Colorado Rockies vs. Boston Red Sox World Series Preview

The World Series starts Wednesday, and for the Colorado Rockies, it has to have felt like an eternity since they last played a game of baseball. Having easily swept through the NLDS and NLCS on their streak of 21 wins in 22 games, they now prepare to head to Boston to start the World Series against the Red Sox.

Boston enters this series after going a full 7 games in the American League Championship Series with the Cleveland Indians, at one point down 3 games to 1. Boston has had inconsistent performances at times from their players this postseason, including problems at the plate with team captain Jason Varitek, Julio Lugo and Coco Crisp. Pitching was not excellent in the ALCS and the Boston pitchers have had less time to rest up for the World Series than the Rockies bullpen.

Expect both teams to stick with the lineups and rotations that got them to where they are at for the most part, with slight changes by the Red Sox. Colorado will be forced to use a Designated Hitter in at least two games, perhaps four, and you can expect that to be Cory Sullivan. Sullivan played in 72 games this year for the Colorado Rockies, posting a .286 batting average. While not a good enough player to be a consistent starter in the Rockies solid outfield, Sullivan will fill the DH role just fine in Boston. Continue to look for Kazuo Matsui to be the Rockies leadoff hitter and a threat to steal once he gets on base.

The biggest problem that the Boston lineup may face is the trip to Colorado. With Kevin Youkilis playing as well as he has been playing, and David Ortiz unable to play anywhere other than first base, Ortiz may have to sit on the bench, serving as a pinch hitter for a pitcher as needed. Also, look for Jacoby Ellsbury to continue to play if Coco Crisp continues to struggle. Crisp may also be utilized as a pinch runner in Colorado if a pitcher gets on, given his speed and base running abilities.

From the pitching staff, expect nothing but great work by some of the best pitchers in their respective leagues. Colorado will be fully rested and their aces should be anxious to get back into games once the World Series starts on Wednesday. With a rotation featuring lefty Jeff Francis, followed by two right handed pitchers in Ubaldo Jimenez and Josh Fogg and rounded out with southpaw Franklin Morales, Colorado has a solid pitching staff. Manny Corpas will be a key player to watch for out of Colorado's bullpen. After going 78 innings in 78 appearances during the regular season, Corpas had only 19 saves. After pitching in 6 of the 7 Rockies playoff games so far, Corpas has a record of 1-0, with 5 saves. As long as the Colorado starters can work late into the game, Corpas will be there to shut down the game and record the save. If the Colorado pitchers can't make it past the Boston's hot bats though, look for Brian Fuentes to come in in relief and hold the lead and set Corpas up to end the game. Fuentes was lights out in both the NLDS and NLCS, pitching in every game and giving up only 3 runs.

Boston brings a solid rotation into the World Series. Centered around Boston ace Josh Beckett, the Red Sox also have veteran Curt Schilling and rookie Daisuke Matsuzaka. The rotation should start with Beckett and Matsuzaka in Boston, then Schilling and in Colorado, with Beckett most likely pitching Game 4. While Matsuzaka was third in the rotation in the ALCS, it is expected that Boston would rather he pitch in Boston, to alleviate the pressure and stress that a pumped-up Colorado crowded would have. The bullpen should be ready to go, and based on how shaky the Boston starters have been at times in the playoffs, expect to see the bullpen get plenty of innings. Hideki Okajima and Mike Timlin will be Terry Francona's main relief options, with Jonathan Papelbon serving as the closer.

With how good the Colorado Rockies have been, it is hard to see how the Boston Red Sox can win this series. The Rockies should win this series in Denver in game 5. Look for Beckett to throw a solid Game 1 for the Red Sox that will lead to a win, but unless Beckett is able to start every day, the Rockies should be able to out hit Manny Ramirez and company, winning three games and setting up a Beckett/Jeff Francis rematch in Game 5 in Denver. As good as Beckett has been, this will be where he finally struggles and an exhausted Red Sox bullpen will be unable to keep the game in reach for Boston, ultimately resulting in a 2007 World Series Championship for the Colorado Rockies.

The MVP of this series will be one of the Colorado stars, Matt Holliday, who played a significant role in getting the Rockies franchise to where they now are, which is the World Series. Expect nothing less than MVP performance from him in the four games to one game win in the 2007 World Series for Colorado.