The Red Sox aren't as good as they have looked for the last 4 games (no one is), but they are the best team. Games where Beckett starts are the only clear times where the are a strong favourite though, so losing this game is hardly the end of the Rockies. But they'd better put up a better fight in game 2 and at least wear out the Boston bullpen a little more.

Beckett is the best pitcher in the playoffs this year, although I don't think that qualifies him as best pitcher alive.  He does seem to deal with the extra adrenalin in the playoffs incredibly well, as his velocity and control seem to have improved. He reminds me of Burnett at his best, except Beckett manages to avoid the out of nowhere HR a lot better than AJ did this year.

Short thanks to sportsnet for carrying the international feed of the game (althogh they probably don't have a choice). While I'm not a huge fan of the announcers, the lack of graphics, lack of in between pitch ads and ads placed in screen wipes during replays,  not feeling it necessary to replay every pitch and hit 10 times, no inexplicably horrible guests doing the starting lineups, no sound effects during in game action, etc, etc (listing horrible things with Fox baseball broadcasts takes too long)...these things make the game much more watchable. Now if only the game was a little closer; I admit to losing interest in the 5th inning or so.

When AJ is on, he is the best pitcher.  But he isn't on enough, which is why he is only number 2 on his own team.  David Ortiz, in the ALDS, said that only two pitchers were better than Beckett.  One is Felix Hernandez, the other is AJ.

Things I noticed.  The Sox are hot and it has made their fans unbearable.  The Rockies are a very, very good team.  Their defense is great.  Their pitching is suspect, at least last night.  That might have just been moss.  The Kzone was inconsistent last night.  Beckett got calls early that Francis didn't.  But then Beckett quit getting the outside edge later. 

 If this team has character, they will bounce back.  And they will win my eternal respect if they put a pin in the hot air baloon that is Red Sox Nation.

The Jays swept both of these teams at different points in the season.  They swept the Rox (Dustin almost no hit them) and then swept a rather pathetic looking Red Sox team late in the year.  So momentum can make a team look fantastic or really, really bad.

The Red Sox are a formidable team. Their lineup takes advantage of mistakes very well. However, are they really 'that good' implying that a 13-1 showing over the Rockies should be the natural order of things? Hardly. I would say it's more accurate to consider Francis losing this game as opposed to the Red Sox winning.

Francis was constantly topping his curve, limiting its break in the zone. As well, he could not get  consistency on his changeup and his fastball had little to no movement. With that being the case, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays could have touched him for the same runs as the Red Sox did. Essentially, Francis was horking the ball over the zone, and against a lineup that is as strong as the Red Sox, it's expected he gets hammered the way he did.

Beckett is a good, strong starter, but before we start bringing in the love, let's gain a little perspective. He's having a career year, is backed by a strong team, and can be considered one of the top starters in the game. However, his numbers are certainly not far and away more dominating than other pitchers. The comparisons to Burnett aren't dissimilar, especially in terms of their toolkit and their career averages. Beckett is an excellent starter with a lot of potential, but he's not Pedro Martinez or Roger Clemens yet.

Unless the Rockies collapse again tonight against Curt Schilling, I see this game as a outlier; the Rockies over a week off the game, against a Red Sox lineup coming out of an intense series with Cleveland. The Rockies boost a strong lineup and an excellent defense that has every chance to contain the Red Sox through this series.

OK, first...the game is pitching and defense. Boston has been SLAUGHTERING people. BUT...the next game starts with the score 0 - 0 and pitching and defense CAN turn the tide, sort of...sometimes...good grief...they BETTER NOT be that good! Drew scares me...he has been so awful all year and then 7 RBI's in one game...if he wakes up.

Beckett reminds me SO much of AJ. The way they both fall off to the left, often before the ball gets to home plate, they both seem to be walking to the left with a ..."Eat that one you a**hole." look on their faces. Beckett this year was more reliable than AJ but when both are hot...they're smokin'. Interestingly, while AJ has the serious injury record of the two...I believe Beckett is the one more likely to suffer a terminal breakdown. When the trade was made the Boston doctors were so concerned with what was left of Josh's shoulder that they were against the trade. I expect, and you've read it here first...that Beckett will BREAK in 08 or 09 and when he does it'll be years (if ever) before he is a factor again.

I HATE Pedroia. How can a guy that weighs 50 pounds wearing a padded jock strap do THAT. As Golum would say, "I hates him master." 

The WONDERFUL thing about baseball is that game one is over. Long live game two. The Rockies CAN win this thing, BUT only if they can embarass Schilling and DiceK. They might just be able to do it. BUT my wife won't let me put the rent money on it. Deep down inside...I'm pretty sure that if I do put the rent money on it...I'll be living in a tent.

I think the Rockies' major problem is that for the first time this postseason they're facing a team from the big league.

 

Beckett  was the first pitcher to strike out three batters in the top of the first in Game 1 of the World Series since Juan Guzman in 1993. Is that a positive comparison?

Why not. Guzman was a hell of a pitcher for a few years.

Beckett was also the first pitcher to strike out the first five batters in a World Series game since Sandy Koufax in 1963 (Kubek, Richardson, Tresh, Mantle, Maris.) Also a positive comparison. Koufax was a hell of a pitcher for a few years.

I'd just like to remind everyone of the one thing I've gotten right lately: Manny is on a mission. In this post-season, he's hitting .441/.600/.853. In 11 games, he's scored 11 runs and driven in 16. We need some adjectives to describe this -  Ruthian, Bondsian...

We need some adjectives to describe this -  Ruthian, Bondsian...

MannyVision....Mannysonic

Maniacal?

Manny has been just... mantastic ?

Umm.. actually, that just doesn't quite sound right...

"Beckett  was the first pitcher to strike out three batters in the top of the first in Game 1 of the World Series since Juan Guzman in 1993."

I also heard them say this during last night's telecast - but then they said later that Beckett was the first person since like 1910 to start off game 1 of the Series with 3 Ks (seemingly as opposed to Guzman who did it but not in Game 1). So that led me to wonder about Guzman's performances, and unless I am crazy, he didn't lead off ANY game with 3 Ks in the WS in 93.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR199310160.shtml
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI199310210.shtml

Humidor a fork and stick it in the Rockies. These guys are done. It's over.

Guzman did strike out the side in the top of the first inning in Game One in 1993.

Of course, he also mixed in two walks and two hits, and was down 2-0 by the time the inning was over. But he did strike out three guys.

And while Koufax struck out the first five Yankees who came to the plate in Game One of the 1963 Series, the game was played in Yankee Stadium, and Whitey Ford could only strike out two of the three Dodgers who batted in the top of the first.

Damn these late starts and slooooow games. It's almost 11:00 and the game is in the 6th freaking inning and I have to get to bed.

The first two games have also been painfully slow to watch; I'm having a hard time paying attention. I could follow a Jays game attentively at this pace, but a Sox/Rox matchup? Not a chance. Perhaps those looking at declining World Series TV ratings should look no further than consistently growing game length.

On another note, I already hate Dustin Pedroia.

Quite ironically, the Red Sox have become another version of the Yankees.  Insane payroll, even more insane spendings (see the Dice-K deal), annoying fans and the love sent from above from Tim McCarver.  Seriously, I get it, Dustin Pedroia is all that is right with the world.  I get it, Billy Beane was right, Kevin Youkilis really IS a God.  The gushing from McCarver over the Sox is getting to an absolutely hideous level.  Combine that with Mr. Death Joe Buck and you've got a horrible team to do a World Series.

I'm gonna say it, I actually hate the Red Sox just as much if not more than the Yankees now.  At least the Yankees have always done a great job of producing their own players.  The Red Sox for the most part are just a bunch of mercs.  And what's worse about it all is that they have the worst fans in sports besides Patriots fans, whom also hail from New England.

PLEASE!!!  LET'S GO ROCKIES!

The Red Sox for the most part are just a bunch of mercs.

Not meaning to cause offense, but that is an awfully naive world view. Other than those players stuck leverage-less in the first six years of their career, what players are not mercenary?

Home grown Yankees Jeter, Posada, and Rivera all signed lucrative deals to stay with their original team. Home grown Pettitte left the team for more money and returned for more still. Home grown Wang and Cano will display their mercenary side once their clocks strike FA.

Additionally, Wang, Cano, Tabata, and countless others were only acquired because of the Yankees spending spree on the international free market. They are another advantage a club outspending all others has.

At least the Yankees have always done a great job of producing their own players.  The Red Sox for the most part are just a bunch of mercs.

Pardon?  Youkilis, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Papelbon, Lester, and Buchholz have all come up within the last few years.  That is a perfectly fine performance for a farm system.  What is unusual about the club is that they do not have the 7-10 year veterans who came up through the system and signed their first "free" contract with Boston.  Like a Roy Halladay or a Jorge Posada.

If you mean that they make and spend more money than the Jays do ($143 million to $90 million in 2007), that's a whole different issue.  "Market" size has a number of possible definitions, and conceivably may play a role.  But let's put it this way. By any number of measures, Red Sox fans are among the most fervent (if not the most) in baseball.  In the end, that probably helps Boston's bottom line.

Apparently Royce Clayton might be better suited to be a rep for Taco Bell.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2007/10/27/taco_bell_promotion_is_off_base_to_some/?page=1

I'd rather stick a fork in my eye than see Royce Clayton wrap this season up with a World Series ring.

This A-Rod opt out timing is almost unbelievable - he picks in the 8th inning in what looks like the final game of the world series to announce the opt out? WTF is all I can think, that's absurd. It's such an obviously blatant ridiculous thing to do.

Anyone see how Sportsnet promised 1 hr of coverage, then just stopped and went to Connected in 30 mins? I cant really say I care, I get tired to the Sox stuff... but did anyone else actually notice?

Also, Mike Lowell is going to get one hell of a contract with his huge season, good defense, and world series MVP.

Well boys and girls now you've seen the Red Sox. Now you've seen the core of the team we'll have to beat next year and over the next three of four years at least. A wonderful young rotation of Beckett, DiceK, Lester, Buchholz and Wakefield (or anybody), with Paps closing with help from Delcarmen - this is one very powerful pitching staff and if I remember correctly - they can hit the ball OK as well.

Congratulations Boston (Hope I can finish this before I go puke) you're a worthy champion.

In 08, we'll be able to stay with these guys pitching and defense wise but will we have the hitting to stay with them over thte season? We'll need the walking wounded healthy and productive and we'll need them to stay healthy. We'll need to own the road like we own the Dome and we'll have to own both day in day out for six months. Tall order? You bet.

Is it April yet? 'Cause we got some Red Sox butt to kick and it starts opening day!

Also, Mike Lowell is going to get one hell of a contract with his huge season, good defense, and world series MVP.

What do you reckon, about 3/40 for Lowell's age 34, 35 and 36 seasons? You'd think some caution would be exercised with a player this age, but this is the same organization that gave Varitek a 4-year deal for ages 33-36 on the heels of their last World Series win.

A wonderful young rotation of Beckett, DiceK, Lester, Buchholz and Wakefield

There's talk that due to his shoulder, Wakefield may be done. There's talk that due to his birth certificate, he may not be young. I'd imagine that in the bask of World Series sunshine, Schilling will be re-signed for one season, to go back into the #3 slot. Even then, the team would do well to scare up a 30/180 starter for the back of the rotation to serve as insurance for a wobbly Schilling and the two young 'uns.

This should be a pretty easy off-season for Theo and the boys. A couple of decisions regarding Lowell and Schilling. Crisp will no doubt see the door, though it's hard to say what he might fetch (Atlanta and Minnesota both figure to be in the CF market in fairly short order). I imagine some emphasis will be placed on beefing up the bullpen, but if that's your biggest worry...

Oh, and while John Henry came oh so close to acquiring ARod 4 years ago, I just can't see him ponying up the half billion dollars that Boras is fishing for. When you've just won your second World Series without Rodriguez, maybe you let Red Sox Nation have their way and you don't mess with karma.

Lowell to the Yankees for 5-$75 right after A-Rod signs somewhere. The Yankees will be desperate to be back on the front page and will do whatever it takes to show they are still there. If A-Rod goes over $300 I wouldn't be shocked to see the Yanks go crazy dumb (like a 5 year deal wouldn't be) and give Lowell a $100 million contract.

I would expect the Yankees to pursue Miguel Cabrera with extreme prejudice during the winter meetings if A-Rod signs elsewhere. 

Royce Clayton went 0-8 as a Red Sock and was left off the playoff roster. They can't possibly give him a ring... can they?

They can't possibly give him [Clayton] a ring... can they?

Everybody gets a ring. Everybody. Willy Mo Pena and Joel Piniero, Kevin Cash and Royce Clayton. Everybody.

More than 230 people got rings when the Blue jays won. Basically, practically everybody who cashed a cheque at some time in 2007 with the team logo on it will get a ring. Anyone who actually wore the uniform is automatic.