Boston Wins Jackpot! 7 - 7 - 7!

Soxwin

Yes, it was a good day yesterday for Boston sports fans.  The Patriots went to 7-0 for the first time in team history, while of course the Red Sox capped another improbable comeback with a victory in game 7.

Notes from the Red Sox win:

My brother not only predicted the Red Sox would come back to win the series, he predicted the Red Sox would crush the Indians.  A total score of 30-5 in the last 3 games qualifies as a total chumpification.  Nice call, David -- even I didn't claim that would happen.

I thought from past experience that the Fox broadcasting team was anti-Red Sox, but they sure went easy on the umpire yesterday when he blew a crucial call in game 7.  Kenny Lofton was thrown out stretching a hit to a double, when the replays clearly showed he should have been called safe.  The next batter got a hit that would have tied the game, had the umpire made the right call.  Buck and McCarver barely mentioned it once, instead harping on the poor Indians' 3rd-base coach's bad decision-making.  Couldn't help thinking had it been Johnny Damon getting thrown out for the Yankees, McCarver would have been all over that ump.

So great to see Kevin Millar chumming around with his old buddies in the Sox dugout, then throwing the first pitch.  It was noted in the paper today how odd it was to see an active player throwing out the first pitch for another team in the playoffs.  Dave Roberts (deservedly) gets most of the credit for the Game 4 win vs. the Yankees, and Bill Mueller gets a lot, but Millar never gets enough credit for working the walk to put Roberts on base.  Nice work on the lineup, too, joking Mike Lowell has the biggest eyebrows in baseball.

One reason we're in the World Series:  Our bullpen can STOMP anyone else's.  (And if you don't get that joke, you haven't been paying close enough attention to the broadcasts.)  Seriously, I am really surprised how musical the ridiculous bullpen rhythm section is.  Very impressive.  Certainly wouldn't guess it from seeing Papelbon dance.

Final note:  The Rockies have won 21 of their last 22 games, but let's be clear about something.  That's 21 of their last 22 games vs. National League teams.  I think the Indians would have beaten them, and I'm sure the Red Sox will.