WS Game 2 Postgame

If we turn to Schilling again, we don't need one bit more from him than he gave us tonight. He did the job as the grizzled veteran that he is. No, he can't reach back and burn anymore like Beckett and Papelbon do, but he knows things that they don't know. And Jimenez may have lit up the radar gun, but the old guy was around longer, and beat the kid. At this point in their respective careers, Curt has forgotten more about pitching than the younger man knows, and he used it all tonight.
Tonight revealed other differences in these clubs. The veteran Lowell takes the extra base, and scores on Tek's Sac Fly. The youngster Holliday gets picked off first with his team trailing by a run in the 8th. Mike made an error, but Schilling picked him up. Later, Mike atones by driving in the winning run. That's experience; that's what it means to have been there before. Schilling has, with the Phillies, D'backs and Sox, and Lowell's been to the top with the Marlins. Nobody on the Rockies has that kind of experience, and it's showing.
The other side of the coin is that the Sox' young guys are special. Dustin Pedroia is a rookie, but plays like a veteran. He even looks like those guys in the photos from the 1920's and 1930's. Jacoby Ellsbury is the greenest of rookies, but gives no indication of anxiety or nerves, starting in the World Series. Okajima and Matsuzaka are new to the country, but performing very well. Their Japanese Leagues experience is helping, but only so far. They obviously don't have any 3,000 mile road trips in Japan. I also have read that they don't even change time zones in their travels. What an adjustment, and that doesn't even address the language, food, culture, distance from family and all the rest of it. Papelbon is a baby, just a big goofy kid. If you're not sure about that, look on YouTube for his performances in the three clinching celebrations so far. He's a maniac. But on that mound, he is General Patton, and he's marching on your village. Don't forget, this is the first season when he has been a closer who's going to stay a closer. He is what Mariano Rivera was a decade ago for the Yankees.
Next up, it'll be Dice K against Josh Fogg in Denver on Saturday night. I don't think it will be a sweep. I think the Rockies will win at least one in their park. But it wouldn't surprise me if Sunday night saw the end of the season.