World Series Preview: Why the Sox will win it all

With all the previews, breakdowns and analysis floating around the series, I'm gonna keep this short and sweet.

5 Reasons why the Sox will win the World Series:

5.) Pitching
The Sox have studs like Cy Young lock Josh Beckett, playoff prince Curt Schilling, scary closer Jonathan Papelbon, and devastating setup men Hideki Okajima and Manny Delcarmen. The Rockies have the stable of Josh Fogg, Jeff Francis, Aaron Cook as starters and one-year wonder Manny Corpas closing.

'Nuff said.

4.) Experience
Boston has been to the playoffs three of the last four years, has three World Series MVPs on the roster (Beckett, Schilling and Manny) and play more "must win" games over the course of the season than any team other than its mutual "must win" opponent, the Stanks.

Colorado players had a grand total of 18 meaningful October games under its belt before this season, all by outfielder Willy Taveras, and the longest-tenured player in team history, first baseman Todd Helton, had never sniffed a postseason at bat until two weeks ago.

Some will say all that goes out the window when the games are on the line, but you can't tell me a team full of seasoned playoff vets doesn't hold a decided advantage over a team of "happy to be here" greenhorns.

3.) Balls
Boston is home to some of the more fiery fans in the US, and its baseball team is a fair representative of that F-you mentality. From the little second sacker who could, Dustin Pedroia, to the intimidating presence of Schill, Papelbon & Beckett, to the bat rack-busting exploits of Kevin Youkilis, no team possesses more hard-headed hotheads than Boston.

That bulldog-like approach helped them chew up the soft Angels and softer Indians, and it should also help propel them past the so nice they're gross Rockies.

2.) Money
The Red Sox brass has compiled one of the best teams money can buy while Colorado has a budget that would barely cover the expense of negotiating for Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Boston has a payroll of approximately $143 million including 4 players who make over $12 million a year (Manny, Papi, Drew, Schill), while the Rox have a mere $54 million invested in their merry band of Rocky Mountain, topping out with Helton's $16 mill for 2007.

I know they say money can't but you love, but $154 million sure as hell better buy you a team that can beat a band of bargain-bin castoffs.

1.) Destiny
I know, I know, the team that has won 21 of 22 games would appear to be riding a magic carpet all the way to World Series-winning glory, but that meteoric rise began a mere five weeks ago; Boston has been destined to win the title this year since before the season started, by outbidding the New York teams for Daisuke Matsuzaka, by jumping out to that phenomenal 14 game lead, by balancing above-average pitching with an explosive, well-balanced offense, and by staying on the path to glory despite numerous obstacles, staunch opposition, and by avoiding that lingering inbred propensity for choking when the games matter most.


As you see, when you lay it all out scientifically like this, there really is only one choice to hoist the championship trophy this season.

And that team doesn't eat Rocky Mountain oysters for midnight snacks.