BASEBALL'S BEST of 7

These were the best and worst of times of a sport in transition. From big ball egos to small ball batsmen. From past dynasties in turmoil to future juggernauts hitting their stride. From Barry being Barry with HR records but no fall glory to Manny being Manny, so careless to worry about losing that he and his team just couldn't help but exude the casual gall to win. Again.

Amidst it all, we are left with questions. Is the DH rule so unfair that it gives AL brawn over NL finesse too much of an advantage in the power game that baseball has become? Moreover, should rulebook powers that be in efforts to appease purists dump the balk rule and raise the mound to undo the supermanic theatrics of the steroid generation? Or will a return to everyman ballplayer tradition help cleanse the money show that fills seats but breaks impressionable kid's hearts?

Baseball in 2007 grew up in clubhouse rosters and experienced a youth growth spurt. Rather than rely on long ball juice to sell tickets, the international pastime gambled on green diminutive 70s throwback rookies who weigh a buck eighty and hit twice their weight and salary. The NYC 2nd banana Mets suffered the worst late season collapse ever and the Colorado version of Rocky surged the greatest upstart run short of destiny.

The 2007 game was a study in contrasts. There were future franchise flamethrower closers like Joba Chamberlain who should have been a starter ace and hasbeen stretch run ad-ons like Eric Gagne who should have been benched but gagged his way to post season hardware.

There was more cruel fate in the Cardinal midland and the genesis of a bright future in the Red Rock state was no fluke. While in LaLaLand Los Dodger vets were getting too old in the lackluster post LoDuca remakeover, SD just missed the post season party via the karmic temper tantrum of a perpetual hot head who won't grow up.

As SF said farewell to the Bonds era, Cleveland saw its claim to fame limited to the Rock 'N Roll Hall as the curse of Rocky Colavito did them in again. If indeed certain ethnic groups beyond the usual disenfranchised suspects are underrepresented in MLB, new and old jinxes endured in 2007.

More than anything, growing pains shown themselves in '07 in fits and starts. The Yanks dissed former HOF bound skipper Joe Torre with a token incentive laden contract and player's manager loyalty threatens to purge their superstar ranks and extend their drought. Meanwhile, their Ruthian stadium site of too many fall triumphs has a date with a wrecking ball as they prepare for moving day.

On the other hand, Red Sox nation treats its beloved sandbox digs like a sports shrine. And by playing like the most exciting organization in all of sports with yet another ALCS comeback for the ages, the hub club has cast off its greek tragic past and transformed and metamorphosized into the October team to beat in the new millennium.

With proper perspective, one can look back on '07 as a year of major change and upheaval. ARod's leaving NY is tantamount to Bosox selling The Babe. If it helps the balance of MLB powers, a shift in fortunes will extend a greater semblance of parity and new contenders like the Rockies will get the copy and attention they deserve.

After the smoke clears in the off season, what will the future hold for styles of management in the front office and dugout? At a time in the baseball cosmos in which there are still as few legitimate contenders as there are monopolized video games, the sabermetric money ball philosophy is wearing thin because after a 162 game season the wild card turns MLB into a tournament where anything can, will and does happen.

It's safe to say that GMs may be too preoccupied with seasonal stat data to trade for the Scott Spiezio gamers who come though in the clutch when the season is on the line and you're a yardbird away from game 7. With rookie sensations like Dustin Pedroia, baseball this year confirmed yet again that there are two distinctive types of players. The show's star elite who make money and post season role players who make champions.

07 was the year that havenots became haves and the global positioning of the sweet science was reset for a changing of the guard. Far East pitchers made their bones in Beantown and confirmed their world class status on the '06 heels of Japan's World Baseball Classic trophy. Fall ball saw a Native American player shine in Jacoby Ellsbury as New England diamond dreamers were treated to part deux of their victorious redux revolution.

In fact, numerological fate inherent in '07 may well have lead to a 7th heaven for destiny's darlings. For the Boston Red Sox in 2007 spawned a combo free agent farm club renaissance to compliment their Big Papi & Manny RBI core and secure their 2nd October triumph in 4 years. In short, 7 was a lucky number for baseball this year. And not for just some Las Vegas expansion club but an Old Town loser that has redefined the sport by winning.

Lucky 7. Amen. Yet another Sox hunt for a Red October comes up roses. And baseball's latest drama kingdom has arrived to dominate the sport. If there is an east coast media bias, then one of the few MLB teams truly qualified to wear red earned it in 07. And how.