SLOWNESS OF GAME EVEN BORES MLB OFFICIALS

One of the biggest knocks people have against baseball is the snail-like speed of the game. Unless you are at the game or it is genuinely exciting, it might be more appealing to take a hammer to your head then sit through an entire game. Apparently, MLB officials seem to agree. I found it really interesting when I found out that Boston Red Sox' closer, Jonathan Papelbon, was fined $5,000 for taking too long to throw his first pitch Friday night.

As goofy as this seemed when I first read the article, I think this is a good idea by MLB. Like the NYC honking law, I doubt this rule has ever been enforced, but I say start hampering down on players! Games last longer than they ever have, and most of the time they are not that fun. A typical Yankees or Red Sox game lasts over four hours! I like that MLB took a stand here. I think there are way too many pitchers that take their sweet time between pitches. Nothing drives me more crazy then when a pitcher shakes off the catcher three times then walks off the mound. Pitchers will say this timing rule will throw off their rhythm, but get used to it! After all, you are professional athletes!

I think if MLB is going to crack down on this rule, then it is only fair to impose fines against other players that take too much time to do something. Right now it appears that only pitchers can be fined, but how about expanding this to hitters as well. They are as much to blame for the length of games these days. A batter should not be allowed to step out of the batters' box after every pitch. Think about how much time would be saved if a batter didn't wonder around doing who knows what between pitches. I have personally perfected the art of running to the kitchen to pour a drink and returning to the TV before the next pitch is thrown. I heard Bud Seliq a couple years ago say there was an understanding between umpires and hitters about stepping out of the box. However, I've never seen an umpire get into it with a player about taking his time. Seliq says a lot of things, but we all know he is a joke of a commissioner.

I normally rip baseball for their decisions, as it is a horribly run league, but I'll give them credit for this. Thanks for finally thinking of the fans who do not want to watch games till all hours of the night. Unfortunately, I doubt any extensive time rules will pass through the Players' Union, and I am sure Papelbon will appeal and get his five grand back. That is how baseball works after all.

Pat Morgan

World Series Game 4 Recap; Boston Claims 2nd Title in 4 Years

Boston 4, Colorado 3 (BOS wins 4-0)

Hero: Mike Lowell
Goat: Troy Tulowitzki
Turning Point: Ortiz's 1st inning RBI single to give Sox lead they'd never relinquish















Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox for winning their second World Series in four years. They basically duplicated the script that enabled them to win the title in 2004. They once again swept the World Series following historic ALCS comebacks. Jon Lester was terrific tonight going 5.2 scoreless innings. What a story he is! The bullpen gave up a couple of homers, but buckled down when they really needed to in getting clutch outs. Jonathan Papelbon closed the door with his third save of the World Series, and he easily could have won the series MVP. Jacoby Ellsbury could have won it too hitting .438 in the series, but Mike Lowell took home the honors. Lowell hit .400 in the series with a homerun and a double tonight. He was really the unsung hero for the Red Sox offense all year long. While Big Papi battled knee problems and Manny having a down year, Lowell quietly led the Sox in RBI. He is now a free agent, and we'll see what happens.

Despite being swept in the World Series, the Colorado Rockies had one of the more remarkable finishes to a season you will ever see. They won 14 of their final 15 to make the playoffs, including the best game of October in the play-in game vs. San Diego. The Rockies then went 7-0 in the NL Playoffs to reach the World Series for the first time in their history. Their magic just ran out having to play the steamrolling Red Sox. The Rockies' bats were severly disappointing, and their pitching allowed Boston to take advantage of just about every opportunity. But when the dust settles, they will truely look back with smiles at a remarkable year.

The Red Sox now have two rings in four years. The question asked a lot tonight was which of the two teams was better. Well, I would have to say this one by a tad. The biggest reason is the Sox having a shutdown starting pitcher in Josh Beckett this time around. That was something they did not have in 2004. They also now have a dominant closer in Papelbon. Keith Foulke had a magical postseason, but isn't nearly the pitcher (and celebrator) Papelbon is. The offense was better that year, but not enough to cover the pitching differences. Let the party begin in Beantown!

3 1/2 months til pitchers and catchers!

Pat Morgan

World Series Game 2 Recap; Okajima Awesome in Relief

Boston 2, Colorado 1 (BOS leads 2-0)

Hero: Hideki Okajima
Goats: Rockies' Offense
Turning Point: Top 6th/2out-Okajima strikes out Brad Hawpe with runners on 2nd and 3rd



Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon were spectacular in relief, going 3 2/3 innings, striking out six, and only allowing one hit. Again this postseason, Curt Schilling did not have his best stuff, but battled hard going 5.1, one-run, innings. The Rockies' offense spoiled a good outing from Ubaldo Jimenez and just as spectacular relief pitching. The key inning in this game was the top of the 6th when Schilling allowed two baserunners with just one out. Okajima relieved Schilling, and got Garrett Atkins to ground out and then blowing away Brad Hawpe. The Rockies would only get one Matt Holliday single the rest of the game, and he was promptly picked off. Boston's big hit was from Mike Lowell, as he put the Sox ahead for good with a 2-out, RBI double in the 5th. The Rockies will now have to win all three games at home to have a chance to win this series, and that includes beating Josh Beckett in Game 5. Even if they allow the Red Sox to win one at Coors, that would mean the Rockies would have to win both Games 6 & 7 at Fenway. The Rockies won 21 of 22, but if they can win 4 of 5 against Boston that might just be more unlikely. This series is over.

Pat Morgan

World Series Breakdown/Prediction

103rd World Series
Colorado Rockies vs. Boston Red Sox








Starting Pitching: Red Sox; Jeff Francis has beat Cole Hamels and Brandon Webb in his two Game 1 starts so far this postseason, but if he manages to beat Josh Beckett, this department becomes much more even. Beckett is being compared to Sandy Koufax due to his postseason dominance. The Sox have Curt Schilling in Game 2 who is a postseason great as well. He isn't the same pitcher, but he will still battle and give you all he has. I wonder how Ubaldo Jimenez and Josh Fogg will respond to a much better offense in Boston compared to Arizona. The Rockies do have Aaron Cook back, and could have an advantage in Games 3&4 with DiceK and Lester on the mound. However, Beckett gives the Red Sox a huge advantage in this department.

Relief Pitching: EVEN; I almost picked the Rockies here due to their depth, but the Red Sox have the great closer in Jonathan Papelbon. No other reliever in this series can be considered lockdown. Manny Corpas has been great, but he is capable of blowing a save or two. However, beyond Hideki Okajima, the Red Sox are very thin in the pen. The Rockies can throw out Hawkins, Herges, Affeldt, Fuentes, and Corpas. A perfect line of pitchers to have considering most of the Rockies' starters won't make it past five, six innings.

Offense: Rockies; No one can deny the Red Sox have the two best bats in the series. Manny and Big Papi can dominate these games themselves, but I like the depth of the Rockies' offense much, much better. Matt Holliday is a close third to Papi and Manny, and is right in the middle of Rockies' 2-7 in Matsui, Holliday, Helton, Atkins, Hawpe, and Tulowitzki. That greatly trumps what Boston has. Torrealba in the 8 spot has also made great contributions, such as the huge 3-run homer in Game 3 of the NLCS. The Red Sox will also lose either Ortiz, Lowell, or Youkilis in Games 3-5 at Coors Field. How will they respond to that? Ellsbury does add a bat at the end of the lineup to improve the great Coco, Lugo combination in the lineup. Pedroia is obviously out of his slump as well. You could pick either team here and get away with it, but I love the Rockies' depth.

Bench: Neither; The best bench player on either team is Bobby Kielty. Enough said? The Red Sox will have the advantage at Coors though with Papi, Lowell, or Youkilis riding the pine.

Defense: Rockies; The Rockies' defense has sparkled all postseason long. They would not have gone 7-0 without the great glove play. Those games with Arizona were really much closer than the 4-0 sweep indicated. Troy Tulowitzki is a vacuum cleaner at short. Boston plays good defense too, but Big Papi at first in Games 3-5, with that bad knee, could really hurt them.

Manager: Red Sox; Terry Francona has really become a great manager for Boston. His approach to these games are unheralded. I don't think the Sox would have made their magicial 0-3 comeback in 2004 or the 1-3 comeback they just made without him as manager. I like Hurdle, but Francona is becoming one of the best managers in baseball. He also handles the Boston media with ease. He has come a long way since managing Michael Jordan and the Birmingham Barons.

Pick: Red Sox in 6; Josh Beckett is a huge advantage in this series. If the Rockies can beat him once, this could be a seven game series with the Rockies possibly pulling the upset. However, if they go 0-2 vs. Beckett, I can't see them taking 4 of the other 5 games to win the series. This is the best series, on paper, in my opinion since the 2001 Yankees/Diamondbacks series. I have to go with the AL though, as it has been the best league by far all season long.

Pat Morgan