Why the 2007 Colorado Rockies will win the World Series
The 2007 Colorado Rockies will win the World Series because they are baseball's version of the 2003 Syracuse basketball team that won the National Championship.
I've been formulating this theory for a while. The most striking similarity is that both teams got hot at just the right time. It's been three decades since an NL team won its first 6 post season games. Back in 2003, after January, Syracuse didn't lose to a single basketball team besides Connecticut.
Other things feel the same. Both teams came from off the national radar. Colorado was dead and buried halfway through September. Syracuse was mentioned by a few experts before the tournament as a dark horse, but was certainly not a favorite. Both teams relied on a lot of young players, with some key veterans in the mix. I think I can even find parallels in specific individuals of both teams:
Matt Holliday is Carmelo Anthony - This one is obvious. 2003 was a coming out year for Melo. 2007 is a coming out year for Holliday.
Troy Tulowitzki is Gerry McNamara - Rookie. Less heralded than Holliday/Anthony. By the end of the regular season, he was the surprising team leader. (TBD: Troy's clutchness)
Todd Helton is Kueth Duany - After weathering some rough years, the vet finally sees some well-deserved success of which he plays no small role.
Kazuo Matsui is Billy Edelin - A brief stint in the lower levels (minors/AAU ball) catapaults him back into the limelight for a short, sweet and extremely effective time.
Jeff Francis is Craig Forth - Under-appreciated, both by the fans of his own team and outside observers, he nonetheless is critical to his team. If he performs crappy, there is no title.
Ubaldo Jimenez is Hakim Warrick - He isn't the star of the team, but watching him at the time gives you the distinct feeling that he may be a star in the future. (TBD: A shutdown game in the World Series would be Ubaldo's version of The block.)
Manny Corpas is Jeremy McNeil - He does the job with a slightly dazed demeanor, but at least he does the job.
Willy Taveras is Josh Pace - Glue.
LaTroy Hawkins is Matt Gorman - Years later you will be mildly surprised to recall he was a part of that year's roster.
See? Plus, either Boston or Cleveland would fit the role of Kansas. Boston would fit as a heavy favorite with a dominating duo (Ortiz/Manny = Heinrich/Collison). Cleveland would fit as a great baseball locale which nonetheless has fallen well short in recent history.
The only thing that doesn't work: Clint Hurdle is no Jim Boeheim. I looked, and the only great baseball manager out there who doesn't have a World Series title is probably Bruce Bochy, and he is still 20 good years shy of Boeheim status.
Anyway, consider this a warning to not underestimate the Colorado Rockies.
I've been formulating this theory for a while. The most striking similarity is that both teams got hot at just the right time. It's been three decades since an NL team won its first 6 post season games. Back in 2003, after January, Syracuse didn't lose to a single basketball team besides Connecticut.
Other things feel the same. Both teams came from off the national radar. Colorado was dead and buried halfway through September. Syracuse was mentioned by a few experts before the tournament as a dark horse, but was certainly not a favorite. Both teams relied on a lot of young players, with some key veterans in the mix. I think I can even find parallels in specific individuals of both teams:
Matt Holliday is Carmelo Anthony - This one is obvious. 2003 was a coming out year for Melo. 2007 is a coming out year for Holliday.
Troy Tulowitzki is Gerry McNamara - Rookie. Less heralded than Holliday/Anthony. By the end of the regular season, he was the surprising team leader. (TBD: Troy's clutchness)
Todd Helton is Kueth Duany - After weathering some rough years, the vet finally sees some well-deserved success of which he plays no small role.
Kazuo Matsui is Billy Edelin - A brief stint in the lower levels (minors/AAU ball) catapaults him back into the limelight for a short, sweet and extremely effective time.
Jeff Francis is Craig Forth - Under-appreciated, both by the fans of his own team and outside observers, he nonetheless is critical to his team. If he performs crappy, there is no title.
Ubaldo Jimenez is Hakim Warrick - He isn't the star of the team, but watching him at the time gives you the distinct feeling that he may be a star in the future. (TBD: A shutdown game in the World Series would be Ubaldo's version of The block.)
Manny Corpas is Jeremy McNeil - He does the job with a slightly dazed demeanor, but at least he does the job.
Willy Taveras is Josh Pace - Glue.
LaTroy Hawkins is Matt Gorman - Years later you will be mildly surprised to recall he was a part of that year's roster.
See? Plus, either Boston or Cleveland would fit the role of Kansas. Boston would fit as a heavy favorite with a dominating duo (Ortiz/Manny = Heinrich/Collison). Cleveland would fit as a great baseball locale which nonetheless has fallen well short in recent history.
The only thing that doesn't work: Clint Hurdle is no Jim Boeheim. I looked, and the only great baseball manager out there who doesn't have a World Series title is probably Bruce Bochy, and he is still 20 good years shy of Boeheim status.
Anyway, consider this a warning to not underestimate the Colorado Rockies.
Labels: 2003 Syracuse Orange basketball, Colorado Rockies, MLB
posted by Prof. A at 11:07 AM
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