Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Ride 'Em In

The World Series starts tonight, so I guess it's time for me to make a prediction. My success rate dropped to 50% in the last round. That's a 50% decrease from the first round. If my current pattern holds, then I should get this one wrong. We've got the miracle Rockies against the team with the best record in baseball. The Rockies shouldn't be here. They were dead in the water with 2-1/2 weeks to go in the season. There were a couple of times when the all times saves leader had a chance to end their season and he failed on both occasions. They have stormed through the playoffs and now stand on the verge of the accomplishing the greatest late season run in the history of baseball. All that stands in their way is the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox who were embraced as underdogs in '04 have now become part of the aristocratic class of baseball along with the Yankees. They are no longer lovable losers (I think the Cubs still hold that title), but a perennial powerhouse. To fans of the Rockies, I'm sure the Red Sox look like the evil empire. The Red Sox are the team with the payroll that dwarfs the competition. The Red Sox are the team that has had post season success. The Red Sox are the one's with the national fan base. For all intents and purposes, the Red Sox have become what they once detested and they are convinced that they have done right. The Rockies are the underdogs in the series. They are the little guys going up against the corporate giant. They are the real life Rudy.

On paper, this series looks like a mismatch. As we all know however, the games aren't played on paper. The Rockies are the hottest team on the planet. I thought that the long delay after the NLDS would effect them, I was wrong. So I don't think that the long delay will have any effect on them this time either. The Red Sox are coming off a huge comeback win against the Indians and are feeling pretty good about themselves as well. Both teams have had enough rest to set up their rotations for the Series. Josh Beckett is pitching about as well as any pitcher has in recent post season history. He will start game one and he is as close to a guaranteed win as exists. If he wins the first game, it will put the Rockies in unfamiliar territory. It's been weeks since they lost their last game. The question will be whether they can bounce back from that initial blow. I just don't think that they are going to be able to. I'm calling this one for the Red Sox in six games.

And there you have it. My pick to win it all is the Boston Red Sox. They will be the only team to win multiple titles in the new century and can now lay claim to being the new super power in baseball.

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