Phils, Rockies Road To October Mirror Each Other
PHILADELPHIA VS COLORADO (start Wed.)------------
Something's gotta give in this series. The Phillies just exorcized the ghost's of their infamous 1964 collapse by passing it on to the Mets and the red-hot Rockies enter postseason play winners of 14 of 15.
Both have prodigious power and launching pads for ballparks and pitching with a steep decline past their number one starters. This series is screaming for one team to seriously falter and that team may be Colorado.
What gives?
In Monday's tiebreaker game against San Diego, the Rockies won despite shocking breakdowns on defense. They may be one of the National League's better defensive clubs, but the lack of range and aggresiveness by Matt Holliday and Garret Atkins in that game--the biggest of the year and maybe the franchise--was a concern. Even the impressive rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki flubbed a gimme groundball late in that same game.
Colorado has one of the most attractive lineups one to nine left in the playoffs, but Philly nearly equals it if not for quantity but quality. The threesome of Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley are a triumvirate that could lead the Phils to the World Series. To do that, Rollins is going to have to continue to personally will this team to victory. He could do that and, in fact, already put his money where's his mouth is by predicting the NL East title back in spring training.
Lack of pitching depth won't be a problem for Philly at least not in this round, but Cole Hamels is the type of pitcher who could dominate a short series. I would almost guarantee two wins from him in each series. Is that enough for Kyle Lohse or Jamie Moyer to pick up the slack? Yes. Many are predicting a Home Run Derby for every game in this series. I think not. PHILLIES IN THREE.
////LIVE BLOGGING OF GAME 1
[\\\\OF THIS SERIES BEGINS WED., 12PM PT
