Last night's blow-out (Colorado Rockies 1 - Boston Red Sox 13) was likely an aberration - but can the Colorado Rockies find their batting grove in time to win a close game tonight? The young Colorado starter Ubaldo Jimenez must keep the score close.
"After going 4-4 with a 4.28 ERA in 15 regular-season starts, the 23-year-old rookie right-hander has been dominant in the playoffs, giving up only two runs and eight hits over 11 1-3 innings in two outings. Jimenez has not earned a postseason decision, but kept the Rockies close enough to win both games."
If the Rockies batting order doesn't see some hittable pitches from Schilling tonight it may be too late in game three, down 2 games to 0.
Schilling's last start against the Cleavland Indians was the kind we have come to expect from the future Hall of Famer. Could another great start by Curt Shilling create an unstoppable momentum towards a Boston sweep? The young Rockies may be up against it if they lose another game to this offensive juggernaut; yet one good start does not a series make...
The veteran Curt Shilling has had an average year in 2007, 24 starts, 9 wins - 8 losses, ERA 3.87; in 3 play off games, 2 wins - 1 loss with a 3.38 ERA.
A good take I read today... ..the Rockies are hoping their starter tonight is too young to notice how much pressure he's under. Pay no attention to the green monster behind the curtain young Ubaldo.
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.
Centre fielder Willy Taveras makes a diving catch in deep right centre in the seventh inning, robbing Tony Clark of an extra base hit, a run batted in and stuffing out a DiamondBacks rally in a 2-1 game.
Here's the play from ESPN SportsCenter (the only way MLB will allow us to see their content with out a subscription, and the only way I can re-publish it here for you).
DiamondBacks tie the game in the bottom of the 9th but then walk home the winning run in the top of the 11th. Colorado's bullpen then closes the deal with a 1, 2, 3 bottom of the inning. Final score Colorado Rockies 3, Arizona DiamondBacks 2
Rockies go up 2-0 in the National League Championship Series, their 8th win in a row and the 19th of their last 20 games.
The Colorado Rockies may be the team to beat in this year's World Series.
Since a game last Saturday afternoon, the 29th of September, the Rockies have not lost a game and have won 16 0f 17 on this drive. They won the final 2 games of a 3 game set from the DiamondBacks to end the season and went on to eliminate the San Diego Padres in an add-on tie breaker game to win a play off berth with the Philadelphia Phillies.
When the Rockies arrive home to Coors Field to play the Phillies Saturday night they will be endeavoring to win their 6th consecutive game, and a Division Series sweep.
