2007 World Series position-by-position breakdown

Baseball Betting Lines

10/23/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox will try for their second World Series title in four years when they kick off the 103rd World Series against the red- hot Colorado Rockies on Wednesday at Fenway Park.

While Colorado will be playing in its first-ever Fall Classic, Boston will be trying for its seventh title and will be appearing in its 11th World Series.

The Rockies have, of course, won 21 of their last 22 games to get to this point, including sweeps in both the NLDS and NLCS.

Boston, meanwhile, became the 11th team in postseason history to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven series, beating the Cleveland Indians in seven games to claim their first AL pennant since winning the World Series in 2004, their first title since 1918.

These teams actually met during the season, as Colorado took two out of three from the Red Sox at Fenway in June. Colorado outscored Boston 20-5, dropping the first game 2-1 before winning the next two, 12-2 and 7-1. The finale of that set saw Josh Beckett get his first loss of the season.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the matchups at each position:

CATCHER

Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba is known more for his play behind the plate than at it, but the backstop is hitting .320 in the postseason and belted a big three-run home run in Colorado's Game 3 victory over Arizona in the NLCS.

Jason Varitek is the leader of this team, but is hitting just .243 in the postseason. If knuckleballer Tim Wakefield gets a start Doug Mirabelli will be behind the plate.

EDGE: RED SOX

FIRST BASE

Todd Helton had to wait 1,578 games to finally get to the postseason, but has struggled mightily thus far. He has just four hits in 26 at-bats and has knocked in only one run. While not the power hitter he once was, Helton still has some pop, and there are not many better with the glove than Peyton Manning's former backup quarterback at Tennessee.

Kevin Youkilis is one of the most underrated players in the game. He is the type of player you hate if you are playing against him, but you love to have him on your team. Youkilis has been moved to the No. 2 hole here in the postseason and has thrived, hitting .425 with four home runs and nine RBI.

Of course, though, Youkilis could find himself on the bench when the series shifts to Colorado to get David Ortiz's big bat in the lineup.

EDGE: RED SOX

SECOND BASE

After getting run out of town in New York, Kaz Matsui has found a home in Colorado. After hitting .288 in the regular season, Matsui was the offensive star for the Rockies in the NLDS, batting .417 with six RBI. Matsui also had four hits and two RBI against the D'Backs.

Dustin Pedroia could very well be on his way to an AL Rookie of the Year award. Pedroia, though, had struggled in the playoffs, hitting just .172 through Game 4 of the ALCS. However, he was 7-for-13 in the final three games against the Tribe and knocked in five runs in the clincher.

EDGE: RED SOX

SHORTSTOP

Troy Tulowitzki could be the National League's Rookie of the Year. However, he has showed signs of wearing down here in the postseason and is batting just .179. Actually it is kind of remarkable the Rockies are in the position they are considering the fact that they have gotten next to nothing offensively from Helton or Tulowitzki.

While he may be struggling with the stick, Tulowitzki could be the best defensive shortstop in the National League.

Julio Lugo is the weakest part of the Red Sox lineup. He was brought in to be the team's leadoff man this season, but that didn't pan out, as Lugo batted just .237. Things haven't changed in the playoffs, as he is hitting a paltry .229 with two RBI.

Although he is known more for his glove than his bat, he is still nowhere near the fielder Tulowitzki is.

EDGE: ROCKIES

THIRD BASE

Mike Lowell was an unsung hero in the lineup all season and that trend continued in the postseason. The soon-to-be free agent third baseman, who batted .324 and knocked in 120 RBI in the regular season, is batting .333 in the playoffs with 11 RBI.

After overcoming a brutal start to his season, Garrett Atkins managed to finish the season hitting .301 with 25 home runs and 111 RBI. However, he has lost his stroke in the playoffs, batting a mere .185 with just one RBI.

EDGE: RED SOX

LEFT FIELD

The best of all the matchups in the field takes place in left field where National League MVP candidate Matt Holliday and baseball's biggest enigma Manny Ramirez will patrol.

Holliday is the driving force behind the Rockies lineup after leading the league with a .340 average and 137 RBI. After an average division series, Holliday showed why he is a league MVP contender in the LCS, hitting .333 with a pair of home runs and four RBI to take home MVP honors in that series.

Ramirez, meanwhile, has been awesome all postseason. Ramirez, who irked some people with the who cares comments he made during the ALCS, is hitting .400 in the playoffs with four home runs and 14 RBI. He also holds the postseason record with 24 career homers.

EDGE: EVEN

CENTER FIELD

Colorado manager Clint Hurdle raised some eyebrows when he reinserted Willy Taveras into the starting lineup against Arizona after he missed the NLDS and most of the stretch run with a quad injury. The speedy leadoff man scored three times in the sweep of the Diamondbacks, but hit just .167. He batted .320 in the regular season and he will have to get on base if the Rockies are going to have a chance here.

Coco Crisp has been abysmal at the plate (.161), as well here in the postseason. But make no mistake he is only in the lineup because of his defense. With the lineup the Red Sox have, all he has to do is field his position. Rookie Jacoby Ellsbury, though, started the final two games of the series with Cleveland and could very well be there again this week.

Crisp, though, will replace him late in games for his defense if he does not get the start in center.

EDGE: ROCKIES

RIGHT FIELD

If the Rockies have one liability in the field it is in right with Brad Hawpe. But he more than makes up for his defensive shortcomings with his bat. Hawpe has picked up his game at the plate here in the postseason and is hitting .304.

J.D. Drew has been vilified in Boston for his play this season, but he did hit a big grand slam to get them going in Game 6 of the ALCS. Drew is hitting .306 in the postseason with nine RBI. Francona opted to sit him against lefty C.C. Sabathia in the ALCS and with a pair of southpaws in the Rockies rotation, he could be relegated to more bench time in the World Series. However, the Red Sox could use his arm in right, as Colorado is going to run at will.

EDGE: ROCKIES

STARTING PITCHING

When you think of the Colorado Rockies, their pitching staff is usually not the first thing that comes to mind, but left-hander Jeff Francis could be on his way to changing that.

Francis, a 17-game winner this season, has been brilliant here in his first postseason, going 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA.

After Francis, though, it gets a little shaky with the likes of rookies Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales along with Josh Fogg.

The Rockies rotation could get a boost with the return of Opening Day starter Aaron Cook, who has been sidelined since early August with an oblique strain. He was eligible to return for the NLCS, but the Rockies opted to leave him off the roster.

Beckett will again take the ball in Game 1 for the Red Sox after three tremendous starts in the first two rounds. Beckett, who was 20-7 this season with a 3.27 ERA, has added to his already impressive postseason resume in these playoffs going a perfect 3-0 with a sparkling 1.17 ERA and was named the ALCS MVP.

Beckett, who was the World Series MVP in 2003 while with the Florida Marlins, has been incredible in the playoffs over the course of his young career. In nine postseason games, Beckett is 5-2 with a 1.78 ERA.

Boston manager Terry Francona hasn't named a Game 2 starter, but the smart money will be on Curt Schilling with Daisuke Matsuzaka getting the nod in Game 3.

While not as impressive as Beckett, Schilling proved again why he is one of the best postseason pitchers of all time with his Game 6 gem against Cleveland. With Boston's backs against the wall, Schilling allowed just two runs and six hits in seven innings to run his postseason mark to 10-2 in his 18 playoff starts.

Matsuzaka, who showed signs of wearing down in the stretch, has not been sharp in the postseason, but did get the win when the Red Sox needed him most in Game 7 against Cleveland.

Wakefield has been bothered by a sore back and Francona is supposedly toying with the idea of giving lefty Jon Lester his start here in the Fall Classic.

EDGE: RED SOX

BULLPEN

Colorado, meanwhile, relies on Manny Corpas to get it home. Corpas replaced Brian Fuentes as the team's closer midway during the season and posted 19 saves and a 2.08 ERA in a team-high 78 appearances this year.

Corpas has been excellent in this postseason, recording five saves and a win, while pitching to a 1.04 ERA.

Fuentes gave up a three-run homer in the Rox' clinching win over the Diamondbacks, but has been phenomenal other than that outing. LaTroy Hawkins also serves as the bridge to Corpas.

Jonathan Papelbon came into spring training with the intention of starting, but when no one came in and took hold of the closer's role, Francona called upon his second-year pro to fill that spot once again. Papelbon responded with another sensational season with 37 saves and a 1.85 ERA.

Papelbon was only needed once in the series against the Angels and got the win with a brilliant 1 1/3 inning performance in Game 2. He pitched three times in the ALCS and earned the save with a two-inning effort in Sunday's Game 7 win.

Right-hander Hideki Okajima was dominant in the first half (2-0, 0.83 ERA), as he and Papelbon combined to form the best 1-2 punch at the end of games in the league. However, he struggled in September (8.10 ERA).

A little rest down the stretch may have been the answer, as he has tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings here in the postseason.

When Eric Gagne was acquired at the trade deadline, most people applauded the move. Gagne, though, was an utter disappointment, going 2-2 with a 6.75 ERA and three blown saves in a Red Sox uniform. He was tagged with a loss in the ALCS and has pitched to an 8.10 ERA here in the playoffs. In other words don't expect to see him unless there is a blowout.

Francona will count on Javier Lopez to get Colorado's lefties out.

EDGE: RED SOX

DESIGNATED HITTER

Colorado could use a number of people at this spot. The two most likely candidates, though, are Ryan Spilborghs and rookie Seth Smith. Spilborghs will probably get the nod, as he filled in admirably down the stretch in center while Tavares was injured.

There is no batter feared more than Boston slugger David Ortiz. Big Papi has been amazing in these playoffs hitting .387 with three home runs. He has also walked 12 times and has scored 12 times. Ortiz is also one of the most clutch hitters in the history of the game. He has been bothered with some knee issues and it will be interesting to see how he responds to playing the field three straight games in Denver.

EDGE: RED SOX

BENCH

Jamey Carroll can play second, short and third base off the bench for Colorado, but hit just .225 on the year. Carroll, though, hit .368 in 12 games against Arizona and had a .500 on-base-percentage in those contests.

Jeff Baker can pinch hit from the right side and play first and right field. Cory Sullivan and Spilborghs will see some time in the outfield too.

With Crisp hurt for most of September, Boston got a look at its future center fielder in Ellsbury and he answered the bell with a spectacular month. Francona seems to trust him and he could get a start or two in this series. He will also be used as a pinch-runner late in games.

Eric Hinske and Bobby Kielty will provide some pop late in the games, while Hinske can also play a number of positions.

EDGE:

MANAGERS

If Arizona skipper Bob Melvin does indeed win the NL Manager of the Year award, Hurdle will likely finish not far behind.

For the first time since taking over in 2002, Hurdle finished above .500. He entered this year with just a 352-436 in five years with the Rockies, but guided the club to a 90-73 mark this season for Colorado's best winning percentage since 1995.

Francona is in his fourth year as manager of the Red Sox and has taken the team to the postseason in three of those seasons, including their first title in 86 years in 2004. The Red Sox are so well disciplined and rarely make a mistake in the field and all that is a credit to Francona.

EDGE: RED SOX