Notes guys finish last….
Reason No. 1 to think the Rockies can reach the World Series: The middle of their lineup is due to break out.
The Rox swept the Phillies thanks not so much to their big bashers, but their leadoff and No. 8 hitters. Kaz Matsui (six) and Yorvit Torrealba (three) had nine RBIs in the series. Matt Holliday (three), Troy Tulowitzki (two), Garrett Atkins (one), Todd Helton (zero) and Brad Hawpe (zero) combined for six.
“We didn’t have the best division series,” Atkins said. “I felt like we had some good at-bats, but things just didn’t happen. That’s what these series are. In each one, there’s going to be a different guy or a couple different guys who are going to step up. This last series, it was Kaz and Torry and our pitching staff.
“I expect our pitching staff will be doing the same things. We just get a little better production from our middle guys and we should be right where we want to be.” …
For the record, the three lowest batting averages among National League teams against Rockies pitching belonged to Washington (.208), Milwaukee (.208) and Arizona (.248). The Rockies outhit the D-backs .280-.248 and outscored them 86-72. …
Likely Game 1 starter Jeff Francis on the D-backs’ lineup: “You don’t win 90, 91 games without doing things right. So what if they don’t have a guy who hits 40 home runs. They’ve got guys from top to bottom who get it done.”…
It’s best to take a walk on the wild side. To wit: Wild-card teams since the system’s inception in 1994 have gone 14-10 in division series, 8-6 in league championship series and 4-4 in the World Series. …
How unlikely was the Rockies’ rise to the NLCS? They didn’t go above .500 for good until July 28. The D-backs and Dodgers were tied for the division lead, 10 games over. …
Ryan Spilborghs on the fans’ sudden infatuation with Hurdle’s Heroes: “They’re not coming out of the woodwork. We had the attendance record back in the day. The fans are here. They’ve been begging us to just do something like this. We talk about a bandwagon. It’s not a bandwagon. People have always been there.” …
The Rockies and Yankees are this year’s wild-card teams. What, you don’t think this is getting out of control? I just typed the words Rockies and Yankees in the same sentence. …
How in the H (humidor) did the Rockies manage to compile the lowest ERA in the league (3.86) after the all-star break? The impact of Tulowitzki’s glove can be seen above Francis’ locker, where two “Troy for R.O.Y.” buttons are hanging. …
Helton on Tulo: “He’s the perfect rookie. He plays with a passion that you don’t see from every player who comes up to the big leagues. He’s got a confidence about him, but yet he’s very respectful. He’s that unbelievable player who respects the game and plays hard every day.” …
Not that these are different times for the Rockies, but they were 5-4 this season at Chase Field. Going into the season, they were 26-49 when stranded in the desert. …
At the risk of getting ahead of ourselves, feel free to give the Rox a fighting chance if they face the Red Sox in the Series. The Sawx’s top three starters are right-handed, and the Rox were 70-49 vs. right-handers compared to 20-24 vs. lefties. The reason? They have a much better lineup vs. right-handers because Hawpe is a much better hitter vs. right-handers. …
Hawpe on the Rockies’ Refuse to Lose Tour: “It’s gone so fast. That’s what’s happening right now. Every day goes by so quick. The weeks are going by quicker. It’s different than in the past. Whenever we were in September in the past few years, it seems like every day was a week long.”
