything right: they have outstanding starting pitching, speed, power, and clutch hitting.
The Rockies entered the World Series at an historical rate. They won 21 of 22 games including a 7-0 record in the playoffs. However, they never faced a pitching staff that includes starting pitchers Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Daisuke Matsuzaka (Dice-K), and closer Jonathan Papelbon. Also, as good as the Rockies pitching staff was through the first seven playoff games, they never faced a murderer's row that includes Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, and Mike Lowell. Lowell went on to win the World Series MVP by hitting .400 (6-for-15) with 4 RBIs, 3 walks, and a team-high 6 runs.
I really thought the Rockies could give Boston a series, but the nine-day layoff really affected this team. I know after the first game Colorado should be acclimated again to a live baseball game, but the fact is Boston had so much momentum that Colorado didn't even have a chance to capitalize on anything. In Game 1, the Rockies trailed 4-1 after the second inning. In Game 2, they were in the ballgame the entire time, but Schilling and the Red Sox bullpen dominated. Also, after the first two games, Colorado's bottom three hitters were a combined 3-for-33 with 11 strikeouts. It is tough to win any ballgame when one-third of your lineup is struggling so badly.
Colorado continued the trend of trailing early in Game 3 as they were quickly looking at a six-run deficit when the fourth inning was beginning. The Rockies showed heart by trying to climb out of the 6-0 lead that the Red Sox had built, but eventually Boston will capitalize, and they did, as they scored 4 runs in the last two innings to win by the score of 10-5. In Game 4, Colorado failed to pick up key hits, twice stranding runners at second base and the bullpen failed to pitch effectively.
Boston, however, did what they have done all series long, and that is pitch well and pick up key hits. Pinch hitter Bobby Kielty hit a home run in the top of the eighth, which ended up being the deciding run in the game. Colorado cut the lead to one in the bottom of the eighth inning on a Garrett Atkins two-run home run, but Boston brought in Papelbon, and he shut the door, recording the last five outs in the ballgame.
As a baseball fan, you have to respect the Rockies and what they did to get this far. They went on a historical winning streak and they proved that a small market team can win, but they faced a juggernaut, and sometimes that is all it takes for a team to cool down quickly. Boston deserves the championship as they won seven straight games to end their championship season. They also outscored all their postseason opponents by the score of 99-46. The Red Sox mixed veterans with young budding superstars, and have the makings of a team that can continue to play at a high level for years to come.
By the Numbers
Avg: Boston: .333; Colorado: .218
ERA: Boston: 2.50; Colorado: 7.68
RISP: Boston: .419; Colorado: .167
Extra Base Hits: Boston: 21; Colorado: 10
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