A position-by-position look at how the Rockies and Red Sox match up

[stevo]

A position-by-position look at how the Rockies and Red Sox match up

By MIKE FITZPATRICK
A position-by-position look at the Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox going into the World Series, starting Wednesday night at Fenway Park:

First Base

Rockies:@ Todd Helton. Nobody has enjoyed Colorado's incredible charge to the NL pennant more than Helton, a longtime star who waited 11 years and 1,578 games to reach the postseason. No longer the home run threat he once was, Helton still has gap-to-gap pop and a sharp eye. He batted .320 this year and finished second in the league with a .434 on-base percentage. He slumped through the playoffs, however, batting .154 with one extra-base hit.

Red Sox:@ Kevin Youkilis. Often overshadowed by Boston's big names, fan favorite "Yooook" is one of the most underrated players in baseball. He's coming off a huge AL championship series against Cleveland, when he batted .500 (14-for-28) with three homers, a double, a triple, five walks and seven RBIs. He's hitting .425 in the postseason overall, and he has a reliable glove. The teams will play without a designated hitter when the Series shifts to Colorado, a dilemma for the Red Sox. They won't want to take David Ortiz out of the lineup, but he's played only 27 games at first the past three years. If he plays the field, that could put Youkilis on the bench.

Edge: Red Sox.

Second Base

Rockies:@ Kaz Matsui. Cast off by the New York Mets after he was a major bust on Broadway, Matsui was rescued by the Rockies last season in a quiet trade. Now, he's a switch-hitting threat with speed who often bats second in the lineup. Matsui hit a key grand slam in the first round of the playoffs at Philadelphia and is batting .310 with eight RBIs and two triples in the postseason.

Red Sox:@ Dustin Pedroia. A leading contender for AL Rookie of the Year, Pedroia is a mighty mite who takes a huge hack at the plate. The leadoff batter homered and drove in five runs during Game 7 of the ALCS, helping Boston complete its comeback from a 3-1 series deficit.

Edge: Red Sox.

Shortstop

Rockies:@ Troy Tulowitzki. Outstanding defense _ he turned an unassisted triple play _ and a dangerous bat made Tulowitzki a co-favorite for NL Rookie of the Year along with Milwaukee third baseman Ryan Braun. Already a leader in the clubhouse for the wild-card Rockies, Tulowitzki knows what it takes to win. Still, he batted only .179 (5-for-28) in the playoffs.

Red Sox:@ Julio Lugo. Signed to a $36 million, four-year contract before this season, Lugo struggled at the plate during his first year in Boston. But he can run, and the high-scoring Red Sox rely on his glove more than his offense anyway.

Edge: Rockies.

Third Base

Rockies:@ Garrett Atkins. A good all-around hitter. Stuck in a slump the first two months of the season, Atkins was benched for two days before tweaking his stance and rediscovering his stroke. He went on a tear the rest of the way, including a grand slam at Fenway Park, finishing the year with a .301 batting average, 25 homers and 111 RBIs. He struggled in the playoffs, however, going 5-for-27 (.185).

Red Sox:@ Mike Lowell. Some consider the steady Lowell to be the most important cog in Boston's powerful lineup because he bats fifth, protecting Ortiz and fellow bopper Manny Ramirez. Lowell had an excellent season, hitting .324 with 120 RBIs. Then he batted .333 with a homer and 11 RBIs in the playoffs. Good glove, too.

Edge: Red Sox, barely.

Catcher

Rockies:@ Yorvit Torrealba. An unsung but important component on this team, Torrealba draws praise for expertly grooming Colorado's no-name pitchers and handling the young staff. His bat has come on in October, too. He hit .320 with a clutch homer and seven RBIs in the playoffs.

Red Sox:@ Jason Varitek. One of the most respected leaders in baseball, Varitek is Boston's no-nonsense captain. He helped the Red Sox win the 2004 World Series, ending an 86-year title drought, and is still productive at 35 years old. Playing his 11th season in Boston, he batted .243 with a homer and five RBIs in the playoffs. Doug Mirabelli catches knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.

Edge: Red Sox.

Left Field

Rockies:@ Matt Holliday. One of the best hitters in the game, Holliday is a top contender for NL MVP _ he might have wrapped it with that headfirst dive at home plate that won the wild-card tiebreaker against San Diego. He led the league in batting (.340) and RBIs (137) while ranking high in several other major categories. He's off to a strong start in his first postseason with four homers and seven RBIs. Holliday was the NLCS MVP after leading Colorado to a four-game sweep of Arizona.

Red Sox:@ Manny Ramirez. A mysterious slugger with Hall of Fame hitting credentials, Ramirez makes people shake their heads with his on-the-field antics and rare, curious comments from the clubhouse _ he said, "Who cares?" during the ALCS, but clearly he did. He's been on a tear since returning from an injured side muscle late in the regular season. He batted .400 with four home runs, 14 RBIs and 14 walks in the playoffs, and he holds the postseason record with 24 career homers.

Edge: Red Sox. Ramirez's past success in October gives him a close nod.

Center Field

Rockies:@ Willy Taveras. A speedy leadoff hitter with great range in center, Taveras also went to the 2005 World Series during his rookie season with Houston _ and played well. After a thigh injury sidelined him for the final three weeks of the regular season, he returned for the NLCS and made some key contributions, including a diving catch to save a key run in Game 2.

Red Sox:@ Jacoby Ellsbury. The poised and pesky rookie started in place of slumping Coco Crisp in the final two games of the ALCS and held his own. It's hard to imagine the Red Sox messing with success now, so the speedy Ellsbury could make a name for himself in the Series. He batted .353 in only 116 big league at-bats this season and went 9-for-9 on stolen base attempts.

Edge: Rockies.

Right Field

Rockies:@ Brad Hawpe. A quiet but consistent producer, Hawpe has knocked in 200 runs over the past two seasons with his smooth left-handed swing. He also boasts a strong arm that deters baserunners. Hawpe, who sometimes struggles against left-handed pitchers, batted .304 without an extra-base hit in the playoffs.

Red Sox:@ J.D. Drew. After signing a $70 million, five-year contract in the offseason, Drew was a bust for most of his first season in Boston. But he delivered a huge performance when it counted in the ALCS, hitting a first-inning grand slam and driving in five runs during Game 6 at Fenway Park. Bobby Kielty occasionally starts in right against lefties.

Edge: Even.

Designated Hitter

Rockies:@ Ryan Spilborghs. A hard-nosed player who was called up from the minors in May, Spilborghs was a pleasant surprise all season. He subbed in center while Taveras was hurt and hit .356 against lefties with more power than expected. Spilborghs, Jeff Baker and Seth Smith are Colorado's likely options at DH in Boston.

Red Sox:@ David Ortiz. One of the best clutch hitters in baseball history, Ortiz is at it again this October. He batted .387 with three homers, six RBIs and 12 walks in the playoffs for a .543 on-base percentage. Might be interesting to see how he runs the bases in the mile-high altitude at Coors Field.

Edge: Red Sox.

Starting Pitchers

Rockies:@ A surprising success, Colorado's rotation is made up of rookies and unheralded arms behind Jeff Francis, the team's homegrown ace. The 26-year-old lefty has delivered like a champion in October, going 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in two playoff starts. He'll get the ball opposite Josh Beckett in Game 1 at Fenway Park, where Francis pitched five shutout innings to beat Beckett in June. After that, the Rockies turn to hard-throwing rookie Ubaldo Jimenez, who had a 1.59 ERA in two playoff starts. Josh Fogg figures to get a start _ he's 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in the postseason. The other assignment probably will go to rookie left-hander Franklin Morales or veteran Aaron Cook, out since Aug. 10 with a strained muscle on his side. Cook was the club's opening-day starter.

Red Sox:@ Pitching has been Boston's biggest strength all season, and the playoffs were no exception. The Red Sox boast a daunting 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation in Beckett and Curt Schilling, two of the best pressure pitchers in baseball history. Beckett won 20 games during the regular season, then went 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA in the playoffs and won the ALCS MVP. He is 5-2 with a 1.78 ERA in his postseason career _ with three shutouts in eight starts. The 40-year-old Schilling doesn't throw as hard as he used to, but he knows how to attack hitters and he's always at his best in big games. The right-hander went 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in three playoff outings and is 10-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 18 career postseason starts. Daisuke Matsuzaka, the $103 million rookie from Japan, flopped in his first two playoff starts before tossing five solid innings to beat Cleveland in Game 7. Tim Wakefield came back from a shoulder problem and returned to the rotation in the ALCS. He got off to a strong start in Game 4 against the Indians, then faltered in the fifth and took the loss.

Edge: Red Sox.

Relief Pitchers

Rockies:@ Another surprising strength, Colorado's bullpen had a 1.60 ERA in the playoffs, allowing five runs in 28 innings. There aren't many big names out there, but they've been extremely effective. Manny Corpas took over the closer's job from struggling All-Star Brian Fuentes at midseason and has done an outstanding job. Opponents batted .167 (5-for-30) against Corpas in the playoffs and his five saves are the most by a closer in the postseason since 2003, when Mariano Rivera saved five games for the Yankees. Fuentes has bounced back as a strong setup man with his unusual left-handed delivery. Even journeymen LaTroy Hawkins and Matt Herges have been solid, combining for 6 2-3 scoreless innings in the postseason. Jeremy Affeldt has been a reliable left-handed specialist, appearing in 75 games during the regular season.

Red Sox:@ There's plenty of balance in Boston's bullpen, which features hard-throwing closer Jonathan Papelbon and left-handed setup man Hideki Okajima. Those two plus right-hander Mike Timlin have combined for 17 shutout innings this postseason. Eric Gagne, the 2003 NL Cy Young Award winner, was acquired from Texas at the trade deadline in a much-ballyhooed deal that hasn't worked out at all. He rarely pitches in tight situations anymore, and he took the loss in Game 2 against Cleveland. Manny Delcarmen and Javier Lopez struggled in the playoffs after solid seasons.

Edge: Red Sox.

Bench

Rockies:@ Colorado has a typical bench for a National League team, featuring a handful of versatile players who can run and play defense. There's not much power, though, other than Baker. His tiebreaking single as a pinch-hitter helped the Rockies complete a first-round sweep of Philadelphia. Smith was added to the postseason roster after getting five hits in only eight big league at-bats this year. A left-handed bat, he came through with a couple of soft hits at key moments in the playoffs. Jamey Carroll often replaces Atkins for late-inning defense at third. Cory Sullivan is a backup outfielder.

Red Sox:@ Some of Boston's backups get spot starts _ even in October. Kielty, Mirabelli and Ellsbury have all seen playing time this postseason. Kielty is a switch-hitter who was signed in early August after he was released by Oakland. Eric Hinske is a left-handed stick off the bench, but he had only one at-bat in the playoffs. Reserve infielder Alex Cora, a slick fielder, hasn't come to the plate in the postseason. He could be used as a pinch-runner. If Youkilis or Drew wind up on the pine at some point, it gives the Red Sox a major weapon off the bench. Boston's bench is more experienced _ and expensive _ than Colorado's unit.

Edge: Red Sox.

Manager

Rockies:@ Clint Hurdle. The Rockies remained patient with Hurdle, who had a losing record in each of his first five years before getting a surprising contract extension just before this season started. It proved to be a smart move. Well-liked and respected in the clubhouse, Hurdle had the perfect touch as the young Rockies matured into a winning team this summer. Now, they've won 10 straight games and 21 of 22 heading into the World Series. He goes with his gut on certain decisions, and he's done a fine job handling a no-name pitching staff. Hurdle definitely knows his team _ even if nobody else does.

Red Sox:@ Terry Francona. A familiar face in October after leading Boston to two pennants and three playoff appearances in four years at the helm. Francona has become adept at handling the tough Boston media in a town where every minor move is scrutinized. He shrugs off criticism and sticks to his plan, trusting his players to perform. And his teams never quit _ especially in the postseason. Francona's experience in guiding the Red Sox to the 2004 title should be an asset here. He has a relentless lineup and a back end of the bullpen that any manager would envy. But he has some tough decisions on tap, especially without a DH in Colorado.

Edge: Red Sox.

Pick: Red Sox in 5.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)

A position-by-position look at how the Rockies and Red Sox match up

[Spraguer]

Agreed on all except:

LF - Even after compensating for the fact that he hits in a big-time hitter's park in the weaker league, Holliday had a better year with the bat than Ramirez did. When defense is taken into account, Ramirez vs. Holliday is not even close. Rockies with a big edge.

[Superfly]

Getting Mike Fitzpatrick to analyze the Red Sox and the Rockies is like getting Shlomo Bernstein to analyze Israel vs. Iran in soccer. No only is he wrong a bunch of times, the bias isn't even close. Tell me again how Youkilis is better than Todd Helton,and JD Drew is "even" with Brad Hawpe. This guy either never watched an NL game, or he's just clueless. Caqn't wait until he tells me that when Ortiz plays first defensively in Colorado, he's a better defesnive player than Helton.

[littleogre]

Originally Posted by Superfly

Getting Mike Fitzpatrick to analyze the Red Sox and the Rockies is like getting Shlomo Bernstein to analyze Israel vs. Iran in soccer. No only is he wrong a bunch of times, the bias isn't even close. Tell me again how Youkilis is better than Todd Helton,and JD Drew is "even" with Brad Hawpe. This guy either never watched an NL game, or he's just clueless. Caqn't wait until he tells me that when Ortiz plays first defensively in Colorado, he's a better defesnive player than Helton.

The rockies must be inferior at every position because they are from the nl and thus it must gbe that way.

[Louis Cypher]

Red Sox leave Wakefield off roster

Tuesday October 23, 2007 4:13PM

BOSTON (AP) -- Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is being left off Boston's roster for the World Series because of a bad shoulder.

The 41-year-old Wakefield fought through back problems late in the season and was kept off the roster for the first-round series against the Los Angeles Angels. He has pitched once since Sept. 29, allowing five runs in 4 2-3 innings in Game 4 of the AL championship series against the Cleveland Indians.

Wakefield was 17-12 with a 4.76 ERA in the regular season.

Also Tuesday, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Jacoby Ellsbury would start Game 1 in center field in place of Coco Crisp.

Crisp struggled in the playoffs and was replaced in the lineup for Games 6 and 7 against Cleveland, and he also banged into the wall catching the final out of the ALCS.

[skilled27]

I disagree with the AP on a few things here.

Holliday is maybe the best hitter in all of baseball. While Ramirez is a future hall of famer, Holliday is simply better. Little known fact is that Holliday has a 40-something inch verticle jump and is a freakish all around athlete.

Edge Rockies

At first base Helton is struggling but if you look at the big picture I would take him over Youkolis.

Small edge to Rockies

Lowell and Atkins is a wash

The Red Sox and Rockies are both great hitting teams. They both have the ability to blow each other out. To me Beckett is the only difference but that is a huge difference. He will pitch 2 games and that will be all that is needed.

[sikballplaya24]

wakefield sucks...good thing is off

game 1 : BOS
game 2 : BOS
game 3 : COL
game 4 : BOS
game 5 : COL
game 6 : COL
game 7 : BOS with beckett and his dance with papelbon

[skilled27]

Originally Posted by sikballplaya24

wakefield sucks...good thing is off

game 1 : BOS
game 2 : BOS
game 3 : COL
game 4 : BOS
game 5 : BOS
game 6 : COL
game 7 : BOS with beckett and his dance with papelbon

So the Sox will win 5-2? LOL.

Nevermind you edited it now. I figured it may be a typo.

[sikballplaya24]

haha, statement game

[Louis Cypher]

I thought perhaps the Sox would go with Beckett in game 1, then throw the knuckleballer Wakefield in game 2...that might have thrown off the Rockie hitters. Seeing a fireballer throw 90-95 one night and then a Bugs Bunny pitcher who throws a 60 mph knuckler...we'll never know.

LC

[Ringo]

Who do you like gm 1 and whole series LC?

[Louis Cypher]

Ringo~

I grabbed the UNDER 9 for the first game...and took the Sox (-230) to win the seires...I do believe the Rockies have a great shot at winning it but since I'm a SOX fan, I jumped on their bandwagon.

LC

[Hartley]

I believe Ramirez's numbers on the road are much better than Holliday.

I still think a lot of it will depend on how much steam the Rockies lose as a result of the time off. We know Boston is hot as hell heading to the world series with 10-2 and 11-2 wins.

[stevo]

The New Mr. October
The New Mr. October
By Mike Fitzpatrick , AP Baseball Writer


Published on 10/24/2007 in Home »Main Photo
Boston — Sitting at the postseason podium where he's become such a staple, Josh Beckett glared at a room full of reporters Tuesday and grew increasingly annoyed with questions about his success.
The accolades, the analysis — he insists none of it matters this time of year. The only thing that counts is making one good pitch after another.

Maybe that's why he owns October.

“He gets mad about outs that are hit hard,” Boston Red Sox teammate Kevin Youkilis said. “He's a perfectionist.”

Indeed, Beckett has been nearly perfect this postseason. He is 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA in three starts, striking out 26 and walking one in 23 overpowering innings.

He'll take those astounding numbers to the mound tonight in the World Series opener against Colorado, which banged Beckett around Fenway Park in June and handed him his first loss after a 9-0 start.

Jeff Francis, enjoying an excellent postseason himself, will pitch for the Rockies.

“They've got some speed at the top, they've got their thumpers in the middle,” Beckett said. “They remind me a lot of an American League team. They can hit.”

All true, but so is this: If he shuts down the Rockies to help Boston win it all, 2007 will belong to Beckett in baseball lore. Think Kirby Puckett in 1991, Roberto Clemente in 1971, Sandy Koufax in '65.

And this isn't the first time the Texas fastballer has dominated under the spotlight.

He first earned his hard-nosed reputation as a cocky, 23-year-old kid in 2003, when Beckett capped a terrific postseason with a five-hit shutout at Yankee Stadium on only three days' rest to clinch the World Series title for Florida.

Beckett took home MVP honors, just as he did in this year's AL championship series after beating Cleveland twice.

He doesn't get rattled by pressure. He embraces it. He just doesn't want to talk about it much.

“Just trying to execute pitches,” Beckett said. “I'm not worried about any of the other stuff. It's great if you win those awards. There's about five other guys that could have won that award in the ALCS. We had one guy (Youkilis) hit .500 and hit three home runs, and somehow I came out with it.”

For good reason.

With his team trailing Cleveland 3-1 in the best-of-seven series and their scintillating season on the line, Beckett was at his best. He struck out 11 in eight innings of a 7-1 victory that sent the series back to Boston, where the Red Sox completed their comeback.

The right-hander is 5-2 with a 1.78 ERA in his postseason career — with three shutouts in eight starts. That's one shutout behind Christy Mathewson's record.

“He's maturing right in front of our eyes. Seems like every game he wants to make more of a name for himself,” Boston manager Terry Francona said.

Beckett was outstanding during the regular season, too, becoming baseball's first 20-game winner since 2005. That was an important bit of redemption, because he struggled last year during his first season in Boston after coming over from the Marlins in a blockbuster trade.

But his October exploits are almost unmatched. So what is it that makes him so unbeatable this time of year? A blazing fastball that approaches 100 mph, plus a wicked curve and effective off-speed stuff.

Or, as teammate Mike Lowell put it: “Ninety-seven, hammer time and changeup.”

Not to mention a mean streak that makes Beckett a throwback to October aces of old like Bob Gibson. You get the feeling Beckett doesn't like his opponents one bit.

Just a few days ago, he screamed at Kenny Lofton when the Cleveland outfielder hit an easy fly. Beckett was angry that Lofton had flipped his bat to the ground on what he thought was ball four — the two had a similar run-in two years ago.

And while Gibson flashed that piercing glare, Beckett has his own signature. That soul patch of stubble just beneath his lower lip definitely sends the message he's looking for: Don't mess with me.

“I think I'm pretty much a normal guy on the day I pitch,” Beckett said. “I come in, having fun, talking to guys. I don't think I do anything differently. I try not to alienate the people that are going to help me win ballgames.”

He put his team in a hole against Colorado, however, on June 14 at Fenway. Beckett gave up a grand slam to Garrett Atkins, allowing six runs and 10 hits in five innings.

“Maybe from a confidence standpoint it helps,” said Rockies slugger Matt Holliday, the NLCS MVP. “But that doesn't do anything for tomorrow.”

Colorado rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki added: “Obviously, it helps to know that we can hit him. But this is a different situation. I'm sure he's going to have his best stuff.”

“This is October. This is when he comes to pitch.”

[stevo]

8-9 more hours and were playing WS!!