Red Sox Money Machine Rumbles Over Rockies

[alcibiades_mystery]

Q: How do you flatten the Rockies?
A: With truckloads of cash and a dugout full of Super Stars (and a few outstanding rookies!).

Tonight the massively favored Red Sox proved the value of their combined $143 million paychecks, flattening the Rockies at Coors Field with yet another clinic in hitting and pitching. Dice-K Matsuzaka (whose $51 million salary almost matches the yearly total for the whole Rockies squad) put in a sterling performance on the mound, and even silenced critics of the designated hitter rule by singling in two runs to support his own cause. He threw for 3 hits, 3 walks, and no runs in when he walked off the mound after 5 1/3 (2 runs off walks were later charged to him).

The scrappy underdog Rockies looked less and less scrappy, and more and more pathetically outmatched, as the Red Sox plated the order plus 2 in the third, putting in six runs and sending Rockies starter Fogg off to fog up the showers. Jacoby Ellsbury hit two doubles in the inning and one in the seventh; those three doubles from Ellsbury were more extra base hits than the whole $54 million Rockies managed in the entire game.

The laughable match-up was at that point reflected in the numbers:

21 runs for the Red Sox, 2 for the Rockies.
34 hits for the Red Sox, 14 for the Rockies.

The Red Sox hit around the order in five separate innings.
The Rockies had not had back-to-back hits yet.

That was the story up until the 6th and 7th, when the Rockies regained some dignity and reclaimed the mantle of the Scrappy Underdog. Five runs. Six hits. One after the other. And for a brief moment, Matt Holliday looked a little like Jim Leyritz. But it was not to be. The swaggering Sox were tagged, but not bloodied, and mopped up the eighth and ninth in workmanlike order, tacking on 3 in the eighth, and one in the ninth, almost with a yawn. With that, the Boston Money Machine swatted away the penultimate pesky flies of the 2007 baseball season.

It has turned out to be a series *almost* just as the bookies predicted, with the Green Monster Favorites just trampling the Rockies, who've managed to put together a mere two innings of meaningful offense against the Boston Juggernaut. At this point, Boston's second World Series in four years is virtually assured, and an easy sweep of the Series not only likely, but highly probable. One thing is certain. The Red Sox front office decided several years ago - unlike their fans - that complaining about the Yankees payroll was counterproductive, and perhaps emulating it was the better strategy. They did so with an assured bank account, and better player choices to stretch those piles of cash. Now the Nation gets its ROI, and is ready to reap the rewards.

[liberaltrucker]

1. Money talks, sportsmanship walks

Sad, but true.

:grr:

[IndianaJones]

2. I pretended it was still 6-5 in the bottom of the 9th. much more exciting.

especially that triple.

[Joey Liberal]

3. Red Sox Rule!

The Red Sox have a massive payroll because they have a massive market. Not too many teams have a market the size of New England. Hey, they've put together a great team. They have Fenway Park and the Red Sox Nation.

Sweet Caroline, the good times never felt so good!

And I love that muddy water:)............

[regnaD kciN]

6. DIRTY Water...DIRTY Water!!!!!

:eyes:

[Bake]

12. If it was the Yankees, you'd be whining about their payroll ...

Admit it.

The Sox bought this one.

Bake

[alcibiades_mystery]

13. They'll never admit that

Payroll "doesn't matter," they say. Or, the question is more "nuanced, not so black and white."

The mental contortions are incredible. And hilarious.

[Joey Liberal]

42. The Yankees have always had the big payroll

The Red Sox front office has put together a great team for the second time since 2004. The Red Sox team on the field has out played the Rockies. Please admit to that!

[alcibiades_mystery]

53. Who wouldn't admit THAT?

Of course they've outplayed the Rockies. They're the far better team. Better players, more expensive. It's not that complicated.

[Bake]

68. They pay ONE PITCHER more than the entire Rockies payroll.

So OF COURSE they outplayed the Rockies. Duh!

Bake

[sasquatch]

4. At least the Sox aren't owned by snake handlers

[Joey Liberal]

5. Yes, the Red Sox are owned by Democrats....n/t

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. That explains the massive payroll: they treat their workers better

The Rockies payroll (at almost a third of the Red Sox) indicates their low-wage paying Republican ownership. So, rooting for the massively favored Red Sox is like supporting the working class little guy against the Republican big wigs and fat cats!

Hoo-aah!

[Joey Liberal]

36. Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[alcibiades_mystery]

54. Keep cherishing that dream

Marketers invented it for you, and now you have it to cuddle at night. With your championship. :-)

[cboy4]

7. You crack me up. I wonder how many people get

your sarcasm, or if they're just thinking to themselves, "Yea alcibiades_mystery is right on the mark, the Red Sox are good."

LOL!!

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. Sarcasm?

Me?

;-)

[Deja Q]

10. Must... resist... huge temptation... to... copycat!

:rofl:

[rockymountaindem]

11. Absolutely correct

But as a Rockies *and* Red Sox fan (in Boston) I have to say that the behavior of some of RSN has been boorish and condescending. They just don't seem to get that the Sox are the favorites these days, and they're not getting the pity vote from the rest of the baseball world anymore. Nobody in Peoria is saying "I'd better root for the Red Sox in the series because otherwise my 85 year old uncle is gonna die without seeing a championship". That train pulled out of the station in 2004, but a lot of Sox fans seem like they're still desperately trying to ride it.

If people want to hate the Sox as much as they hate the Yanks, that's just fine. There are probably plenty of fans who hate the Broncos and the Raiders alike, but you don't see Broncs fans having a pity party wondering why people don't like them more. The rivalry is what it is and should sustain itself regardless of how people in the rest of the baseball world see it.

If the Rockies get swept, then that's that. The Sox are obviously the better team and have the larger payroll. As a Rockies fan, I'm happy they got this far. Six weeks ago we were hoping just to get into third place in our division. As a Red Sox fan, I'd love to get excited for them, but the way plenty of people I've seen and heard around here and on the street have been acting, that's going to be hard.

[bluedigger]

14. News Flash!

alcibiades_mystery posts one millionth comment on Red Sox payroll and bemoans the inequity. "Oh the humanity! The humanity!" Red Sox Nation yawns and goes to sleep, fat and happy...

[alcibiades_mystery]

15. Thanks for the update!

:hi:

BTW, I have never "bemoaned the inequity" even once. That would be your imagination doing that. Cheers! :-)

[bluedigger]

49. So what do you call it?

Whining?
Kvetching?
Rationalizing your inevitible doom?
:shrug: :)

(just seems like you are a one note band, but maybe I'm not paying enough attention...)

1-0 Sox w/Rox on the corners in the second...

[alcibiades_mystery]

51. Call it what you wanna call it, kiddo

I'm just commenting.

[bluedigger]

62. Kiddo?

I'm like 47!

:rofl:

If you were carding me I'd have to tip!

[alcibiades_mystery]

63. It's just an expression

Wow. So touchy. Let's be friends!

:hi:

[bluedigger]

70. No prob bro!

I thought it was funny - seriesly! Guess I should of smilified my response.
:toast:

[redwitch]

16. Rockies need to pray harder.

:-)

[alcibiades_mystery]

17. Or open the bank account?

:-)

[redwitch]

18. Maybe, I'm sure they have plenty of cash on hand.

On a side note I would like to say that I have fallen asleep and missed the last 2 or 3 innings of about every post season game so far. How many kids are able to stay up and watch? Baseball will run out of cash if they do not entice the next generation to get interested. But, gotta get those advertising bucks!

MLB sent hubby an email telling him that Stub Hub has tickets for post season play starting @ $650. The guys who got busted in Boston for scalping the other night have a pretty good "pot calling kettle" case I think.

It is all about the money, I do get that. But damn I love the Sox! :hi:

[alcibiades_mystery]

19. Cool deal, red witch

:hi:

[Breeze54]

20. *yawn*.... It was a great game!!!!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

I had another great night watching the Red Sox kick ass!! :rofl:

:hi:

:P

[leftofthedial]

21. it wasn't the superstars that beat the rockies

it was the rockies' own miserably thin pitching

and the 8-day layoff that stole a few precious microseconds of reaction time from the hitters and sucked all the air out of their emotional stretch-drive balloon.


position-by-position, the rockies are better than the sox at every position except catcher and designated hitter.

the rockies' pitching, however, has several solid performers (Herges, for example), but way too many rookies and never wases. it shows just how short-sighted the penny-pinching management were in not pursuing viable starting arms back in mid-season.

on another note, I've seen perhaps a thousand big league games in nearly every park in the country (and Canada). The Red Sox fans in attendance at last night's game were without a doubt the most obnoxious, classless poor winners I've ever seen anywhere. Many of them received thorough ass kickings for their trouble.

[rockymountaindem]

22. Really?

I didn't know anybody got their ass kicked at sporting events in this country anymore.

[DS1]

23. i'm calling bullshit

maybe the poster 'wanted' to see their asses kicked, but I doubt it happened in a large scale as suggested

[rockymountaindem]

24. I saw an attempted ass kicking at Skydome one time

right in the stands between a Sox fan and the Jays fan who instigated the scene by throwing ice at all the Sox fans in his section. It was abruptly stopped by the police before any asses could actually be kicked.

[leftofthedial]

34. walking about four blocks through LoDo after the game, I personally witnessed

seven fistfights involving Red Sox fans

and many more verbal altercations.

As for the physical fights, judging from the blood, tears and bruises, the Red Sox were 0-7 outside the ballpark.

[Joey Liberal]

39. If you're looking for the tough Boston fans

Visit the Fenway bleachers or any Irish pub near Fenway or in Southie. The fans that travelled to Denver are the rich folks. The blue collar types in Boston are a tougher breed.

[leftofthedial]

43. been there

you're right

[leftofthedial]

30. the streets, alleys and bars of LoDo are a different story

though

[IndianaJones]

25. If they're so much better, why haven't they gotten called up to the majors yet? nt.

[Breeze54]

26. The Rockies left field "catcher" sucks rocks!

And do you have a link to all the ass kicking? Maybe some were obnoxious, won't deny that,
but I'm sure the Rockies fans have some obnoxious fans also but I doubt all the RS fans were
and they were shown in the stands just standing up with all the rest of the attendees, smiling
and at a CO. bar with Rockies fans having a great time.

[JTG of the PRB]

28. Sorry to disagree so vehemently, but I think you're dead wrong about Matt Holliday.

He's the only player on the Rockies who actually looked ready to play in the World Series. He has more hits than his teammates and the only Rockies home run. He is the spark, the heart, and the true professional of this team. He is one of - if not THE - best players on this team.

That said, you're right about the Rockies and Sox fans intermingling during and after the game. Nobody was angry, there was no fighting, and nobody was going to start a riot. Sure, we were all disappointed that the Rockies lost, but it doesn't matter in the long run. It's only a game, and besides - we ALL had a blast! That was the most fun I've ever had at a baseball game, and the atmosphere was like nothing I've ever experienced.

I got to go to a World Series game an watch my home team - the team I grew up loving - play for a world title! THAT is a dream come true!

I didn't frown, I didn't get frustrated, I wasn't angry. I smiled the entire game, even when we gave up runs, and I was smiling all night after the game was over. I had a great time watching the Rockies play in the World Series.

The Red Sox are the better team right now, and they've pretty much got this World Series wrapped up. But you know what? I had a great time. The Rockies have had a great season, and they're going to have an even better season next year.

[leftofthedial]

33. It was a blast having the World Series in Denver

The team has given me more fun watching baseball (the only sport I love) than I've had in years.

I agree about Holliday. To trade Holliday for Ramirez on the open market right now, the Sox would have to throw in a pitcher on the order of Matsuzaka or two or three other players or *major* cash. Not a scout in all of baseball would rate them anywhere near equal.

[JTG of the PRB]

35. It was the most fun I've ever had at ANY sporting event.

I've been to some great Bronco wins, some great Avs games, some wonderful CU games, and some stellar Rockies games, but this one topped them all. It was far and away the best baseball game I've ever been to, even though the Rockies lost. A real dream come true.

Say what you want about the team not playing well, but the city of Denver REALLY knows how to host big events!

[SallyMander]

38. what a great attitude :-)

I am a Sox fan, and was lucky enough to see game 4 of the ALCS in Cleveland. I was absolutely thrilled to be there, even though the Sox lost... until we left the stadium. Some Indians fans were SO rude... I was really shaken. Just trying to get to my car and all i was hearing all around was "F*** YOU" and "GO BACK TO BOSTON, B****!" It sort of ruined the night for me... they should have just enjoyed their win, and being there, you know??? I think it makes it fun to have opposing teams' fans at the ballpark... i like to talk to them at Fenway, learn where they grew up, how they came to live in Boston (if they do now)... guess i am not taking the game SERIOUSLY enough!!! :sarcasm:

Anyway, i'll stop ranting now. Just wanted to say i appreciate your attitude. :hi: (oh, and i agree about Matt Holliday -- that guy seems like a class act)

[JTG of the PRB]

41. You know, I really don't thing there's any place for that in baseball.

College football is another matter. I'm not saying I agree with it, but I have been caught up in football games like that. :blush:

Part of it is surely the rivalry factor - I'm sure Yankees-Red Sox or Giants-Dodgers games when they really count get more intense like that - but I don't think there's any excuse for poor sportsmanship in baseball. I'm not sure why I feel this way mostly about baseball and not other sports. I got to see a great World Series game, with my home team, in their home stadium. What's NOT to love about that?

Maybe it's not our year. Maybe we just ran out of steam. We still won the NL Pennant, and that's nothing to scoff at. For a full month we were almost unbeatable. Our team played better than I have ever seen them play, and it was just magical.

It might be a different case in different cities, especially if your a fan of the visiting team. Some people are just jerks and they can't be good winners. There's just no excuse for that. If your team won, don't dance around like an idiot and gloat and berate people. Take it like a good sport and congratulate the other team for playing as well as they could.

[leftofthedial]

31. my post earlier was hasty and careless. I meant to clarify not ALL Red Sox fans

certainly many arefine, fun, great fans

it seems every team has some obnoxious fans. My observation was just that the Red Sox seemed to have more and more obnoxious fans in the idiot asshole stratum than most teams I've been around.

[cboy4]

27. My cousin, who is an A's fan, says the Red Sox fans

who show up at the Coliseum to watch Boston make the game almost unbearable to watch.

But then I say the same thing about Cubs fans, who are every bit as obnoxious.

[curlyred]

29. I was at the game last night and the Sox fans were rude

obnoxious, and generally had no baseball manners.....but they were no where near as bad as the Cubs fans at the 2nd game in Denver this summer. Horrible people.

[JTG of the PRB]

32. I didn't really have the same experience.

I was at the game last night too, and the Sox fans who were near us were friendly and we chatted a bit. They seemed like nice people.

There were a few Sox fans I saw that were walking and talking very smugly to Rockies fans, but that seemed to be the exception.

Then again, I was in the front row of a section, so I wasn't really around too many people. :shrug:

[Joey Liberal]

37. Give the Red Sox fans a little slack

At least they are Democrats:)................

[Yavin4]

45. Hey cboy4, I Heard That The Red Sox Players Pay For Their Groceries...

with checks.

And with their huge salaries, you can just imagine how long it takes for them to balance their checkbooks while in line.

[cboy4]

47. That does sound like a nightmare scenario Yavin4.

It's chilling enough to imagine getting behind someone like you.

[Yavin4]

50. I Don't Write Checks

I just steal my groceries.

[cboy4]

59. LOL. Anything to avoid the lines.

:thumbsup:

[Joey Liberal]

40. LOL

position-by-position, the rockies are better than the sox at every position except catcher and designated hitter.
------------------
Colorado has a good team. But they are no match for the Boston Red Sox. That's why they are down 3-0.

[leftofthedial]

44. the only other questionably equal position

is third base


Nowhere else would you find a single major league GM willing to trade the Rockie player straight up for the Sox player, without the Sox throwing in players or cash.

[asthmaticeog]

46. *yawn* Typical bullshit. Explain Tribe vs. Yankees if payroll is such a big factor?

A team of modest talents lucked its way into the Series and it's getting crushed by a MASSIVELY superior team. Like nobody saw that coming. :eyes: GO SOX!

[alcibiades_mystery]

52. That's an excellent question

Promise me that you'll be consistent in your application of the underlying principle.

No more griping about payroll, asthmatic. Like, ever.

:thumbsup:

[asthmaticeog]

55. I try not to anyway. I'm sure I've lapsed, but I'm human. And it's the Yankees.

;)

Hey, what about griping about payroll where *I* work?

[alcibiades_mystery]

56. Where you work is fine

Unless you are an umpire.

:-)

Just looking for a little honesty from certain quarters.

[asthmaticeog]

57. From Yankee haters, you mean?

I'm not one, especially. I was when the Tribe was humiliating them, but that's to be expected. ;)

[alcibiades_mystery]

58. I'm not a yankee fan

So I do not care whether they were humiliated or not.

I'm just an ordinary guy a bit fed up with the preciousness of the Red Sox marketing narrative. :-)

[cboy4]

48. alcibiades_mystery, I'm looking forward to more of your

very accurate analysis after tonight's game.

You're an excellent writer.

[Danger Mouse]

60. yup, go sox!!

:P

[alcibiades_mystery]

61. Go Goliath! Beat David!

:thumbsup:

The most pathetic image of the night was two girls in Red Sox jerseys "praying" in the bottom of the eighth. Their team was up by a run, and leading the series 3-0. You'd think the situation was reversed, so badly have their minds been warped by the Red Sox marketing. Still the desperate underdogs, even up 3-0 in the World Series, and leading by a run in the 8th. Hilarious and stupid all at once. I'd even prefer fans like you, who are unapologetic in Yankee mimicry, rather than still pretending to be the valiant underdog! Good on ya!

[Danger Mouse]

64. i'm primarily a mets fan.

but i do like the sox as well.

[alcibiades_mystery]

65. Me too, unfortunately...

:-)

Never did care for the Red Sox, but they deserved it this year.

[regnaD kciN]

66. Oh, alcibiades_mystery...

...you should really try a little cheese with that whine! :eyes:

[alcibiades_mystery]

67. Shall I try the Brie

or the cliche?

Well, I guess I already got the cliche, so brie it is!

:-)

[sniffa]

69. woot! go sox!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

the curse of jonny damon is finaLLy broken.

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: