2007 World Series:

There’s no need to introduce the teams, nor much to analyze. It’s the World Series, not something really important like brain surgery. The team that executes its plan better will win. Colorado has been on a historic run having won 21 out of their last 22 games. The Rockies ripped through the National League Playoffs like a buzzsaw. They have a great, primarily young team who came into Fenway earlier in the year and put a hurtin’ on the Sox taking two out of three. They come to Boston feeling bulletproof and poised to seize the brass ring.

Boston dug their way out of a 3-1 hole to take the Indians in seven, outscoring Cleveland 30-5 over the final three games. The core group has had the experience of winning the prize, the remaining holdovers from ’04 plus Beckett and Lowell from ’03. They come into the Series somber and determined.

So, who’s going to win?

Game 1 (10/24/07)

The game didn’t get underway until around 8:45 and the conditions were cool, damp with alternating showers and drizzle. No one could complain about the choice of starting pitchers as the Rockies went with their ace, Jeff Francis while the Sox countered with ALCS MVP Josh Beckett.

Beckett took the hill and promptly struck out Tavares, Matsui and Holliday. Pedroia kept the good times rolling for the Sox by taking Francis deep leading off Boston’s first. The Sox weren’t finished as Youkilis doubled to the gap in right-center as the ball bounced off the bullpen wall. Ortiz’ grounder to first moved Youkilis to third and Manny drove him home with a single to left. With two outs, Varitek singled to left putting runners on the corners and Drew lined a double to rightfield and Manny came in with the third run of the inning.

The Rox got a run back in the second when Atkins doubled with one out and scored on Troy Tulowitzki’s two-out wall ball double. The Sox got the run right back in the bottom of the inning when Youkilis walked with two outs and scored on Ortiz’ opposite-field double. The rain began to pick up in intensity and the hitters were definitely affected, as the bats cooled off for an inning or so. But in the bottom of the fourth, the rain abated and the Sox torrid hitting resumed.

With two outs in the fourth, Ortiz singled and Manny doubled. Lowell got a free pass to load the bases and Varitek lined a ground-rule double down the line in left that drove in Ortiz and Manny, to make it 6-1 Sox. In the bottom of the fifth, the Sox ended the competitive phase of the game.

Franklin Morales entered in relief of Francis, and Lugo touched him with a base hit up the middle. Ellsbury hit into a 1-6 force (with the throw nearly taking Tulowitski off the bag). With two outs, the umpire called a balk on Morales, ruling that his pickoff move initally went toward home instead of first. Youkilis banged a wall-ball double and Ellsbury came in to make it 7-1. Ortiz followed with a two-bagger of his own driving in Youkilis with Boston’s eighth run. Manny followed with a base hit that scored Ortiz. The roof was caving in on Morales. Varitek walked and Drew followed with an infield hit that scored Manny. That was it for Morales, as Ryan Speier came on in relief. Lugo walked and Lowell came in. Ellsbury walked and Varitek came in. Pedroia walked and Drew came in. “No Mas!” Matt Herges entered in relief and got Youkilis to fly out end the inning. Seven runs scored and the Sox were up 13-1.

Despite the offensive barrage, the story was (once again) Josh Beckett (7.0IP 6H 1ER 1BB 9K 93PC). He was simply, positively dominant. There was no further scoring (what for?) and Timlin and Gagné each pitched clean innings as the Sox had a resounding start to the Series. But, as they’re well aware it is only one game. Game 2 follows and may very well be a polar opposite.