Youkilis To Sit Out World Series Game 3

With no designated hitter under National League rules, Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona has decided to go with David Ortiz at first base for Game 3 of the World Series. This would mean Kevin Youkilis sitting on the bench, while Mike Lowell remains at third base.

How would this affect Boston? Would it at all?

Youkilis has been hitting a searing .396 in the postseason, and you could see the burning dedication and passion by the bearded pro. He practises his swing non-stop in between at-bats. He has been instrumental in some of Boston's crucial postseason plays so far this year.

Unfortunately, the brand of Ortiz sits larger than life in Boston. It represents quality and results - Ortiz has been more consistent in recent years than even Manny Ramirez. And if you wonder at his defensive abilities - read this - Ortiz started seven games at first base in the whole of this year with no errors made.

While Youkilis sits on the bench, Francona had not ruled out any participation on his part. With Ortiz facing a wobbly knee, if there were to be any signs of that troubling him, Francona would look to Youkilis in the later stages of Game 3. Ortiz has dismissed the issue though - he figures that the adrenalin rush of playing in the World Series and sitting pretty on a 2-0 lead would negate any pain to be felt from the injury.

One wonders if JD Drew had not rediscovered his hitting form, such a selection dilemma would have arisen.

Baseball Pays Well - Closing In On NFL as America's Top Money Sport

In a report by Chris Isidore of CNNMoney.com, baseball in the United States is now closing in on the National Football League as the top money sports in the US. While the $6 billion in revenue this year will not surpass NFL figures yet, the rate of revenue growth (double NFL's figures) will surely see the MLB ascend to that coveted throne.

While Chris writes about a number of factors presented by MLB to explain the phenomenal results, one thing that has also contributed is the more aggressive marketing campaigns from the MLB in recent years. The slogan has been making its rounds in every possible advertising media, much more than in the past. Unsolicited exposure in the form of drug scandals have also created more exposure worldwide, regardless of its negative nature. And as the article mentioned, a key factor has been the leveling of the playing field, with more unfancied teams carrying sustained campaigns for postseason involvement. Nothing attracts fans more than seeing their own local team fighting for a chance at success.

Another interesting point brought up was how the MLB and everyone associated with it closed ranks on spinning the game's economics in a bad light, to control player salaries in the past. That has since changed with the league's disclosure of the revenue figures, and it will set off even higher player contracts subsequently. One waits to see if this will result in future requests for exorbitant contracts, and how it will affect the next stage in baseball's development.

Bosox Bullpen Tames Gutsy Rockies in World Series Game 2

On a night when Curt Shilling did just enough to earn his 11th postseason win, the Boston bullpen fanned their fair share of Colorado batters to earn themselves a gritty 2-1 win in the Game 2 of the World Series. In particular, left-hander Hideki Okajima strolled through a hitless 2 1/3 innings and struck out 4 batters in the process.

The game made for a more enthralling contest than the previous night, when Boston trampled their way to a 13-1 washout. Tonight, both teams' bats were throttled by the pitchers who put on a show of determination and some alertness. Jonathan Papelbon made his first ever pick off on first base in the eigth inning, when he spotted Rockies' Matt Holliday a mile off base, and first baseman Kevin Youkilis had plenty of time for the tag. That was the key moment in the game, as Rockies mounted a minor comeback with Holliday reaching Papelbon.

It was also a crucial mistake by Colorado, and one that perhaps drove the final nail into their coffin.

Despite a nerveless showing by their rookie pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado now returns to the thin air of their homely Coors Field in an attempt to become only the 12th team in the past 50 who have gone 2-0 down in the World Series, to come back and win it. On the back of this showing, they could yet surprise a few. But you wonder how that error in the eigth inning would have dented more than a few hopes.

I have mentioned that their Game 2 performance would be an indicator of their chances. And I do not believe the Rockies will be swept now. The possibility of coming back to win the World Series is still slim, as they would have to face Beckett once again, but if they could claim at least 2 wins at home, they have every right to be hopeful of a repeat showing against Beckett that we witnessed in June. But this time, it would be at Coors Field.

So we now move on to Saturday - can the Rockies regroup fast enough and recover their belief in time to put one over the Red Sox?

World Series Over After Game 1 Rout?

It appears that Red Sox fans singing the obituaries of the Rockies' demise may be jumping the gun. History has shown that winners of the most lop-sided Game 1's often do not go on to win the World Series.

Read this article on MLB.com for the full scoop!

Can God Save The Rockies Now?

I read this with amusement and disbelief - Colorado Rockies chairman and CEO Charlie Monfort said last season that the ballclub was the strongest character-wise in the whole league, because they were predominantly Christians.

While I wouldn't doubt that Christianity in itself teaches character and tolerance even, unfortunately many of its practitioners do not do so. And self-righteousness seems a common trait among this particular band of Christians who talk about love but spread a holier than thou image. I did not know of this news bit last year, but finding it out right now has certainly lowered my opinion of the ballclub as a whole.

Kudos to their achievement this season, but to put it down and as a broadside to other clubs that they are inferior spiritually-wise is a direction that should not be condoned in sports. That is something I agree with the writer of the piece, Dave Zirin. In fact, it would be an insult to the team's players who are not of the Christian faith. Are their achievements now partly because of their Christian team mates, and inferior without them?

If they truly had character, it would have helped to provide a more entertaining World Series Game 1 last night. All I saw was an utter collapse by the away team.

A-Rod Wins MLB Clutch Performer of 2007 Award

Despite not delivering in postseason when clutch would have been a more appropriate use of the word, the New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez has been named the 2007 Major League Baseball's Clutch Performer of the Year.

Based on a few factors, including hitting the most game-tying or go ahead home runs (22 in total - although he was tied by Ryan Howard and Lance Berkman), and batting .463 with 8 home runs and 21 RBIs in ninth innings of games this year, A-Rod was chosen voted by fans from a list of 6 nominees chosen by a select panel.

Now, if only he could actually perform in postseason, he wouldn't even need to be clutch.

Rockies Laid Off By Red Sox Masterclass

In the end, the hype proved too much for the Colorado Rockies, as they were swept off their feet by the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the World Series. The score?

13-1.

Riding on the wave of a long unbeaten run that saw them deliver clean sweeps in both the Division and NLCS series, the Colorado Rockies displayed the confidence of a team that only lost 1 out of their last 22, as they sauntered into Fenway Park, determined to topple the Red Sox and their starting pitcher Jeff Francis attempting to become the first Canadian pitcher ever to win a game in the World Series. In the end, they left with their tails in between their legs, as Boston cantered to the most one-sided Game 1 win ever in World Series history.

Many records were broken and set in this Game 1. Boston's Dustin Pedroia became the first rookie in history to lead off a World Series with a homer. It was the most one-sided Game 1 win in WS history. The Red Sox became the first team in postseason history to total more than 10 runs in 3 straight games. Even the Rockies tried to get into the act by chipping in with allowing 3 straight runs through bases-loaded walks, and their fair share of doubles on a night when a total of 12 doubles careened off both teams' bats. However, what mattered most was Boston making these count when it mattered most.

Truth be told, the game looked over the moment Pedroia fired the ball over the Green Monster. Beckett's form and postseason record ensured that a Colorado comeback never looked on the cards. Francis never got into his groove and was waved home from the mound after only 5 innings. The Rockies' bullpen, which had been one of their most reliable areas in postseason with a combined ERA lower than that of their starting rotation, let in run after run.

One wonders how tonight's result would affect the young and unfancied Colorado team for the rest of the series. Will they let their heads drop and roll over for Boston to complete a sweep? Or will they regroup and come back fighting? Personally I hope they put up more of a fight, starting from Game 2. The domination by Boston was so complete that the only sleep deterrent for Game 1 was counting the number of strikeouts Beckett would continue to add to his collection.