2008 Woodie Awards
The Boston Red Sox win the World Series!
Bryan Shaffer
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: Sports
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What an amazing time it is to be a sports fan in Boston. The New England Patriots are 8-0. Boston College is undefeated, and is ranked number two in the nation as far as college football goes. The Boston Celtics traded for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, making them into a promising team once again. Oh yeah, and the Boston Red Sox won a little thing called the World Series. For the second time in four years. And yes, it is as sweet as it seems in New England.
The Red Sox rolled over the Rockies in the World Series like they were a minor league team, sweeping the four game series with ease, and only for three innings did the Rockies have an edge over the Red Sox on the scoreboard (a one run lead in game two for the first three innings). Not only that, but the Red Sox outscored the Rockies 29-10 in the Series, the largest run differential of all time. Now if that is not complete dominance, then tell me what is.
The way they won the games is incredible as well. All four starting pitchers in the series had very impressive outings, with none giving up more than two earned runs and each making it into at least the sixth inning. Whether it was Beckett's fastball mowing down nine Rockies, or Schilling's finesse and heart, the Red Sox starters showed why they lead the league in ERA in the regular season. My personal favorite part of the starting pitching exhibited was watching Jon Lester, hardly a year removed from his cancer diagnosis, pitch 5 2/3 scoreless innings against a very dangerous Rockies offense. Seeing a young, promising pitcher get the win and battle so hard really exhibits his talent, and speaks volume about his character. And, of course, what discussion of the Red Sox pitching would be complete without mentioning the most dominant closer in the game at the moment, Jonathan Papelbon. While the rest of the bullpen struggled, Papelbon did not allow any runs in his 4 1/3 innings of work, and only allowing the Rockies two base runners, one of which, Matt Holliday, was picked off soon after he reached first.
The Red Sox rolled over the Rockies in the World Series like they were a minor league team, sweeping the four game series with ease, and only for three innings did the Rockies have an edge over the Red Sox on the scoreboard (a one run lead in game two for the first three innings). Not only that, but the Red Sox outscored the Rockies 29-10 in the Series, the largest run differential of all time. Now if that is not complete dominance, then tell me what is.
The way they won the games is incredible as well. All four starting pitchers in the series had very impressive outings, with none giving up more than two earned runs and each making it into at least the sixth inning. Whether it was Beckett's fastball mowing down nine Rockies, or Schilling's finesse and heart, the Red Sox starters showed why they lead the league in ERA in the regular season. My personal favorite part of the starting pitching exhibited was watching Jon Lester, hardly a year removed from his cancer diagnosis, pitch 5 2/3 scoreless innings against a very dangerous Rockies offense. Seeing a young, promising pitcher get the win and battle so hard really exhibits his talent, and speaks volume about his character. And, of course, what discussion of the Red Sox pitching would be complete without mentioning the most dominant closer in the game at the moment, Jonathan Papelbon. While the rest of the bullpen struggled, Papelbon did not allow any runs in his 4 1/3 innings of work, and only allowing the Rockies two base runners, one of which, Matt Holliday, was picked off soon after he reached first.
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