IT BEGINS....2007 WORLD SERIES

by Jack Cobra, Cobra Brigade

Finally the time has come to find out who the best team in all baseball is. There have been many contenders....and even more pretenders. We've seen everything from bugs take over a playoff game to a guy no one liked hitting a series changing grand slam. We've seen teams controlled by the hand of God (Rockies), and other teams guided by the hand of a pitcher pitching like a God (Red Sox/Beckett). It's been quite a post-season thus far and things are only going to get more interesting tonight when the Rockies head into Fenway to meet the Red Sox. Here are some things to look for in this series.

1. No DH in Colorado - Will Big Papi play first base? I'm thinking that if the Red Sox take the first two games he'll sit out.

2. Huge outfield in Colorado - I think people are really forgetting about this. The outfield in Colorado is as huge as....well, it's cavernous. Manny Ramirez is not going to have a fun time out there. This gives the Rockies the edge as they've been the best defensive team in all of baseball this season. On top of that, because of the way the ball flies around Coors Field, the outfielders have to play deeper which helps runners take extra bases. Since the Rockies have been playing this way all season they have to have the edge here.

3. Experience - The perfect example is the Game 2 pitching match-up. It's veteran Curt Schilling taking the mound for the Red Sox going against some guy I've never heard against that was just called up to the majors a few months ago for the Rockies.

4. Japanese Connection - Which Japanese player will come through for their team in the World Series. Resurgance has been the key word as Kaz Matsui has been playing well for the Rockies and consistency is the key word for Boston ace Daisuke Matzuzaka

5. Weather - Both teams play in cold weather climates when it comes to October/November so this shouldn't matter much. Still, sometimes bats get cold and pitchers take over when the temperature drops.

6. More to lose - The Red Sox are the overwhelming favorites in this match-up as they had the best record in baseball (tie with Cleveland) this season and have played fairly well in the post-season. The Rockies have played with a reckless abandon for the past month and a half to push themselves into the playoffs and now...into the World Series. The expectations are on the shoulders of the Red Sox players. The question is, can they handle it?

I think this is going to be a pretty quick series with the Red Sox winning in 5 games. They just seem to be too powerful offensively, and dominant with their pitching. It's been a great run for the Rockies, but it should be over soon.