Our experts' look at the World Series
Our baseball experts, Bruce Miles and Scot Gregor, offer a quick look at the difference-makers in the World Series featuring the Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox:
Q. What's your view of each manager's style and contribution to his club?
Miles on Clint Hurdle: Hurdle has really grown as a manager. Instead of suffocating his players, he let them breathe this year, allowing them to run their own clubhouse. Even though some of his in-game moves have come into question, he gets high marks for his adaptability. Blessed with a photographic mind, he may put something to use from this year's interleague series.
Gregor on Terry Francona: After the Red Sox rallied from a 3-1 deficit and beat the Indians in the ALCS, Francona saluted his players for not being overwhelmed on the big stage. He deserves a lot of the credit, too. Once know for managing Michael Jordan at Class AA Birmingham in the 1990s, Francona is now gunning for his second World Series ring in four years.
Q. Who's the most valuable player on each team, and what makes him so great?
Miles on the Rockies: Matt Holliday is a front-runner for the MVP in the National League. He won the NL batting title and was atop another Triple Crown categories in RBI. He finished fourth in home runs. Most important, Holliday is capable of carrying his team over a long or short stretch. He leads by example.
Gregor on the Red Sox: David Ortiz. Yes, he is one-dimensional as Boston's designated hitter. But Big Papi swings a lethal bat, especially when the calendar turns to October.
Q. Almost every World Series has a surprising hero. Who's your pick for this one?
Miles on the Rockies: It would be easy to go with everybody's new favorite, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. But let's take Colorado catcher Yorvit Torrealba. He's the Rockies' rock behind the plate, and he has come up big this postseason. Why not in the Series?
Gregor on the Red Sox: He's an established veteran, yet third baseman Mike Lowell put up the best numbers of his career this season -- .324, 21 home runs and a team-high 120 RBI. The 34-year-old infielder has been just as good in the postseason, batting .333 with 1 home run and 11 RBI.
Q. What is impressive about the team you saw the most this season, and what weakness does it have?
Miles on the Rockies: They're a relentless bunch. That's made possible largely because of a lineup that's stacked top to bottom. No lead is safe against the Rockies -- especially at Coors Field, where they went 51-31, including the wild-card tiebreaker. The only concern is how their young pitchers will perform under pressure and at Fenway Park.
Gregor on the Red Sox: The Red Sox made only one trip to U.S. Cellular Field this season, and they destroyed the White Sox. While sweeping a four-game series in late August, the Red Sox scored 46 runs while yielding only 7. The Red Sox are an offensive powerhouse, but the starting pitching is suspect after Josh Beckett.
Q. Is there anyone available on either club who would look great in a Chicago uniform next season?
Miles on the Rockies: The Cubs can dream about left-handed hitting Brad Hawpe, but he, like most of the Rockies' young players, is tied up. Matt Herges would look good in the Cubs' bullpen, and Josh Fogg is somebody who could fill out the back of the rotation.
Gregor on the Red Sox: Coco Crisp played his way out of the starting lineup in the ALCS, but the Red Sox' center fielder could be with the White Sox in 2008. Batting only .161 in the postseason, Crisp's stock has slipped. Still, he'd be an upgrade over Jerry Owens.
Q. Which team will win, and in how many games?
Miles: Boston in five.
Gregor: Boston in five.