The Baseball Thread 2007

[Dan Gould]

Goodspeak was rooting for the Sox, but now he wants the Rockies, right? Don't forget that the NL West is the premier division in Baseball.

So I guess you guys had a brief moment of friendship.

Well there ya go. In reality, he only rooted for the Sox to somehow "prove" his baseball acumen.

[Dan Gould]

I have to say I am very concerned about how the no-DH rule will effect our lineup in Denver. Back in 2004, it was Ortiz replacing Millar - an important, but not crucial, bat. Trot or a younger, better Varitek could take his place. But with Papi at first base, either Youkilis or Lowell has to sit, and both of them are critical parts of the lineup. The alternatives would be asking Lowell to play shortstop, which would definitely hurt the team defense, or maybe Youkilis to play rightfield in place of JD, but that is probably an even worse choice with the size of the outfield there.

Maybe the best hope is that Drew keeps up his decent post-season and maybe he can replace Lowell for a couple of those games. Its really a pick-your-poison sort of situation having to sit either Youk or Lowell though.

Major advantage to Colorado, or disadvantage to us. And you can't even use Youkilis off the bench as a pinch hitter until you are ready to sit Ortiz and put Youk in as defensive replacement. At least with Youk at third, you could use Lowell off the bench in a key spot and end up using Cora at third later on.

I really don't like this at all though.

[Tim McG]

Goodspeak was rooting for the Sox, but now he wants the Rockies, right? Don't forget that the NL West is the premier division in Baseball.

So I guess you guys had a brief moment of friendship.

Well there ya go. In reality, he only rooted for the Sox to somehow "prove" his baseball acumen.

Nope.

Neither of you are correct: My wife and her mom are from New England. Nuff said? Plus, I understand the history of the playoffs....1986 ALCS looms large. BoSox were never out of it. The Fenway Faithful would make sure of that.

Besides, I have always rooted for the BoSox in the AL East. The damn Yankees play there, right?

Anyway, good luck in the WS Dan.

I gotta pull for the NL West now.

Edited October 22, 2007 by GoodSpeak

[zen archer]

I have to say I am very concerned about how the no-DH rule will effect our lineup in Denver. Back in 2004, it was Ortiz replacing Millar - an important, but not crucial, bat. Trot or a younger, better Varitek could take his place. But with Papi at first base, either Youkilis or Lowell has to sit, and both of them are critical parts of the lineup. The alternatives would be asking Lowell to play shortstop, which would definitely hurt the team defense, or maybe Youkilis to play rightfield in place of JD, but that is probably an even worse choice with the size of the outfield there.

Maybe the best hope is that Drew keeps up his decent post-season and maybe he can replace Lowell for a couple of those games. Its really a pick-your-poison sort of situation having to sit either Youk or Lowell though.

Major advantage to Colorado, or disadvantage to us. And you can't even use Youkilis off the bench as a pinch hitter until you are ready to sit Ortiz and put Youk in as defensive replacement. At least with Youk at third, you could use Lowell off the bench in a key spot and end up using Cora at third later on.

I really don't like this at all though.

How about Pedroia at short ( he played there at Pawtucket), youk at second and keep lowell at third. Lugo is starting to look like a liability since he feels he needs to field all positions !

Edited October 22, 2007 by zen archer

[Dan Gould]

I know Pedroia played some SS before, but I'm pretty sure he's stuck with 2B since early in his minor league days. And anyway, I don't see Youkilis not being a major liability at second base, as he'd probably show even less range than he would in the OF! I remember though that Mientkiwicz played second base a time or two when he was on the team - but it would be a really weak right side with Papi looking like a statue at second base. Maybe you move players around based on the left-right match ups?

Aah. Its just not going to work. Probably the only way to keep everyone in the lineup is to ask Lowell to play SS and just deal with the diminished range. If you're lucky you use positioning to make up for it, and at least Mike is sure-handed with the glove if he reaches it.

Alternatively, I'd rather sit Lowell and keep Youk in the lineup because he is so hot. The team has done great ever since Lowell was moved into the five spot and Drew was dropped to six, but I think you've got to ride the strongest horses and right now, its Youk that has to be kept in the lineup, and you hope that Drew steps in for Lowell.

The alternative is Youk out and Drew batting second behind Pedroia but that's a really weak lineup with Varitek hitting six behind Lowell.

It used to be that you worried about Papi hurting the team with his defense instead of worrying about a big hit to the offense in an NL park.

[Soulstation1]

it's a freakin' drag being a cleveland sports' fan

congrats dan

-_-

[Tim McG]

it's a freakin' drag being a cleveland sports' fan

congrats dan

-_-

Try being a SF Giants/49er's fan.

My condolences.

Edited October 22, 2007 by GoodSpeak

[BERIGAN]

Does anyone doubt that any of the AL playoff teams ought to win the WS should they get to it? I mean, they've got to play the games and you never know what will happen, but I'd have to say that it would be a major upset for the Senior league to win this year.

Well, I seem to recall Colorado coming into Fenway and the Sox losing 2 of 3 and being outscored 21 to 4....of course, Colorado isn't in there yet.

Phils are now tied with the Mets for first place!!!!! If they had ANY pitching, they would be an amazing team in the playoffs!!

Goodspeak, I was on the Colorado bandwagon before you were!

Dan,

IF Colorado hadn't had 8 days off, I'd say they could give the Red Sox a run for their money....but, that is a long time off. I don't know how'd they hit Becket with just 2 days off, but 8??? I say the Sox in 6.....

[Dan Gould]

Dan,

IF Colorado hadn't had 8 days off, I'd say they could give the Red Sox a run for their money....but, that is a long time off. I don't know how'd they hit Becket with just 2 days off, but 8??? I say the Sox in 6.....

Well, having looked at the stats of the Rockies starters, I don't see them having much of a chance. In fact, I see it a lot like the 2004 Series - mediocre pitchers waiting to be slaughtered. None of them have a very high strikeout rate (Francis is best) and they all allow well over a hit per inning (not including the young fireballer). I think the Rockies have to get a big time performance from the two starters that weren't even with the team most of the year, which means they have to handle the post-season, and Fenway park, much better than Sabathia and Carmona did. On the other side of the coin, the Rockies do have a dangerous lineup, so the Sox have to pitch effectively.

I have to wonder whether Tito will make the call to use Wakefield in Game 2, on the theory that you can't have Wakefield and Mirabelli in the lineup while Youkilis or Lowell are also on the bench. Or better yet, maybe Wake is still battling his back/shoulder blade issue and will actually miss the Series or not be available to start. I'd be fine with Lester getting a start. Wakefield in Game 2 though sets up Schilling to pitch Game 3 and 7.

But I don't think that it will go that far. Sox in five is my prediction.

[MartyJazz]

I know Pedroia played some SS before, but I'm pretty sure he's stuck with 2B since early in his minor league days. And anyway, I don't see Youkilis not being a major liability at second base, as he'd probably show even less range than he would in the OF! I remember though that Mientkiwicz played second base a time or two when he was on the team - but it would be a really weak right side with Papi looking like a statue at second base. Maybe you move players around based on the left-right match ups?

Aah. Its just not going to work. Probably the only way to keep everyone in the lineup is to ask Lowell to play SS and just deal with the diminished range. If you're lucky you use positioning to make up for it, and at least Mike is sure-handed with the glove if he reaches it.

Alternatively, I'd rather sit Lowell and keep Youk in the lineup because he is so hot. The team has done great ever since Lowell was moved into the five spot and Drew was dropped to six, but I think you've got to ride the strongest horses and right now, its Youk that has to be kept in the lineup, and you hope that Drew steps in for Lowell.

The alternative is Youk out and Drew batting second behind Pedroia but that's a really weak lineup with Varitek hitting six behind Lowell.

It used to be that you worried about Papi hurting the team with his defense instead of worrying about a big hit to the offense in an NL park.

You're going to sit Lowell, an excellent 3rd baseman, who is not in a hitting slump and who led the Sox in RBI this past season with 120? I don't think so. No way that happens.

[Dan Gould]

You're going to sit Lowell, an excellent 3rd baseman, who is not in a hitting slump and who led the Sox in RBI this past season with 120? I don't think so. No way that happens.

Its not just a question of slumps, its a question of who is hitting well vs who is hitting like a maniac. Here are the stats:

2007 ALCS Stats

Youk: .500 BA, .576 OBP, .929 SLG, 1.505 OPS, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 10 R, 1 2B

Lowell: .333 BA, .375 OBP, .519 SLG, .894 OPS, 1HR, 8 RBI, 3 R, 2 2B

If Youk hadn't played in the ALCS, do they win? Can you say the same thing about Lowell? And Youkilis doesn't have a Gold Glove at 3B but he sure as hell knows how to play the position and there wouldn't be little if any drop off between them.

My best guess is that Youkilis gets the start twice in Colorado, Lowell once.

[Tim McG]

Goodspeak, I was on the Colorado bandwagon before you were!

What bandwagon....I have no dog in this fight.

I just support the NL representative in the WS [well, except the [hated] dodgers, of course].

sheesh

[Tim McG]

Red Sox Nation meet the Rockies Nation: Be afraid, be very afraid.

Rockies suspend World Series ticket sales after computer crash

By COLLEEN SLEVIN, Associated Press Writer

October 22, 2007

DENVER (AP) -- The Colorado Rockies suspended World Series ticket sales Monday after overwhelming demand crashed their computer system.

"Right now we're shutting the system down," club spokesman Jay Alves announced outside Coors Field, drawing boos from fans. "We expect to be online at some point."

"We're as frustrated and disappointed as they are," Alves said.

Alves had said last week that the Rockies were prepared for any computer problems.

On Monday, there were 8.5 million attempts to connect with the computers in the first 90 minutes after sales started, he said, and only several hundred tickets had been sold before the system had to be shut down.

The Rockies put as many as 60,000 tickets up for sale online only, and team officials said their computers were ready to handle the expected crush. But two hours after tickets went on sale, many fans reported they could not get access to the ticket-sales Web site.

Officials with the Rockies and Major League Baseball did not immediately return calls.

Irvine, Calif.-based Paciolan Inc., which is running the computers for the Rockies' World Series ticket sales, said the crash affected the company's entire North American system.

Paciolan CEO Dave Butler said he did not yet know whether demand for Rockies tickets caused the crash.

"This is not the Rockies' fault in anyway whatsoever," Butler said. "We are working hard to address it."

About 20 people lined up in near-freezing temperatures outside the Denver Public Library before it opened in hopes of using public-access computers to score tickets.

"If you can't get tickets here, you're going to have to pay $200, $300 above face value," said Clayton McLeod, a 26-year-old heavy-machine operator who took the day off to try to get seats.

McLeod said he has Internet access from his apartment building but thought the library's computers might be faster. His mother, father, uncle and girlfriend were trying to buy tickets from other computers, he said.

His boss, also a Rockies fan, agreed to give him the day off and asked McLeod to get tickets for him, too.

"We'll see how many I'll get," McLeod said.

The Rockies limited sales to four per person per game.

The Series opens in Boston with games on Wednesday and Thursday. Games 3 and 4 will be on Saturday and Sunday in Denver. If there is a Game 5, it will be played Monday in Denver.

Coors Field seats more than 50,000, but about 30,000 spots per game are allotted to season-ticket holders, the two teams and Major League Baseball.

Season-ticket holders got a chance to buy their tickets last weekend. Prices range from $65 to $250.

Tickets originally were to be sold at Coors Field and Rockies' Dugout Stores in the Denver area, as well as online. The team announced Wednesday all sales would be online, saying that would be more fair

[Patrick]

First post back home after a fun and exciting week visiting the folks in Cleveland, Ohio, and catching ALCS games 3, 4, and 5 at the Jake. Pardon the long post. I haven’t read any of the past week of this thread (…maybe later, ...maybe not).

First off, congratulations to the Boston Red Sox for making it through the tough AL to the World Series. Throughout the season, the Bosox had an impressive collection of talent, and but for a surge by the Yankees that occurred at the same time as a Red Sox stumble, they would/could/should have run away with the East and the best record in baseball. Combination of high priced talent (Ramirez, Ortiz, Drew, Schilling, Varitek, Lowell, Lugo) and some impressive young players (Youkilis, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Papelbon). Kind of unfair for the rest of us.

Early on, the Red Sox were vulnerable in the ALCS because the only starter that did much was Beckett (but he was awesome) and the only hitters that contributed were Youkilis, Ortiz, and Ramirez. Ultimately, the rest of the offense woke up and the rest of the rotation made some contribution (modest in some instances). While all but one of the games ended up with blowout scores, most of the games were quite competitive late into the game, and game 2 qualifies as a classic.

For the Tribe, they got to a game 7 with close to no contribution from the strength of their ballclub (Sabathia and Carmona). Based on the extremely small sample of the ALCS, one would have to conclude that Westbrook and Byrd pitched as well as Schilling, Matsuzaka, and Wakefield. They just get a lot less pub (…though Byrd appears to be getting some now…). Hafner’s brutal postseason obviously didn’t help. Sizemore also underperformed.

Some quick hits on each of the games (apologies since y’all’ve probably discussed to death already).

Game 1. Absolutely wretched for everyone but members of Red Sox Nation. An initial thought was that Sabathia was a bit too amped up in ALDS game 1. This performance suggested that perhaps he was out of gas. About the only positive for the Tribe was Casey Blake finding his bat. I adapted the Pettitte statement following ALDS game 1-- hope they (here, the Red Sox) get all that scoring out of their system before game 2.

Game 2. Mediocre performance by Carmona (…whatever Sabathia has may be contagious?), but what a game! Francona said it was one of the best played games that he has ever been involved with. Once Papelbon came on, only chance for Tribe was to outlast him, ...and they did. Tribe bullpen matches Boston’s inning for inning, until Gagne comes out. Sweet to deal against a high priced, underachieving reliever that was supposed to seal the deal for the Red Sox. Staying up to 1:30am sitting in my parents living room (moved into their home 30+ years ago) with my brother and my mother (father conked out in inning 6 or 7), high-fiving, hoping, and encouraging the Indians infielders… Talking ‘bout the home team (rather than hospital visits/health/aging issues). Nothing better.

Game 3. First at the Jake. Beautiful evening for baseball (…all of them were in Cleveland) instead of the rain/snow that I feared. Westbrook getting it done. Just a mistake to Varitek late. Thought that Francona left Dice out there a bit too long (but easy to Monday morning quarterback, and to be paranoid about all starters not named Beckett). The Lofton home run was awesome! So much love there for Kenny, call it K-Love! Screaming and yelling for Kenny--made me feel like I was 12 again (never mind that I’m about the same age as Lofton). Reasonable crowd cheering loudly for the home team and booing just a few Red Sox. Sat next to a couple of Red Sox fans who were well behaved throughout. Great night.

Game 4. Another 7 run inning! Byrd pitches well enough. Again, thought Francona left Wake out there a bit too long. Before the scoring, couple of Indians had really hard swats at some of that Wakefield junk. A few obnoxious Red Sox fans, but at least most of them left early. Up 3 games to 1, obviously thought the Tribe had a great chance to eliminate the Nation (after taking care of the Evil Empire), but knew that recent Sabathia and Carmona performances did not instill a great deal of confidence, and that Beckett was going to be tough.

Game 5. Beckett was tough. Sabathia wasn’t. That’s probably the series right there. Lofton may be a bit of a prima donna with the bat flip, but Beckett should just shut up, at least as long as he’s wearing the same uniform as Manny. Manny is a tremendous hitter, apparently making several Indian pitchers wet their pants (esp with bases loaded), but he is not a tremendous player. Tremendous players run the bases and field their position well (Just ask Lowell how he appreciates the double play opportunity with Manny on first instead of an RBI opportunity with him on second). Despite Buck/McCarver assertions to the contrary, Manny neither runs nor fields well.

Game 6. Still a chance for the Tribe if Carmona can return to the form he had against NYY in ALDS. Unfortunately for Tribe fans, he doesn’t. Worse, Red Sox are now getting contributions from elsewhere in the order. Schilling significantly better than in Game 2.

Game 7. Still a chance for the Tribe (…stop for a moment and think about that y’all!). Westbrook pretty good. Dice K about the same. Tribe cannot capitalize much on their opportunities, Red Sox do, and then blow it wide open late. McCarver/Buck totally wrong about Ramirez throwing out Lofton at second. If any other Sawk is in left (Ellsbury, Crisp, Drew, Kielty, Yastrzemski), I don’t think Lofton even tries for second. Manny’s out there and Lofton goes for it, beats the throw, but gets called out. Manny is still a mediocre leftfielder (Albert Belle was similarly skilled ).

Ultimately, it appears that Sabathia, Carmona, and Raphael Perez just ran out of gas at the end of the series. Sabathia didn’t contribute in the postseason, while Carmona and Perez were huge against NYY but then nothing in ALCS. CC and Fausto had career high IPs this season.

Wasn’t sure how I’d feel about coming so close, especially with the prospect of facing the Rockies. Given the small payroll, gotta carpe diem when your team has a chance. Obviously a bit disappointed, but not really that frustrated or irritated by it. Wedge went with his strength (Sabathia and Carmona) and they didn’t deliver. I was more frustrated in ’95 and especially ’97 when the Tribe was the team stacked with talent that didn’t bring home the big prize. There is reason to be optimistic (though 2008 may be Sabathia’s last in Cleveland).

Hopefully Red Sox Nation will remember that they got pushed to the limit by one of those teams in the Central, and it wasn’t due to an inordinate amount of Wahoo luck. And if they do not remember, it’ll be a bit irritating listening to the arrogance (present company not implicated), but maybe the Tribe will be able to continue to fly a bit under the radar next season.

WS will be interesting if the Rockies can keep their mojo going, or it could be a quick 4 and out. Haven’t made up my mind yet, but I think I’ll be rooting for the former because they’re the fresher faces, lower payroll, and better story. And maybe I'll catch Jason Moran and Bad Plus at George Washington Univ on Saturday rather than game 3. Looks like Rockies tix are still available...

Edited October 23, 2007 by Patrick

[Dan Gould]

Patrick, while I agree that Manny is and will always remain a mediocre fielder (and sometimes worse), credit has to be given where it is due. He's had the time to learn the peculiarities of the wall, and his throws to second are strong, accurate, and with a very quick release. Its not that Lofton wouldn't go against a different Sox outfielder, its that Lofton would have reached easily 5 years ago.

On the issue of Red Sox fan arrogance, I am afraid that the bandwagon has filled with know-nothing fans who feel entitled to championships, probably because they've never actually experienced the heartbreak and certainly never got conditioned to expect it. Its unfortunately true that the bandwagon will probably fill to over-flowing if they get it done this week, but I'm willing to deal with the jerks anyway.

The Rockies have a shot if they are unaffected by the layoff (somewhat unlikely, IMO) and if their pitchers come up big. Otherwise I see it going somewhere in between the Angels series and the Tribe series - 5 games, most likely.

[Brad]

I happen to like the Red Sox but don't consider myself a member of the Red Sox Nation. However, the 2004 season was as much baseball as I enjoyed in a long time. Much more fun, actually, than the Mets' good but ultimately disappointing 2006 season. As a Mets fan (read sufferer), Red Sox fans and Mets fans have something in common and I don't need to point out what that is

I only saw the games on TV but didn't see the arrogance being discussed. Although replays showed Manny didn't get Lofton, he played the carom expertly. You couldn't do any better.

The guy I love to watch on the Sox is Pedroia. He reminds of everyman, a player who is like the rest of us, making the most of his skills. What distinguishes him from the rest of us is obviously his skill but also his supreme confidence in himself. Maybe that's what separates the men from the boys. Many of us have talent but don't scratch it or have the belief that we can do so.

I'll say Red Sox in 6 but they're also facing a team that doesn't know it should lose. It will be disappointing if the Red Sox lose. I'd rather see a local team (not the Yankees or Phillies of course) than some team out West win

[Tim McG]

I'll say Red Sox in 6 but they're also facing a team that doesn't know it should lose. It will be disappointing if the Red Sox lose. I'd rather see a local team (not the Yankees or Phillies of course) than some team out West win

Nah.

Rocks in six.

They're just on fire right now. They are young and got nothing to loose.

It will be a fun WS to watch: Sox pitching vs Rocks hitting.

[Noj]

I'm just hoping to see some intense, hard fought games. Two very small parks, we'll likely see some bombs!

[Tim McG]

I'm just hoping to see some intense, hard fought games. Two very small parks, we'll likely see some bombs!

I certainly hope so!

Just pray for no snow. The delays could put the WS into November.

Brrrrrr.

[Quincy]

Does anyone know if the Red Sox do the sensible thing and require/provide flu shots for their players? Flu has turned up very early here in parts of the West, and if there's one thing that could knock the team down a notch it would be that. It never ceases to amaze me that sports teams that play championships during the fall & winter don't protect their multi-million dollar investments with a shot that costs $15 to 30. It's so damn stupid, as it's the cheapest insurance imaginable. As the Red Sox seem to be more enlightened about such things as not getting in the way of worker self-expression, I was wondering if their upper management brain trust is on top of this.

I'm amused at the head games that Coors ballpark is putting on the BoSox. The idea of throwing Wakefield in game 2 so as to avoid having him pitch at Coors ignores that Schilling the Younger pitched horribly there. You think the old man version will do any better? Of course Wakefield did pitch a dandy for awhile in his last game, and with the day off between game 2 & 3 you can throw the whole bullpen if necessary if he fails in Fenway. Still, this coupled with imagining a winded Ortiz or Manny being especially light-headed at the higher altitude gives me a chuckle. (I can also stifle my chuckle by seeing those 2 and other BoSox hitters sending shots into orbit.)

The Rockies are probably happy as hell Boston doesn't have a lefty starter. Their OPS is .798 vs. RHP, .722 vs. LHP. Helton & Hawpe will benefit. I think another factor that may help the Rockies is that the road park is hitter friendly. The knock on 'em has always been the guys who slug .700 at home look like banjo hitters away, but that's less likely to happen when they go to Fenway.

I'm hoping it'll be fun. A bunch of kids, one vet (Helton), one with World Series experience (Taveras w/ the 'stros) and Matt Holliday whose at that perfect age (27), who seems to be immune to playoff pressure. Certainly a fine way to introduce his talents to America, assuming anybody is watching the series. As good as Boston pitching is, there's also a pretty high variation in outcomes once you get past Beckett. The unfamiliarity of that patchwork Rockie staff might help CO in a short series. Not saying they'll win, but Go Rocks! If for no other reason than to keep making this decade for 1st time champs & it's-been-a-very-long-time-since-you-were champs.

Edited October 23, 2007 by Quincy

[Dan Gould]

Does anyone know if the Red Sox do the sensible thing and require/provide flu shots for their players? Flu has turned up very early here in parts of the West, and if there's one thing that could knock the team down a notch it would be that. It never ceases to amaze me that sports teams that play championships during the fall & winter don't protect their multi-million dollar investments with a shot that costs $15 to 30. It's so damn stupid, as it's the cheapest insurance imaginable. As the Red Sox seem to be more enlightened about such things as not getting in the way of worker self-expression, I was wondering if their upper management brain trust is on top of this.

I'm really not very concerned about this; the fact is that players live at close enough quarters in the clubhouses that throughout the season, one or another suffered "flu symptoms" that would then be suffered by someone else and then someone else. I assume it happens in other clubhouses too, or else I'd be more concerned about just how "close" the Red Sox are.

I'm amused at the head games that Coors ballpark is putting on the BoSox. The idea of throwing Wakefield in game 2 so as to avoid having him pitch at Coors ignores that Schilling the Younger pitched horribly there. You think the old man version will do any better? Of course Wakefield did pitch a dandy for awhile in his last game, and with the day off between game 2 & 3 you can throw the whole bullpen if necessary if he fails in Fenway. Still, this coupled with imagining a winded Ortiz or Manny being especially light-headed at the higher altitude gives me a chuckle. (I can also stifle my chuckle by seeing those 2 and other BoSox hitters sending shots into orbit.)

It isn't just Wakefield at Coors where he apparently has trouble with his knuckler knuckling; it is also the concept of Mirabelli in a lineup that will be missing one of Ortiz/Youk/Lowell. Not to mention that Schilling pitching Game 3 puts him in line to pitch Game 7, and we all know what his record is in elimination games.

The Rockies are probably happy as hell Boston doesn't have a lefty starter. Their OPS is .798 vs. RHP, .722 vs. LHP. Helton & Hawpe will benefit. I think another factor that may help the Rockies is that the road park is hitter friendly. The knock on 'em has always been the guys who slug .700 at home look like banjo hitters away, but that's less likely to happen when they go to Fenway.

Fenway's positive impact on runs isn't as great as it once was; as you probably know, it plays pretty damn big from RF to CF. Schilling learned three years ago that you can be a fly ball pitcher and succeed there, if the fly balls go to the right part of the park.

More importantly, there seems to be some question about Wakefield's availability, which may allow them to start Lester. He's probably as likely as Dice to get pounded, or only give five or six serviceable innings. But then again he might look pretty good against their lefties. His second appearance in the ALCS was quite impressive.

Not saying they'll win, but Go Rocks! If for no other reason than to keep making this decade for 1st time champs & it's-been-a-very-long-time-since-you-were champs.

Precisely why it would be nice to break that streak without the Yankees being involved. Not to mention my earlier comment that some Yankee fans think it will be another 86 year drought for the Red Sox. Shutting them up, and going up 2-0 in World Championships this decade, will be sweet.

[BERIGAN]

Interesting, actual interest in the WS without a NY or L.A. team???? One well known team, one basically unknown??? Thought that only happened in football....

Baseball scores for Fox

Series lifts network to victory over ABC, NBC

By RICK KISSELL, RICK KISSELL, JOHN DEMPSEY

The Cleveland Indians-Boston Red Sox matchup garnered Fox the most-watched ALCS since 2004.

Fox Sports is riding a wave of momentum -- and heightened advertiser interest -- into the World Series after the seventh and deciding game of the Red Sox-Indians series scored big numbers Sunday night.

The Boston Red Sox will take on the Colorado Rockies in the Fall Classic beginning Wednesday night.

Boston has a large national following while the Rockies are a great Cinderella story: Left for dead for most of summer, the young team rallied to become the last squad to qualify for the postseason and then swept the opening two rounds of the playoffs.

The matchup has caught the attention of advertisers, who shell out big bucks to reach young adults for DVR-proof programming like live sports. Fox reported Monday that it has sold out the first five games of the World Series at a record rate of $400,000 a spot.

"I've never seen a sales environment that's so hot for post-season baseball," said Ed Goren, president of Fox Sports, in a conference call with reporters. "Advertisers are lined up so deep to buy time that my sales guys are asking me if we could come up with a Game 8."

Nielsen estimates that an average aud of 19 million viewers watched the Boston Red Sox cap their rally in the best-of-seven series with an 11-2 victory on Sunday. That made it the most-watched program of the night -- besting "Desperate Housewives" on ABC and "Sunday Night Football" on NBC -- and will help Fox win the week's primetime ratings race among young adults and total viewers.

For the entire American League Championship Series, Fox averaged 11.6 million viewers -- 49% over last year (7.8 million for Detroit-Oakland). This makes it the most-watched ALCS since the boffo Red Sox-New York Yankees matchup in 2004, which also went seven games.

From Fox's perspective, one of the big advantages this year is that the first game will take place on Wednesday instead of Saturday, as in previous years, Goren said. Viewing levels are higher on Wednesday than Saturday, and "we'll get more of a sports-page buildup to the Series because baseball is not competing directly with weekend college football and the NFL," he said.

Also, the Wednesday start means that if the Series goes to a sixth and seventh game on Wednesday (Oct. 31) and Thursday (Nov. 1), Fox's sales staff will have two days to sell the time (Tuesday and Wednesday), not one day (Friday) when Game 6 takes place on a Saturday, as in previous years.

Goren said that Fox exceeded its ad-revenue projections for the 26 regular-season Saturday-afternoon games, as well as for the All-Star Game and the American League Championship Series, which went seven games this year.

TBS' ratings were subpar for the National League Championship Series, in which Colorado drubbed Phoenix in four games, but Goren said TBS will be able to sell next year's series off the Fox's American League ratings: TBS and Fox alternate the league games each season, so TBS gets the American League in 2008.

Goren said Fox has come out ahead in relinquishing all of the primetime divisional playoffs and one of the two league championships to TBS for the first time. Move was made in part to avoid disrupting viewing patterns for Fox's primetime lineup of shows, which were sidelined for a few weeks when Fox aired all three rounds of the postseason.

Instead of a problem, the World Series and one of the League Championships become a promotional vehicle for the Fox shows, which "come back stronger than ever on the back of baseball," Goren said.

Sunday's Game 7, meanwhile, figures to come in with about a 6.7 rating/16 share in adults 18-49 and 19 million viewers overall. While ABC's "Desperate Housewives" scored a bigger demo rating (roughly 7.2/16), baseball drew more viewers than the sudser (17.9 million) as well as outdelivering the Denver Broncos-Pittsburgh Steelers nailbiter on NBC (roughly 13.3 million viewers).

Boston led all metered-markets with a 52.9 rating/71 share, with WFXT's viewing peaking at a whopping 86 share at 11:45 p.m. when the game ended. Nearby Providence came in second with a 42.6/56, followed by Cleveland (37.9/53), Hartford (25.6/39), Columbus (18.7/29), St. Louis (15.7/22) and New York (14.9/23).

Game also did a healthy 14.3/20 in the Rockies' hometown of Denver (vs. a 32.7/46 for the Broncos on NBC).

If there's a fifth game of the best-of-seven World Series, Denver sports fans will be forced to choose between the Broncos and Rockies: Fox's baseball coverage would directly oppose ESPN's "Monday Night Football" matchup between the Broncos and Green Bay Packers -- with both games played in Denver.

http://www.variety.com/VR1117974482.html

[skeith]

First post back home after a fun and exciting week visiting the folks in Cleveland, Ohio, and catching ALCS games 3, 4, and 5 at the Jake. Pardon the long post. I haven’t read any of the past week of this thread (…maybe later, ...maybe not).

First off, congratulations to the Boston Red Sox for making it through the tough AL to the World Series. Throughout the season, the Bosox had an impressive collection of talent, and but for a surge by the Yankees that occurred at the same time as a Red Sox stumble, they would/could/should have run away with the East and the best record in baseball. Combination of high priced talent (Ramirez, Ortiz, Drew, Schilling, Varitek, Lowell, Lugo) and some impressive young players (Youkilis, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Papelbon). Kind of unfair for the rest of us.

Early on, the Red Sox were vulnerable in the ALCS because the only starter that did much was Beckett (but he was awesome) and the only hitters that contributed were Youkilis, Ortiz, and Ramirez. Ultimately, the rest of the offense woke up and the rest of the rotation made some contribution (modest in some instances). While all but one of the games ended up with blowout scores, most of the games were quite competitive late into the game, and game 2 qualifies as a classic.

For the Tribe, they got to a game 7 with close to no contribution from the strength of their ballclub (Sabathia and Carmona). Based on the extremely small sample of the ALCS, one would have to conclude that Westbrook and Byrd pitched as well as Schilling, Matsuzaka, and Wakefield. They just get a lot less pub (…though Byrd appears to be getting some now…). Hafner’s brutal postseason obviously didn’t help. Sizemore also underperformed.

Some quick hits on each of the games (apologies since y’all’ve probably discussed to death already).

Game 1. Absolutely wretched for everyone but members of Red Sox Nation. An initial thought was that Sabathia was a bit too amped up in ALDS game 1. This performance suggested that perhaps he was out of gas. About the only positive for the Tribe was Casey Blake finding his bat. I adapted the Pettitte statement following ALDS game 1-- hope they (here, the Red Sox) get all that scoring out of their system before game 2.

Game 2. Mediocre performance by Carmona (…whatever Sabathia has may be contagious?), but what a game! Francona said it was one of the best played games that he has ever been involved with. Once Papelbon came on, only chance for Tribe was to outlast him, ...and they did. Tribe bullpen matches Boston’s inning for inning, until Gagne comes out. Sweet to deal against a high priced, underachieving reliever that was supposed to seal the deal for the Red Sox. Staying up to 1:30am sitting in my parents living room (moved into their home 30+ years ago) with my brother and my mother (father conked out in inning 6 or 7), high-fiving, hoping, and encouraging the Indians infielders… Talking ‘bout the home team (rather than hospital visits/health/aging issues). Nothing better.

Game 3. First at the Jake. Beautiful evening for baseball (…all of them were in Cleveland) instead of the rain/snow that I feared. Westbrook getting it done. Just a mistake to Varitek late. Thought that Francona left Dice out there a bit too long (but easy to Monday morning quarterback, and to be paranoid about all starters not named Beckett). The Lofton home run was awesome! So much love there for Kenny, call it K-Love! Screaming and yelling for Kenny--made me feel like I was 12 again (never mind that I’m about the same age as Lofton). Reasonable crowd cheering loudly for the home team and booing just a few Red Sox. Sat next to a couple of Red Sox fans who were well behaved throughout. Great night.

Game 4. Another 7 run inning! Byrd pitches well enough. Again, thought Francona left Wake out there a bit too long. Before the scoring, couple of Indians had really hard swats at some of that Wakefield junk. A few obnoxious Red Sox fans, but at least most of them left early. Up 3 games to 1, obviously thought the Tribe had a great chance to eliminate the Nation (after taking care of the Evil Empire), but knew that recent Sabathia and Carmona performances did not instill a great deal of confidence, and that Beckett was going to be tough.

Game 5. Beckett was tough. Sabathia wasn’t. That’s probably the series right there. Lofton may be a bit of a prima donna with the bat flip, but Beckett should just shut up, at least as long as he’s wearing the same uniform as Manny. Manny is a tremendous hitter, apparently making several Indian pitchers wet their pants (esp with bases loaded), but he is not a tremendous player. Tremendous players run the bases and field their position well (Just ask Lowell how he appreciates the double play opportunity with Manny on first instead of an RBI opportunity with him on second). Despite Buck/McCarver assertions to the contrary, Manny neither runs nor fields well.

Game 6. Still a chance for the Tribe if Carmona can return to the form he had against NYY in ALDS. Unfortunately for Tribe fans, he doesn’t. Worse, Red Sox are now getting contributions from elsewhere in the order. Schilling significantly better than in Game 2.

Game 7. Still a chance for the Tribe (…stop for a moment and think about that y’all!). Westbrook pretty good. Dice K about the same. Tribe cannot capitalize much on their opportunities, Red Sox do, and then blow it wide open late. McCarver/Buck totally wrong about Ramirez throwing out Lofton at second. If any other Sawk is in left (Ellsbury, Crisp, Drew, Kielty, Yastrzemski), I don’t think Lofton even tries for second. Manny’s out there and Lofton goes for it, beats the throw, but gets called out. Manny is still a mediocre leftfielder (Albert Belle was similarly skilled ).

Ultimately, it appears that Sabathia, Carmona, and Raphael Perez just ran out of gas at the end of the series. Sabathia didn’t contribute in the postseason, while Carmona and Perez were huge against NYY but then nothing in ALCS. CC and Fausto had career high IPs this season.

Wasn’t sure how I’d feel about coming so close, especially with the prospect of facing the Rockies. Given the small payroll, gotta carpe diem when your team has a chance. Obviously a bit disappointed, but not really that frustrated or irritated by it. Wedge went with his strength (Sabathia and Carmona) and they didn’t deliver. I was more frustrated in ’95 and especially ’97 when the Tribe was the team stacked with talent that didn’t bring home the big prize. There is reason to be optimistic (though 2008 may be Sabathia’s last in Cleveland).

Hopefully Red Sox Nation will remember that they got pushed to the limit by one of those teams in the Central, and it wasn’t due to an inordinate amount of Wahoo luck. And if they do not remember, it’ll be a bit irritating listening to the arrogance (present company not implicated), but maybe the Tribe will be able to continue to fly a bit under the radar next season.

WS will be interesting if the Rockies can keep their mojo going, or it could be a quick 4 and out. Haven’t made up my mind yet, but I think I’ll be rooting for the former because they’re the fresher faces, lower payroll, and better story. And maybe I'll catch Jason Moran and Bad Plus at George Washington Univ on Saturday rather than game 3. Looks like Rockies tix are still available...

Great summary - thanks for sharing and helping us relive the moments!!!!!!!!!

[Dan Gould]

And now it is official:

Wakefield is left off the roster due to an injured shoulder.

No official word that Lester will start in Colorado, but I think he could do fine as a lefty against that lineup, and it keeps Mirabelli on the bench.

I am going to guess that this brings Julian Tavarez onto the roster, which is fine by me. We could use a long reliever at some point and if it happens in Colorado, his sinker could help stop the bleeding.

[Dan Gould]

Interesting, actual interest in the WS without a NY or L.A. team???? One well known team, one basically unknown??? Thought that only happened in football....

Baseball scores for Fox

Series lifts network to victory over ABC, NBC

By RICK KISSELL, RICK KISSELL, JOHN DEMPSEY

The Cleveland Indians-Boston Red Sox matchup garnered Fox the most-watched ALCS since 2004.

Fox Sports is riding a wave of momentum -- and heightened advertiser interest -- into the World Series after the seventh and deciding game of the Red Sox-Indians series scored big numbers Sunday night.

The Boston Red Sox will take on the Colorado Rockies in the Fall Classic beginning Wednesday night.

Boston has a large national following while the Rockies are a great Cinderella story: Left for dead for most of summer, the young team rallied to become the last squad to qualify for the postseason and then swept the opening two rounds of the playoffs.

The matchup has caught the attention of advertisers, who shell out big bucks to reach young adults for DVR-proof programming like live sports. Fox reported Monday that it has sold out the first five games of the World Series at a record rate of $400,000 a spot.

"I've never seen a sales environment that's so hot for post-season baseball," said Ed Goren, president of Fox Sports, in a conference call with reporters. "Advertisers are lined up so deep to buy time that my sales guys are asking me if we could come up with a Game 8."

Nielsen estimates that an average aud of 19 million viewers watched the Boston Red Sox cap their rally in the best-of-seven series with an 11-2 victory on Sunday. That made it the most-watched program of the night -- besting "Desperate Housewives" on ABC and "Sunday Night Football" on NBC -- and will help Fox win the week's primetime ratings race among young adults and total viewers.

For the entire American League Championship Series, Fox averaged 11.6 million viewers -- 49% over last year (7.8 million for Detroit-Oakland). This makes it the most-watched ALCS since the boffo Red Sox-New York Yankees matchup in 2004, which also went seven games.

For what its worth, the Red Sox supplanted the Yankees this year as the leader in road attendance. So, maybe its not so surprising that a World Series with the Red Sox is giving Fox and the advertisers a stiffie. No offense to Tribe fans but I'm not sure that they'd be quite so excited is the Indians had won on Sunday.