Boston Reaches 2007 World Series - Thanks To Error-Ridden Cleveland Indians

At the end of a week filled with dramatics, the team which made the least mistakes finally reached the World Series. Boston Red Sox overcame a 3-1 series deficit and gutsy performances by the Cleveland Indians to triumph 11-2 in Game 7 of the ALCS, and sealed their first appearance in the World Series of baseball since 2004.

While Boston had its fair share of errors in the series, it was the Tribe who could not keep their game free from slip-ups that partially gifted a place in the World Series to their ALCS rival. Their management staff even got in the act with poor judgement calls, as during the top 7th inning, 3rd base Cleveland coach Joel Skinner confused Kenny Lofton on 2nd base, one hand signalling to run in to home plate while the other waving him to stop on 3rd base. It would have tied the game at 3-3. Boston then went on to score 2 additional runs off a homer from rookie Dustin Pedroia which put the game beyond Cleveland. All this after Lugo messed up a straightforward catch in the same inning to put Cleveland runners on base. Casey Blake, the 3rd baseman for Cleveland also had a nightmare outing - his collision with teammate Perrolta in the bottom 8th inning just about summed up his evening.

Perhaps being on the brink brought the nerves on for Cleveland. Many of their players were experiencing this stage for the first time, while others who have been there did not have the ability to steady the ship and motivate each other enough. Facing Boston ace pitcher Josh Beckett in Game 5 rattled them as well - there must have been more than a few doubting minds prior to that game - many felt that if Beckett pitched well again in that critical game, there was more than a fair chance of Boston sneaking over the finish line.

Beckett did just that.

The starting pitchers of the Red Sox also put up good performances when it mattered most. C.C. Sabathia and Caromona both floundered - twice each in the series. Curt Shilling was battered in Game 2 of the ALCS, but mastered shortcomings due to age and breezed through a must-win Game 6. And a confidence-lacking Daisuke Matsuzaka picked himself up from a poor Game 3 to come-of-age in Game 7, despite another quality outing from the Indians' Jake Westbrook. Is the Bosox pitching staff peaking at the right time?

While Cleveland must go back to the drawing board and prepare for Spring training (having a young team, this experience would have done them a whole world of good and expectations are high that Cleveland would figure prominently for seasons to come), Boston will now have to recharge their batteries and face the Colorado Rockies making their maiden World Series appearance. Yet, my money will be on the Red Sox, for they have the greater momentum, and a week's layoff for the Rockies will be detrimental to theirs. Riding on a crest of momentum and adrenaline are sometimes all that matters in sports, and the Boston Red Sox and their fans must now be rubbing their hands in gleeful anticipation of another World Series win.

The curse seems well and truly over.