EricNentrup.com

The Phillies, we sweep. The D-Backs we sweep. Then the Red Sox sweep the Rockies to become the 2007 World Series Champions. Even so, it was great to be there for such an event. I was amazed at the turnout of Red Sox fans, and I fear that the MLB has a monster in this team. ‘04, and ‘07 may just be the start of a dynasty.

I was terribly off-base in my projections for the homestand games against Boston. Even so, I think the Rockies discovered a potential within themselves at the end of this season with their amazing performance. Tucson’s spring training should definitely be telling, and next season’s opening day should be a packed house at Coors Field.

Pictures from last night are viewable HERE:

Thursday night, I was supposed to watch Game 2 over at Doug Yager’s house, but my car broke down en route. Getting stranded in traffic on Denver’s I-25 not only kept me from seeing the game, but kept me from listening to most of it as well.

The tow truck delivered me back home in time for the final two innings. I got home just in time to be embarrassed for Matt Holliday who was caught leaning the wrong direction by Jonathan Papelbon. Dang was that just ugly.

Other than that, here’s what I’ve seen transpire in these two games at Fenway:

• The Rockies are awake. It was a rude awakening from an 8-day slumber, but they are definitely awake and not a moment too soon. Hopefully it’s not too late, either.
• The Red Sox pitching is astounding. From Beckett to Papelbon, and the boys from Japan…man. These guys hurl as good or better than anyone else.
• Youklis is a MENACE. I’m starting to think that if he gets to first base, you might as well color in the diamond on the scorecard because he most likely will stomp the plate.
• The Rockies pitching needs to gain corporate confidence. Herges is the only one I’ve seen throwing with authority. Fuentes is getting there, but closer and the starters need to amp it up. Take risks, throw MORE heat, and quit walking and hitting batters!
• Coors Field, no DH, and another game that revs the RPM’s for Hurdle’s Heroes, it should tip the scales to a ridiculous degree in favor of the Team From Blake Street. The Sox are going to be out of sorts in Denver and the commentators just might poop their pants when the table turns.

There. I said it. The next three games belong to the Rox. And when we return to Fenway for 6 & 7, the Sox will be so tired from the beating they’ll gladly hand us their chowder.

Go Rox.

Eric, out.

My wife is the most wonderful woman on the planet. She dilligently clicked through the online ticket system and thanks to her persistence, I’m GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!!

Holy cow. I can NOT believe she was able to get tickets. I’m sitting in the Left Field Pavilion area, section 154. If you haven’t been following the news about this, it’s been quite controversial, and to even get these tickets has been an absolute shock to me. I’ve been quite the Rockies fan this season, and this is simply too much to absorb.

So here’s what’s going to happen:

• Games 1 & 2 are being played at Fenway on Wed/Thurs. Then Sat/Sun/Mon are for Games 3/4/5, before returning to Fenway if necessary.
• The Rockies beat the Red Sox in regular season inter-league play 2 out of 3 games. Of course everybody and their goldfish know that the Rockies are on a TEAR winning 21 of their last 22. For the record, once again, I was at the ONLY loss of that streak, as well as seeing their final regular season win, both against the D-Backs who the Rockies recently swept to clinch the NLCS Pennant.
• But the Red Sox have gotten on their horse in the ALCS and put the Indians to shame, climbing back from a 3-1 deficit and shutting them down with 3 wins in a row, and winning the American League Pennant.
• While they did that, the Rox were on an 8 day baseball hiatus after 8 games of postseason play and 163 games of regular season competition dating back to April. It’s the longest break you could possibly have between games in the continuous regular-to-post season calendar.
• The Rockies payroll tops out at $55M and the Redsox nearly triple that at $143M. But in spite of that, our starters, our bullpen, our defense–man…they are playing at a level that borders on insanity. It’s ridiculous.
• Nobody outside of Denver knows the Rockies. And EVERYBODY knows the Red Sox. Beyond that…Denver’s such a transient city that a good number of folks who are residents here are from back East and therefore could have the gall to show up wearing Red Sox garb.

The stats, variables, mojo, luck, and x-factors go on and on. No one knows how this match-up will play out. And if you dig out that 3 week old Sports Illustrated or revisit the blogs of the baseball gurus, you’ll see that they had NO IDEA that Colorado would do what they’ve done.

They’re the underdog. They’re the anomaly. They’re my team.

Go Rockies!

When it was announced recently that tickets for the World Series games held at Coors Field in Denver, would be sold EXCLUSIVELY online, it was met with a fair amount of skepticism–folks spoke out about the fairness to those who don’t have internet access, along with nixing the tradition camping out at the box office. But the REAL issue that has bit the MLB in the butt is whether or not the computer hardware and software could handle the THOUSANDS (if not millions) of honest fans and less honest scalpers all vying for that precious bandwidth this morning at 10am. The answer: OF COURSE NOT As of 2:30pm/MST today, the issue has yet to be resolved. For what it’s worth, I WILL be trying to get tickets to either Game 4 or Game 5 (if necessary). And this foible might give me another shot!

I can’t believe it…it’s un-frickin-believable! The Colorado Rockies are GOING to the big dance–the World Series! They are the undisputed champs of the National League, and quite possibly the classiest group of men in professional sports. The pennant truly belongs to them.

Tonight, the Rox SWEPT the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-4 in an historic accomplishment in Major League Baseball, being the first team since the 1995 institution of the Wild Card to ever sweep both the first and second rounds of competition, and only the second team since my beloved 1976 Big Red Machine to go undefeated at this point of the post-season. They are 7-0 with no signs of stopping.

In fact, why don’t we play BOTH of the American League contenders! I seriously think we can handle BOTH, the Red Sox AND the Indians.

Not two weeks ago, I sat with my friend Chris Laurent at Coors Field, and we witnessed the ONLY loss the Rockies have suffered in 22 games. And now, they’re permanently on the map. This is sports history at the highest level, and if you can’t tell yet, yes, I am smitten with this team. I am addicted to the Rockies, and I’m thrilled to be living in Denver where it’s all going down!

Go Rockies!