Sox face hot Rox

It may not have the historical impact of three years ago, but the Boston Red Sox can perhaps establish themselves as the team of the decade – just like their football brothers in Foxborough – if they can win the World Series that starts tonight (8:35, Ch. 25) at Fenway Park.In 2004, of course, the Red Sox were trying to break an 86-year world championship drought when they faced the St. Louis Cardinals. They slayed that dragon, beating the Redbirds in four straight.But those who feel that this World Series lacks the urgency of the last, think again.Since the New York Yankees defeated the New York Mets in the 2000 World Series – their fourth title in five years – different teams have won the title each year since.But it won’t be easy. The Rockies came out of nowhere to make the National League wild card, winning 20 of their last 21 games, including a one-game playoff against the San Diego Padres. In that game, they scored two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning off Padres closer Trevor Hoffman to advance.The Rockies have stayed hot throughout the playoffs, sweeping both the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series, and then winning four straight over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS.This could be a very odd World Series as both teams can hit the ball while, at the same time, both have advanced as much due to pitching as offense.If you’re looking for any signs from the season as to which team might have the upper hand, they’re not good. The Rockies pulverized both Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett – both of who figure to pitch at Fenway this week – when they won two out of three in Boston last June. The one pitcher who gave them trouble was Tim Wakefield, who is not on the World Series roster.While the Rockies are hot, they also haven’t played since last Tuesday, when they completed their sweep of Arizona. The Red Sox, meanwhile, are also hot coming into the series. They should be buoyed by their comeback from a 1-3 deficit to defeat the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS. During those three games, they outscored the Indians, 30-5. They also pummeled Cleveland’s top two pitchers, C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona.If you’re looking for potential problems for the Red Sox, the designated hitter situation could prove to be an issue. There will be no DH in Denver, meaning the Red Sox will have to platoon David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell. All three swung hot bats during the ALCS, which means that for all three games, the Sox will lose a vital part of their offense.In 2004, the Sox faced a similar problem, as Kevin Millar had to sit down for two games while Ortiz played first. And Ortiz may have made the defensive play of the series when he threw the Cardinals’ Jeff Suppan out at third base during Game 3.This year, however, Ortiz has been plagued with a bad knee, which would obviously affect his ability to play defense. Yet his absence from the lineup would indeed create a huge hole.On the other hand, however, hitters such as Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Lowell, J.D. Drew and even shortstop Julio Lugo carried the Red Sox in the final two games of the series as Ortiz went 0-for-5 in Game 7.With Wakefield off the roster (Kyle Snyder will take his place), it would appear as if the Red Sox will pitch Beckett tonight against lefty Jeff Francis and Schilling Thursday; followed by Daisuke Masuzaka and Jon Lester in Colorado.There is a slight local angle to this series, as Rockies pitcher Josh Fogg was born in Lynn. However, Fogg moved away from the city when he was still an infant.