Oops, they did it again: Sawx sweep World Series

Sweet Caroline… Good times never felt so good… So Good! So Good!

[Photo: Boston.com – Click here for full World Series photo gallery at Boston.com]

It’s becoming sort of an October script for the Red Sox: sweep the division series, fall behind in the playoffs, pull off a wicked comeback and then go on to sweep the World Series. There’s very little I can say objectively about a team I’ve loved since the 1975 World Series against the Reds, but here’s my take on The Good, The Bad and The Ugly:

The Good:

• Josh Becket – pick any game.
• John Lester – first guy to win a World Series clincher on his debut.
• Dustin Pedroia’s HR and his offensive combination with Jacoby Elsbury.
• Mike Lowell – it’s gotta be hard to beat a team with both Lowell and Jason Varitek behind them.
• Terry Francona – 8 for 8 in World Series games!
• Mike Timlin – lights out relief pitching.
• John Papelbon – can you say wicked fastball? Pitched more than one inning every time.
• Coco Crip’s catch in Fenway’s Bermuda Triangle to end the ALCS.
• Julio Lugo – scooping anything around ShortStop like a Dyson.
• Manny Ramirez taking out Kenny Lofton at second base, playing the Monster-rebound.
• J.D. Drew’s Grand Slam.
• Dice-K’s 2-out, 2-RBI single. Who say’s AL pitchers can’t hit?
• Bobby Kielty’s insurance HR last night.
• David Ortiz at first base. Who say’s he’s liability playing the field?
• Kevin Youkilis – anytime he was at bat.
• Curt Schilling, Dice-K – when it mattered.
• Immediately taking back any runs the Rockies scored. That just kills a team.
• Scoring so many times with 2-outs.

The Bad:

• Manny Ramirez playing the Coors Field outfield.
• Julio Lugo’s dropped fly ball in the ALCS.
• John Lester bunting – at least he didn’t hit into a double play.
• Hitting into so many double-plays… I think it’s a new record.

The Ugly:

• Manny’s base running. Stop worrying about your fugly helmet.
• Eric Gagne coming into game 2 of the ALCS. It’s like a Dementor had entered Fenway Park. Really. I was there and the place just went quiet and the temperature dropped a few degrees (but he did pitch well in the World Series).
• Hideki Okajima in Coors Field – this guy went from being lights out in the post season to almost friggin’ killing everyone in Red Sox nation of a heart attack. Good thing the Boston bats took all those runs right back.

Congratulations to the Colorado Rockies for a wonderful season and for playing like they did to get to the World Series. I’m sure they’ll be around next year.

Question: Do you think there was a turning point in this World Series? I think it was when Matt Holliday got picked off at first base by John Papelbon. Leave a comment with your thoughts.