While We Wait for the Rockies to Play in the World Series, Part Three

We also wait to buy tickets to the World Series. If today goes anything close to what yesterday did, they'd better be ready for a mob at Coors Field. Why do you call a news conference to announce that you have no news?

ESPN has a nice rundown of "The Streak". This is important to read, because, with this long lay off, we fans need to keep our edge too. I've been periodically perusing the video highlights on the Rockies' multimedia page to stay in game shape.

Josh Kalk outlines little things that could impact the outcome of the World Series. All in all I think he did a decent job, but it still amazes me as to how so many continue to get away with writing something while not doing their homework, as he says the Rockies have some experience at Fenway, but none this season. He also uses the outdated reference of Coors Field as "a park that inflates home runs". Enough already. He somewhat piggybacks on Tim Kurkjian's piece where his biggest question for the Series is how the Red Sox will get Ortiz in the games at Coors Field. The Rockies will need to take advantage of Manny in left at Coors and whatever else the Sox decide to do to maximize their offense at the expense of their defense.

This guy, who has exposed his bias more than once over the last couple of weeks, actually thinks this has the makings of a very good series. One thing I do disagree with him on though is Boston's rotation. He calls their rotation "outright imposing". My take on their rotation: Beckett is imposing, definitely, especially when the stakes are high; Schilling can be effective but in no way imposing (three years ago, yes, now, no); Wakefield is befuddling, but imposing probably isn't a word that's ever been used to describe Wakefield; Matsuzaka can be downright imposing at times but can be just as downright bad at other times.

Dave Krieger calls this the Dr. Seuss Series: the Rox vs. Sox on Fox.

Only one more day until we get this thing going.

Until next time, Go Rockies!

While We Wait for the Rockies to Play in the World Series, Part One

I've never really had a problem with Manny Ramirez. A great hitter, especially in the clutch, makes him fun to watch unless you're rooting for the opposing team.

Until this year. His almost annual demands to leave Boston and then eventually say that he wanted to stay have grown old, but that drama was usually over by the time the season started. This post season he seems to have taken the "Manny Show" to an entirely new level, standing at home plate with arms held high, watching each of his home runs with self-admiration before beginning his SLOW jog around the bases. His home run Tuesday offered support what some people have believed all along: Manny is all about Manny. With his team trailing by five runs, he connected on a solo home run to decrease the deficit to four runs. Most players would run around the bases, high-five their teammates and get back in the dugout. Not Manny, he stood there admiring his work, raising his arms as if he'd just won the game, or at least given his team the lead, and then celebrated on his return to home plate. Even a friend of mine who is a life-long Red Sox fan told me he's tired of it, his comment being: "you've been there before, act like it." As if this wasn't enough, when Manny was asked about Game 5 of the ALCS and the fact that Boston is on the brink of elimination, his response was:

It doesn't happen, so who cares? There's always next year. It's not like it's the end of the world.

He's right, it wouldn't be the end of the world, but that's not the attitude you want from one of your key players on the eve of what could be your last game of the season. The bottom line: I don't really care for Manny Ramirez right now. He seems to be more about himself than the Boston Red Sox.

The Colorado Rockies? Now they're a different story. It's difficult for me to recall a more humble group of guys as part of a professional sports team. Now, I don't know any of the Rockies players personally, so all I have to go by is what I see and hear on TV, but what I see is an authentic attitude of humility along with as much care and respect for a teammate as one's self, from 1 to 25. It's true there is no "I" in "team", and this team takes that saying from the bulletin board and puts it on the field. An example of this is Matt Holliday. While being presented the NLCS MVP award on Monday night, he almost seemed embarrassed. Some might say it was because he didn't think he deserved it. They're partially right, he didn't deserve it. No one did, because the Rockies' sweep of the Diamondbacks for the NL pennant wasn't due to one, or two, players making the largest impact and determining the outcome. It was the ultimate definition of a team effort. With Holliday, he didn't act that way because he didn't think he deserved it. He acted that way because, even if he had been the impact player and dominated the series, he knows it's about the team and not himself. Holliday doesn't appear to be comfortable with all the attention, taking some away from his teammates whom he believes deserve it just as much as he does. I liked what Bernie Lincicome wrote on Wednesday about this team:

You like hard work? Never giving up? Faith and conviction? Friendship? Loyalty? Pulling together? Second chances? Third chances? Even dumb luck? They're all there.

The whole "club religion" thing keeps coming up and getting blown even more out of proportion, causing some folks to not like them. But honestly, this team gives you so many reasons to like them and cheer them on, the least of which is that they play some pretty decent baseball.

Jayson Stark believes that a Colorado/Cleveland World Series would be good for baseball, regardless of the TV ratings.

Sports Illustrated has an article about Matsui's time in NY. He certainly encountered some difficult times there and is now enjoying the rewards of his perseverance. Torrealba thinks the layoff will be good for the team and give him some needed rest.

Even Major League Baseball has joined the "Team of Destiny" discussion.

Until next time, Go Rockies!