The Red Sox Finally Spent Some Money Once Again & Signed A Legit Free Agent In Trevor Story

 

    Between the Patriots and Red Sox, it had been a very frustrating few weeks for fans as neither club had done much of anything to improve their team in free agency or via trades while many other teams loaded up and spent tons of money to improve their rosters. Thankfully that all changed today-at least for the Sox-as they reportedly signed shortstop Trevor Story to a six-year, $140 million deal. In terms of both length and the amount of money, it's by far the most that chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has given out since he came to Boston. It would also be the team's most years and money since they signed David Price. It always comes back to the Rays doesn't it whenever you mention Bloom? For a guy that I'm pretty sure should be reminded every day that he works for a big market club in the Red Sox and not the penny-pinching Rays, this was a welcome change from his usual habits of signing nobodies, injured and/or washed up guys because that best fits some goofy analytic models on his computer. 

    The obvious question with Story's signing is what happens with Xander Bogaerts? Both players have been exclusively shortstops in MLB so obviously one of them will have to try a new position (second base) starting now. It sounds like the newcomer will be the one to move over to his left in the infield which sounds scary except Story has been a Gold Glove finalist so unlike say Kyle Schwarber last season who had never played first base (and frankly shouldn't be allowed to play any position in the field), this transition figures to be much smoother. Boston's lineup was already pretty strong but the addition of a two-time All-Star and two-time slugger in the prime of his career (he's 29 years old) means that it will be even deeper and more powerful. 

    The only other major issue in my mind with this move is seeing how Story does outside of the Little League park that is known as Coors Field since he has only ever played for the Rockies in MLB. As you would expect, his numbers at home were much better than on the road: 95 HRs, 279 RBIs, .303 BA, .369 OBP & .603 SLG vs. 63 HRs, 171 RBIs, .241 BA, .310 OBP & .442 SLG. Then again, Fenway Park has always been known as a hitter's park as well particularly for right-handed guys with some pop in their bat. With that said, he should continue to be a star here because he's played on mostly crappy teams in Colorado (he's only appeared in five career playoff games) and for the Sox, he won't need to carry nearly as much of the load on a daily basis.

    Story has good size (6-foot-2, 213 pounds) and surprising speed with 100 career stolen bases. In six major league seasons, he has put together what I would count as two excellent campaigns-his All-Star years in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, he hit .291/.348/.567 (tied career-high) with a career-best 37 HRs, 108 RBIs and 27 stolen bases (career-high) in 157 games. He played in 12 fewer games the following season but still managed to record some stellar statistics: .294 (career-high)/.363 (career-high)/.554 with 35 HRs, 85 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. 

    With Boston coming off a playoff run to the ALCS last fall and not to mention his huge paychecks, much will be expected of Story from day one. We won't know how he will be in a tough market like this until he goes through the inevitable prolonged slump. Let's hope that he is not similar to Price in that way in terms of a fragile ego and that he can power through any struggles that he might have getting acclimated to a new league, team and city. Overall, today was a great day for the Red Sox and easily the best that they have made us felt since last season ended. With Opening Day coming up soon on April 7, Bloom's next task has to be to find some more starting pitching, that appears to be their biggest hole at this juncture.

The Red Sox Choose To Only Make Two More Small Moves Before The MLB Trade Deadline Passes

 

    Going into today's MLB Trade Deadline, I think that most sane Red Sox (12-23) fans wanted them to consider offers for anybody currently on the team not named Xander Bogaerts or Rafael Devers. While the last few weeks have brought some interesting trade rumors involving many of Boston's veteran players (J.D. Martinez, Jackie Bradley Jr., Andrew Benintendi, Nathan Eovaldi and Christian Vazquez to name a few) those guys all still remain on the team for the rest of this pointless season. The Red Sox farm system has been a mess for years and while they addressed that a bit with the Workman/Hembree and Moreland trades in the past week, it felt like there was more work to be done to bring in more young talent.  

    The only other moves made by the Red Sox' Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom were trading outfielder Kevin Pillar to Colorado for a player to be named or cash considerations and 2019-20 international slot money. Bloom also dumped an awful reliever named Josh Osich-who I'd be shocked if you've ever heard of this nobody-to the Cubs for a player to be named or cash considerations. As a 31-year-old that signed here on Valentine's Day, Pillar was never destined to stay in a Red Sox uniform for very long. He's a borderline Gold Glove candidate every year and he actually got off to a pretty decent start at the plate in 2020, hitting .274/.325/.796 (which are all above his career averages) with four home runs, 13 RBIs and 20 runs with 32 hits in 117 at bats.

    I didn't expect much of a return for Pillar but the fact that the Red Sox got anything for Osich is a minor miracle. Boston got back on the losing track this evening with a 6-3 setback against Atlanta (20-14) in their series opener at Fenway Park. The possibility of some juicy trades made the last few weeks somewhat fun for the Red Sox but for these last 25 games of the regular season, I genuinely have no valid reason for why you should pay any attention to them-not that you were in the first place-anytime soon.  

      

    

Red Sox Spoil Todd Helton's Final Game at Coors Field

It seems apropos that Todd Helton's final game at Coors Field would more closely resemble a softball game, oh and also that his team lost since they were known to do that for many of his days (17 years) in Colorado. Tonight, the Red Sox (96-63 overall, 43-35 away) outslugged the Rockies (72-87 overall, 45-36 home) 15-5 in the series finale. The victory was extra sweet for Boston because this afternoon, the Angels beat the A's 3-1 putting the Red Sox two games up (with three to go) for the best record in the AL.

Helton did his part with a line straight out of a movie: solo homer, RBI double and sac fly. Unfortunately, the rest of his team weren't really on the same page. The Red Sox got most of their runs from extra-base hits: Will Middlebrooks had a grand slam and three-run homer; Shane Victorino hit a three-run homer and Jarrod Saltalamacchia was 4 for 5 with a double, three RBIs and two runs.

A nice footnote for Boston: David Ortiz's two-run double gave him an even 100 RBIs on the season. That's the seventh time he's done it in a Red Sox uniform, trailing only Ted Williams (9) and Jim Rice (8). The big news in this game for the Red Sox is that Jacoby Ellsbury returned after missing 16 games. He batted leadoff and was 1 for 2 with two runs scored before getting replaced in the fourth inning.

Jake Peavy (12-5) struggled mightily but still made it through six innings. This was the final interleague game of the season for Boston, the only other way they'll see an NL team in 2013 is if they reach the World Series. The Red Sox finished with the second best record (14-6) in Interleague play this season so they have no reason to fear anyone from the weaker league.

The Red Sox are coming back this way (relatively speaking) with an off-day tomorrow followed by a three-game series in Baltimore. The Orioles have been eliminated from playoff contention and perhaps after Friday, Boston will have wrapped up the top seed in the American League playoffs. You can't overstate the importance of that well-earned honor. The regular season concludes on Sunday.

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I Still Hate John Lackey But I Can Admit That The Man Is Pitching Well

Lackey and Stephen Drew are the only two guys currently on the Red Sox that I refuse to cheer for with Jonny Gomes just missing out on the list. Granted, I can appreciate when any of them do something positive to help the team and right now, Lackey (5-5) might be Boston's best starting pitcher. Haha seriously. This afternoon was probably his best outing in a Red Sox (47-33 ovearll, 25-15 home) uniform, which isn't saying much, as Boston beat Colorado (39-40 overall, 16-23 away) 5-3 during interleague play at Fenway Park.

Against the highest scoring team in the National League, Lackey went seven innings and allowed two earned runs on eight hits with a career-high 12 strikeouts and no walks. Staked to a 5-1 lead, Junichi Tazawa gave up a solo homer to Michael Cuddyer in the eighth but Koji Uehara was able to get a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts for his second save (first as the closer).

There was plenty to like in Boston's mini two-game sweep of Colorado. For one thing, their offense had double digit hits (10). Wilin Rosario (double) gave the Rockies a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in their first at bats but the Red Sox scored three in the first then added two in the third which turned out to be enough.

Shane Victorino (3 for 4 with double, 2 runs) had an RBI single that scored Jacoby Ellsbury (double), David Ortiz (2 walks, run) notched an RBI double and Daniel Nava made it 3-1 with an RBI single.

Mike Napoli had an RBI single in the third and Nava drove in the last run with a sacrifice fly. Cuddyer extended his hit streak to 23 games with a solo homer off Lackey in the sixth.

Fresh off an 11-game win streak that put them back over .500 and vaulted them into the AL East race, the Blue Jays (39-38, 5th in AL East) visit Fenway for four games this weekend beginning tomorrow night (7:10, NESN) with Jon Lester (7-4) facing ex-Yankee Chien-Ming Wang (1-0). Felix Doubront (4-3) takes on Josh Johnson (1-2) on Friday (7:10, NESN). Rookie Allen Webster (0-2) gets his fourth MLB start against Esmil Rogers (3-3) on Saturday afternoon (4:05, NESN). Canadian Ryan Dempster (5-8) closes it out on Sunday afternoon (1:35, NESN) versus Mark Buehrle (4-5). Boston is 5-4 against Toronto so far this season.

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Red Sox Clobber Rockies With Season-High 20 Hits In A Convincing 11-4 Win At Fenway

As far as most people were concerned, the Red Sox' 2013 regular season unofficially started tonight as the Bruins lost Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final last night thus ending their excellent campaign. Boston (46-33 overall, 24-15 home) acquitted themselves quite nicely in its first game under the true spotlight as they rolled 11-4 over Colorado (39-39 overall, 16-22 away) during interleague play at Fenway Park.

To start a nine games in 10 days homestand, the Red Sox had a season-high 20 hits while Ryan Dempster (5-8) turned in a quality start: six innings, two earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks. The immortal Juan Nicasio (4-4) gave the Rockies no shot as he was roughed up for seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits in 2.1 IP.

Everyone in Boston's lineup had at least one hit, led by Jacoby Ellsbury (3 runs, double, walk), Dustin Pedroia (4 RBIs, two runs, double, stolen base), Daniel Nava (RBI) and Jose Iglesias (2 runs, double) who all had three hits. Shane Victorino was 2 for 5 with a double, run, RBI and stolen base, Mike Napoli was 2 for 5 with two RBIs and a walk and Stephen Drew was 2 for 5 with a triple (that should have been a homer) and a run.

By the time the third inning was over, the Red Sox were comfortably ahead 7-1. Pedroia and Nava had RBI singles in the first before Wilin Rosario (3 for 4) had a solo homer off Dempster in the second. Pedroia and David Ortiz added RBI doubles in the second for a 4-1 Boston lead. Napoli had an RBI single later in the frame followed by RBI singles by Victorino and Pedroia in the third.

Nick Arenado's (3 for 4 with double) RBI single in the fourth cut it to 7-2 but Iglesias answered with an RBI double. Colorado pretended to make it a tad interesting in the seventh with a run coming in on Victorino's error and Carlos Gonzalez's RBI single but the Red Sox tacked on three additional runs in the seventh and eighth. Pedroia drove in another run with a sacrifice fly, Napoli hit an RBI single and a run scored on Victorino's ground out.

Colorado's Michael Cuddyer was 2 for 5 with a run which was more than enough to keep his MLB-best 22-game hitting streak alive and well. The Rockies' first visit to Fenway since the 2007 World Series is a short one since the series finale is tomorrow afternoon (4:05, NESN) with John Lackey (4-5) taking on Roy Oswalt (0-1) who makes his second start for Colorado.

UPDATE 6/26: Beato was sent back to Pawtucket with reliever Clayton Mortensen reinstated from the DL.

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Scutaro Shipped To Rockies; Bard Avoids Arbitration

What is it with the Boston Red Sox and shortstops? Since they traded franchise icon Nomar Garciaparra in 2004 (which turned out well), the formerly coveted position has turned into a revolving door of mostly middling players.

Tonight, the Red Sox traded Marco Scutaro to the Colorado Rockies for pitcher Clayton Mortensen. The righty is 26 and a former first-round sandwich pick in 2007 by the Cardinals. He was traded to Oakland in the Matt Holliday deal and then traded to Colorado last winter for a minor leaguer.

This will be Mortensen's fourth MLB franchise. He put up decent numbers last season: 2-4 with 3.86 ERA in 16 games (6 starts) but from the looks of this move, it was all about dumping salary.

Boston picked up Scutaro's $6 million option earlier this winter so needless to say, it was odd to see him get traded soon after that. Even worse, all that the Red Sox have left at shortstop for 2012 are the dynamic scrub duo of Mike Aviles and Nick Punto. Don't tell me that Jose Iglesias will be the starter since he can't hit enough to play full-time in MLB.

The one positive aspect of this move is that it frees up money to pursue Roy Oswalt, who they desperately need. ESPNBoston also mentioned Cody Ross, a rumor that I hadn't heard before reading that tidbit. He's OK and he would help if Carl Crawford misses time (after wrist surgery) but I'm much more interested in Oswalt just because he has way more potential to help.

No matter how you spin it, the Red Sox seem destined for another third-place finish in the AL East again (for the third year in a row) behind the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. While those teams have improved themselves (NY) or kept its core intact (TB), the Red Sox have plugged holes (closer, set-up) but not improved their biggest issues (chemistry, starting pitching). Plus, they added the most self-absorbed and arrogant manager in MLB.

I'm not jumping off the bandwagon, I'll always root for the Red Sox but over the past few seasons, they've made it very hard to like them. Ownership is driven just by making money and not winning games, what should really matter. Likewise, many of their players over the last few years have been obsessed with personal statistics. how much they're getting paid and other inconsequential things. In other words, the Red Sox are now No. 4 in my top four (Bruins, Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox) rankings of local professional teams. It will take so much to change that any time soon.

In other Red Sox news today, the team reached a one-year, non-guaranteed contract for 2012 with Daniel Bard. They avoided arbitration with the reliever who will try to become a starter in spring training. Now only Alfredo Aceves, Andrew Bailey and David Ortiz are left to sign before February 1, the deadline for when the Red Sox are forced to go to a hearing with any of those guys if they haven't reached an agreement yet.

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Laser show bro, relax!

It's official: laser show, relax has jumped the shark since Don Orsillo said it twice last night but who cares?

Dustin Pedroia had a career night, going 5-for-5 with three home runs, five RBIs and four runs. The Sox (44-30) needed all of it as Jonathan Papelbon blew another save for the second night in a row.

Boston held on for a 13-11 win in 10 innings, salvaging a game at Coors Field after losing the first two to the Rockies (38-24).

It figures that one of the wackiest games of the season would be started by Dice-K. Matsuzaka only went five innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits with four walks and six strikeouts.

Brad Hawpe (4 RBIs) got things rolling for the Rockies with a two-run single in the first but like most Dice-K starts, he settled down after a shaky first inning.

In fact, Boston jumped ahead with four runs in the fourth. Pedroia had his first laser (solo style), Mike Cameron added a two-run double and Dice-K hit an RBI single off Rockies starter Jason Hammel (4 innings, 4 runs, 7 hits), who had come in on fire.

Adrian Beltre (3 hits, 3 RBIs, 3 runs), who has been unbelievable so far in his Red Sox career, continued the hit parade with a two-run homer in the fifth.

The Rockies started to beatdown the Red Sox bullpen with four runs in the sixth inning leading to a 8-6 advantage.

In the seventh, Beltre cut it to 8-7 with an RBI single and then Jason Varitek put his team ahead with a two-run double.

Pedroia's second bomb (a two-run shot) in the eighth made it 11-8 and it looked like things were wrapping up nicely.

However, Jason Giambi (Wednesday night's hero) came through once again as a pinch hitter, this time in the eighth with an RBI single. That set the stage for Hawpe's two-run single off Papelbon in the ninth.

Pedroia is the hottest hitter in baseball at the moment and he closed out his memorable night with a two-run homer in the 10th off Huston Street.

Papelbon (3-4) was put back out there in the 10th but he got three outs and ended this bonkers game.

The Sox end interleague play this weekend in San Francisco. Tim Wakefield takes the ball tonight against the underrated Jonathan Sanchez.

Jimenez has worst start of season but Rockies win on Giambi's walkoff HR

After losing 2-1 to the Rockies in the series opener on Tuesday night (the first meeting since the 2007 World Series), the Sox (43-30) looked poised to pick up a big win last night at Coors Field as they knocked around ace Ubaldo Jimenez for a season-high six earned runs.

A 6-5 lead in the ninth inning wasn't enough as closer Jonathan Papelbon (2-4) gave up a solo home run to tie it then a two-run walkoff homer by Jason Giambi aka the Giambino.

The Rockies (38-33) are a decent team but this was a bitter loss given the lack of his A stuff from Jimenez. He gave up six earned runs on 10 hits in 5.2 innings with no walks and seven strikeouts.

Once again, John Lackey was not good but he hung around. In 6.2 innings, he allowed five earned runs on 10 hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.

Colorado led 4-0 after three on Miguel Olivo's two-run homer in the second, Brad Hawpe's groundout in the third and Seth Smith's sacrifice fly.

Rookie sensation Daniel Nava cut that lead in half for the Sox with a two-run double in the fourth.

Jimenez helped his own cause with an RBI single in the fourth (Lackey also had two hits off Jimenez after being 1 for 31 in his career) to make it 5-2.

The Sox went ahead with four runs in the sixth inning on Nava's RBI double, Darnell McDonald's two-run homer and Scutaro's RBI single.

Victor Martinez had three hits in the loss and survived a scary collision at the plate where his arm got bent back at tried to prevent a run.

Dice-K opposes Jason Hammel tonight as Boston looks to avoid the sweep before taking off for San Francisco.

Red Sox sweep Rockies to win their second World Series title in four years

Every season is different. It's silly to compare and just be happy if you're lucky enough to see your favorite team win it all. That being said, no World Series title will ever top 2004. The circumstances were too crazy and the drought had been way too long. Still, if you care about baseball and the Red Sox, last night was immensely satisfying. They were the best team in baseball for a majority of the year, clinched the World Series with a 4-3 win in game four against the completely shell-shocked Rockies. Thanks for coming folks, drive home safely.

Ellsbury led off the game with a double and two batters later, Ortiz knocked him in with an RBI single. From there, the two starting pitchers-Jon Lester and Aaron Cook-had quick, effective innings until Mike Lowell hit a double in the 5th followed by an RBI single by Varitek. Lowell led off the 7th with a solo shot but Brad Hawpe answered with a solo bomb in the bottom of the inning, making it 3-1. Pinch hitter Bobby Kielty (in his only World Series at-bat) delivered big-time in the top of the eighth, homering on the first pitch he saw from Rockies reliever Brian Fuentes. The Rockies made it interesting as Garrett Atkins finally did something, hitting a two-run home run off of an exhausted Hideki Okajima.

One last time, Papelbon entered with one out in the eighth and proceeded to mow down all five men he faced. The exclamation point was the final out as Paps struck out pinch hitter Seth Smith with a high fastball. Lowell was named the MVP afterwards and deservedly so. He batted .400 in the World Series and played his typical outstanding defense. There were plenty of other candidates: Papelbon, Ellsbury, Ortiz. No matter, all year the Red Sox were about the team, not the individual. Nobody exemplified that more so than Lowell, who had a career-year at the plate (when many thought he was washed up two years ago).

Enough can't be said about Lester's start. In two abbreviated seasons in the majors, this had to have been his most effective outing, especially considering the stage. He went 5.2 innings, giving up three hits, walking three and striking out three. For the most part, he had favorable counts and as a result didn't run up his pitch count too early-a negative trait that has plagued his early career in the majors.

The Rockies simply were done after game two. That game was hanging in the balance and Holliday getting picked off first was the first huge nail in the coffin. They had a great run to make it to the World Series but they ran into a buzzsaw: the Red Sox.
Everybody from the 2007 Red Sox, from the players to the manager, his staff and the front office all deserve credit. Francona did all the right things-which is nearly impossible in such a fickle market like Boston. While the front office certainly missed on some free agents-Lugo, Drew and trading for Gagne, you have to be pumped about the future with Pedroia, Ellsbury, Papelbon, Lester, Beckett, Okajima, Dice-K, etc. The 2004 team was a veteran group that had been on the cusp in 2003. This year was a few seasons in the making. A terribly flawed Sox team made the playoffs in 2005 but was promptly swept by the White Sox. Last year, injuries killed the Red Sox as a contending team was reduced to playing out the string in September. Coming out of spring training, this squad was expected to be good and they exceeded expectations virtually all season. They probably won't provide as money get-rich quick books for assorted baseball writers but they got the job done nonetheless. The 2007 Red Sox were a great team and they had fun doing it, what more could you want?

pair of rookies lead Red Sox to brink of second World Series title in four years

Every move that Red Sox manager Terry Francona makes, seems to turn to gold this postseason. Last night, he had rookie outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury start in center and bat lead-off. Was the rookie fazed? Not in the least bit, he went 4-for-5 (3 doubles) with 2 runs and 2 RBIs. AL Rookie-of-the-year favorite Dustin Pedroia went down to the two spot last night and continued to rake. He went 3-for-5 (double) with 2 RBIs and a run. The Sox won game three 10-5 and now take a commanding 3-0 lead in the 2007 World Series.

The Sox have now won six straight games this postseason and seven overall in its last two World Series appearances. Dice-K was the early story of the game as he pitched five scoreless innings (before Javier Lopez allowed some of his inherited runners to score in the sixth) and knocked in two runs with an RBI single in the third. Boston exploded for six in the third as Ellsbury led off with a double and Pedroia reached on a bunt single. Ortiz laced an RBI double (making his lineup inclusion at 1B look perfect). The Rockies walked Manny to get the bases-loaded but Lowell made them pay by grounding a two-run single up the middle. Manny tried to score on Varitek's single but was tagged out at home in a bang-bang play. No matter, as Dice-K followed up a Lugo walk with his biggest contribution of the season for the Sox. Ellsbury closed out the inning with an RBI double thereby ending the night (2.2 innings) for the immortal Josh Fogg.


The Rockies relievers held the Sox bats down for the next four innings. Colorado scored two in the sixth and then Matt Holliday greeted Okajima with a three-run blast to center to cut the deficit to one (6-5 Sox in the seventh). Okajima settled down and got three outs to end the frame. Jacoby had another RBI double in the eighth followed by Pedroia's two-run double that really iced the game in the eighth. Boston added one more in the ninth on a Varitek sac-fly. Papelbon came on with two guys on, two outs in the eighth and retired Holliday. Papelbon closed out the ninth for his second save of the series.


Jon Lester gets the ball tonight against Aaron Cook. Lester can put a real Hollywood ending on this special season for the Red Sox. He was diagnosed with cancer last year and now has contributed to the 2007 best team in baseball. Why not end it all tonight? The Rockies are unquestionably on the ropes, so it's time to sweep this series. It'll be interesting to see who sits tonight. Youkilis sat last night so you'll figure he'll have to get in tonight. However, Francona doesn't want to sit Lowell and the lineup is completely weaker without Ortiz's monster bat. This hasn't been a contest so far, the Sox have outplayed Colorado in every phase of the game. It would only be fitting to have another unsung player (Lester) step up in a postseason that has been filled with new heroes (Youk, Ellsbury, Drew, Pedroia, Okajima).

Two games away from glory

One of the tell-tale signs of a great team is when they can win games in many different ways. The Sox had been pounding the ball the last three games. They found themselves in an old-fashioned pitchers duel last night but still came out on top, 2-1 in game two of the 2007 World Series.

Curt Schilling vs. rookie Ubaldo Jimenez is a classic mismatch in such a big game. No question, Jimenez (he of the 100 mph fastball and dirty off-speed stuff) has an electric arm while Schilling is surviving on smarts and guile. Was there any doubt that Sox would do just enough to pull this one out? Chalk it up to 2004 or the team's success this year, whatever the reason the Sox just have an air of inevitability about them in these playoffs. When they're on (working opposing hurlers and getting good starts from its rotation), they're nearly impossible to beat.


The Rockies scored in the top of the first but the Sox slowly waited out Ubaldo, scoring one in the fourth and fifth. He was gone before the end of the fifth, having only given up two runs on three hits but he walked five. Schilling was gone one out into the sixth, surrendering only the one run on four hits, striking out four. The MVP of this game for the Sox was Hideki Okajima. He fell apart in the second half of the season as he wore down but last night, he looked like the lights out Okajima of May-July that made the All-Star game. Hideki got seven outs without allowing a hit or walk while striking out four. Papelbon recorded the last four outs, giving up one hit and striking out two.


Matt Holliday was the bulk of the offense for the Rockies, he had four of their five hits. As a team they struck out ten times and left 14 on base. Seeing them in the dugout in the late innings, they hardly resembled the freight train that reeled off 21 of 22 wins to make it here. They looked rattled, they look over matched.


The Sox scored its first run on a Varitek sac fly which plated Lowell. Lowell had the biggest hit as his RBI double scored Ortiz. Drew was on base all four times he came to the plate: two hits, a walk and hit by a pitch.


Once again, after Schilling left the game, you sensed that this could be his last game starting for the Red Sox at Fenway. Unless, this series comes back to Fenway (unlikely), he is probably done here. One more big game performance like that will look good as he tries to get into the Hall of Fame.


The series shifts to Colorado tomorrow night and as my buddy KC said, "all the Sox have to do is win one of the next two games because Beckett in game five is a lock of the century." So there you go. Matsuzaka in game three and Lester in game four don't exactly conjure up images of shutouts or no-hitter's. However, they're facing journeyman Josh Fogg and Aaron Cook (coming off a long injury layoff) so who knows what to expect from those two. I have a feeling the next two games will be slug-fests. The Sox clearly have the better bullpen so things couldn't look better after two games.

Rockies fail to show up in game one

It can't be that easy? Right? The Sox continued their torrid play from Games 5-7 vs. Cleveland and just decimated the Rockies, 13-1 in game one of the 2007 World Series. The Rockies looked every bit like the team that had eight days off, not the one that reeled off 21 wins in its last 22 games. Beckett is clearly the best pitcher in MLB as we speak. He went seven dominant innings last night, giving up six hits, one earned run and striking out nine.

The offensive tone was set by leadoff man Dustin Pedroia, who belted the second pitch he saw just over the lip of the Monster. The Sox scored two more in the first then both teams had one in the second. Two in the fourth and seven in the fifth officially made this a laugher for the home team. So many hitters for the Sox-Pedroia, Youk, Ortiz, Manny-are all currently locked in. It's something to behold as everyone looked dangerous last night. Ortiz and Manny led the way with three hits and two RBIS apiece. Lugo even had three hits, Varitek and Drew each had two hits and two RBIs while Pedroia (two RBIs) and Youk (two hits, three runs, RBI) are on fire.

Rockies starter Jeff Francis didn't have a puncher's chance against that lineup. A soft-throwing lefty, he didn't hit his spots at all and was gone after four innings (six earned runs). The Rockies bullpen which had been one of the team's biggest strengths in its great October run was awful last night. Morales gave up seven earned runs and Speier walked three straight batters with the bases loaded. Every at bat from the Red Sox seemed like a hitting clinic. They weren't swinging at any balls and fouling off tough pitches before putting the fat pitches in play (usually where the Rockies defense wasn't). All told, they had 17 hits and 8 walks.

Still, going in everyone picked the Sox to win game one. Nobody was going to beat Beckett, who now has 35 strikeouts and two walks, going 4-0 in the 2007 playoffs. Just filthy numbers for this stud. Regardless, let's not get ahead of ourselves. It's only one game. If the Rockies take game two (like the Indians did in the ALCS), it makes things much more complicated since the next three would be at Coors Field in Denver. The away team in the league championship series and World Series is only looking to get a game before they head home. If the Sox win tonight, a sweep is a very real possibility but if they lose we could have ourselves a series. It's Ubaldo Jimenez, a 23-year-old rookie who throws 100 mph vs. Schilling. In its last four games, the BoSox have outscored opponents 43-6.

We're going back to the World Series

Three years after breaking 86 years of misery, the Boston Red Sox find themselves back in the World Series. No comeback will ever top the 2004 ALCS but the 2007 Red Sox submitted a pretty nice comeback of their own. Down 3-1 to the Cleveland Indians, Boston roared back, winning the last three by a combined score of 30-5.

Game 7 actually was pretty tight for a while. The Sox scored single runs in the first three innings off Indians starter Jake Westbrook but it could have been much worse as they grounded into three double plays (they set a playoff record with 14). Dice-K came out and retired the first eight men he faced. The Tribe struck back with a run in the fourth and one in the fifth to cut the lead to one. Dice-K left after five (two runs, six hits, three strikeouts) and gave way to Okajima, who pitched two scoreless innings of his own. The Indians squandered its chance when the 3rd base coach held Lofton on what would have been the tying run. Blake grounded into a double play on the next at bat.

Pedroia was the hero of the night as he hit a two-run homer into the monster seats in the seventh. He followed that with a three-run double in the eighth. Youk knocked him in with a bomb off the Coke bottles. Game over. Papelbon pitched the final two innings for the save.

This had to be the most predictable comeback in Red Sox history. They just seemed to have nothing going right in games 3-4. The Indians are a worthy team but they're too young and inexperienced in the playoffs to get the job done in the ALCS. Once Beckett won and the series shifted back to Boston, they were cooked. Their bats were silenced and the bullpen was taxed. Plus, Carmona and Sabathia produced zero wins between them in the series.

Beckett deservedly received the ALCS MVP but it also could have gone to Youkilis, who is smoking the ball or Manny. The World Series starts Wednesday at Fenway. Who knows what to expect from the Rockies? They're legit and they have that absurd run but predicting what'll happen in the World Series is nearly impossible. Beckett will start on normal rest in game one.