2007 Major League Baseball postseason

The 2007 Major League Baseball postseason was the playoff tournament of Major League Baseball for the 2007 season. The winners of the Division Series would move on to the League Championship Series to determine the pennant winners that face each other in the World Series.

2007 Major League Baseball postseason
Tournament details
DatesOctober 3–28, 2007[1]
Teams8
Final positions
ChampionsBoston Red Sox
(7th title)
Runners-upColorado Rockies
(1st World Series appearance)
Most valuable playerMike Lowell
(BOS)

In the American League, the New York Yankees made their thirteenth straight postseason appearance, the Boston Red Sox returned for the fourth time in five years, the Cleveland Indians returned for the first time since 2001, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim returned for the fourth time in six years.

In the National League, the Arizona Diamondbacks made their third postseason appearance in the last eight years, the Chicago Cubs made their second appearance in five years, the Colorado Rockies made their second postseason appearance in franchise history and first since 1995, and the Philadelphia Phillies returned to the postseason for the first time since 1993. This would be the first of five consecutive postseason appearances for the Phillies, a streak which lasted until 2011.

The postseason began on October 3, 2007, and ended on October 28, 2007, with the Red Sox sweeping the Rockies in the 2007 World Series. It was the seventh title won by the Red Sox franchise.

Playoff seeds

The following teams qualified for the postseason:

American League

  1. Boston Red SoxAL East champions, 96–66 (5–2 head-to-head record vs. CLE)[2]
  2. Cleveland IndiansAL Central champions, 96–66 (2–5 head-to-head record vs. BOS)[3]
  3. Los Angeles Angels of AnaheimAL West champions, 94–68[4]
  4. New York Yankees – 94–68[5]

National League

  1. Arizona DiamondbacksNL West champions, 90–72[6]
  2. Philadelphia PhilliesNL East champions, 89–73[7]
  3. Chicago CubsNL Central champions, 85–77[8]
  4. Colorado RockiesNL Wild Card qualifier, 90–73[9][10]

Playoff bracket

Division Series
(ALDS, NLDS)
League Championship Series
(ALCS, NLCS)
World Series
         
1 Boston 3
3 LA Angels 0
1 Boston 4
American League
2 Cleveland 3
2 Cleveland 3
4 NY Yankees 1
AL1 Boston 4
NL4 Colorado 0
1 Arizona 3
3 Chicago Cubs 0
1 Arizona 0
National League
4 Colorado 4
2 Philadelphia 0
4 Colorado 3

Note: Two teams in the same division could not meet in the division series.

American League Division Series

(1) Boston Red Sox vs. (3) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Boston won the series, 3–0.

GameDateScoreLocationTimeAttendance 
1October 3Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 0, Boston Red Sox – 4Fenway Park2:2737,597[11] 
2October 5Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 3, Boston Red Sox – 6Fenway Park4:0537,706[12] 
3October 7Boston Red Sox – 9, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 1Angel Stadium of Anaheim3:2945,262[13]

This was the third postseason meeting between the Angels and Red Sox. The Red Sox once again defeated the Angels to advance to the ALCS for the third time in five years. The series was not close — the Red Sox shut out the Angels and Game 1, took Game 2 by a 6–3 score on a Manny Ramirez walk-off three-run home run, and then blew out the Angels in Anaheim in Game 3 to advance to the next round.

(2) Cleveland Indians vs. (4) New York Yankees

Cleveland won the series, 3–1.

GameDateScoreLocationTimeAttendance 
1October 4New York Yankees – 3, Cleveland Indians – 12Jacobs Field3:4444,608[14] 
2October 5New York Yankees – 1, Cleveland Indians – 2 (11)Jacobs Field4:2344,732[15] 
3October 7Cleveland Indians – 4, New York Yankees – 8Yankee Stadium (I)3:3856,358[16] 
4October 8Cleveland Indians – 6, New York Yankees – 4Yankee Stadium (I)4:0356,315[17]

This was the third postseason meeting between the Yankees and Indians. The Indians defeated the Yankees in four games to advance to the ALCS for the first time since 1998. This was the last postseason series ever played at the original Yankee Stadium.

The Indians blew out the Yankees in Game 1 by 9 runs. Game 2 was a pitchers' duel between both teams bullpens which lasted 11 innings, and again the Indians prevailed as Travis Hafner drove in the winning run on a bases-loaded single off Luis Vizcaíno. Game 2 was referred to as "The Bug Game", as a swarm of tiny insects circled the mound in the late innings of the game. Play was stopped temporarily out of concern for the players' safety, including Joba Chamberlain, who threw only 12 of his 25 pitches for strikes in suffering a blown save without surrendering a hit. Yankees manager Joe Torre would later say that his decision not to remove his team from the field was one of his biggest regrets as a manager.[18] When the series shifted to the Bronx for Game 3, the Yankees overcame a 3–1 Indians lead to win 8–4 to stave off elimination. The Yankees put up another rally late in Game 4, but the Indians held on to win by a 6–4 score to advance to the ALCS.

The loss to the Indians marked the end of the Yankees' thirteen-year postseason streak, which started in 1995. The Yankees' thirteen-year postseason appearance streak is the longest of any American League team, and second only to the Atlanta Braves, who made fourteen straight appearances from 1991 to 2005.

National League Division Series

(1) Arizona Diamondbacks vs. (3) Chicago Cubs

Arizona won the series, 3–0.

GameDateScoreLocationTimeAttendance 
1October 3Chicago Cubs – 1, Arizona Diamondbacks – 3Chase Field2:3348,864[19] 
2October 4Chicago Cubs – 4, Arizona Diamondbacks – 8Chase Field3:4448,575[20] 
3October 6Arizona Diamondbacks – 5, Chicago Cubs – 1Wrigley Field3:2242,157[21]

The Diamondbacks swept the Cubs to return to the NLCS for the first time since 2001.

In Game 1, the Diamondbacks prevailed by a 3–1 score thanks to a solid pitching performance from Brandon Webb. The Diamondbacks would put up a big lead early in Game 2 and didn't relinquish it, winning 8–4 to take a 2–0 series lead headed to Chicago. Liván Hernández kept the Cubs' offense at bay in Game 3 as the Diamondbacks won 5–1 to return to the NLCS.

This was the most recent playoff series win by the Diamondbacks until 2023. They would, however, win the NL Wild Card Game in 2017.

(2) Philadelphia Phillies vs. (4) Colorado Rockies

Colorado won the series, 3–0.

GameDateScoreLocationTimeAttendance 
1October 3Colorado Rockies – 4, Philadelphia Phillies – 2Citizens Bank Park2:5245,655[22] 
2October 4Colorado Rockies – 10, Philadelphia Phillies – 5Citizens Bank Park3:3245,991[23] 
3October 6Philadelphia Phillies – 1, Colorado Rockies – 2Coors Field2:5950,724[24]

This was the first postseason meeting between the Phillies and Rockies. The Rockies swept the Phillies to advance to the NLCS for the first time in franchise history. These two teams would meet once more in the 2009 NLDS, which the Phillies won in four games.

American League Championship Series

(1) Boston Red Sox vs. (2) Cleveland Indians

Boston won the series, 4–3.

GameDateScoreLocationTimeAttendance 
1October 12Cleveland Indians – 3, Boston Red Sox – 10Fenway Park3:3536,986[25] 
2October 13Cleveland Indians – 13, Boston Red Sox – 6 (11)Fenway Park5:1437,051[26] 
3October 15Boston Red Sox – 2, Cleveland Indians – 4Jacobs Field3:2844,402[27] 
4October 16Boston Red Sox – 3, Cleveland Indians – 7Jacobs Field3:1244,008[28] 
5October 18Boston Red Sox – 7, Cleveland Indians – 1Jacobs Field3:4644,588[29] 
6October 20Cleveland Indians – 2, Boston Red Sox – 12Fenway Park3:0937,163[30] 
7October 21Cleveland Indians – 2, Boston Red Sox – 11Fenway Park3:3337,165[31]

This was the fourth postseason meeting between the Indians and Red Sox. Similar to 2004, the Red Sox once again found themselves trailing in the series — even though the Red Sox blew out the Indians in Game 1 in Boston, the Indians responded with a blowout victory of their own in an extra-inning Game 2 to even the series going back to Cleveland. The Indians then handily won Games 3 and 4 to go up 3–1 in the series. However, the Indians' lead would not hold, as the Red Sox blew out the Indians in the next three games to clinch the AL pennant and return to the World Series for the second time in four years.

The Red Sox would win their next AL pennant in 2013, against the Detroit Tigers in six games. The Indians wouldn't return to the ALCS again until 2016, where they defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in five games to capture the pennant.

The Indians would not return to the postseason again until 2013. Both teams would meet again in the 2016 ALDS, which the Indians won.

National League Championship Series

(1) Arizona Diamondbacks vs. (4) Colorado Rockies

Colorado won the series, 4–0.

GameDateScoreLocationTimeAttendance 
1October 11Colorado Rockies – 5, Arizona Diamondbacks – 1Chase Field3:1248,142[32] 
2October 12Colorado Rockies – 3, Arizona Diamondbacks – 2 (11)Chase Field4:2648,219[33] 
3October 14Arizona Diamondbacks – 1, Colorado Rockies – 4Coors Field3:0450,137[34] 
4October 15Arizona Diamondbacks – 4, Colorado Rockies – 6Coors Field3:1750,213[35]

This was the first postseason meeting between the Diamondbacks and Rockies. The Rockies swept the top-seeded Diamondbacks to advance to the World Series for the first time in franchise history. By sweeping the series, the Rockies became the first team since the 1976 Cincinnati Reds to go 7–0 in the postseason.

The Diamondbacks would not return to the postseason again until 2011, and this was their last appearance in the NLCS until 2023. Both these teams would meet again in the 2017 NL Wild Card Game, which was won by the Diamondbacks.

2007 World Series

(AL1) Boston Red Sox vs. (NL4) Colorado Rockies

Boston won the series, 4–0.

GameDateScoreLocationTimeAttendance 
1October 24Colorado Rockies – 1, Boston Red Sox – 13Fenway Park3:3036,733[36] 
2October 25Colorado Rockies – 1, Boston Red Sox – 2Fenway Park3:3936,370[37] 
3October 27Boston Red Sox – 10, Colorado Rockies – 5Coors Field4:1949,983[38] 
4October 28Boston Red Sox – 4, Colorado Rockies – 3Coors Field3:3550,041[39]

This was the first World Series ever played in the state of Colorado. It was also the sixth World Series in a row to feature a Wild Card team. The Red Sox handily swept the Rockies to win their second title in four years and seventh overall.

The series was heavily lopsided - the Red Sox blew out the Rockies 13–1 in Game 1, and took Game 2 by a 2–1 score to go up 2–0 in the series. When the series moved to Denver for Game 3, the Red Sox scored 10 runs again in a blowout win to go up 3–0 in the series. The only other close contest of the series came in Game 4, which the Red Sox won 4–3 to capture the title.

The Rockies would return to the postseason again in 2009, but fell to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS. The Red Sox attempted to defend their title the next year, but fell to the Tampa Bay Rays in seven games in the ALCS. They would return to the World Series in 2013, where they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in six games, as well as 2018 where they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.

Broadcasting

This was the first postseason under a seven-year U.S. rights agreement with Fox and TBS. TBS was awarded all Division Series games, the National League Championship Series in odd-numbered years starting in 2007, and the American League Championship Series in even-numbered years starting in 2008. Fox was awarded the American League Championship Series in odd-numbered years starting in 2007, and the National League Championship Series in even-numbered years starting in 2008. The deal also maintained Fox's streak of airing consecutive World Series since 2000.

References

  1. "2007 Major Leagues Schedule". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  2. "2007 Boston Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  3. "2007 Cleveland Indians Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  4. "2007 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  5. "2007 New York Yankees Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  6. "2007 Arizona Diamondbacks Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  7. "2007 Philadelphia Phillies Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  8. "2007 Chicago Cubs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  9. Colorado clinched the NL Wild Card and the National League fourth seed by virtue of winning the 2007 National League Wild Card tie-breaker game against the San Diego Padres 9–8 in 13 innings, eliminating San Diego from postseason contention.
  10. "2007 Colorado Rockies statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  11. "2007 ALDS – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Boston Red Sox – Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  12. "2007 ALDS – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Boston Red Sox – Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  13. "2007 ALDS – Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  14. "2007 ALDS – New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians – Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  15. "2007 ALDS – New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians – Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  16. "2007 ALDS – Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees – Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  17. "2007 ALDS – Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees – Game 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  18. "'Bug Game' forever part of Tribe-Yanks lore". MLB.com.
  19. "2007 NLDS – Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks – Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  20. "2007 NLDS – Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks – Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  21. "2007 NLDS – Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Chicago Cubs – Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  22. "2007 NLDS – Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies – Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  23. "2007 NLDS – Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies – Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  24. "2007 NLDS – Philadelphia Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies – Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  25. "2007 ALCS Game 1 – Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  26. "2007 ALCS Game 2 – Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  27. "2007 ALCS Game 3 – Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  28. "2007 ALCS Game 4 – Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  29. "2007 ALCS Game 5 – Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  30. "2007 ALCS Game 6 – Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  31. "2007 ALCS Game 7 – Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  32. "2007 NLCS Game 1 – Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  33. "2007 NLCS Game 2 – Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  34. "2007 NLCS Game 3 – Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  35. "2007 NLCS Game 4 – Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  36. "2007 World Series Game 1 – Colorado Rockies vs. Boston Red Sox". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  37. "2007 World Series Game 2 – Colorado Rockies vs. Boston Red Sox". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  38. "2007 World Series Game 3 – Boston Red Sox vs. Colorado Rockies". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  39. "2007 World Series Game 4 – Boston Red Sox vs. Colorado Rockies". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
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