Rockies Qualify for Playoff Elimination

(originally posted 10/2/07)

Matt Holliday slid into the general vicinity of home plate, deftly halting his momentum with his chin. Padres catcher Michael Barrett picked the errant throw from right field up off the ground, but was unable to tag the prone Rockie before the ten second clock read all zeroes. The Rockies had a come-from-behind 13-inning victory over HOF closer Trevor Hoffman, and a playoff matchup against the Phillies.

It was a pretty amazing game, capably called by Red Sox announcer Don Orsillo. I must admit, it was weird watching DO call a non-Sox game. He did well, but he does need to introduce field reporter Craig Sager to the wonders of Eastern Clothing of Watertown. Hopefully, he'll be able to do that before my favorite local cable company jumps on the TBS HD bandwagon. (Not sure if my eyes could handle Sager's outfit in HD.) Both had better happen by 3pm on Wednesday, when the Phillies will start their playoff run against Colorado at CBP.

I really thought the Padres were going to win that game, and would have preferred facing them. The Padres don't have too much in the way of offense, and Tuesday's travel day would have been their first day since September 10th without a game. With ace Jake Peavy starting the game against Colorado, he would likely have only been available for the third game of the Phillies series. Greg Maddux, with his 6.14 ERA/1.51 WHIP in September (six starts), is no longer Greg Maddux, and Chris Young (6.27 ERA/1.36 WHIP in September) is not actually a robot, as I had once believed. I really liked the Phillies' chances against the Padres.

The Rockies have lost once in fifteen games, have two tough southpaws (Francis and Morales) to face the Phillies' lefty-laden lineup, and have some huge bats (Holliday, Atkins, Tulowitzki, Helton, Hawpe). So, instead of sweeping the Padres, the Phillies will probably require four games to get past Colorado.

The second Phillies Fan Rally is scheduled for Tuesday at 6pm in Davis Square. I'll be one of the guys in front of Store 24 with an Utley shirt, and a "Rollins for MVP" sign. Also expected to be in attendance are former Phillies Roger Mason and Pierre-Luc LaForest. The Old Dead Tree will be the featured musical performer. TODT certainly wouldn't fly all the way over from France to back a loser, so I'm obviously not the only one expecting a Phillies victory.