Denver Defense - Like A Rock

As we look ahead to the 2007 World Series there is one area that is difficult to compare.
On the surface, the Red Sox seem to have a rather decided edge in the starting pitching department.
The Rockies best (Jeff Francis) does not yet have the regular or post season pedigree of Sox opponent Josh Beckett.
Further down the line however, the match-ups seem even more in Boston's favor.
Don't let the numbers deceive you, there's a lot more than meets the eye.
First off, even though Coors Field now has the humidor,
Denver still has the light air.
Numbers can't be run up against each other in the usual way.

Defense is really difficult to quantify.
The Sabrematicians have tried but there doesn't seem to be a complete system that will tell you just how much guys with superior glovesmean to the fellows that make the pitches inning after inning.
It's amazing how Tom Glavine's E.R.A. went from 2.96 in his last season in Atlanta to 4.52 in his first with the Mets,than back to a respectable 3.60 when the Mets replaced the aging Mo Vaughn and Roberto Alomar and young Ty Wigginton in the infield.
Plus a porous outfield that just couldn't go get it.Bring on, Jose Reyes and David Wright in the infield and gold glove center fielder Mike Cameron and...Voila !!

The current edition of the Rockies have been built partly on a silent killer.
A team defense that rivals just about any in recent memory.
It's not just about not making errors or turning double plays.
It's about turning base hits into outs, and regular one out ground balls into inning ending, rally killing double plays.

The glue to all this has turned out to be rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
Keep an eye on the guy.
You will be amazed.
Few noticed in the lowest television rated NLCS in history.
That's about to change.
Can the Rockies continue one of the most amazing runs in baseball history and beat the Red Sox ?
I'm not sure, but as Diamondback infielder Tony Clark said:"
Sooner or later you have to admit that a team is not hot...they're good".