Image of Center Fielder Coco Crisp from Randomography (no credit)
The great catch by Coco Crisp (YouTube Video below the fold), running full speed into the wall in the 'triangle', at Fenway, in deepest right centre, ends the American League Championship Series and foreshadows a Herculean World Series. The effort, with a 9 run lead in the 9th inning, intimates that the Bostons are aware of what they must do to beat the Colorado Rockies, play great defense. Manny Ramirez's seemingly off the cuff remarks after game 4 in Cleveland may have foreshadowed events. 'The hits will come', said Manny. The great hitter may have twigged onto something, this years winner may not be the team with the best bats, but the team with the best defense.
The powerful Cleavland line-up could not crack Boston's pitching. As errors lead to runs in the last three games and especially in game 7, it became apparent that the Indians just didn't have the defense to hold the Boston Red Sox line-up.
The same cannot be said of the Colorado Rockies, the Sox's next opponent.
Pitching and defense, great managing and situational hitting by these teams may deliver us one of the best match-ups since the 2004 American League Championship Series, the great Boston Red Sox come-back win over the Yankees.
The Boston manager Terry Francona will likely stress pitching and defense and the inside game when he briefs his players before meeting the Colorado Rockies in game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday at Boston. Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle will simply continue to stress the fundamentals to his young team.
Team play was the difference in the ALCS AND the NLCS in this observers opinion; and it may play a huge part in this years World Series, perhaps a classic.
Oh darn, now I've jinxed it!
YouTube Video: Red Sox Win ALCS! Coco Crisp's Game Ending Catch.
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The Red Sox were 4-0 in their last 4 World Series games. The Red Sox were 5-1 in their last 6 home games. The Red Sox were 5-1 in their last 6 vs. the National League West. The Red Sox were 42-10 in their last 52 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter. The Red Sox are 25-8 in their last 33 Thursday games. The Red Sox were 15-6 in their last 21 playoff games. The Red Sox are 6-2 in Schilling's last 8 interleague starts. The Red Sox are 39-16 in Schilling's last 55 home starts.
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Stellathomas
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Thanks for the feed back Stella. Streaks are important in sport, those are some interesting ones; and correct in retrospect.
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