Even armed with Bazookas the men from the Rockies are shocked by the Sox

MLB / Mike Robb / 31 October 2007 / Leave a Comment

Tenacity, spirit, and form were no match for quality and experience, says Betfair's Mike Robb

I must admit that I was rather disappointed with this year's showpiece. Maybe I was expecting too much but the prospect of a David against Goliath final in any sport always gets me excited, especially when I genuinely believed that on this occasion David had laid down his sling and was armed instead with something more akin to a bazooka with which to take on the might of the Red Sox.

This, it turns out, was misjudged optimism. The Red Sox were simply too powerful, too experienced, too lethal and so ferociously unforgiving that the team from Denver faded into the cold autumn wind without even a whimper. It was a magnificent performance by the Bostonians.

Josh Beckett kicked things off with a glorious example of how to throw game one of a World Series, striking out the first four men at bat in succession leading to an eventual 13-1 demolition at Fenway. Curt Schilling, likewise, showed that he still knows how to handle the big games and put in an excellent performance in game two to give the Sox a 2-0 lead going back to Denver.

Game three was the key for the Rockies. I really thought they had a chance to reignite some sense of hope - what I had failed to bargain for, however, was Daisuke Matsuzaka throwing a great game striking out five while and claiming two runs with the bat. The 10-5 win ensured that Rocktober was going to end prematurely, as not even the most optimistic Colorado fan could have hoped for four wins in a row against a Red Sox side that was, by now, on fire. Thus, game four on Sunday night was essentially a formality and, despite a spirited Rockies performance, a 4-3 win sealed the Red Sox their second title in four years.

While the Bostonians deserve all the credit for a magnificent performance at the final hurdle, the men from Colorado can look back at this season and take pride in what they achieved - coming from nowhere to put themselves firmly on the MLB map.

A record-breaking 21 wins in 22 games will take some beating and, although they were unable to see the run through to the end and claim their first World Series, Rox fans must review the season with a sense of perspective. I only hope they continue to progress and do not disappear into the baseball wilderness as a one-season-wonder.

* Opening day of the 2008 MLB season is on 25th March