Sox Up 2-0, Heading to Colorado
October 26, 2007 at 8:31 am 5 comments
The Red Sox head to Colorado for the next three games. They are in a great position, up 2-0 and they have full momentum backing them up. But even though they are in a great positon the next three games aren’t going to be a walk in the park.
Up 2-0, the Red Sox have the luxury of being able to sit David Ortiz so he can rest his knee and so they can keep a suitable defesne on the field.
If the series were 1-1 the Red Sox may have been forced to play Ortiz at 1B and either sit Kevin Youkilis or move Youkilis to RF and sit J.D. Drew. The defense would’ve been awful with Ortiz at 1B and Youkilis in RF. You lose a Gold Glove caliber 1B and a Gold Glove caliber RF in that scenario. With Daisuke Matsuzaka going in Game 3 he will need all the defense he can get.
The Rockies are faced with an uphill battle. The last 11 road teams to fall behind 0-2 in a series have all lost the series. But they have homefield on their side now and they have defied the odds all season long.
But the Rockies get to face a worn out Dice-K in Game 3 and they might not have to worry aboout the bat of David Ortiz. Even if Ortiz is in the Rockies will get to spray balls all over the feld with awful fielding in place. Rockies hitters (especially right handed hitters) get the advantage of Manny Ramirez in leftfield. Ramirez may be a very good LF in Fenway but he’s going to have problems covering the spacious gaps in left-center. Look for the Rockies to wear out both gaps if Ramirez and Youkilis are manning the corners with Ortiz at 1B.
I think the Rockies will walk out of this home stretch with at least 2 wins. That will bring them back to Boston down 3-2 at best and it will still take a miracle to overcome that deficit.
This leaves the Red Sox sitting pretty. Unless Terry Francona forgets how to manage or the Rockies perform a miracle then Red Sox Nation should be celebrating another World Series victory.
-Jonathan C. Mitchell
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Jonathan C. Mitchell
Figure Filbert 
1.
Jonathan C. Mitchell | October 26, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Looks like Youkilis is getting benched for Otiz at 1B.
2.
Charlie Nehl | October 27, 2007 at 6:42 am
Honestly? I think is a bad move by Francona. We all know that Ortiz’s knee is not doing well and is most likely having surgery after the season. You’re already up 2-0, so why not let Ortiz rest his knee, and let the will be gold glover play first. Ortiz could pinch hit in a spot where he could drive in some runs. He’s going to be a MAJOR defensive liability out there at first base due to a very limited range.
3.
Jonathan C. Mitchell | October 27, 2007 at 8:43 am
I agree Charlie. I think with the defense becoming that much more awful it is going to hurt them. Pedroia is going to have to play deep to get to balls that Ortiz can’t and Ortiz will probably have to cover the lines against left handed hitters. I think he should sit as well.
4.
Charlie Nehl | October 28, 2007 at 5:56 am
Or you can just mash your way to victory…. whatever works!
5.
Jonathan C. Mitchell | October 28, 2007 at 6:01 am
Haha! True that Charlie! I thought the Rox would take that game when they scored 5 in just two innings to make it 6-5.