In my story for Tuesday's Press Herald, I touch on the topic that the Boston Red Sox are now considered in the same light as the Yankees, both because they are a power, and because they far out-spend everyone else.

In the story I reference an article in the Denver Post Check it out.

Now, as a bonus, here is an insight offered by Sea Dogs master scorekeeper Thom Hinton. Throwing strikes does not always mean victory, but it usually helps, a lot.

Here are the pitch breakdowns in the World Series, courtesy of Thom:

Game 1
Colorado 197 pitches 114 strikes = 57.868%
Boston 119 pitches 80 strikes = 67.226%

Game 2
Colorado 149 pitches 86 strikes = 57.718%
Boston 129 pitches 90 strikes = 69.767%

Game 3
Colorado 165 pitches 98 strikes = 59.393%
Boston 184 pitches 118 strikes = 64.130%

Game 4
Colorado 112 pitches 73 strikes = 65.178%
Boston 160 pitches 104 strikes = 65.000%

Total pitches
Colorado 623 pitches 371 strikes = 59.550%
Boston 592 pitches 392 strikes = 66.216%

Thom points out that "Cook was by far the most efficient of all of the World Series starters with only 42 pitches through his first 4 innings (30 for strikes).

"I think his performance was what gave Colorado the only game where they were above 60% and (statistically) out-pitched Boston. But it was a margin of
less than 0.2% and it wasn't enough."

In his email, Mr. Hinton also points out that he had predicted the Red Sox to sweep.

Thanks Thom. The first round of Sea Dogs biscuits are on me in 2008 (of course, it will be April and 40 degrees!).

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