Position by position, a look at the matchups between the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies in the 2007 World Series:
Catcher
Boston: Jason Varitek (.255, 17 HR, 68 RBI in regular season; .243, 1 HR, 5 RBI in playoffs)
Colorado: Yorvit Torrealba (.255, 8 HR, 47 RBI in regular season; .320, 1 HR, 7 RBI in playoffs)
EDGE: RED SOX. Varitek has the postseason pedigree, is the captain of the Red Sox and calls a great game for the Red Sox's veteran staff. Torrealba isn't any slouch, however, and has came through with big hits for the Rockies all postseason. When Tim Wakefield starts for the Red Sox, Doug Mirabelli (.202, 5 HR) will catch.
First Base
Boston: Kevin Youkilis (.288, 16 HR, 83 RBI in regular season; .425, 4 HR, 9 RBI in playoffs)
Colorado: Todd Helton (.320, 17 HR, 91 RBI in regular season; .154, 0 HR, 1 RBI in playoffs)
EDGE: ROCKIES. This is a tough call, as nobody is hotter at the plate than Youkilis, who tormented the Indians in the ALCS. But Helton, despite his struggles in the playoffs, is one of the most feared hitters in baseball. When the teams play in Colorado, David Ortiz will likely play first base for Boston, and the loss of Youkilis' bat in the lineup will hurt.
Second Base
Boston: Dustin Pedroia (.317, 8 HR, 50 RBI in regular season; .286, 1 HR, 6 RBI in playoffs)
Colorado: Kazuo Matsui (.288, 4 HR, 37 RBI in regular season; .310, 1 HR, 8 RBI in playoffs)
Edge: RED SOX. Give Pedroia an edge by a hair. Both have played well this postseason, with Matsui coming through in the clutch. The former Japanese star seems to love the spotlight. But Pedroia, the likely AL Rookie of the Year, comes into the World Series on a roll. The Red Sox's leadoff hitter had five RBI in the Red Sox's Game 7 victory over Cleveland.
Shortstop
Boston: Julio Lugo (.237, 8 HR, 73 RBI in regular season; .229, 0 HR, 2 RBI in playoffs)
Colorado: Troy Tulowitzki (.291, 24 HR, 99 RBI in regular season; .179, 1 HR, 2 RBI in playoffs)
Edge: ROCKIES. Lugo is probably the weakest link in the Boston lineup, while Tulowitzki is a centerpiece in Colorado's. Tulowitzki is a top candidate for NL Rookie of the Year and is being compared to a young Cal Ripken with his prowess in the field and at the plate.
Third Base
Boston: Mike Lowell (.324, 21 HR, 120 RBI in regular season; .333, 1 HR, 11 RBI in playoffs)
Colorado: Garrett Atkins (.301, 25 HR, 111 RBI; .185, 0 HR, 1 RBI in playoffs)
Edge: RED SOX. Atkins is relatively anonymous, but a consistent run-producer for Colorado. Lowell, who has been a tough out all posteason, will get some MVP votes in the American League this season and is a former Gold Glove winner.
Left Field
Boston: Manny Ramirez (.296, 20 HR, 88 RBI in regular season; .400, 4 HR, 14 RBI in playoffs)
Colorado: Matt Holliday (.340, 36 HR, 137 RBI in regular season; .286, 4 HR, 7 RBI in playoffs)
Edge: ROCKIES. This is the best matchup of the series between two of the greatest hitters in the league. Both playing exceptionally well. Ramirez is a fantastic slugger with the most home runs in playoff history and an underrated fielder who has learned to play the Green Monster as well as anybody. Holliday is the likely NL MVP and was also the NLCS MVP. But you never know what's coming next from Ramirez, and his hustle came into question in the ALCS.Center Field
Boston: Coco Crisp (.268, 6 HR, 60 RBI in regular season; .161, 0 HR, 2 RBI in playoffs) or Jacoby Ellsbury (.353, 3 HR, 18 RBI in regular season; .222, 0 HR, 1 RBI in playoffs)
Colorado: Willy Taveras (.320, 2 HR, 24 RBI in regular season; .167, 0 HR, 1 RBI in playoffs)
Edge: ROCKIES. Red Sox manager Terry Francona made a move to Ellsbury in the ALCS to replace Crisp, who struggled against Cleveland. Ellsbury is the future and might also be the present. Both are solid defensively. Neither are quite as good (at least right now) as Taveras, the Rockies' leadoff hitter.
Right Field
Boston: J.D. Drew (.270, 11 HR, 64 RBI in regular season; .306, 1 HR, 9 RBI in playoffs)
Colorado: Brad Hawpe (.291, 29 HR, 116 RBI in regular season; .304, 0 HR, 2 RBI in playoffs)
Edge: ROCKIES. Hawpe is another anonymous slugger who will finally get some national recognition in the World Series. Drew has drawn Boston fans' ire all season after signing a big free-agent deal, but came through with a grand slam in Game 6.
Designated Hitter
Boston: David Ortiz (.332, 35 HR, 117 RBI in regular season; .387, 3 HR, 6 RBI in playoffs)
Colorado: Ryan Spilborghs (.299, 11 HR, 51 RBI in regular season; .300, 0 HR, 0 RBI in playoffs)
Edge: RED SOX. The designated hitter will be used in Games 1 and 2, and Games 6 and 7 if necessary. Spilborghs, who filled in well for Taveras in center field, is the likely choice to be the DH. Ortiz will likely play first base at Coors Field.
On Page 2: The pitching matchups.