HRD 2007 World Series Predictions
Posted by: Richie Rich in 2007 MLB Playoffs, Red Sox, Rockies
The Rox versus the Sox.
Yet another expansion team versus the new Yankees.
Joe Buck is gonna say “Jub Jub”
Home Run Derby presents our predictions for the 2007 Fall Classic.
On paper, there is no way in hell this is even a series. We all know by now, that I am rooting for the Rockies (more of a stick it to the Cubs wish, than anti-Carmine sentiment).
But even if my heart bleeds Coors Light (or Coors NA), my head tells me Red Sox. Why?
It’s simple - Too much offense from the Red Sox. The three top hitters of the playoffs so far (Manny Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis, and David Ortiz) all wear a Boston Red Sox uniform.
These three have combined to hit 11 Home Runs and 29 RBI with a .812 SLG %. I expect the Red Sox line-up to continue launching the ball.
Colorado’s pitching has been stellar this postseason (2.08 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, only 7 HR allowed in 65 innings and a better than a 5:2 K/BB ratio), but these aren’t the Phillies or Diamondbacks.
The Rockies’ stretch of 21 wins in 22 games is impressive and will remain one of the greatest MLB stories for a long time, but … let’s face it - it’s an aberration. It was accomplished against National League teams. There is absolutely no way the Rockies would have done that in the AL.
Then there is this to seal the Rockies fate: they lose the “ex-Cub” factor on their active roster, with one ex-Cub, LaTroy Hawkins, to Boston’s zero (Matt Clement will not be on the active roster).
Colorado’s only chance is if the Big Three go cold in the next week, maybe a cold snap in Denver is in the works, but I just don’t see it.
Red Sox in Five (and I hope I am wrong).
It seems odd to play Devil’s Advocate for a Colorado Rockies team which has become recognized as God’s team … but here goes.
The Rockies are headed into the World Series riding an unprecedented wave. Play the hot hand.
- They’re 21 and 1 over their past 22 games.
- They went 14 and 1 down the stretch just to reach the playoffs.
- They’ve won 10 straight road games.
- Four of those road games have been in the playoffs.
- They’re unbeaten in the playoffs.
- They’ve beaten pitchers like Jake Peavy/Trevor Hoffman, Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick, Brandon Webb, and Jose Valverde since their postseason began.
In the first two games of the Series, the Rockies will face two of the Red Sox’ best playoff pitchers - Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling.
The Rox faced the Sox hurlers once already at Fenway this season. The result? Beckett/Schilling faced the Rockies for 5 innings each and the Rockies tagged them for 19 hits, 12 runs, 3 Home Runs against a 9.90 ERA in those ten innings. It was Beckett’s first loss of the season.
In that series, the Rockies’ Game One pitcher, Jeff Francis, pitched 5 shutout innings at Fenway. The Rockies’ bullpen also shut out the Red Sox at Fenway (8.0 innings, 3 hits, 0.00 ERA) in the three game set.
Game One goes to the Rockies as they dropkick the murphys.
Boston will be playing three games with only two of their three top hitters in these playoffs, as they’ll have to decide between David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis at first base while in Denver. More than likely, Ortiz starts at first base with Youk as a defensive replacement if the game is tight. While Manny Ramirez patrols a cavernous left field at Coors. This could be fun. Incaviglia fun.
The Rockies had a 51-31 record at Coors Field - which was good for most home wins in the National League (tie) this season. Boston is at sea level. Coors Field is right about 5,280 feet above sea level. Big Papi and Manny better hope there’s oxygen in the clubhouse.
Nick the Greek is right. This Series wont return to Boston.
But the Rockies will be the ones feeling Mile-High after Game Five in Denver.
Entries (RSS)
October 24th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Not that we are live blogging here, but 2 pitches, 1 HR. If Pedroria keeps it up, then it might be a BoSox sweep. Richie, I think you have had too much purple Kool-Aid.
Just as I am about to hit submit, Youk drills a double. This could get ugly fast.
October 24th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Joe Buck called Chris Myers “Jub Jub”
Woot!
October 24th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Sometimes it’s difficult to decipher head from heart.
Before seeing the mid-game score, Red Sox 13 - Rockies 1, I thought … or felt … or wanted the Rockies to win. How could they not win following their amazing streak?! Have you ever played pickup basketball and had one of those days where you couldn’t miss? Every time the ball left your hand you knew it was going down. I think that’s what the Rockies were feeling. Every time they took the field, somehow they knew they would finish on top. The question is, if they lose tonight, which seems certain, can they remember that feeling of being invincible and start a new streak?
I think so … er, hope so.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:06 am
I’m a Red Sox fan who loved last night’s game and woke up feeling great today, but anybody who’s wearing their Sox pajamas, as I am at the moment, will tell you that last night was just one game.
They had an impressive showing in Game 1, but if they don’t smell blood tonight and secure a 2-0 lead going into Colorado then last night’s game is a waste. The Sox were in a similar position in this year’s ALDS after beating the Indians soundly in Game 1 by a score of 10-3, but squandered it by losing the next three games. Also, I’m sure most of you read the stat FOX posted last night about 11-run deficits in Game 1 of the World Series.
For those who didn’t see, there have been two times in history that a team has won by eleven runs in Game 1 of the World Series. The 1959 White Sox beat the Dodgers by that margin as well as the 1996 Braves over the Yankees. In both cases, the loser of Game 1 took home the big trophy. So, as some guy named after a bear once said, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”
And children, we’ve just begun.
October 27th, 2007 at 10:30 am
The fact that “UCUM” was my security code speaks volumes about your predictions. Both unabashed Sox haters, Richie Rich, I’ll give you the fact that you use the Rockies logo in your pic, but I don’t know your allegiance. I’d hate to think you’re a front runner.
It’s become more vogue to hate the Sox and call them the New Yankees that it was to buy a pink hat for your girlfriend (or boyfriend) in ‘04. Everyone repeatedly cites the same reasons for hating the Yankees now apply the the Red Sox? Really? What have the Red Sox done in the past 40 years to earn such bile? I suppose when you have a successful franchise which was powered, ironically enough, by several under million dollar contract players, the knee-jerk reaction is to cite ‘buying’ a championship. Our line-up card doesn’t read like an All-Star Roster, even though we had the most representation, 3 were pitchers, two were relief pitchers, the other one the All Star game. Other than that, Papi and Lowell, who Papi became his presence at Boston, Mike Lowell, came into his own AT Boston. The big money goes to big regular season disappointments, Lugo, Drew, DiceK.
So sheeple…Please. The Red Sox aren’t the New Yankees, they might be if they win 20 more World Championships and buy all the players up in free agency and make sure they operate at a budget that no other team can possibly hope to attain, it simply isn’t that way anymore guys. Every GM has 100s of Millions of dollars in an operating budget in addition to their own fat pockets. If they don’t want to spend the money to build a contending team each year so they can take advanced salary bonuses that’s their teams problem. The fans should be writing hate letters to their own teams, instead of a team that saw why there were losing (Red Sox) each year, to a vastly superior team (Yankees), they realized that this isn’t little league, or NCAA baseball and to compete on a National Stage at the Major League Level, it’s going to require a lot of money.
Now if you think that you’re going to see Colorado, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Arizona in next years playoffs, well…expect to see the payroll go up significantly. More than likely you’ll see the team who wanted it more and god knows you’ll see the players who want that big money pay no allegiance to their farm teams.
Hey Richie Rich. Worst case scenario we go back to Boston 3-2 with Schilling and then DiceK. How’s that crow? I’m sorry, I’m sure you a nice guy, but to cite that a team that has gone 21 and 22 can sustain that sort of momentum reeks of poor insight. Especially when facing the superior presence of the American League. June was June and there’s only one October. (unless it goes to game 7). The Rockies just aren’t good. In closing think about their batting average from the end of the season, to the ALDS, to the ALCS. If there’s one indication of them slumping it’s the drop in bats. Nuff Said. Great content guys. Except for your biased objectivity.
October 27th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Gah, pardon the typos. Was on a tear. Beckett, All Star Game Winner was what one line should have read. “the the” should have been to the…
well you get the idea
October 27th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Drazz -
Good points.
I don’t hate the Red Sox. My terminology of “New Yankees” wasn’t based in making the Red Sox the bad guys (in the Yankees absence).
And I don’t think Nick hates the Red Sox either. In fact I’ve been to a ballgame with him where he’s cheered for the Red Sox (mind you it was against his hated Cubs). Thanks again for those tickets, Greek.
As to the prediction, double check the meaning of Devil’s Advocate.
I did think that the Rockies’ bats would have shown up in Boston. I also thought that the Rockies pitching (Francis) would have been better in Game One.
And who would have thought that a team who had gone 14 of 15 would have ratted off another seven straight victories (in the playoffs no less).
But I don’t think it was the nine-game layoff that cooled off the Rockies. It was Beckett’s and Schilling’s dominating performances and the Sox’ offense.
As always, thanks for reading.
Rich