Is waiting for the ALCS to be over going to hurt the Rockies' momentum?

Question

On the plus side they will be well rested, but can such a period between games hurt a team that was red hot like the Rockies?

Answer 1

Definantly hurt them,too long of a break.

Answer 2

The data suggests that momentum doesn't really play a factor when leading up to the postseason or once it starts. Think of the Tigers and Cardinals last year who sucked down the stretch and then excelled in the postseason. The Rockies have certainly seemed hot so far and over the last month but there is a sea of counterexamples to prove that it will not necessarily continue. Chances are they would have been hot or cold in the series with or without a week off.

On the other hand, their pitchers might go cold by not being on a regular schedule, but the team knows how to handle their throwing programs and the fact that they will get to manage the rotation order any way they like will only help the team.

Answer 3

The World Series would not start earlier even if the ALCS ended in a sweep. So if the Rox wanted to keep on playing, they would have had to lose a few games, and it's hard (not impossible, but hard) to accept that playing not good enough to win would have kept the team in sharper fighting trim.

Intrasquad games are dull, but losing real games is worse.

I don't believe in "momentum" in sports anyways, since it can and does abandon teams that have it (and sometimes have it in spades) without warning... but does anyone ever raise this topic in, say, football? The NFL plays once a week, has bye weeks during the season and for the winningest teams during the playoffs, and usually has an additional dark week before the championship game! Wouldn't that sort of downtime automatically kill "momentum"? One team has to win every game anyway, but six days off (sometimes 13) should kill any team momentum theories.

Answer 4

Las Vegas oddsmaker Ken White believes Colorado's nine-day layoff definitely will work against the Rockies, an argument with which a pair of Professional Handicappers League members totally concur.

"That's a big advantage for Boston," White said.

"Francis hasn't pitched since Oct. 11 and there's no way he can be sharp.

"He'll need time to loosen up."

East Coast PHL sports analyst >Bill Fishman dittos that an extended vacation might have been more enjoyable for the Rockies spent hanging out at a Tropics spa than spinning wheels in snow of the type that blanketed the Mile High City on Sunday.

"The layoff will hurt the Rockies," Fishman echoed.

"They've had over a week to get ready for their opponent.

"They will make it entertaining, but the Sox win easily.

"They would've given the Tribe a decent showing and had a chance to win, though."

The Midwest's Jimmy Boyd, Fishman's PHL associate, agrees with "Fish" as well as Las Vegas' official oddsmaker that Boston's seasoning is a main ingredient in what makes the Red Sox hot.

"Boston is the more experienced club," Boyd said.

"With homefield advantage and two games with Josh Beckett on the hill, one has to think the Red Sox will prove victorious.

"To pick Colorado in this series, one would be picking on the hope that Colorado stayed hot and that's it.

"Boston has them in every area.

"Even with that being said, this series is likely closer than expected.

"I say Boston in six."

White gives pitching and offensives nods to the Red Sox, but tosses the Rockies a defensive bone.

"One thing I found interesting about the Red Sox is the ALCS marked the first time all year their three starters (Beckett, Curt Schilling and Dice-K) were pulled back-to-back-to-back before they finished the fifth inning.," he said.

"Colorado has it together defensively.

"They also have games at home in which Boston gets no DH.

"I don't think the DH rule will hurt Colorado.

"They can take somebody off the bench to hit for the pitcher at Fenway, but Boston can't use the DH in Colorado."

White acknowledgeds both league reps have Big Mo going for them.

"They both have momentum, but it's hard to carry over momentum, especially after a layoff," White observed.

"I think a better phrase is 'great chemistry.'

"Both of these clubs have solid chemistry, but I think if you're talking talent, you have to go with the Red Sox."

Answer 5

Impossible to tell. If they do well, people will say 'no'. If they do poorly, then they'll say 'yes'. But in either case it also depends on who they play. Just impossible to tell. (Joe Girardi thinks it helps.)