The Philadelphia Phillies start their quest toward a
second consecutive World Series championship on Wednesday, when they open the
best- of-five National League Division Series against the Colorado Rockies in
a matchup between the league's last two pennant winners.
The New York Yankees were the last team to repeat as champion, winning three
straight titles from 1998-2000, while the NL hasn't seen a back-to-back
champion since the Cincinnati Reds did it from 1975-76.
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Philadelphia, which was swept by the Rockies in the 2007 NLDS, showed few
signs of a World Series hangover this season, as the Phillies captured their
third consecutive National League East title, leading the division everyday
from May 30 on.
"This one was a little harder than people think," manager Charlie Manuel said.
"We're a good team, but we had pitching problems all year. We had some holes.
We were short in the bullpen all year."
Speaking of the bullpen, the Phillies enter the postseason with perhaps the
biggest question mark of any team in the playoffs with regards to its closer
situation. Brad Lidge was the driving force behind last year's championship,
but has been abysmal in the closer's role this season.
Colorado, meanwhile, stumbled out of the gates this year and fired Clint
Hurdle after a 18-29 start, replacing him with Jim Tracy. Not exactly the
recipe for success, but something clicked with this team after Hurdle was
relieved on May 29.
The Rockies went an NL-best 45-29 record in the second half and since June 4,
their 72-38 mark was second to only the New York Yankees (72-37).
"The only way these guys should feel about themselves is terrific," Tracy
said. "To come from 15 1/2 games back [on June 3] to playing in the postseason
when no one thought they'd be playing in the postseason, they should feel
terrific. They are very deserving. They are one of eight clubs left with a
chance to win the World Series."
The Rockies even made a late charge towards the NL West crown, before
succumbing this weekend to the eventual division-champion Los Angeles Dodgers
and had to settle for the wild card.
Philadelphia won four of six from the Rockies this season.
LINEUP
There is no better lineup in the National League than that of the Phillies,
who finished the regular season leading the league in runs (820), doubles
(312), home runs (224), total bases (2,493), RBI (788) and slugging percentage
(.447).
"For us, there are two big keys to the series," Tracy said. "We have to do a
good job containing the top of the Phillies' order and hold the big guys in
the middle of the lineup at bay. If you don't do that, they'll put up big
numbers in an inning."
Of course, in the middle of it all is first baseman Ryan Howard, who had
another incredible year at the plate, as he became just the fourth player in
major league history (joining Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa) to
have four consecutive 40 HR/130 RBI seasons.
Howard, who also had by far his best year defensively, finished the year with
45 home runs, 141 RBI with 105 runs scored, while hitting .279, his highest
average since batting .313 in his MVP campaign of 2006.
Howard wasn't the only one supplying the power, though, as Raul Ibanez (34
HR), signed this offseason to replace Pat Burrell, Jayson Werth (36 HR) and
Chase Utley (31 HR) all went over 30 home runs on the season.
Ibanez, who missed almost a month with a strained groin, struggled mightily
after the injury, but finished strong and still ended the year with a career-
high home run total and 93 RBI.
"The individual stuff is kind of meaningless at this point," Ibanez told the
team's Web site. "Moving forward, the postseason is what really matters. It's
a whole new season. That's really where my focus is right now."
However, Philadelphia isn't just about the long ball, as the Phillies had four
players go over 20 stolen bases this season with shortstop Jimmy Rollins
leading the way with 31. Rollins (.250, 21 HR, 77 RBI), the 2005 NL MVP,
didn't have his best year offensively, but still swiped a team-high 31 bases
and scored 100 runs.
Of course you can't forget about center fielder Shane Victorino, who had 13
RBI last postseason and more often than not is in the middle of every big
Philadelphia rally.
While it may not be as prolific as the Philadelphia offense, the Rockies are
no slouch in the power department, as they had four players with 20 or more
home runs, led by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki's 32. However, nobody in the
lineup drove in more than 100 runs, as Tulowitzki's 92 RBI led the team.
Tulowitzki, who also led the team with 101 runs scored, became just the sixth
NL shortstop to surpass 30 homers in a season.
First baseman Todd Helton's power numbers are nowhere near what they used to
be, but the 35-year-old enjoyed a terrific bounce-back season, hitting .325,
while driving in 86 runs.
Colorado gets contributions from 1-through-8 in its lineup, as evidenced by
the fact that seven of its eight regulars totaled 15 home runs or more. Dexter
Fowler was the exception, but led the team with 28 stolen bases.
The Rockies also posted eight walkoff wins, among their 17 victories in their
final at-bat.
EDGE: PHILLIES
STARTING PITCHING
Philadelphia made the biggest splash at the trade deadline when it acquired
reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee from the Cleveland Indians for a
package of prospects.
Lee was sensational upon his arrival in Philly, surrendering just three earned
runs through his initial five starts, but has struggled a tad since, losing
four of his last seven decisions.
Cole Hamels also heads into the playoffs on a bit of a sour note, as he was
winless in his last three outings, while giving up 13 runs in his final 16
2/3 innings. He finished the year a pedestrian 10-12 with a 4.32 ERA.
Hamels, though, has been a horse in the postseason and, of course, garnered
World Series MVP honors a year ago. He is 4-1 in six postseason starts with a
2.16 ERA. His lone loss, though, came at the hands of the Rockies in the 2007
NLDS.
But, if both Lee and Hamels are on there is not a better 1-2 combination in
all of baseball.
Right-hander Joe Blanton may have been the most underrated pitcher in the
National League this season, as he went 12-8 with a 4.05 ERA. If Philadelphia
needs a fourth starter, it will likely turn to NL Rookie of the Year candidate
J.A. Happ, who was 12-4.
They could also use right-hander Pedro Martinez, who went 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA
in his nine starts. However, Martinez was slowed down the stretch with a sore
neck.
There is not one dominant pitcher for the Rockies, but they became the first
NL team since the Florida Marlins in 2006 to boast five starters with 10 or
more wins, and with a 4.22 ERA -- 4.13 by the starters -- the team set new
club records in that department.
If you want to hang the label of ace on someone it would have to go to 25-
year-old right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, who went 15-12 for the Rockies this
season and will get the call in Game 1.
Jimenez's 3.47 ERA this season was the lowest in franchise history for a
starter, breaking Joe Kennedy's 3.66 mark. With a fastball that has been
clocked at over 100 mph, Jimenez also struck out 198 batters in 218 innings to
finish sixth in the NL in punchouts this year.
Jorge De La Rosa won a team-high 16 games this season and with all things
being equal, he would follow Jimenez in Game 2. However, he left his start on
Saturday with a strained groin, leaving his status up in the air for the NLDS.
Jason Marquis also had a terrific season, posting 15 wins to go along with a
4.04 ERA. Then there is steady veteran Aaron Cook, who finished the year, 11-6
with a 4.16 ERA.
EDGE: PHILLIES
BULLPEN
Both teams are vulnerable when it comes to their bullpen, but no team has
faced as much scrutiny with regards to their closing situation than the
Phillies, who have 10 losses when leading after the eighth inning.
After going a perfect 48-for-48 in save opportunities last season, Brad Lidge
has been downright awful this season for the Phillies, blowing a league-high
11 saves, while going 0-8 with an absurd 7.21 ERA.
"I think we're going to be lining up pretty good," Lidge said. "We have a lot
of options. Guys have been throwing good in a lot of different situations.
Hopefully I can get out there and peak at the right time. I think we're
looking good. I think we're going to be underrated to be honest."
Manager Charlie Manuel has stated that Lidge is not his primary closer
anymore, but he is loyal, probably to a fault. My guess is that Lidge will be
the first one called when a save chance arises.
However, should he falter, Manuel could turn to flame-throwing righty Ryan
Madson, who was terrific in setting Lidge up, but was nothing special when
thrust into the closer's role, as he himself blew six saves.
The wild card could be righty Brett Myers, who missed most of the year
following hip surgery. Myers, who saved 21 games for the Phils in 2007,
returned in early September after missing three months following hip surgery.
Colorado's bullpen also has been a problem. However, the problem has not been
its closer, it has been getting to him. The Rockies, though, think they may
have found the right combination to get to Huston Street.
Street was great for the Rockies this season, going 4-1 with 35 saves.
Building the bridge will be rookie right-hander Matt Daley and hard-throwing
lefty Franklin Morales, who could loom large in this series trying to shut
down Philly's left-handed bats late in games.
Also righty Rafael Betancourt, who has posted a 1.78 ERA since being acquired
from Cleveland, and lefty Joe Beimel, who was picked up from the Nationals at
the trade deadline, could be counted on in big spots.
EDGE: ROCKIES
MANAGERS
Manuel is back in the postseason for the third straight year with the
Phillies after having already experienced playoff success as manager of the
Cleveland Indians. Sometimes he gets called out on some of his in-game
decisions and remains too loyal at times to those who have gotten it done for
him in the past, but at the end of the day there aren't too many managers you
would rather have on this team than Uncle Charlie.
Tracy should be a lock for the National League Manager of the Year. What this
team has done since he replaced Hurdle is almost mind-boggling. Not to mention
this won't be his first trip to the postseason, as he won an NL West title
with the Dodgers in 2004.
EDGE: PHILLIES
BENCH
The main reserves for the Phillies are Ben Francisco, Greg Dobbs, Eric
Bruntlett and Matt Stairs. Bruntlett could be used late in games for his
defense, while Stairs has become one of the most feared left-handed bats off
the bench.
An under-the-radar move that has paid dividends for the Rockies was the late-
season pickup of left-handed slugger Jason Giambi, who has been a great bat
off the bench late in games. Seth Smith hit an MLB-high .472 as a pinch-hitter
this season and ended the year hitting .325 with 30 of his 54 RBI coming in
the seventh inning or later.
EDGE: ROCKIES
PROGNOSIS
Colorado has been so hot since Tracy took the reins that you can't fault
anyone for taking them in this series, especially the way Philadelphia played
down the stretch. Colorado really doesn't do one thing great, but they do
everything pretty well. I don't like the way Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels
finished the season, either. But, I have to think they will turn things around
here in the playoffs, especially Hamels. And in case you didn't know, the
Rockies struggled big-time against lefties, going just 27-26 overall against
left-handed starters, including just an 8-16 ledger against them on the road.
And this is just a hunch, but I have a feeling that Lidge will be Lidge once
the playoffs begin. Plus, this isn't the 2007 Philadelphia Phillies. These are
the world champions. Just reaching the playoffs is not the goal anymore.
Anything short of a World Series should be considered a failure and I am sure
that is how this team looks at it. The Rockies are young and had a fantastic
season and I think they will give the Phils all they can handle here, I think
it will go five games, and if it does Colorado has no shot at winning it on
the road, probably against Lee.
Prediction: PHILLIES IN FIVE
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