Hooligans 2, Rockies 0

If not for their jerseys, it would be take a while to guess whom Red Sox relievers work for.

They've got moves like you've never seen, but you probably won't catch them on "Dancing With the Stars" any time soon. They bang on their bullpen overhang with the fervor of fourth graders and can actually hold a decent beat. Their cheerleading prowess, however, pales in comparison to that of the Song Girls.

Everything comes into focus when they take that fire, apply it to baseball, and shove it down the Rockies' throats. So much for success serving as a byproduct of professionalism. Ah, yes, these are the Red Sox indeed.

In game two of the World Series, Boston's bullpen made its presence known well before starting pitcher Curt Schilling finished his work. Fox captured the Sox' antics by repeatedly cutting away to Boston's bullpen -- also known as the Black Pearl, for reasons to be seen shortly -- as early as the fourth inning. In his column on the Red Sox relievers, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick notes that Mike Timlin, the "Admiral" of the Black Pearl by virtue of his veteran status, went so far as to bring in a stuffed parrot to serve as the bullpen mascot.

Once called upon, however, it's strictly business for this seemingly untouchable bunch of relievers. Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon starred as usual on Thursday night, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings to preserve a 2-1 Red Sox victory and put the Rockies on the ropes. While Papelbon is known to dance and Okajima refuses to partake, Crasnick notes in his column that, "standing on a mound, they're both pretty darned good."

Red Sox relievers might be crazy, but they're undeniably dominant. Barring another magical run by the Rockies, Papelbon might soon top his electric stuff on the mound with an even more legendary version of the Riverdance he has performed during on-field celebrations: