How the Rockies got there:
The Rockies are in the franchise's first World Series after a storybook streak that shows no signs of ending. With their 21st win in 22 games, the Rockies completed a sweep of the Diamondbacks in the NLCS after sweeping the Phillies in the division series. They are the first team since the 1995 debut of the division series to enter the World Series 7-0 -- and that doesn't include the one-game wild-card win over San Diego.
Boston
AL East champion Overall Record: 96-66 Home Record: 51-30 Road Record: 45-36
How the Red Sox got there:
Behind the dominating performances of Josh Beckett, the Red Sox became the 11th team in postseason history to rally back from a 3-1 deficit to advance to the World Series. In the ALDS, they swept the Angels, outscoring them 19-4. The regular season finish had their lead dwindle after they were up by 11½ games, but they eventually clinched the club's first division title since 1995.
Infield
Troy Tulowitzki
This postseason, three key Colorado infielders -- Garrett Atkins, Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton -- have struggled and have a combined total of four RBI; all are batting at or below a .185. It has been Kaz Matsui (.310) and catcher Yorvit Torrealba (.320) who have made up for the lack of offensive production. The team's defensive efforts continue to be top notch; Colorado finished the season with a league-best .989 fielding percentage, the highest single-season percentage in history.
For Boston, 2B Dustin Pedroia had a Rookie of the Year-caliber season but hit just .172 heading into Game 5 of the ALCS. He may have gotten his groove back starting in Game 5 and was key in the Game 7 win with five RBI, his first of the ALCS. At the top of the order, Pedroia is paired with 1B Kevin Youkilis, who has been red hot this postseason in the No. 2 spot. Batting .425, he's not slowed at all by his wrist that was hit by a pitch late in the season. Mike Lowell has also been solid in the postseason with 11 RBI following a career-high 120-RBI season. At the bottom of the lineup, Julio Lugo has had his struggles at the plate, hitting .229, but was able to bring in his first two runs of the postseason in Game 6.
Colorado
Boston
Mike Lowell
Outfield
Matt Holliday
Colorado's outfield is anchored by Matt Holliday. The likely NL MVP's credentials grow with each passing series. He has already staked his claim to the regular-season NL batting (.340) and RBI (137) titles, becoming the third player since 1967 to lead a league in those categories. He finished the NLCS 5-for-15 (.333) with MVP honors. Although Holliday has had some key hits, his average is down to .286 in the postseason. Same with Willy Taveras, who has hit .167 this postseason after finishing the season at .320. Like the infield, someone has stepped up to make up for the loss of production, and RF Brad Hawpe has hit a .304 after a .291 season. Rookie Seth Smith, with only eight career at-bats this season, had a two-run double in the fourth inning of the NLCS Game 4 to end Micah Owings' 19-inning scoreless streak and put Colorado ahead.
Much has been made of the struggles for Boston's bottom half of the order, but Game 6 of the ALCS was a pivotal turning point. Coming into Game 5, J.D. Drew was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and 1-for-11 in the two series combined. After struggling most of the regular season and postseason, it all seemed to be forgotten when Drew hit a grand slam in the first inning and finished with five RBI. Coco Crisp's situation was worse, batting .161 and was eventually replaced by rookie sensation Jacoby Ellsbury, who went 1-for-5 and drove in a run in Game 6. Manny Ramirez is red hot, batting .400, stifling concerns about his oblique injury.
Colorado
Boston
Manny Ramirez
Starting Pitching
Jeff Francis
Colorado's virtually no-name rotation is young -- 2007 marks its first postseason experience -- but each member has been solid. In Game 1 of the NLCS, Jeff Francis held the Diamondbacks to one run over 6 2/3 innings and outpitched Brandon Webb. He also held the Phillies' powerful bats scoreless in the division series. Josh Fogg has held his postseason opponents to one run, and Ubaldo Jimenez has allowed only two. The Sox's rotation is impressive with Josh Beckett at the top of the order. Beckett's credentials are long, but the bottom line is he boasts a 2007 postseason ERA of 1.17 and his command on the mound brought the ALCS back to Fenway. Curt Schilling pitched seven shutout innings vs. the Angels in the ALDS, but in Game 2 of the ALCS, lasted only 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs. After that poor outing, Schilling rebounded in Game 6, allowing two runs and six hits through seven innings, improving his career postseason record to 10-2. Daisuke Matsuzaka, the high-priced Japanese righty, hasn't lived up to expectations in the high-stakes games of the postseason. He finally earned a postseason win in Game 7 with five solid innings, so perhaps he's ditched the postseason jitters.
Colorado
Boston
Josh Beckett
Bullpen
Manuel Corpas
Brian Fuentes started the season as Colorado's closer, but Manuel Corpas took over in June after Fuentes was injured and entered a slump. Corpas won the full-time job, and paired with Fuentes setting up, the two make a good team. Corpas has a 1.04 ERA in the postseason. During the regular season, Boston's bullpen was the best in the AL with a 3.10 ERA. The 'pen remained solid in the postseason with Eric Gagne the only weakness. Gagne lost Game 2 of the ALCS, blowing the game in the top of the 11th inning by allowing two runs on a hit and a walk in one-third of an inning. The relievers had to come in to make up for a few short outings from Daisuke Matsuzaka and Curt Schilling.
Colorado
Boston
Jonathan Papelbon
The Ultimate Edge
Colorado's amazing climb to the World Series is the Cinderella story of the year. The Rockies' history-making run was fueled by timely hits, hot bats and record-setting defense. The virtually no-name pitching staff has risen to the occasion, and key hits keep coming from surprises like Matsui, Torrealba and Smith. Imagine what this club is capable of if the usual bats start hitting above .200. Pitching is still their weakness and that is where Boston is strong and deep. Boston's lineup has had its struggles but there's always a hot bat to make up for whatever is lost.
