The parade through the streets of Boston is probably being planned already. They’re 2-0 up in the World Series and have comprehensively outplayed the Rockies so far. It seems difficult to imagine that the Red Sox will fail to win two out of the possible five remaining games and the smart money would suggest that the series will not make it past Monday at the latest.
Great news for Boston, not so good for Colorado or for neutral baseball fans. We want an extended series, a Rockies fightback full of twists and turns, even if the Red Sox take the title in the end. Is that a forlorn hope?
Possibly yes, but let’s see if we can convince ourselves otherwise!
The Red Sox have had a perfect start and therefore it’s easy to state that the Rockies couldn’t have had a worse one. But that wouldn’t be completely true. If we strip the situation back to its bare bones we see that the Rockies have simply lost two games in Boston against a very good Red Sox team. As they were the first two games of the World Series, that is a bit more significant than usual (to say the least). Still, it’s not time to press the panic button just yet. Had the Rockies lost the first two games in Colorado, we could safely say that they were finished. Combine the Red Sox’s home form with the crushing blow of dropping the opening two games at Coors Field and there would have been no way back.
As it is, the Rockies have returned to Colorado down but not out and with a chance of getting themselves back into the series. Just as the Red Sox are fearsome at Fenway, Colorado are deadly in Denver. And the home comforts don’t end at being able to sit in your normal seat in the clubhouse. Switching to the National League ballpark means switching to National League rules.
When you’ve lost two games in the manner that the Rockies have done, there are two ways to turn things around: 1) improve your own performance, and 2) hope your opponents don’t continue to play so well. The first factor is the one you have to concentrate on as it’s the factor that you have the most control over. Factor two is heading down the route of desperation, yet in this case there is genuine reason for the Rockies to expect their opponents to be a slightly lesser force under National League rules.
With the Red Sox having to make a space in the batting lineup for the pitcher, the reports coming out of the Red Sox camp suggest that Kevin Youkilis will be the odd man out for game three at least (probably for game four as well). Taking Youkilis, who has arguably been their hottest hitter, out of the number two spot and replacing him with Lugo or Ellsbury WILL make the top of the Red Sox’s batting lineup weaker. At the same time, the Red Sox defence WILL be weaker with David Ortiz manning first base (particularly with his dodgy knee).
So, here’s the plan for Colorado. Make the most of your home field advantage tonight. Get your first win in the books, snap the Red Sox’s momentum and head into game four with your confidence high and with Terry Francona having to deal with the inevitable questioning of his decision to drop Youkilis. Take game four, partly with the help of the above, and suddenly the tables are turned. The series is tied, the Rockies are on a charge and the murmurs of a Boston “choke” will begin.
Easy to write, not so simple in practice. It illustrates the point that the Rockies can get back into this series though. One thing is for certain: the Rockies have to win game three tonight to give themselves a chance. The stakes couldn’t be higher, so expect a tense, thrilling game. Coverage starts at 12.55 on Five (be mindful of the clocks going back though).
