Roche: Red Sox-Cardinals Thoughts As We Prepare For World Series
BOSTON (CBS) - Here are a few random Red Sox thoughts after Boston wrapped up the ALCS in six games, and are now moving on to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2007:
-- Our crack sports producer Joe Giza at WBZ-TV pointed out that winner of this World Series will be the first MLB franchise to claim three titles in the 21st century.
-- How many times have we heard from High School ball up to look for a fastball first and then adjust to the breaking stuff when it comes in. Well, that's exactly what Shane Victorino did Saturday night when he lifted his game-winning grand slam into the Monster.
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-- The Tigers' rotation was as good as advertised, and how can you not love the competitive fire in Mac Scherzer?
-- I feel good for Jake Peavy, who gets a chance to pitch again. It was something he badly wanted to do after his Game 4 struggles in Detroit and that would have been a tough way to go into the off-season.
-- Appreciate David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, and Jon Lester getting to enjoy this World Series run with their kids, something they couldn't do before.
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-- I think the difference in this series may come down to off-speed stuff of the Cardinals' starting pitchers. The Sox have struggled with it since Game 3 of the Tampa Bay series. But if they can adjust, the Sox offense may explode.
-- One thing I will never forget is how nice the people were to Boston fans (and us media folks too) in St. Louis in 2004. Halfway through Game 4 of that World Series, the ushers let all the Sox fans that didn't have tickets, but just wanted to be there when the Sox won it, into the park. What a wonderful gesture.
-- I love the fact that we have the teams with the best records in their respective leagues in the World Series for the first time since 1999.
-- Koji Uehara's season is beyond magical.
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-- Those showing "zero fear" in the postseason: David Ortiz and Carlos Beltran.
-- If you appreciate the catching position you will love watching St. Louis backstop Yadier Molina.
-- The best thing about going from series to series is that a player who was ice cold in one can catch fire in the next. It's a great chance to start with a clean slate.
-- The Cards have to be thrilled to be getting Allen Craig back for the World Series. He had a great season, hitting .315 with 13 homers and 97 RBIs, prior to hurting his foot in early September.
-- I'll have more on the matchup coming up, but for now enjoy every second of the hype. This doesn't happen that often!
Follow WBZ-TV's Dan Roche on Twitter @RochieWBZ.
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