SECTION C WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2007 COMPLETE SPORTS COVERAGE BEGINS IN C5 W ORLD S ERIES P REVIEW R ED S OX VS . R OCKIES ■ G AME 1 TONIGHT, 8:35 ■ BECKETT (20-7) VS. FRANCIS (17-9) ■ FENWAY PARK ■ FOX READY FOR ACTION While the Rockies ended the season HOT, they may Sept. 28 have cooled off during an 4-2 Oct. 11-Oct. 15 eight-day layoff. The Sox, loss to A four-day layoff doesn’t hurt the Rockies on the other hand, have D’Backs as Colorado becomes the first team since leaves been hot and COLD for the 1975 Reds to win their first seven playoff Rockies the last five-plus weeks, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 games, though Cincinnati did it to win the 2 out World Series. They clinch at home, thanks to but do carry momentum. with two Rockies stay alive a six-run fourth inning, sparked by series MVP games thanks to the Matt Holliday’s mammoth three-run home run. to go. Brewers’ wins over the Padres on the final weekend, and then beat San Diego Sept. 16-Sept. 27 with a three-run rally Oct. 3-Oct. 6 Oct. 16-Today Rockies win 10 straight, including in the 13th inning in The wild-card The Rockies try to a 9-8 win over the Dodgers on a one-game playoff. Rockies take on stay sharp during a Sept. 18 when Todd Helton (right) Matt Holliday the Phillies in a record eight-day hits a two-out HR in the ninth. The (above) scores the the NLDS, and layoff. Manager streak cuts their wild-card deficit winning run on a outscore the Phils Clint Hurdle (left) from 4½ games to 1 game with controversial play at 16-8 in a three- has the team play three days left in season. the plate. game sweep. intersquad games. Rockies Red Sox Sept. 16- Sept. 28-Sept. 30 Oct. 3-Oct. 12 Oct. 13-Oct. 16 Oct. 18-Oct. 21 Sept. 19 Daisuke Matsuzaka and The Sox From four Josh Beckett Derek Jeter’s the Sox beat the Twins steamroll straight playoff does it again in three-run on the final Friday of the the Angels wins to three Game 5, J.D. homer beats season — and then wait in the ALDS, straight losses Drew is grand Curt Schilling for the Yankees to fall to outscoring and the brink of in Game 6, and on Sept. 16, the Orioles in 10 innings them 19-4 in elimination. From Dice-K does sending the — to earn their first AL the three-game the middle of enough in Game Sox into a East title in 12 years sweep. Their Game 2 through 7, capping the four-game and set off a surreal four-day layoff the end of Sox comeback tailspin, which celebration at Fenway doesn’t slow Game 5, they’re from another 3-1 drops their AL Sept. 21-Sept. 27 Park. The next night, them from outscored 18-5. ALCS deficit to East lead to they clinch the best taking Game 1 win their 11th AL Starting with Josh Beckett’s pennant. 1½ games. 20th win of the season, the record in the American of the ALCS against the Indians, 10-3, Sox win four of five against League, earning behind Josh Beckett. the Devil Rays and Athletics home-field advantage to bump the lead back to throughout the playoffs. three games, clinching a playoff spot along the way on a ninth-inning HR by Julio Lugo (above). A loss in the first of a season-ending four-game series to the Twins drops the lead to 2 games with three to go. Red Sox vs. Rockies As Sox carry momentum, Rockies not worried about layoff Tonight Rockies (Francis 17-9) at Red By JON COUTURE “People were saying we had time off Sox (Beckett 20-7), 8:35 Standard-Times staff writer he challenge in front of them before the second round and it didn’t Thursday OSTON — “We will not “Tthey’re well aware of, and the Rockies (Jimenez 4-4) at affect us the first game,” Mike Lowell Boston (Schilling 9-8), 8:29 apologize,” Rockies manager said of Boston’s four days between more emphasis you put on Saturday Clint Hurdle said Tuesday, Red Sox (Matsuzaka 15-12) at the Division Series and ALCS. “I don’t something, the more power you give “for winning quickly.” Colorado (Fogg 10-9), 8:35 B think they’re going to forget how to hit it. We haven’t given the layoff a lot Sunday Hurdle, whose five-plus year and pitch in eight days.” Red Sox (Lester 4-0) at managerial tenure is only now being of power.” Colorado (Cook 8-7), 829 noticed by those outside Denver, Only seven teams in the 103-year CLINT HURDLE, Rockies manager x-Monday: at Rockies, 8:40 said it as someone familiar with history of the World Series have x-Wednesday, Oct. 31: had as many as six days off prior to at Red Sox, 8:29 delivering sound bytes. It answered x-Thursday, Nov. 1: the question about Colorado’s eight- the World Series, and only the 1910 at Red Sox, 8:29 day layoff between sweeping Arizona Philadelphia Athletics (10 days off) x-if necessary had more than Colorado. in the NLCS and opening the World More coverage Series. The history is mixed, with the prior six going 3-3 in Game 1 and 4-2 in ■ Jon Couture compares the Well, at least as well as it can be teams position-by-position and answered before tonight’s first the series — the losers, off six-day makes his prediction. C2 pitch. Not that players on either side breaks, were the 1946 Red Sox and ■ Regular-season and last year’s Tigers. An obvious part of postseason statistics for every appear to be overly concerned about player on the 25-man rosters. the break. the reason? See LAYOFF C4 C2 ■ Unable to bounce back from his last start in the ALCS, Tim NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Wakefield (left) is left off the World Series Rockies, taking page from ’04 Sox, say blank resume is just fine roster. C3 ■ The Rockies, like the Red Sox, By DAVID BROWN Todd Helton said Tuesday. “We have shown they can win in a Standard-Times staff writer just go out and play the game, and LONG AND SHORT OF IT variety of fashions. C3 BOSTON — With some 2004 I don’t think anything really over- The Red Sox have six players magic stashed in their utility belts, whelms us. If we draw on anything, ■ Matt who have appeared in World Holliday (right) the Red Sox had a strategic reserve we draw on the past 22 games Series games. The Rockies have when we had to win every game. adds muscle, of experience to guide to them to one. Here’s a look at each team’s I don’t know if there (is) any more potential American League pennant this experience in the Fall Classic. month. pressure than that.” stardom to But much like those self-pro- If a lack of experience brings RED SOX the Rockies’ claimed “Idiots” who stormed Octo- strength to the Rockies, then con- Player Years Games lineup. C3 ber three years ago, the National sider them the World Series’ Stron- Josh Beckett 2003* 2 ■ Aaron League champion Rockies found gest Men. The entire Colorado ros- Cook, who their way to the World Series with ter combines for fewer World Series Mike Lowell 2003 6 hasn’t pitched no road map — just talent, grit and games (four), than the Red Sox ros- Doug Mirabelli 2004 1 since August, resolve. ter has players with World Series David Ortiz 2004 4 is added to Therefore, we’re left with two experience (six, not including Tim the Rockies’ teams that have different opinions Wakefield). Manny Ramirez 95, 97, 04* 17 roster to start on the value of postseason experi- Colorado’s leadoff hitter Willy Tav- Curt Schilling 93, 01, 04 6 Game 4. C4 ence heading into Game 1 of the eras is the only player on the team Mike Timlin 92, 93, 04 7 ■ The Rockies don’t mind their World Series tonight at Fenway to make it this far in the postseason. no-name status. C4 Associated Press photo Park. The Red Sox find it helpful. He played center field for the Astros Jason Varitek 2004 4 The 2007 Red Sox have six holdovers from the The Rockies are almost glad they in 2005 when the White Sox swept ROCKIES ■ A few blown calls in the 2004 championship team on the World Series haven’t had it. Houston, but did hit .333 with three Willy Taveras 2005 4 postseason could lead to the roster, but when they won in 2004, they were “I think our strength is our inex- extra-base hits and scored two of his adoption of instant replay in the *Series MVP thin on experience. perience,” Rockies first baseman See EXPERIENCE C4 playoffs. C4.