Champions

The Sox defeated the Rockies, 4-3, for their second World Series sweep in four years.

After all these years of watching the Sox fall short, it feels a little strange to see them poised to dominate major league baseball for years.

I didn’t say it feels bad, it just feels strange.

A lot of fans wanted the Sox to take the title at home, but I’m glad they swept. For one thing, I’ve seen them come so close only to fail when they couldn’t possible fail more times than I care to recount. Throughout this series, like in 2004, I’ve said, "I don’t want drama, I want wins." But the other reason I’m glad they won last night is that the back of their bullpen was spent. Hideki Okajima certainly would not have been available tonight, and Jonathan Papelbon clearly was not as sharp last night as we are used to seeing him. Usually he has good command of his pitches, but on all three out pitches in the ninth inning last night he missed his spots badly. With an 0-2 count to the first batter, Yorvit Torrealba, catcher Jason Varitek wanted a fastball up and out of the strike zone, as he often does in that count. But the pitch was just above the belt and out over the plate. Torrealba grounded to Justin Pedroia at second.

To the second hitter, Jamey Carroll, Varitek set up on the outside corner, but the pitch was inside and Carroll hammered it to left, sending Jacoby Ellsbury crashing into the wall to make a fine play.

Varitek wanted the 2-2 pitch to the third hitter, Seth Smith inside, under his hands. The pitch was high and over the outside corner. Smith swung through it.

With Okajima and Papelbon probably unavailable for a game tonight, the pressure to throw a complete game would be great on Josh Beckett. Of course, he can handle that kind of pressure, but the image of Eric Gagne warming in the bullpen last night made me nervous. Fortunately, Papelbon had enough left in the tank.

And the Red Sox are world champions again. Congratulations Sox!