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Games Three and Four
2007-10-28 15:28
by Mark T.R. Donohue

Well, it was my plan to let Game Three speak for itself. It did. Now I hold a ticket to an execution, or a funeral.... How strange is baseball? If you told me when I was a little kid that I would one day hold a ticket to a game where the Red Sox would be clinching a World Series victory, and I'd take no joy in it, I'd have told you you were crazy. What a world.

Aaron Cook will try and keep the Rockies alive tonight, but I hate to tell you I don't see much point in it. Whatever magic Colorado had seemingly months ago when it was buzzsawing through the end of its schedule and the National League playoffs, it's gone now. The balls that were landing just fair are landing for the other team now, mostly since the other team puts the ball in play with relentless regularity. Could Ryan Spilborghs have hit that drive to center just a little further eight days ago? Would Todd Helton, representing the tying run, been have left on first with no outs were this game played back when the Rockies were golden? Sometimes the story the newspaper guys want to sell you is the right one. They have kept their jobs so long for a reason.

In due time, I will be able to reflect and say, "Hey, I got to go to World Series games." That's history in and of itself, let alone the fact that it's the Red Sox becoming Yankees II right before our very eyes. At some point I will appreciate my good tickets for all of this spectacle. Right now it just feels brutal that I have another game to attend.

Comments
2007-10-28 16:11:03
1.   Bob Timmermann
Give it time Mark, you'll remember going to the World Series quite fondly.

No matter what the result is.

2007-10-28 16:46:10
2.   gpellamjr
1 You have been far too sincere lately and it bugs me. So have I, of course. I just got through an entire phone conversation (of over 5 minutes!) with my mother and she didn't cry once. What's happening to me?
2007-10-28 17:11:45
3.   dzzrtRatt
Here's my idea. At the end of the season, a warmup team should be chosen in each league, comprised of three players AAA level or higher. They play a shadow series in minor league ballparks while the MLB playoffs are going on. If a playoff team should find itself in a situation where they have more than, say, three days off, they can play the warmup team of their league. The games would be available for televising. If the warmup team wins, each player gets $10,000. The playoff team can play its 40-man roster; the idea would be to keep hitters warm but anyone who needs to rest can rest. They would be more competitive than intrasquad games. The hitters would be seeing real pitches. Obviously, there's a risk of injury, but that's the trade-off for being able to stay fresh.

It might be a nutty idea, but this will be the second world series in a row where, because of TV and other exigencies out of their control, one of the teams sat for more than a week, and then came out and played uncharacteristically, especially on offense.

I'm not saying the Rox were destined to beat Boston. Boston's very good. But I don't think we even started seeing your team til last night. And that's a shame; it's been a really boring series for that reason.

Good luck tonight. A win would be cool. Not like I'm trying to extend this series any, but still, it'd be fun to see your fans get a charge.

2007-10-28 17:14:18
4.   dzzrtRatt
"three players" from each team, I meant.
2007-10-28 19:46:06
5.   gpellamjr
3 I'm really excited about the possibility of Colorado really taking its baseball seriously. I would love to see LA/AZ/Col/SD forming the best division in baseball--- and the Giants can play, too.
2007-10-28 20:20:29
6.   bhsportsguy
Since it was posted everywhere else, Mark might be pleased to know that in the top of the 8th inning, Joe, Tim and Ken Rosenthal spent the better part talking about A-Rod opting out.
2007-10-28 22:42:33
7.   Linkmeister
3 I'll buy it. I really think 8 days off threw off the hitters' timing.
2007-10-29 09:17:50
8.   Bob Timmermann
3
The AL tried such a plan in 1946 except they used the other AL teams to play exhibitions against the Red Sox while they waited for the Dodgers and Cardinals to finish their playoff.

In one of the games, a pitcher hit Ted Williams in the elbow with a pitch and pretty much rendered him useless for the World Series.

2007-10-29 11:04:05
9.   Eric Enders
3 , 8 The A's also did that a couple of times during Connie Mack's first dynasty (1909-1914).
2007-10-29 12:53:21
10.   Mark T.R. Donohue
6 In retrospect the best thing about the Rockies' playoff run was not having to watch all of the games on TV.

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