Make no mistake about it Okajima-san was your Game 2 MVP. He took over the game, inheriting a mess from starter Curt Schilling, and nailing the door shut on any notions of a late inning Rockies comeback for 2 1/3 innings.

It was also the first appearance by a Japanese pitcher in a World Series game. The stateside journalists are beside themsevles, calling Okajima the bargain of the century, I assume, in direct contrast to Matsuzaka, who is also Japanese, and is (I guess) the rip-off of the century.

I’m also noticing a plethora of plays on Okajima’s name…OK, Oki Doki, Okey Doki, and even Schilling’s own wildly clever Papa-jima. Sounds like something from an OBGYN clinic.  

Credit the win expectancy for nailing it on the head with a 33.7% credit for Okajima, compared to Riverdance Paps’ 19.6%.

Personally I give Matt Holiday a -10% for getting picked off first in the 8th. Truly one of the worst miscues in a world series game in some time. Is that really our 2007 MVP?

Without anything further let’s turn it over to our my friend Man-su’s reading of the win expectancy table.  

Me: Ok, so you know this is game 2, right?
Man-su: How many games are there?
Me: In the World Series? Seven.
Man-su: Oh (sounds weary)
Me: Why? You already tired of this?
(No answer)
Me: Ok, so here we go…by the way, who are you rooting for?
Man-su: Boston. Absolutely Boston.
Me: Ok, start.
Man-su: Yes. Ok…going down to Denver…Oh, M. Holiday single. Alright Rocky! Nice one. And still going down, down. Looks like Colorado might win this game. Good!
Me: Still going down.
Man-su: Yeah, yeah. Goooo Rocky. Nice. And woah! J. Drew. He was from yesterday too. Here he goes. Up up up. Go Boston. I love Boston Red Sox! M. Lowell…yes. Go go go! And then down…uh oh. Colo- oh, wait. Back up. Back up in business. Boston. Is Boston. But no names. Why isn’t there any names? It’s still going up.
Me: Becuase the pitchers are doing all the work.
Man-su: Who? Anyway. It’s still going up and then it gets yellow and Boston has won again.
Me: Actually the pitcher that played really well is from Japan.
Man-su: Japan?
Me: Yeah.
(Silence) 
Me: How about next game?
Man-su: Where in Japan is he from?
Me: I think from Kyoto.
(Silence)
Me: So who’s going to win?
Man-su: Reds.
Me: Red Sox.
Man-su: Red Sox.