Here is a look at tonight’s World Series lineups for the visiting Colorado Rockies and the Boston Red Sox.

Rockies

CF Willy Taveras
2B Kaz Matsui
LF Matt Holliday
1B Todd Helton
3B Garrett Atkins
RF Brad Hawpe
SS Troy Tulowitzki
C Yorvit Torrealba
DH Ryan Spilborghs

P Jeff Francis

Red Sox

2B Dustin Pedroia
1B Kevin Youkilis
DH David Ortiz
LF Manny Ramirez
3B Mike Lowell
C Jason Varitek
RF JD Drew
SS Julio Lugo
CF Jacoby Ellsbury

P Josh Beckett

Lineups courtesy of The Boston Herald Red Sox Blog.

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See you all tonight!!!

The 2007 World Series gets underway tonight at 8:35 PM at Fenway Park between the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies. The entire World Series will be shown on FOX.

In the NLCS, Steve took the Diamondbacks while I took the Rockies. In the ALCS, we both took the Red Sox. That evens Steve and I up at 3-3 on our postseason predictions. So now on to our predictions, Steve’s are in red.

When you look at the lineups, you can arguably give the Red Sox the advantage at almost of all of the positions. The Rockies, in my opinion, have the better center fielder and right fielder. In the postseason, the bullpens have evened up some as the Rockies bullpen has been pretty much lights out.

The biggest question for the Red Sox is who will play first base and third base in Colorado. There is no DH so it’s possible for another platoon situation. The Rockies came into Boston and took 2 of 3 from the Red Sox this season. As I have always said, you need to throw that out. What you can’t discount is the fact that the Rockies come into the World Series having won 21 of their last 22 games. But since they swept the Rockies 8 days ago, the Rox have been working out and not really facing live pitching. I think that could be the downfall for the Rockies in this series.

It’s going to be a fun series and I see the Red Sox winning the World Series in Game 6 back home at the Fens.

Home field advantage will possibly be larger in this series than in any other so far this post season. The reasons being as we’ve seen all year long the Red Sox had one of the best home records in baseball, they play better in Fenway Park and most importantly they get to have their entire lineup as they will be able to use the DH spot for David Ortiz. On the flip side, home field for the Rockies is a big deal too. Coors Field has a large outfield, the air is thin, the weather should be colder than Boston, no DH and the Rockies fans will be twirling those damn towels just to try to stay warm.

The lineups are both pretty potent. Obviously the Red Sox are better with Ortiz DH’ing and Kevin Youkilis at first. And any suggestion you see or hear to bench JD Drew and play Youkilis in the outfield is dumb. Now I’m going to tell you why. You’re better off with Drew’s speed in the outfield as Coors Field is very large. And why have two or more guys out of their regular positions (if you played Drew in center). What you will most likely see is exactly what they did during the road interleague games. Youkilis, Ortiz and Mike Lowell will each get one game off. Ortiz will sit Game 5 when the lefty Jeff Francis makes his second appearance of the series. The Rockies lineup is very good as they feature the NL ROY candidate Troy Tulowitzki, NL MVP Candidate Matt Holiday and Todd Helton. They’ve shown a penchant for coming back and manufacturing runs but I think the 9 day lay off will be a killer for the hitters and the pitchers.

In the post season it all comes down to pitching. And I just feel the Sox have the better staff all around and more experience. In fact I’m not sure I can even tell you the Rockies starters after Francis and Ubaldo Jimenez. Both teams feature young hard throwing closers who have been very good at what they do.

My pick is the Boston Red Sox win their second World Series title in four years bringing joy to Boston and making fans of other teams hate us more because you know there’s gonna be some dumb ass fans who’ll make us all look bad. The newbies need to act like they’ve been there before (if it happens). I say Sox over the Rox in Six.

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I am not sure how many people will remember this but Todd Helton was almost the Red Sox first baseman this season. Back in January, the Red Sox and Rockies were exploring a deal that would bring Helton to the Red Sox for Manny Delcarmen, Craig Hansen and Mike Lowell or Kevin Youkilis.

In the end, the price was too high for the Red Sox and they decided not to pull the trade. But what would have happened if the deal was done? Would the Rockies have made the World Series? Better yet, would the Sox be playing in the World Series too? Those are questions we will never know the answers too.

Here is a look at what was written here on Sox & Dawgs about all those trade rumors.

January 27, 2007: The Rockies are in discussions with the Boston Red Sox involving a trade of Todd Helton, according to multiple baseball sources.

Nothing is imminent, but negotiations are expected to resume Monday or Tuesday when Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd returns to work after tending to a family matter. Helton, 33, has a complete no-trade clause, but has said he would consider Boston. A source said Helton is aware of the current Red Sox talks.

January 28, 2007: The trade talks between the Rockies and the Red Sox have a hit a little snag right now. The Red Sox have offered up Mike Lowell and Julian Tavarez to the Rockies in exchange for Todd Helton and cash. Right now, the Rockies also want one of the Red Sox younger prospects from the group Jacob Ellsbury, Craig Hansen, Manny Delcarmen, Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard and Jon Lester

January 30, 2007: The talks between the Colorado Rockies and the Boston Red Sox involving Todd Helton are officially dead. The reason, the Red Sox will not give up Manny Delcarmen or Craig Hansen along with Mike Lowell and Julian Tavarez. This reluctance caused the Rockies to pull out of negotiations.

February 4, 2007: Will the Colorado Rockies rethink trading Todd Helton? According to the Denver Post, Helton has told the Rockies that he will veto any future trades that the Rockies bring to him.

So will the Rockies reconsider there demands and trade Helton to the Red Sox? I still think that this deal will be revisited and now with Helton’s demands, I can see the Rockies definitely opening up the channels of negotiation again. Maybe now they will backdown from their demands of a top prospect in order to get a deal done.

The day is upon us. It’s Game 1 of the 2007 World Series featuring your beloved Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies. For the Red Sox, they were expected to be here from the beginning of the season. The Rockies, well, they were predicted to be golfing or in Todd Helton’s case, hunting at this time of the season.

As you know, that’s the not the case as the Rockies have been on a magical run, winning 21 of their last 22 games. It’s been a while since they’ve played though and it will be interesting seeing how they come out in Game 1.

The Red Sox announced their postseason roster and rotation for the first 3 games. Tim Wakefield was left off the roster and was replaced by Kyle Synder. So Sox fans, buckle up and hope we don’t have to use Gagné (gulp) during the series. Josh Beckett is on the bump tonight, Curt Schilling in Game 2 and Daisuke Matsuzaka will toe the rubber at Coors Field in Game 3. All signs right now are pointing to Jon Lester starting Game 4.

If he does, what a remarkable event that will be. Going from the cancer last season to pitching in the World Series this season is just incredible. If Lester starts and pitches like he did in relief during the Cleveland series, I have total faith in him.

Steve’s got the lineups and game recap tonight and we will have our World Series predictions up later today. So while you’re eagerly awaiting to see who Steve and I pick (I’m just guessing here but for some odd reason, I’m thinking Red Sox), let’s take a look at the headlines from the Boston area and Denver media on the morning of Game 1 of the World Series.

Ready for the World Series [Yooooouuuuukkkkk]

Beckett’s run reflects stuff of legend [Boston Globe]

Rockies reveal great way to grow [Denver Post]

Sox in no-lose situation [Boston Herald]

Big day finally arrives for Rockies at Fenway Park [Rocky Mountain News]

New Sox, Hot Rocks [Hartford Courant]

Bad knee or not, Ortiz set for first [Pro Jo]

Success is a case of good management [Boston Globe]

Local hero role to change [Denver Post]

This rebel has a cause [Boston Herald]

Rockies’ run takes baseball by storm [Rocky Mountain News]

Season Over For Wake [Hartford Courant]

Pedroia ready to get off to fast start this time [Pro Jo]

For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant, Providence Journal, Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News websites.

Don’t forget to check out the musings of Red Sox Monster’s Dan LaMothe over on Yahoo’s World Series blog.

Here is a look at David Letterman’s Top 10 Reasons Why Joe Torre Quit. For the record, I don’t think he quit at all. He was forced out by some punk Steinbrenner kids.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=
http://youtube.com/watch?v=n6FLyAtFGYw[/youtube]

to the Yankees Chick for the video.

If you’re planning on attending any of the Red Sox World Series games in Boston, you might want to avoid doing anything illegal. After Sunday night’s ALCS Game 7 win for the Red Sox, 26 people were arrested, most of them were college students.

So when they saw the judge on Tuesday, instead of receiving fines, 7 of the 26 were ordered to write an essay of what they learned from being arrested after the Red Sox won the American League Championship. It’s not just a short essay, he wants them to write 5 pages.

If you remember back to 2004, an Emerson College student was killed when she was hit by a pepper pellet shot by the Boston Police into a crowd of celebrating but rowdy fans. Since then, the Boston Police has made better preparations for handling a crowd like the one on Sunday night.

The key to writing this essay will be using a 14 point font, probably the courier new font. This will cut down the length of words they will need to write in the essay.

If it were me, I would write I learned not to celebrate outside Fenway Park and get caught. Then I would cut and paste it until I had 5 pages.

Nothing like taking the easy way out, huh.

Bill Callahan wants to know what’s going on with his job at the University of Nebraska. They let their A.D. go a few weeks ago and brought in former head coach Tom Osbourne. He wants to know his future so he can continue recruiting. It’s hard to get someone to commit to your program when you don’t know if you’ll be there.

Georgia Tech Heisman hopeful Tashard Choice injured his knee in Saturday’s win over Army. He had surgery on it today and hopes to only miss one game. Head coach Chan Gailey thinks Choice will return for the final 3 games of the season.

The five suspended Alabama football players are back practicing with the team. They were suspended for receiving more textbooks than the athletes were allowed. Nick Saban says the system failed the players. The school hasn’t said how long the suspensions will last but Alabama could face possible NCAA sanctions.

Penn State running back, Austin Scott, is facing charges of rape, sexual assault, indecent assault and simple assault. He took his story to the papers, trying to get his side of story out. Well, the judge issued a gag order and now Scott is no longer allowed to speak to anyone about his case.

North Carolina head coach Butch Davis suspended two of his players for violating team rules. Cornerback Jermaine Strong and offensive tackle Andre Barbour are suspended indefinitely from the team and can’t participate in any football related activities.

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With Tim Wakefield being left off the roster, Terry Francona had to put another player on the roster. He decided to add Kyle Synder to the bullpen. Synder will be able to give the Sox long relief if needed and fill other situations. I am surprised by the fact that the Sox didn’t take off Eric Gagné and add Julian Tavarez. He’s just a waste of a roster spot in my opinion.

Pitchers (11): Josh Beckett, Manny Delcarmen, Eric Gagné, Jon Lester, Javier Lopez, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Hideki Okajima, Jonathan Papelbon, Curt Schilling, Kyle Snyder, Mike Timlin

Catchers (2): Doug Mirabelli, Jason Varitek

Infielders (7): Alex Cora, Eric Hinske, Mike Lowell, Julio Lugo, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis

Outfielders (5): Coco Crisp, J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, Bobby Kielty, Manny Ramirez

In sticking with their “Impossible Dream” team theme this season, the Sox announced that Carl Yastrzemski will throw out tomorrow night’s first pitch.

Continue after the jump to see the pitching matchups
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The 25-man roster for the Red Sox in the World Series hasn’t been announced yet but we do know one thing. Tim Wakefield will not be a part of it due to the shoulder injury that kept him off the ALDS roster.

“I really wish I was up here talking about my starting Game 2,” Wakefield said. “But unfortunately that’s not the case today. After long talks with [Terry Francona] and John Farrell and Theo [Epstein], my health, advice from the doctors, it’s not going to happen, unfortunately.

“Could I pitch Game 2? Probably. But are you going to get 100 percent out of Tim Wakefield? I don’t know that either, until Tuesday. After that I don’t know either, because dealing with this problem that I’ve had for the past two months, it seems like my recovery time in getting longer and longer, and I just don’t think it’s fair to the other 24 guys on this team that I go out there and maybe I pitch well and maybe I don’t, and then I’m not available for the rest of the series. It’s not fair for the rest of the 24 guys in that clubhouse for me to put them through that.”

With Wakefield out of the rotation it is not known who will take his start. As of right now, the rotation for the Sox has been set for the first three games. Josh Beckett will get the start in Game 1, Curt Schilling in Game 2, and Daisuke Matsuzaka in Game 3 in Denver. Rumors are that Jon Lester will make the start in Game 4.

It looks as though the Red Sox will use the same lineup that they did in Game 6 and Game 7 of the ALCS. Jacoby Ellsbury will start again in center field in place of Coco Crisp, who is still battling soreness from crashing in the wall.

The Red Sox will have to make some lineup decisions for the games in Colorado. Since the games are being played in a National League park, there is no DH. That means the Red Sox will have to decide who to sit between the trio of David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell. I think we all know that Big Papi won’t be out of the lineup so it comes down to Youk and Lowell. Youk is hitting a team leading .425 while is hitting a nice .333. Some very tough decisions lie ahead for Sox skipper Terry Francona.