BOSTON - As the clock ticks toward Wednesday nights first pitch of the World Series, theres a sense around Fenway Park that justice is being served. In this day of wild card play-in games and short five-game Division Series which can be won as often by the team thats hot as by the team thats truly better, its rare for the two teams with their respective leagues best records to meet in the Fall Classic. Thats what will happen this year when the Boston Red Sox (regular season: 97-65; playoffs: 7-3) meet the St. Louis Cardinals (regular season: 97-65; playoffs: 7-4.) Identical regular season records, nearly the same postseason marks and two organizations considered amongst the best in baseball at drafting and developing talent and molding young men into bona fide major leaguers. It should come as no surprise that since these two teams met in the 2004 World Series, each has returned more than once. The Red Sox swept the Cardinals in 2004. Boston swept the Rockies in 2007. The Cardinals beat Detroit in five games in 2006 and edged Texas in seven in 2011. Both have managers - Bostons John Farrell and St. Louis Mike Matheny - who will skip in the World Series for the first time. Heck, Mathenys so young he played on that 2004 Cardinals team that lost to Boston quickly. "It was a lesson learned," said Matheny of the World Series nine years ago. "Not that our team at that point was half-stepping or we werent prepared but we just hadnt been hit like that all season long. So it was a little bit of a shocker." "Theres probably a little more sense of urgency to the decisions you make, particularly with matchups on the mound," said Farrell of the biggest difference hes noticed while managing playoff baseball. "And sometimes you kind of go a little bit more with your gut with the way guys are currently playing, as opposed to the approach you might take during the regular season." Those who dig great pitching will get a marquee matchup right away. Red Sox ace left-hander Jon Lester will pitch Game 1, up against Cardinals ace right-hander Adam Wainwright. Lester got the ball the last time Boston played in a World Series game. He got the win and the Sox clinched their last title in Game 4 of the 2007 series. "I remember just the anxiety of trying to just get to the field and calm down a little bit," said Lester. "Different point in my career, I think, too. Obviously (Wednesday) there will still be nerves, there will still be all that to be expected, but I think I know who I am a little bit more as a pitcher and what to expect from myself." "This year I felt strong from the get-go," said Wainwright, who won 19 games, with a sub-3.00 ERA, just two years removed from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. "I felt strong throughout Spring Training. Usually I get a dead-arm phase in Spring Training. I never once had a dead-arm phase this entire year." The Cardinals lost left-hander Jaime Garcia early in the season but have been buoyed by the emergence of Michael Wacha, who will pitch Game 2. Drafted just last year with the 19th overall pick - a compensatory pick for the loss of Albert Pujols to the Los Angeles Angels - Wacha has taken the Cardinals by storm. After only 15 regular season appearances (nine starts,) Wacha has allowed only one earned run in 21 innings (0.43 ERA) over three postseason starts. His 0.571 WHIP is off the charts. Following Wacha will be a combination of Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn. Boston will start John Lackey in Game 2. Farrell will go with Clay Buchholz and Jake Peavy for the first two games in St. Louis, although he hasnt yet determined the order in which hell use them. St. Louis pitching hasnt seen a lineup the quality of Bostons and so it will be intriguing to see how it handles the Red Soxs potent mix of power (David Ortiz, Mike Napoli) and speed at the top of the order (Jacoby Ellsbury, Shane Victorino.) Ellsbury and Victorino combined to steal 73 bases in the regular season. They were caught a combined seven times. That said, there arent many catchers the quality of Yadier Molina, who threw out a whopping 43-percent of would-be base stealers. As impressive a percentage as that is its actually below his career average of 45 per cent and his career high of 64 per cent, set in 2005. "We all understand and I played against Yadi for many years and I tip my hat," said Victorino. "To me, hes arguably the best catcher in the game both offensively and defensively … Does it shut down your running game a little bit? Absolutely but you have to stay aggressive and capitalize on every mistake and every dirt ball you can possibly do." The Cardinals will get first baseman Allen Craig back. He hasnt played since spraining his left foot in a September 4 game against the Reds. Craig will serve as the designated hitter in the first two games at Fenway Park. If his foot responds, expect to see him at first base when the series shifts to Busch Stadium. As for the challenges of playing in Fenway Park, with the Green Monster and its strange dimensions in centre and right fields, Craig says he and his mates wont be psyched out. "I think we just need to stay really focused and narrow-minded on just playing the game," said Craig. "Were going to go out and play our game and not worry about the Green Monster and all the nooks and crannies in the outfield. Obviously were aware of the field and how we need to attack it defensively and offensively but were just going to focus on playing the game, doing what we do, doing what got us here." Canadian Ryan Dempster, with the Red Sox, is looking for his first World Series ring. So is St. Louis Carlos Beltran, whose career .337/.449/.724 postseason slash line makes him one of the games great playoff performers. This Fall Classic appears poised to live up to the billing. The two best teams will go at it. Bring it on. Trenton Irwin Jersey . Earnshaw, 31, most recently spent time on loan in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv from Welsh club Cardiff City, which plays in Englands second-tier League Championship. Earnshaw began his career with Cardiff Citys youth program and turned professional in 1998. Michael Deiter Jersey .ca! There is plenty of blame to be shared as a result of the most recent NHL player (Pittsburghs Brooks Orpik) to be evacuated from the ice on a stretcher following an ugly incident Saturday night in Boston. http://www.wholesaledolphinsjerseys.com/?tag=youth-durval-queiroz-neto-jersey . -- Cole De Vries had a couple of key strikeouts during what could have been the inning that doomed him to defeat against the Kansas City Royals, allowing him to escape further damage and keep the game tied up. Reece Horn Jersey .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at LeBron James and the Miami Heat winning their second straight NBA championship. Kyle Fuller Jersey . INJURIES - Reds RF Jay Bruce is facing knee surgery for a torn meniscus and it could cost him a month of playing time. Chris Heisey, who has shown some pop (43 home runs, .DENVER - New Colorado Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich is a Harvard graduate who looks at baseball from more of an analytical angle.He was promoted from within the organization after a fourth consecutive losing season and counts as his protege longtime GM Dan ODowd, who resigned Wednesday after a mostly unsuccessful tenure.A fresh start or more of the same? That was debate around the Mile High City soon after the Rockies announced their decision.ODowds wasnt exactly a rousing success, with his time at Coors Field reading like this: 15 years, four winning seasons, two post-season appearances, including a four-game World Series loss to Boston in 2007.He wasnt the only team executive to resign Wednesday. Senior vice-president Bill Geivett followed him out the front office door.Bridich understands the skepticism from fans, given his ties to ODowd. He insisted this wont be more of the same.Four straight years of losing baseball? If you ask anybody in this organization, its unacceptable and its tiring, said Bridich, who was promoted from senior director of player development. Its certainly not what people want and expect inside and outside the organization.While introducing Bridich, owner Dick Monfort said he was excited about a fresh start. Also at the gathering was manager Walt Weiss, who said a clean slate is the way we have to look at it. ... Its time to turn this thing around and bring playoff baseball back here.The last time Colorado made the post-season was five years ago.The highlight of ODowds stint came in 2007, when the Rockies rode the wave of winning 21 of 22 games all the way to the World Series.But ODowds power began to dwindle in recent years with the rise of Geivett, who was promoted to senior vice-president of baseball operations in August 2012.Geivett was given an office in the clubhouse, which at times made things a little uncomfortable for players and coaches. Geivett began focusing on roster management, particularly as it related to the pitchers, and evaluating the coaching staff and the rest of the players.That played a role in manager Jim Tracys resignation after the 2012 season, with a roughly $1.4 million deal still on the table. It opened the door for Weiss to manage the team he once helped on the field.And while having Geivett in such close quarters was an unconventional way by baseball standards, Weiss said he didnt have a problem with it.ddddddddddddContrary to popular belief, we got along just fine, Weiss said. Weve got to perform. Its time to do that.Through all the losses, Monfort remained fiercely loyal to ODowd and his staff. He thanked them on their way out.They have been friends and colleagues, and their families have been a part of the Rockies family, for a very long time, Monfort said.The call for some sort of change grew louder and louder from fans this season. Monfort even received emails from angry patrons; he responded by saying that if the fans werent happy with the bad baseball they were witnessing, maybe they shouldnt come to Coors Field. And that perhaps the city wasnt deserving of a major league team anymore. He later softened his stance.It was Monfort himself who raised expectations by predicting a 90-win season in the spring.Instead, the Rockies finished 66-96 and 28 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.Bridich takes over a team for which two of its biggest stars — Troy Tulowitzki (hip) and Carlos Gonzalez (knee) — missed chunks of the season with injuries. Tulowitzki has longed maintained he wants to play for a winner.I wouldnt limit that to Troy and CarGo. Id be surprised if any player said, I dont want to play for a winner, Bridich said. Im not going to sit here and tell you I have all the answers scripted in my supposedly analytical head right now and its going to work out perfectly. Thats going to be a process.The few bright spots in 2014 included Justin Morneau capturing the NL batting title and left-hander Jorge De La Rosas steady performance on the mound, especially at hitter-friendly Coors Field.We didnt perform to the expectations we had on ourselves, outfielder Michael Cuddyer said.An impending free agent, Cuddyer said before the Rockies last road trip that he would be open to a return.I believe in the guys that we broke out of spring training with, Cuddyer said. I believe in that team. Unfortunately, we werent able to put that team on the field very often.Whether Im here or not — the off-season is going to dictate that — but if I am, its because I believe in this team. Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '