Schilling and Lowell to Return

It didn't appear likely a few days before the signing, but Curt Schilling will be returning to the Red Sox in 2008 for one more season as the Red Sox signed him to a 1-year deal with incentives. I felt this was a great move by the Red Sox as it puts them in good position to repeat in 2008. It was a good deal for the money and even though Schilling is not the ace he used to be, he will give the Red Sox some strength in the middle of the rotation for 2008. It will be interesting to see who will earn the #4 and #5 spots. The competition will likely between Tim Wakefield, Jon Lester, and Clay Buchholz.

It also didn't appear very likely that Lowell would be back with the Red Sox once the offers from other teams started rolling in. However, Lowell decided to remain where he was comfortable: playing 3B for the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox got what could be considered a bargain with the signing (Lowell accepted 3 years/$37.5 million). The Lowell signing ensures that the Red Sox will have all of the major pieces back for 2008 (Coco Crisp might still be traded, but it appears that the Red Sox are better off with Jacoby Ellsbury in CF).

World Series Game 4: Red Sox vs. Rockies

Ironically, it was Jon Lester that could send Red Sox Nation into euphoria in 2007. Lester would have been considered an unlikely hero at the start of the season due to struggles with cancer; however, Lester proved his worth as a Major Leaguer in Game 4.

Lester pitched 5.2 brilliant scoreless innings. He allowed only 3 hits while striking out 3 and walking 3 and left with a 2-0 lead thanks to RBI singles by David Ortiz and Jason Varitek. In the 7th inning, the Red Sox picked up another run from a Mike Lowell solo homerun to make it 3-0 Boston.

The Rockies would battle back in the bottom of the 7th with a solo homerun by Brad Hawpe off of Hideki Okajima before the Sox answered in the top of the 8th with a solo homerun by Bobby Kielty, another unlikely hero.

In the 8th inning, the Rockies gave their fans some hope when Garret Atkins smashed a 2-run homer into the Coors field seats to cut the Red Sox lead to 1. Unfortunately for the Rockies, the Red Sox have Jonathan Papelbon who shut the door on the 8th inning and retired the side in order in the 9th to give the Red Sox their 2nd World Championship in 4 years. The save by Papelbon also made the solo homer by Kielty extremely significant, as it turned out to be the run that clinched the title.

World Series Game 3: Red Sox vs. Rockies

Daisuke Matsuzaka would start Game 3 for the Red Sox and try to give them a 3-0 series lead. He pitched 5.1 strong innings, only allowing the Rockies to put 2 runs on the board.

Despite a short outing, Matsuzaka was able to pick up the win as the Red Sox offense crushed Josh Fogg for 10 hits and 6 runs in 2.2 innings which gave the Red Sox a 6-0 lead.

The Rockies would end up scoring 2 runs in the 6th and 3 runs in the 7th before the Red Sox put the game away. In the 8th inning, Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia had RBI doubles to extend the lead to 9-5. Ellsbury and Pedroia were a collective 7/10 with 3 runs scored and 4 RBIs. Boston collected another run in the 9th on a sacrifice fly by Jason Varitek.

Jonathan Papelbon was able to pick up the save because he came in to finish the 8th inning with runners on base.