News |
Rays
Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
NLCS capsules
By EDUARDO A. ENCINA, Times Staff Writer
Published October 11, 2007
Rockies vs. Diamondbacks
The Rockies can win if:
They don't change, if manager Clint Hurdle continues to lean back and not overthink. His lineup is legit. Let it roll. If they continue their recent success against Arizona - winning six of their past eight meetings, including four of five at Chase Field - if their starting pitching continues to overachieve (2.33 ERA in the postseason) and works to expand the strike zone against a free-swinging Diamondbacks lineup, if Matt Holliday plays to MVP form and veteran 1B Todd Helton (.469 average at Chase Field) continues to make Arizona his second home.
The D'backs can win if:
Their young team - including .500-hitting SS Stephen Drew (7-for-14 in the postseason) - keeps forgetting it's not supposed to be here ... yet. If they continue their postseason power surge (the D'backs outhomered the Cubs 6-1 in the NLDS) in two hitter-friendly ballparks, if their bullpen continues its streak of 81/3 scoreless postseason innings and if closer Jose Valverde continues to be straight-up nasty. If they receive a common performance from ace Brandon Webb and good-enough starts from Doug Davis and Livan Hernandez.
Three key numbers:
1 Games the Rockies have lost in their past 25 days, winning 17 of 18. The only loss was 4-2 Sept. 28 - to Arizona.
4 Home runs Rockies OF Brad Hawpe has off Webb, more than any other batter off the D'backs' ace.
22 Times the NL West Division rivals have met this season; that is, if you include the four games in the spring while training in Tuscon.
Most likely MVP:
Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks. A new schedule allows Arizona to start Webb in Games 1, 4 and 7 (if necessary), even though Arizona manager Bob Melvin said he wants to go to a four-man rotation ... for now.
Most likely goat:
Kazuo Matsui, Rockies. He resurrected his career in Denver, but not even the thin air can make us believe he's that good.
Headline you're likely to see:
A Line in the Sand
Headline you won't see:
Rox-Backs TV ratings through the roof
Predictions:
Eduardo A. Encina says: Rockies in 7.
Marc Topkin says: Diamondbacks in 6.
[Last modified October 10, 2007, 21:25:25]
Share your thoughts on this story
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Letter to the editor