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10/24/2007
Billy-Ball Daily
Bill Chuck (Billy-Ball his own self)
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The only spin here is on my screwball
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Top of the 1st
THE ROCKTOBER/SOXTOBER WORLD SERIES REPORT
Culled from publications worldwide including the World Wide Web and Billy-Ball, his ownself, here is stuff you should know if you want to win something free at a bar or restaurant:
THE WEATHER CHANNEL BOSTON FORECAST
• Today: Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. High around 60F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
• Tonight: Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low near 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
SHOW ME THE MONEY
This past season the Rockies ranked 25th in payroll at $54.5 million. Over the last 20 years, the only other time a team whose payroll ranked 20th or lower and reached the World Series was the 2003 Marlins, who won a championship with the game's 25th-lowest payroll.
THE FANS
The Rockies are a regional franchise drawing fans from various states, including Wyoming, Nebraska and Oklahoma. In their initial year the Rockies sold season tickets to people from 36 different states, drawing 4,483,350 to Mile High Stadium, breaking the Jays' attendance record of 4,028,318 set in 1992. The Red Sox are the gods of Red Sox Nation.
HE BEST RECORD
Tied with the Indians for the best record in baseball with 96 wins during the regular season, the Red Sox are 7-3 in the postseason, giving them 103 victories overall. Boston overcame a 3-1 series deficit to dispose of Cleveland.
THE QUOTES
"Hopefully, we're the underdogs," said Colorado's exciting rookie Troy Tulowitzki. "That's how we've been the whole time. I think if you had told somebody at the beginning of the year the Rockies would be in the World Series, they would have laughed at you. Here we are. "
"How are we the favorites when they've won 25 games or whatever in a row?" asked the fabulous Jonathan Papelbon. "We're going into the playoffs against a team that won 20-freaking-something games a row. Playoffs is all about momentum, right? So how are we the bleeping favorites?"
THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION
Boston is 14-3 in its past 17 elimination games.
NL WEST STANDINGS ON SEPTEMBER 15
West W L PCT GB L10 STRK
Arizona 83 66 .557 - 7-3 L2
San Diego 80 67 .544 2.0 4-6 W2
Los Angeles 79 69 .534 3.5 6-4 W4
Colorado 76 72 .514 6.5 4-6 L3
San Francisco 66 82 .446 16.5 4-6 L3
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Boston W-L
Reg.season 51-30
Postseason 5-1
Colorado W-L
Reg. season 51-31
Postseason 3-0
THE “WORLD” OF PITCHERS
Jeff Francis is from Canada
Ubaldo Jimenez is from the Dominican Republic
Franklin Morales is from Venezuela
Josh Fogg is from Red Sox Nation -- Lynn, Mass.
POST SEASON ERA
The Rockies postseason ERA of 2.08 is the best of any of the playoff teams.
Boston has a 3.60 postseason ERA.
PAYROLL
The Red Sox $143 million.
The Rockies $54 million.
DEE-FENCE
Colorado made only 68 errors in 6,326 chances during the regular season, the fewest in the majors by 15. That tied the record for fewest errors, set by the Mets in 1999, and resulted in a major league record .98925 team fielding percentage by the Rockies. They are led by shortstop Tulowitzki (11 errors in 834 chances), first baseman Helton (two clanks in 1,545 opportunities) and second baseman Matsui (four errors in 515 chances).
AND TODAY HE IS KNOWN AS…
David Americo Ortiz Arias was born on November 18, 1975 in Santo Domingo, capital city of the Dominican Republic. A baseball card from 1997 lists him as David Arias but today he is known as David Ortiz or "Big Papi."
ROCKIES POWER
Matt Holliday, Troy Tulowitzki, Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe combined for 114 home runs and 463 RBI.
THE SPECIAL ASSISTANT
The Rockies uniform number 22 is Walt Weiss, the special assistant to the general manager who played in four World Series.
MR. MITCHELL
George Mitchell, the head of baseball's steroids investigation, is a member of the Red Sox board of directors. It will be interesting to see if there are any reports of usage by the Rockies during the Series.
POWER AT THE CORNER
Southern Californian Garrett Atkins has 67 homers and 320 RBI in three full seasons at third base. In the off-season he served as best man at the wedding of Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, a former teammate at UCLA.
THE ROLLING STONE
Colorado outfielder Jeff Baker was an Army brat born in Bad Kissingen, West Germany, and has lived in nine cities around the world.
WHAT IF?
The sports simulation website WhatIfSports.com picks the Colorado Rockies to defeat the Boston Red Sox in seven games this season. WhatIfSports used its award-winning simulation engine to "play" the World Series 10,000 times. Colorado won just 52.80% of those series, with the most common occurrence being a seven-game series win by the Rockies.
DIAMOND MINE
Diamond Mind Baseball, owned by Imagine Sports, ran 1,000 simulations and see the Red Sox winning in six games, but there is now a more substantial possibility that Boston will take it in four or five.
IN SEPTEMBER
Matt Holliday hit .367 with 12 homers, 30 RBI and 29 run scored.
Brad Hawpe hit .467 with 20 RBI in the last 11 games
Todd Helton was a .386 hitter in the final 14 games with three homers and 13 RBI.
The Rockies bullpen had a 2.49 ERA, and held opponents to.212 average.
SWEET CAROLINE
If the networks are smart they stay at Fenway in the 8th as the fans sing along with Neil Diamond. This is one of the great baseball rituals and fans all over the country will wish their ballparks had a tradition like this.
TU-LO TO THE THIRD POWER
Troy Tulowitzki was involved with two triple plays this season. One he pulled it off unassisted, the other he was a runner on first base. Colorado's 22-year-old Troy Tulowitzki. He also hit 24 home runs, most by a shortstop in NL history. He batted .291 with 99 runs batted in while leading all major-league shortstops in fielding percentage.
THEY’RE JUST KIDS
C Yorvit Torrealba Age: 29. Debut: Sept. 5, 2001
1B Todd Helton Age: 34. Debut: Aug. 2, 1997
2B Kaz Matsui Age: 31. Debut: April 6, 2004
SS Troy Tulowitzki Age: 23. Debut: Aug. 30, 2006
3B Garrett Atkins Age: 28. Debut: Aug. 3, 2003
LF Matt Holliday Age: 27. Debut: April 16, 2004
CF Ryan Spilborghs Age: 28. Debut: July 16, 2005
RF Brad Hawpe Age: 28. Debut: May 1, 2004
SP Jeff Francis Age: 26. Debut: Aug. 25, 2004
SP Franklin Morales Age: 21. Debut: Aug. 18, 2007
SP Ubaldo Jimenez Age: 23. Debut: Sept. 26, 2006
SINCE THE BREAK
Colorado was 44-44 before the All-Star break, but since that point they've gone 46-29. Only the Yankees posted a better record in the second half. Boston was 43-32 after the break.
SMALL BALL
The Rockies led the majors with 83 sacrifice bunts this year.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Red Sox payroll of $143 million going into the season ranked second to New York.
The Rockies were 25th, at $54 million.
RATIOS
The Rockies' key ratio is 21-1 -- their record since mid-September.
Josh Beckett has a 26-1 ratio -- 26 strikeouts and one walk this postseason.
TAKE IT FROM THE TOP
Colorado’s Willy Taveras led the majors with 37 bunt hits and 54 infield hits despite missing 66 games with an assortment of injuries. Kaz Matsui stole a career-high 32 bases in 36 attempts while hitting a career-best .288. He leads the Rockies with eight RBIs and a .310 batting average in the playoffs.
DANE COOK AND HIS COMMERCIALS
I don’t like him and I don’t like them.
HURDLE – THE OVERNIGHT SENSATION
2002 NL West Colorado 67 73 .479 4
2003 NL West Colorado 74 88 .457 4
2004 NL West Colorado 68 94 .420 4
2005 NL West Colorado 67 95 .414 5
2006 NL West Colorado 76 86 .469 4
2007 NL West Colorado 90 73 .552 2
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The Rockies have won 9 straight on the road. Their last loss on the road was Sept. 13 at Philadelphia.
WE’VE GOT KAZ’ NUMBER
Kaz Matsui began wearing No. 7 as a child in Japan because it felt right. It wasn't available in New York with the Mets, so he wore 25 (digits that add up to seven) and did the same last year in Colorado. This year, he has No. 7 again.
BASES LOADED, BASES CLEAR
In the postseason, Sox batters have come to the plate 22 times with the bases loaded (6 for 15, .400). Opponents have come to the plate 3 times with the bases loaded (0 for 3).
THE SININS REPORT
From the brilliant and, somewhat unique, mind of Lee Sinins - I recognize the Red Sox as the 2007 World Champions. It is their 1st World Championship since 1946 and 1st AL Championship since 2004. The only question left is what the final margin of victory over the Red Sox and the runnerup Indians. The Red Sox have 103 wins (regular season + postseason). The only way that the 97 win Rockies can pass them is if they win the World Series 7 games to 0. Since that's not going to happen, the Red Sox have clinched the World Championship.
THE UMPS
Ed Montague will serve as the crew chief for the World Series. Montague has been crew chief on four different occasions, the last time being 2004, when the Red Sox won the championship. It is the fourth time he's drawn the umpiring assignment. Montague will be behind the plate tonight with Laz Diaz will be at first base, Ted Barrett at second, Chuck Meriwether at third, Mike Everitt in left field and Mike Reilly in right for the opener. All six umpires called games during the first round of the playoffs this month. Montague also worked the NL wild-card tiebreaker between the Rockies and San Diego.
SAWX TAWK
• The Red Sox were the AL East champion
Overall Record: 96-66 - Home Record: 51-30 - Road Record: 45-36
• The Red Sox were second in the majors in team ERA.
• Boston was tops in the AL in bullpen ERA, 3.10.
• Cleveland was No. 1 in the AL in starters' ERA, 4.19.
• Josh Beckett at Fenway in the 2007 regular season was 9-5, with a 4.17 ERA, giving up 51 earned runs in 110 innings pitched over 17 games started.
• On the road in 2007, Beckett was 11-2, 2.18 ERA (22 ER/90.2 IP), in 13 games started.
• Overall in 2007, versus Beckett the opposition had a .245 (189-772) batting average and 17 homers. His WHIP was 1.14
• Lefties in 2007, versus Beckett, hit .255 (97-380) with 6 homers.
• Lefties in 2007, versus Beckett, hit .235 (92-392) with 11 homers.
• Beckett has 4 career regular season complete games and 3 career post-season complete games.
• Jonathan Papelbon held left-handed hitters to a .104 average with 56 strikeouts in 115 at-bats.
• In 20 regular-season appearances with the Red Sox, Eric Gagne allowed 35 baserunners in 18 2/3 innings.
• David Ortiz had a league-high 32 doubles at home during the regular season.
• Mike Lowell had a .514 slugging percentage against right-handers and .466 percentage against left-handers during the regular season.
• J.D. Drew hit .224 against left-handers during the regular season.
• Jason Varitek hit .221 with runners in scoring position for the season.
ROCKS RAP
• The Rockies bullpen has a 1.61 ERA for 28 innings in the postseason.
• The Rockies and Diamondbacks combined to score 26 runs in the series. The fewest combined runs scored in an NLCS of at least four games is 24. It was done twice: by Atlanta (19 runs) and Cincinnati (five) in 1995 and by Philadelphia (16) and Los Angeles (eight) in 1983.
• The Colorado Rockies began as an expansion team in 1993.
• This is their first World Series.
• The Rockies have made the playoffs once before, for one round in 1995, when they were nicknamed the Blake Street Bombers.
• In 1995, the Rockies had one post-season victory when they were eliminated by Atlanta in the first round.
• They currently have a 10-game winning streak.
• They have won 21 of their last 22.
• The Rockies are the first team since the 1935 Chicago Cubs to win at least 21 of 22 after Sept. 1, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
• The Rockies last lost a game on Sept. 28 in the regular season.
• Colorado has lost only once since Sept. 16.
• Colorado won the wild-card berth in the N.L. by beating San Diego, 9-8, in 13 innings in game 163.
• Colorado had never won more than 83 games before going 90-73 this season
• The Rockies are the second team to win each of its first seven games to open the postseason.
• The 1976 Cincinnati Reds, went 7-0 in sweeping to a World Series title when the maximum number of postseason victories was seven.
• Since the playoffs were expanded to three rounds in 1995, two teams have won eight in a row: The 2004 Red Sox and the 2005 White Sox.
• During the regular season, the Rockies ranked 19th among 30 teams in attendance with an average of 28,978 a game.
• Four franchises remain that have never reached the World Series: the Mariners, Devil Rays, Senators/Rangers and Expos/Nationals.
• The Rockies went 2-1 against Boston this season, outscoring the Red Sox 20-5 in a June series at Fenway Park.
NOW LEADING OFF
According to Chuck Waseleski, the Red Sox leadoff batters have reached base 32 times and have scored 18 runs this postseason. Opposing leadoff hitters have reached base 28 times and have scored 10 runs.
WILD THING
For the sixth season in a row, a wild-card team will compete in the World Series.
ON THE OFFENSIVE
Batting Average
The Rockies were 5th in the majors with a .280 team average.
The Red Sox were 6th in the majors with a .279 team average.
Homers
The Rockies were tied for 13th in the majors with 171 team homers.
The Red Sox were 18th in the majors with 166 team homers.
Runs
The Red Sox were 4th in the majors with 867 runs scored.
The Rockies were 5th in the majors with 860 runs scored.
Slugging Percentage
The Red Sox were 6th in the majors with a slugging percentage of .444.
The Rockies were 7th in the majors with a slugging percentage of .437.
Stolen Bases
The Rockies were 13th in the majors with 100 steals.
The Red Sox were 15th in the majors with 96 steals.
Walks
The Red Sox were 1st in the majors with 689 walks.
The Rockies were 5th in the majors with 622 walks.
Strikeouts
The Rockies were 7th worst in the majors with 1152 strikeouts.
The Red Sox were 21st worst in the majors with 1042 strikeouts.
Left on Base
The Red Sox left the 2nd most runners on base in the majors with 1291.
The Rockies left the 4th most runners on base in the majors with 1251.
THE LONG ROAD
On May 21, the Rockies were 9 games below .500. That equals the fourth-biggest deficit overcome by a team that has reached the postseason. Houston was 15 games below .500 at one point in 2005. Oakland, in 2001, and Florida, in 2003, each were 10 games below .500. The 1995 Yankees, 1996 Cardinals and 2007 Cubs also were nine games below at some point.
THE DENVER BOOT
The Rockies’ 21-1 stretch is the best one-loss run in modern Denver professional sports history. In 1974-75, the ABA Denver Nuggets went 19-1 over a 20-game stretch in the regular season, which had been the previous best run. The best Broncos run was an 18-1 stretch in 1997-98, including the playoffs. The NBA Nuggets went 16-1over their best stretch in 2004-05, and the NHL Avalanche went 12-1 in their best one-loss run.
WILL THE TIME OFF BE HARDER ON ROCKIES PITCHERS OR HITTERS?
"Fielders," suggested Brad Hawpe.
THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS
Ten of the 25 players on the Rockies' NLCS roster came from other organizations
Player Previous team How acquired
LHP Brian Fuentes Mariners Trade, Dec. 15, 2001
C Yorvit Torrealba Mariners Trade, Dec. 7, 2005
RHP Josh Fogg Pirates Free agent, Feb. 9, 2006
IF Jamey Carroll Nationals For cash, Feb. 11, 2006
2B Kaz Matsui Mets Trade, June 9, 2006
LHP Jeremy Affeldt Royals Trade, July 31, 2006
RHP LaTroy Hawkins Orioles Free agent, Dec. 5, 2006
RHP Taylor Buchholz Astros Trade, Dec. 12, 2006
CF Willy Taveras Astros Trade, Dec. 12, 2006
RHP Matt Herges Marlins Minor league contract, Feb. 12, 2007
GOOD PEOPLE
The Colorado Rockies voted a full playoff share for the widow of minor-league coach Mike Coolbaugh, killed on July 22, when a line drive struck him in the head while coaching first base. Some of the veterans decided to award a full share to Amanda Coolbaugh. Coolbaugh was a first- base coach for the Rockies' Double-A affiliate, the Tulsa Drillers. Their two sons, 5-year-old Joseph and 3-year-old Jacob, threw out the first pitch in Game 3 of the NLDS.
COMEBACKS, LORETTA
These teams came back from 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven series:
TEAM SERIES OPPONENT
2007 Red Sox ALCS Indians
2004 Red Sox ALCS Yankees
2003 Marlins NLCS Cubs
1996 Braves NLCS Cardinals
1986 Red Sox ALCS Angels
1985 Royals WS Cardinals
1985 Royals ALCS Blue Jays
1979 Pirates WS Orioles
1968 Tigers WS Cardinals
1958 Yankees WS Braves
1925 Pirates WS Senators
HOMEWORK, THEN BASEBALL
Seven rowdy Red Sox fans have a homework assignment. A judge has ordered them to write a five-page essay explaining what they have learned from their experience of being arrested after the Red Sox won the American League Championship Series Sunday night.The defendants must also provide proof to the court that their parents are aware of their arrests.
ROCKIES-AT-A-GLANCE
Overall Record: 90-73
Home Record: 51-31
Road Record: 39-42
Standing: 2nd, -0.5
Homestand: 3-1
Last 5 Games: 4-1
Last 10 Games: 9-1
All-Time Record: 1115-1253
All-Time at Home: 649-534
All-Time at Coors Field: 584-460
All-Time on the Road: 466-719
Under Clint Hurdle: 442-508
ROCKIES MINOR LEAGUE AFFILIATES
AAA - Colorado Springs Sky Sox AA - Tulsa Drillers A - Asheville Tourists - Visalia Oaks - Portland Rockies - Tricity Dust Devils R - Casper Rockies
CLOSERS ARE IN THE AISLE NEAR THE FIDDLE FADDLE
The Rockies closer is Manny Corpas who is from Panama. He was signed by the Rockies’ international scout Tim Ireland, who has never been to Panama. Ireland met Corpas at a convenience store in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, during the world junior championship eight years ago.
LCS MVPS
AL - Josh Beckett,
NL - Matt Holliday
GIVE ‘EM HELTON
In 11 seasons this is Todd Helton's third winning season, his team's overall are a combined 56 games under .500. Helton, 33, played in 1,578 games before making his first post-season appearance but seemed destined to make the Series this year as he was almost dealt in the off-season to the Boston Red Sox. The deal would have sent Helton to Boston in exchange for Mike Lowell. But Boston refused to include Manny Delcarmen or Craig Hansen. I think it turned out to be the right move for both teams.
HELTON THE QB
In college, Todd Helton was a quarterback for the Tennessee Volunteers baking up starter Jerry Colquitt. When Colquitt was hurt in the season opener, Helton took over in a 25-23 loss to UCLA. He started the next game, a 41-23 win over the Georgia Bulldogs, then lost 31-0 to the Florida Gators. He injured a medial collateral ligament in the first half of a 24-21 loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs. At that point, the freshman who Helton beat out for the number two slot took over. His name was Peyton Manning.
IN WINNING THE FINAL THREE GAMES
The Red Sox outscored the Indians 30-5 while winning the final three games. In those wins, the Red Sox went 17-for-35 (.486) with runners in scoring position, including 7-for-13 in Game 6 and Game 7.
NO HOLLIDAY FOR PITCHERS
Colorado left fielder Matt Holliday is the real deal. This season, Holliday hit 36 homers, and led the NL in average (.340), hits (216), RBIs (137), extra-base hits (92) total bases (386) and doubles (50). He passed Larry Walker's franchise record by reaching base in 38 consecutive games. Walker's record was 35. Holliday's .332 career average is second only to Ichiro Suzuki among active players.
HOME, HOME ON THE FENS
At Fenway Park, the Red Sox are 56-31, including 5-1 in the postseason.
INCLUDING THE PLAYOFFS
The Rockies are 79-46 since May 22,
THIS SEASON
Boston lost two of three to the Rockies at Fenway June 12-14, winning the first game 2-1, then losing 12-2 and 7-1. After the series, the Rockies were 33-33.
TU-LO
Rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki hit 24 homers, driving in 99 runs and batting .291 this season for the Rockies. He was the seventh pick in the 2005 draft having played two all-American seasons with the Long Beach State Dirtbags.
THE ONE TRADE
Waaaay back in 2000, the Red Sox acquired Rolando Arrojo and Mike Lansing and the Rockies received Brian Rose and John Wasdin.
NO BULL
Colorado relievers Ryan Speier, LaTroy Hawkins, and Matt Herges have yet to allow an earned run in the postseason over nine combined innings.
BOOMER
Game 1 starter Jeff Francis is nicknamed “Boomer.” While David Wells I’m sure is flattered, Francis who is from North Delta, B.C., was nicknamed "Boomer" by his grandpa after former Montreal Canadiens great Bernie (Boom Boom) Geoffrion
RED SOX FANS SITTING PRETTY?
Jordan's Furniture earlier this year promised free furniture to customers who bought between March 7 and April 16, so long as the Sox win the World Series. The chain took almost 30,000 orders during the contest.
THE CURSE OF THE CANUCKS
Jeff Francis is from British Columbia. No Canadian has ever gained a World Series win.
COLORADO ROCKIES
First year: 1993.
First at-bat: Eric Young April 9, 1993, leadoff homer in front of 80,227.
Previous post-season appearance: 1995, lost 3-1 to Atlanta.
2007 attendance: 2,376,250 (28,978 average).
Team batting average: .280 (1st in NL).
Team ERA: 4.32 (8th in NL).
Fielding: .989 (1st in NL).
Injuries: Lost three of their starters -- Rodrigo Lopez (arm injury) July 27,
Jason Hirsh (fractured leg) Aug. 8 and Aaron Cook (oblique strain) Aug. 11.
GM: Dan O'Dowd.
Owners: Charles and Richard Monfort (ConAgra Foods).
ROCKIES CAREER LEADERS
Homers: Todd Helton 303.
RBIs: Helton 1,087.
Wins: Jason Jennings 58.
Award winners: Larry Walker, MVP 1997, batting champ 1999, 2000, 2001, seven-time Gold Glove winner.
RED SOX WORLD SERIES RESULTS
2004 World Series St. Louis Won 4-0
1986 World Series New York Mets Lost 3-4
1975 World Series Cincinnati Lost 3-4
1967 World Series St. Louis Lost 3-4
1946 World Series St. Louis Lost 3-4
1918 World Series Chicago Cubs Won 4-2
1916 World Series Brooklyn Robins Won 4-1
1915 World Series Philadelphia Won 4-1
1912 World Series New York Giants Won 4-3-1
1903 World Series Pittsburgh Won 5-3
ROCKIES WORLD SERIES RESULTS
Nada.
Top of the 2nd
THE WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE
Boston Red Sox vs. Colorado Rockies
Gm Date Site Time ET (TV)
1 Wed., Oct. 24 @BOS 8 p.m. (FOX)
COL: J. Francis (2-0) BOS: J. Beckett (3-0)
2 Thurs., Oct. 25 @BOS 8 p.m. (FOX)
COL: U. Jimenez (0-0) BOS: C. Schilling (2-0)
3 Sat., Oct. 27 @COL 8 p.m. (FOX)
BOS: D. Matsuzaka (1-1) COL: J. Fogg (2-0)
4 Sun., Oct. 28 @COL 8 p.m. (FOX)
BOS: J. Lester (0-0) COL: A. Cook (0-0)
* 5 Mon., Oct. 29 @COL FOX
* 6 Wed., Oct. 31 @BOS FOX
* 7 Thurs., Nov. 1 @BOS FOX
Top of the 3rd
WHO IS ON YOUR ULTIMATE WORLD SERIES TEAM?
Check out my picks - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21430582/?pg=2#spt_WorldSeries_ultimate_team
Top of the 4th
ROSTER CHANGES
Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will be left off the World Series roster with inflammation in the back of his pitching shoulder. Wakefield indicated team doctors had become uneasy about his increasing recovery time between starts. Jon Lester threw a four-inning simulated game yesterday and might get the Game 4 start. Reliever Kyle Snyder will replace Wakefield on the roster.
For the Rockies, Aaron Cook, who was left off the roster for the first two rounds, will start Game 4, following Jeff Francis, Ubaldo Jimenez and Josh Fogg. Cook had been out since Aug. 10 because of an oblique strain.
Top of the 5th
BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR
Its beef vs. seafood in the traditional World Series bets between governors, senators and mayors from Colorado and Massachusetts. Sens. Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar of Colorado are wagering Colorado-raised beef; Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry are countering with New England clam chowder and lobster rolls. The senators who lose the bet will donate the food to a charity chosen by the winning senators.
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is wagering a box of beef and buffalo steaks. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick’s wager hadn’t been announced.
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper wagered sub sandwiches, herbal tea, tortilla chips, salsa and ice cream against Boston Mayor Thomas Menino’s clam chowder, coffee, doughnuts and ice cream sandwiches.
Top of the 6th
FIRST PITCH
Forty years after he became baseball’s last Triple Crown winner Carl Yastrzemski will throw out the ceremonial first pitch tonight. He will be joined by Dick Williams, Boston’s 1967 manager, and 20 teammates from the Impossible Dream Red Sox, including Jim Lonborg and Rico Petrocelli.
Top of the 7th
PROBABLE PITCHERS
2007 '07 vs. opp. last 3 starts
w-l era w-l era w-l ip era
Colorado at Francis (l) 19-9 4.11 1-0 0.00 2-1 18.2 3.37
Boston, 8:35 Beckett (r) 23-7 3.06 0-1 10.80 3-0 23.0 1.17
Working his third consecutive road postseason opener, Jeff Francis beat Cole Hamels in and the Phillies in Game 1 of the NLDS and followed that beating Arizona ace Brandon Webb in the NLCS opener.
In nine career postseason outings, eight as a starter, Beckett is 5-2 with a 1.78 ERA and three complete games. This fall he has an 3-0 record and 1.17 ERA in 23 innings.
In those three outings, one against the Angels and two against the Indians, Beckett's has given up one walk, one hit batsman, 26 strikeouts, 13 hits and a .160 opponents' batting average. Among pitchers who have thrown 26 or more postseason innings, Beckett is the hardest guy to hit in history -- 4.66 hits per nine innings. His WHIP (walks and hits per nine innings) of 7.16 is also the best in history among those with 26 or more innings.
Top of the 8th
DID YOU KNOW?
Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox was ejected in the World Series of 1992 (arguing checked swing) and 1996 (arguing stolen base).
Top of the 9th
MY PICK
I hate this, I hate this, I hate this. You see while many of my colleagues see this as a Red Sox slam dunk, I simply don’t. I have total faith in Josh Beckett. I’m uncertain with Schilling particularly if he pitches in Denver. I count Dice-K as a loss in Game 3 and have very little faith in Lester (if he gets the start) in Game 4, particularly in light of the fact that the Rockies eat up lefties, although the Sox do score for him.
Matt Holiday is way better than people realize and Willy Tavares and Troy Tulowitski do for the Rox what Pedroia and Youk do for the Sox. I’ll take Tek over Torrealba and Nancy Drew has improved enough to be a draw with Brad Hawpe, who is nothing special.
The middle relief for the Rox have been lights out, but the Sox middle relief can be outstanding as well. Matt Corpus is good, certainly better than Joe Borowski, but with all due respect, nobody, I mean nobody, is better at their job than Jonathan Paplebon.
The defense for both squads are outstanding except the Rockies defense is better. While Manny owns playing the wall at Fenway, he may need a GPS at Coors.
The difference, again, and as usual, is David Ortiz, but, and this is a huge but, he doesn’t DH in three games in Colorado and the Sox have to sacrifice defense and either Youk or Lowell to keep him in the lineup. In addition, the Rox will probably add Ryan Spilborghs to their lineup as DH.
Managing in these kind of games you need brains and luck; Terry Francona has the former, Clint Hurdle, the latter.
Having said all that I think the nine day layoff will not prove to do the Rox any favors and the big mo is with the Sox. The Sox are the best team in the AL and the overall, the AL is the better league. In addition, the Sox have RSN – Red Sox Nation. I know those fans in Denver will be a mile high in support of their team, but come the 7th, 8th, and 9th, there is nothing nowhere like Fenway.
So, I kept playing it out in my simulated brain and I kept coming up with this:
Rockies in 4
Rockies in 5
Red Sox in 6
Red Sox in 7
I’m picking the Sox, but if I were betting, at 2-1, I would take the Rockies. I think they are better than we think.
Bottom of the 9th
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Information provided in Billy-Ball has been gathered from A.P. reports, espn.com, sportsline.com, mlb.com and numerous other e-sources. Opinions expressed in Billy-Ball are obviously solely the opinions of the author of Billy-Ball and do not reflect those of source material no matter how off the wall they may be.
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Billy-Ball is a baseball column by
