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10/29/2007
Billy-Ball Daily
Bill Chuck (Billy-Ball his own self)
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Monday, October 29, 2007
Top of the 1st
SIMPLY THE BEST
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, shapes, colors and sizes, it is my pleasure to introduce to you simply the best team in all of baseball, the World Champions, the 2007 Boston Red Sox.
This is the team that has now clearly set the standard for excellence. It is so nice to see that after 162 (163 in the NL) games, two rounds of preliminaries, and one very final and definitive World Series that the best team won it all. There are no flukes this season. There are no controversial calls. There are no oddities. There is no mediocre team who got hot at the right time to steal the glory. There is simply the best team (yes that money can buy) who remains standing today holding the trophy high above their heads.
The Red Sox won their second World Series in four seasons last night, edging the Colorado Rockies, 4-3, in Game 4 at Coors Field, in a game you can honestly say, that like the Series itself, was never in doubt. They are the first team to win multiple championships this decade, and with an ideal mix of young and old, a pitching staff that not only is talented, but has yet to hit its prime, and with pockets as deep as any in baseball, this is a team built for Octobers to come.
Look at the components that make this team simply the best:
Their first baseman Kevin Youkilis had 1,080 chances this season and he made zero errors and that is not even what he is known for. Yoooook is simply the best at driving a pitcher crazy by fouling off their best pitches, letting the close pitches go by, and then slamming a base hit. He saw 4.27 pitches per at bat this season. Hitting in the number two hole, if he is up four times a game, by himself he sees 17 pitches, five times a game and he is working the pitcher for 22 pitches a game. When they are done with him, pitchers have to face the heart of the order.
Their second baseman has become the sparkplug. Dustin Pedroia shows no fear; he is aggressive, steady at the plate and steady in the field. He makes things happen. He hit .317 overall and hit .348 against lefties. To the delight of the Fenway faithful he hit .351 at home and he energized the crowd and they energized the team. Looking for consistency? He hit .318 before the break and .317 after the break. He’s 24 years old and will be the AL Rookie of the Year.
The Sox have gone through shortstops as frequently as Lindsay Lohan goes through rehab clinics. Had the Sox not gotten off to such a great start and spent so much money on J.D. Drew, Julio Lugo would have been the object of much greater scorn. He clearly felt the weight of the big contract he signed and he hit just .237. But, he brought game to the Sox. He was sixth in the AL with 33 stolen bases and he drove home 73 runs. The Sox can only expect (hope?) for him to play better or they will simply do like they do and find someone else.
The World Series MVP was the Sox regular season MVP. Mike Lowell was the “throw in” from the Marlins when the Sox acquired Josh Beckett. He was the guy whose salary you had to take in order to get this great young pitcher. Other teams paused for thought, while the Sox acquired their leader and never looked back. Lowell homered, doubled and scored twice in Game 4, once on a beautiful head-first slide. He hit .400 (6-for-15) in the Series with four RBIs, three walks and scored a team-high six runs. This success came after a season in which he hit .324 with a team-leading 120 RBI. But there is more to Lowell than numbers, I watched him time after time make the big play in the field and he finished third in the league with 384 chances at third. The man has range, the man has game. One last thought, watch him on the field when his pitcher his struggling. Watch him talk his pitcher off the ledge. The Sox will either pay a lot of money to keep Lowell or move Youkilis to third and really miss him. Lowell is simply the best.
In the left field, stands Manny Ramirez. We will see few greater right-handed hitters in our lifetime. In that respect, other than a guy who chose to insult baseball and declare his free agency during Game 4 of the Series, he may simply be the best. My hope is that parents teach their children who play the game not to emulate him. He is an absolutely critical part of this team, but one of these days there will be a pitcher who seeks to follow in the footsteps of Gibson or Drysdale and Manny will get the spanking he deserves.
When Coco Crisp arrived last year he was the toast of the town, or at least the breakfast cereal of choice. Now Red Sox Nation can’t wait for him to leave. Jacoby Ellsbury has arrived and my goodness! The rookie hit .438 in the Series, he makes great plays in the field, he makes things happen on the bases, he brings excitement and energy and plays like he belongs. He does. The Coco Era is over.
J. D. Drew in September hit 4 homers, drove home 18 runs and hit .342. All season highs. All the reasons why the Sox signed him. All the reasons why the Dodgers wanted him. All the reasons why the Braves wanted him. All the reasons why the Cardinals wanted him. Yet sooner or later, every team that wants him learns how expendable he is. The Red Sox are too good a franchise to carry Drew for too long.
Jason Varitek is the captain for a reason. He is not the emotional leader, but he leads by skill and intellect. He manages a pitching staff simply better than any other catcher in the game. Yes, he’s slowing down at the plate, which is why the Sox need someone better than Doug Mirabelli to back him up. But nobody provides the intangible that Tek offers.
Simply the best? David Ortiz is simply the best DH around. So good, there is no discussion. He makes everybody in the lineup better because every pitcher is afraid to face him. He will have knee surgery over the off-season, some work done on his shoulder and then next season he will continue to be simply the best.
Jonathan Papelbon may simply be the best pitcher in all of baseball. He certainly is the best closer and he is so dominant that teams seem to cower in his presence.
Hideki Okajima, at least this season, was simply the best Japanese pitcher on the Red Sox staff and among the best 8th inning pitchers in baseball. How hard a role is that? Just ask Eric Gagne who imploded attempting to make the transition. The Sox must wonder if Okey-Dokey will be able to do it again next season. He struggled toward the end of last season, he has an explosively awkward delivery and back home he was good, not great. We’ll see what he can offer next season. Everybody else in the bullpen is replaceable either as trade bait (Manny Delcarmen) or to make a lot of money next season elsewhere (Eric Gagne). Mike Timlin will probably return and deserves to be back, but if there is a soft underbelly to this team, it is middle relief.
Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield are at the end of their contracts, and could be at the end of their Red Sox careers. Any other team in baseball would be devastated at the thought of losing forty per cent of their starting rotation but the Sox have Josh Beckett, simply the best pitcher in baseball this past season and the soon to be anointed AL Cy Young Award winner. They have Jon Lester, who looks like he has more than recovered from his cancer scare and has learned to be a pitcher. They are both not even 28 years old. Neither is Daisuke Matsuzaka, who will continue to be the bane of existence until he can throw seven innings under 100 pitches, but next year, the transition won’t be as large for Dice-K and we will see how he does. Looking for Curt’s replacement? Rookie Clay Buchholz, who threw a no-hitter in September against the Orioles, may simply be the best pitching prospect around.
With the exception of Alex Cora, the entire Sox bench may be replaced but you can’t deny that the contributions of Bobby Kielty and Eric Hinske were not significant. But it wasn’t so much how they made their contributions but that they were always ready, willing and able to support their teammates.
That brings us to the man who is simply the best manager in baseball. Boston has won all eight of its World Series games under the leadership of Terry Francona, and despite the ranting of the lunatics on idiot-radio (that sports talk radio) nobody keeps his team together better than Tito. Terry Francona is now 21-9 in the post-season and that, my friends, is Hall of Fame numbers. You can second-guess him all you like, but he doesn’t have that privilege. He is the first-guesser and more often than not (by a lot), his decisions are correct and none of us have any idea what it must be like managing this team behind closed doors.
Then there is this ownership/management which is proving to be simply the best in baseball. Let’s start by saying that they are not afraid to invest in their team. They have a high payroll because they know to win in baseball, that’s what it takes. But don’t be concerned, John Henry and Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino know how to spend their money wisely and as a result they know how to make lots of money. They have some of the brightest minds in baseball surrounding them (Mike Dee, Larry Cancro, Jeremy Kapstein et al). The franchise is in good hands.
Then there is Theo Epstein and his crew of computer geeks. You have to say this about Theo and company – they are not afraid to make moves. They have some of the brightest minds in baseball surrounding them (Bill James. Allard Baird, et al). The 2007 team bears little resemblance to the 2004 and their next championship team will bear little resemblance to this one. They are good enough, smart enough, and gosh darn it, likable enough to do it again.
Fenway Park is simply the best, thanks to Janet Marie Smith (Conig’s Corner the notable exception) and it gets better year after year. The experience inside the ballpark is outstanding, thanks to Charles Steinberg, and the experience outside the ballpark is outstanding and if they are able to purchase the surrounding Kenmore Square property from Boston University, this will be more than a ballpark, this will be more than just baseball landmark, it will be an example of urban brilliance.
Red Sox Nation is simply the best fan base in all of sports. You may choose to argue that others are as good, but you will not win any debates that there are any better. The fact that they cannot get into their perpetually sold-out ballpark is no deterrent to these fans that travel the country to support their team. It was a large contingent who remained at Coors Field after the Rockies fans had left to celebrate the Series victory. Bars and restaurants without a full complement of flat screen TVs remain vacant during games all season long (and yes, this simply best group of fans deserve better in the broadcast booths). And, most importantly, for all of baseball, the Nation is growing. "The 2004 (championship) was for our parents and grandparents and those people who suffered through eight decades before a world championship,'' Red Sox chairman Tom Werner brilliantly pointed out in the post-game celebration."This one is for us and our children, and everybody in the Red Sox Nation.''
Yes, this team is simply the best for baseball, in general. I don’t think anybody affiliated with the Sox minds trading the “heartbreak kids” tag in order to be simply the best team in baseball. And after the parade, and after New England catches up on their collective sleep, and after reflecting on the memories of this season, then, and only then, will Red Sox Nation turn its attention to simply the best football team in the land.
Top of the 2nd
THE POST SEASON
WORLD SERIES
Boston Red Sox vs. Colorado Rockies
Gm Date Site
1 Wed., Oct. 24 @BOS BOS 13, COL 1
W: J. Beckett (4-0) L: J. Francis (2-1)
2 Thurs., Oct. 25 @BOS BOS 2, COL 1
W: C. Schilling (3-0) L: U. Jimenez (0-1) S: J. Papelbon (2)
3 Sat., Oct. 27 @COL BOS 10, COL 5
W: D. Matsuzaka (2-1) L: J. Fogg (2-1) S: J. Papelbon (3)
4 Sun., Oct. 28 @COL BOS 4, COL 3
W: J. Lester (1-0) L: A. Cook (0-1) J. Papelbon (4)
Red Sox win series 4-0
AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox
Gm Date Site Time ET (TV)
1 Fri., Oct. 12 @BOS BOS 10, CLE 3
W: J. Beckett (2-0) L: C. Sabathia (1-1)
2 Sat., Oct. 13 @BOS CLE 13, BOS 6
W: T. Mastny (1-0) L: E. Gagne (0-1)
3 Mon., Oct. 15 @CLE CLE 4, BOS 2
W: J. Westbrook (1-1) L: D. Matsuzaka (0-1)
4 Tues., Oct. 16 @CLE CLE 7, BOS 3
W: P. Byrd (2-0) L: T. Wakefield (0-1)
5 Thurs., Oct. 18 @CLE BOS 7, CLE 1
W: J. Beckett (3-0) L: C. Sabathia (1-2)
6 Sat., Oct. 20 @BOS BOS 12, CLE 2
W: C. Schilling (2-0) L: F. Carmona (0-1)
7 Sun., Oct. 21 @BOS BOS 11, CLE 2
W: D. Matsuzaka (1-1) L: J. Westbrook (1-2)
Red Sox win series 4-3
NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Gm Date Site Time ET (TV)
1 Thurs., Oct. 11 @ARI COL 5, ARI 1
W: J. Francis (2-0) L: B. Webb (1-1)
2 Fri., Oct. 12 @ARI COL 3, ARI 2
W: M. Corpas (1-0) L: J. Valverde (0-1)
3 Sun., Oct. 14 @COL COL 4, ARI 1
W: J. Fogg (2-0) L: L. Hernandez (1-1) S: M. Corpas (4)
4 Mon,. Oct. 15 @COL COL 6, ARI 4
W: M. Herges (1-0) L: M. Owings (0-1) S: M. Corpas (5)
Rockies win series 4-0
AL DIVISION SERIES
N.Y. Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians
Gm Date Site Time (TV)/Result
1 Thurs., Oct. 4 @ CLE CLE 12, NYY 3
W: C.C. Sabathia (1-0) L: C. Wang (0-1)
2 Fri., Oct. 5 @ CLE CLE 2, NYY 1
W: R. Perez (1-0) L: L. Vizcaino (0-1)
3 Sun., Oct. 7 @ NYY NYY 8, CLE 4
W: P. Hughes (1-0) L: J. Westbrook (0-1)
4 Mon., Oct. 8 @ NYY CLE 6, NYY 4
W: P. Byrd (1-0) L: C. Wang (0-2)
Indians win series 3-1
L.A. Angels vs. Boston Red Sox
Gm Date Site Result
1 Wed., Oct. 3 @ BOS BOS 4, LAA 0
W: J. Beckett (1-0) L: J. Lackey (0-1)
2 Fri., Oct. 5 @ BOS BOS 6, ANA 3
W: J. Papelbon (1-0) L: J. Speier (0-1)
3 Sun., Oct. 7 @ LAA BOS 9, LAA 1
W: C. Schilling (1-0) L: J. Weaver (0-1)
Red Sox win series 3-0
NL DIVISION SERIES
Chi. Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Gm Date Site Time ET (TV)/Result
1 Wed., Oct. 3 @ ARI ARI 3, CHC 1
W: B. Webb (1-0) L: C. Marmol (0-1)
2 Thurs., Oct. 4 @ ARI ARI 8, CHC 4
W: D. Davis (1-0) L: Ted Lilly (0-1)
3 Sat., Oct. 6 @ CHC ARI 5, CHC 1
W: L. Hernandez (1-0) L: R. Hill (0-1)
Diamondbacks win series 3-0
Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Gm Date Site Time ET (TV)/Result
1 Wed., Oct. 3 @ PHI COL 4, PHI 2
W: J. Francis (1-0) L: C. Hamels (0-1)
2 Thurs., Oct. 4 @ PHI COL 10, PHI 5
W: J. Fogg (1-0) L: K. Kendrick (0-1) S: M. Corpas (2)
3 Sat., Oct. 6 @ COL COL 2, PHI 1
W: B. Fuentes (1-0) L: J. Romero (0-1)
Rockies win series 3-0
Top of the 3rd
WORLD SERIES CHAMPS WITH THE BEST RECORD IN BASEBALL (over the last 25 years)
TEAM RECORD
2007 Red Sox 96-66
1998 Yankees 114-48
1989 Athletics 99-63
1986 Mets 108-54
1984 Tigers 104-58
* -- Red Sox tied for best record in MLB
Top of the 4th
WORLD SERIES MVPs
2007-Mike Lowell, Boston (AL)
2006-David Eckstein, St. Louis (NL)
2005-Jermaine Dye, Chicago (AL)
2004-Manny Ramirez, Boston (AL)
2003-Josh Beckett, Florida (NL)
2002-Troy Glaus, Anaheim (AL)
2001-Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson, Arizona (NL)
2000-Derek Jeter, New York (AL)
1999-Mariano Rivera, New York (AL)
1998-Scott Brosius, New York (AL)
1997-Livan Hernandez, Florida (NL)
1996-John Wetteland, New York (AL)
1995-Tom Glavine, Atlanta (NL)
1994-No Series.
1993-Paul Molitor, Toronto (AL)
1992-Pat Borders, Toronto (AL)
1991-Jack Morris, Minnesota (AL)
1990-Jose Rijo, Cincinnati (NL)
1989-Dave Stewart, Oakland (AL)
1988-Orel Hershiser, Los Angeles (NL)
1987-Frank Viola, Minnesota (AL)
1986-Ray Knight, New York (NL)
1985-Bret Saberhagen, Kansas City (AL)
1984-Alan Trammell, Detroit (AL)
1983-Rick Dempsey, Baltimore (AL)
1982-Darrell Porter, St. Louis (NL)
1981-Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager, Los Angeles (NL)
1980-Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia (NL)
1979-Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh (NL)
1978-Bucky Dent, New York (AL)
1977-Reggie Jackson, New York (AL)
1976-Johnny Bench, Cincinnati (NL)
1975-Pete Rose, Cincinnati (NL)
1974-Rollie Fingers, Oakland (AL)
1973-Reggie Jackson, Oakland (AL)
1972-Gene Tenace, Oakland (AL)
1971-Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh (NL)
1970-Brooks Robinson, Baltimore (AL)
1969-Donn Clendenon, New York (NL)
1968-Mickey Lolich, Detroit (AL)
1967-Bob Gibson, St. Louis (NL)
1966-Frank Robinson, Baltimore (AL)
1965-Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles (NL)
1964-Bob Gibson, St. Louis (NL)
1963-Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles (NL)
1962-Ralph Terry, New York (AL)
1961-Whitey Ford, New York (AL)
1960-Bobby Richardson, New York (AL)
1959-Larry Sherry, Los Angeles (NL)
1958-Bob Turley, New York (AL)
1957-Lew Burdette, Milwaukee (NL)
1956-Don Larsen, New York (AL)
1955-Johnny Podres, Brooklyn (NL)
Top of the 5th
THE NIGHTS OF RED SOXTOBER
• Boston finished with the second-best batting average in World Series history (.333), second only to the 1960 New York Yankees (.338). The Sox finished with the second-best on-base percentage in World Series history (.411), second only to the 1932 Yankees (.421).
• The Red Sox outhit Colorado, .333 to .218. The Sox outscored the Rockies 29-10, the greatest World Series run differential in history. Going back to the final three games of their ALCS win against Cleveland, the Sox outscored their opponents 64-15.
• Boston outscored the Los Angeles Angels, the Cleveland Indians and the Rockies by a combined score of 99-46 -- the greatest October run differential in postseason history.
• The Sox batted .419 with runners in scoring position -- while holding the opposition to a .167 average with runners in scoring position.
• Boston's 29 runs scored rank as the third-most ever for a four-game World Series, ranking behind only the 1932 Yankees (37, against the Cubs) and the 1989 Oakland A's (32, against San Francisco).
• The Red Sox finished with 18 doubles, one off the Series record by the 1946 Cardinals and 1910 Philadelphia Athletics.
• The Red Sox became only the sixth team in Major League history to face a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven League Championship Series and advance to the World Series and just the fourth of that group to win the World Series. Of those four, only one other team -- the 2004 Red Sox -- swept its World Series opponent.
• Tito Francona became the first manager in Major League history to win his first eight World Series games.
• Boston's 29-10 edge in runs was the fourth most disproportionate ever:
• In sweeping the 2004 and 2007 World Series, the Red Sox led after 69 of the 72 innings.
• The Rockies had as many hits (29) as the Red Sox had runs.
• In their playoff-ending seven consecutive wins, the Red Sox outscored the Indians and the Rockies by a cumulative 59-15.
• In winning eight straight World Series games, the Red Sox surpassed the 1949-50 New York Yankees and tied the 1921-23 New York Giants for the fifth-longest winning streak in World Series history.
• The Red have the second-longest active winning streak in World Series play, behind the nine straight for the Cincinnati Reds from 1975-90.
• The 25 runs by the Red Sox in the first three games put Boston in a tie for the second most in World Series history, tying Philadelphia (1911) and trailing the 1960 Yankees (30).
• The 29 runs scored by the Red Sox against the Rockies were the third most in a four-game series in World Series history, trailing only the 1932 Yankees (37 against the Cubs) and the 1989 Athletics (32 against the Giants).
• The 99 runs the Red Sox scored are the second-most all-time in a postseason, trailing only the 101 scored by the 2002 Anaheim Angels.
Top of the 6th
WORLD SERIES SWEEPS
2005–Chicago (AL) 4, Houston (NL) 0
2004–Boston (AL) 4, St. Louis (NL) 0
1999–New York (AL) 4, Atlanta (NL) 0
1998–New York (AL) 4, Padres (NL) 0
1990–Cincinnati (NL) 4, Oakland (AL) 0
1989–Oakland (AL) 4, San Francisco (NL) 0
1976–Cincinnati (NL) 4, New York (AL) 0
1966–Baltimore (AL) 4, Los Angeles (NL) 0
1963–Los Angeles (NL) 4, New York (AL) 0
1954–New York (NL) 4, Cleveland (AL) 0
1950–New York (AL) 4, Philadelphia (NL) 0
1939–New York (AL) 4, Cincinnati (NL) 0
1938–New York (AL) 4, Chicago (NL) 0
1932–New York (AL) 4, Chicago (NL) 0
1928–New York (AL) 4, St. Louis (NL) 0
1927–New York (AL) 4, Pittsburgh (NL) 0
1922–N.Y. (NL) 4, New York (AL) 0, 1 tie
1914–Boston (NL) 4, Philadelphia (AL) 0
1907–Chicago (NL) 4, Detroit (AL) 0, 1 tie
Top of the 7th
SITTING PRETTY
Jordan’s Furniture promised free sofas, chairs and beds to customers who bought these items between March 7 and April 16 if the Red Sox won the World Series. Jordan’s took about 30,000 orders during the promotion.
Top of the 8th
DID YOU KNOW?
A total of 300 World Series games have been held in NL ballparks, resulting in a 149-150-1 record between the two leagues. In the 300 World Series games played at AL parks, the home team is leading 180-118-2.
Top of the 9th
COMING TOMORROW
It’s time to say goodbye.
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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