It’s almost hard to believe that the Red Sox have just won another World Series. Four years ago, in 2003, it seemed like they would never get there or if they did, they would somehow manage to let it slip through their fingers- or roll between their legs. Yet somehow, Boston has won its second World Series since then, earning their second trophy tonight after a 4-3 win in Denver.

 

After being down 3-1 in the ALCS against the Indians, the Red Sox came surging back. In the last seven games, they have never trailed by more than one run. The Rockies did score in the first inning off Curt Schilling in game two, but Boston battled back- offensively with the help of Series MVP Mike Lowell (who scored the tying run and knocked in the winning run with an RBI double) and defensively with some stellar pitching from Schilling and young relievers Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon.

 

Although the Rockies managed to come within one run last night (with Matt Holliday hitting a three-run homerun off Okajima) and again tonight (with Garrett Atkins hitting a two-run homerun off… Okajima), it never felt like Colorado was really in the game.

 

The Red Sox struck early in game four with rookie Jacoby Ellsbury hitting a lead-off double and then scoring on a David Ortiz single, and it seemed like the series was over for Colorado (and believe me, as a Red Sox fan, I know perfectly well that a 3-0 series lead guarantees nothing). Rockies starter Aaron Cook did not even have that bad o####ame- in his first six innings, he allowed just two runs on five hits before Lowell homered to lead off the seventh.

 

Jon Lester had an excellent start for Boston, though, after nearly a month since his last start. He pitched five and two-thirds scoreless innings with just three hits and struck out three.

 

The only time it really felt like maybe there was going to be an exciting turn of events was in the bottom of the ninth when Jamey Carroll hit a high fly ball that took Manny Ramirez back to the wall. Ellsbury made the catch, though, and Papelbon struck out pinch hitter Seth Smith to end the game and earn himself a ring.

 

Although I think Lowell is deserving of the MVP trophy (and contributed both offensively and defensively in the series), Papelbon would be my pick as MVP. He earned three saves in this World Series through four complete scoreless innings. He allowed only two hits, struck out three, and walked none in those four innings. He also pitched a two-inning save in game seven of the ALCS to help the Sox get to the Fall Classic.

 

I’m glad that Lowell got some recognition for his contributions, though, and for his excellent October. In the last fourteen games, he’s had 18 hits, including 7 doubles and 2 home runs, for a .350 (18-51) average. He had 15 RBI and hit .400 in the World Series. I hope that the award is a sign that the Red Sox will do what they can to bring him back next year.

 

Alex Rodriguez managed to make an #### of himself twice during tonight’s game without even being there. His absence was tacky originally when he was not present to accept the Hank Aaron Award from Hammerin’ Hank himself before the game, along with NL winner Prince Fielder. It was even more tasteless when he and his agent, The Great Satan, chose to release the announcement that he will opt out of his contract with the Yankees during the seventh inning of the game. As Peter Gammons pointed out, it displayed a total lack of respect for the game of baseball.

 

I’m going on record right now, though, that if the Red Sox make a deal with him and his sleaze ball agent, I am washing my hands of them.

 

For now, though, I will enjoy this championship. Go Sox!

 

And, oh yeah- Lasorda for Commissioner.

There was no offensive explosion, but the Boston Red Sox proved they still had the pitching they needed to get the job done in a close game, pulling off a 2-1 victory.

The Rockies actually struck first tonight with leadoff hitter Willy Taveras reaching after being hit by a pitch by Curt Schilling. In my honest opinion, Taveras was crowding the plate and it was his own damn fault he got hit, but either way, the damage was done. He advanced after NLCS MVP (and regular season MVP candidate) Matt Holliday singled down the third base line. Both runners ended up in scoring position after a throwing error by Mike Lowell, who didn’t seem to know whether it would be shortstop Julio Lugo or Schilling covering at third. Taveras then scored when Todd Helton grounded out to first.

 

The Rockies maintained their lead into the bottom of the fourth. The Sox went down in order in the first and did not even get their first hit until the fourth inning. J.D. Drew was hit by a pitch in the second, and the top of the lineup drew a pair of walks in the third, but the runners were all left stranded. Lowell scored Boston’s first run after taking a one-out walk in the fourth. Jason Varitek hit the sacrifice fly that scored Lowell and sent Drew to third.

 

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Colorado rookie Ubaldo Jimenez gave up a walk to David Ortiz. Never the speediest of runners, Ortiz has been slowed down lately by his knee injury. He advanced to second on a Manny Ramirez single. Lowell came through with a double to deep left field that gave Big Papi plenty of time to get home and score the go-ahead run. That RBI double was the end of Jimenez’s night, and Clint Hurdle handed the ball off to Jeremy Affeldt who quickly gave up a walk to Drew to load the bases. Affeldt was quickly replaced by Matt Herges who got the final out another long bottom of the fifth.

 

Curt Schilling did not last much longer when he gave up a single to Holliday and walked Helton with one out in the top of the sixth. Hideki Okajima was brought in to take care of business. It was pretty early for set-up work, but he kept things under control until it was Papelbon time. Through two and a third innings, he did not allow a single hit. He struck out four, including the final two batters he faced in the top of the eighth. With Holliday due up to bat and a slim 2-1 lead, Terry Francona opted to bring in closer Jonathan Papelbon. Holliday was already 3-3 on the night and wound up getting an infield single. Papelbon narrowly escaped getting hit by the ball. Dustin Pedroia was able to grab the ball and hold Holliday to a single but had no play at first. Papelbon and Pedroia were both lucky to avoid injury on the play, with Pedroia rolling on his wrist and Papelbon doing some kind of backwards somersault while diving out of the way. Papelbon ended up picking Holliday off at first to end the inning.

 

Helton, who was at the plate when Holliday was picked off, struck out when he led off in the top of the ninth. After Garrett Atkins lined out to centerfield, Papelbon struck Brad Hawpe out to deliver the save and a Game Two victory for the Red Sox.

 

Through the series so far, the Red Sox have held the Rockies to just two runs. Schilling, Okajima, and Papelbon combined tonight to allow only five hits and two walks with ten strikeouts.

And, oh yeah- Lasorda for Commissioner.

Red Sox fans could not have asked for a nicer way to being the 2007 World Series. Josh Beckett struck out the first three Colorado batters he faced (even after falling behind Kazuo Matsui 3-0) in the first inning, and rookie Dustin Pedroia led off the bottom of the first with a homerun on the second pitch he saw. By the end of the inning, Boston was leading by three after four more hits in what would eventually be a 13-1 blowout win.

In the top of the second, Colorado narrowed the Boston lead to 3-1 when Garrett Atkins and Troy Tulowitzki hit a pair of doubles off Beckett. That was the closest the Rockies came to a rally, though, as they only hit four more hits off Beckett in the next five innings and none off relievers Mike Timlin and Eric Gagne in the final two. David Ortiz knocked in another run for Boston in the bottom of the second with an RBI double that scored Kevin Youkilis.

 

After Colorado starter Jeff Francis gave up a single, double, intentional walk, and ground rule double- all with two outs- that put Boston up 6-1 in the fourth inning, Clint Hurdle prepared to bring in Franklin Morales, who had been demoted to bullpen duty. After giving up a lead-off single, he had two outs and seemed to be in control before advancing the runner on a balk. He then proceeded to give up three doubles, two singles, and a walk before being pulled with the bases loaded and the Red Sox up by nine. Ryan Speier came in with three inherited runners and proceeded to walk in all three of them without recording the much needed out. Matt Herges finally got Kevin Youkilis- who had already doubled to drive in the first run of the inning- to fly out and end the inning (the bottom half of which lasted over half an hour).

 

In all, eleven of the Red Sox’ thirteen runs were scored with two outs. I’m not sure whether that says more about the Boston bats or the rustiness of the Rockies’ pitchers.

 

Everybody had great numbers tonight, with every Boston starter but Mike Lowell having at least one RBI. And Lowell went 1-3 with a double, two walks, and a run scored. Six different Sox had doubles, with Ortiz and Youk getting two each. It almost seems odd that they only had one homer. And even though they stranded a dozen base runners, they still scored thirteen runs on seventeen hits and eight walks.

 

Big blowouts make me nervous, but the Red Sox have been on such a roll since game five of the ALCS that I won’t lose too much sleep yet. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow night with rookie Ubaldo Jimenez facing off against Curt Schilling before this series heads out west to snowy Denver.

 

And, oh yeah- Lasorda for Commissioner.

I've been sick for the last two weeks and been without my computer for a good chunk of that time. Still need to update my ALCS stuff...