Postseason Pieces: Day 4
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After just six games we already got our National League Division Championship Series. The Arizona Diamondbacks came into Wrigley Field and proved that they are "for real". The Cubs had enough chances but once again send their fans home waiting for next year. In Colorado the Rockies continued to write their fairytale, completing the sweep over the Philadelphia Phillies with a 2-1 Game 3 victory. Postseason Pieces gives you the final judgement over the the NLDS 2007...
The Good
Colorado Rockies: Not even a blackout could stop the Rockies, who not only swept the series with the Phillies, they also won their 17th game in their last 18. Excuse me?! 17 out of 18?! Yes, it's true and it says a lot about how hot this team is. Unknown rookies (Ubaldo "who" Jimenez) are pitching gems, guys like Kaz Matsui look like superstars and the Rockies just keep on winning and winning and winning. A lot of things can happen in the postseason and a team as hot as the Rockies always has a chance to go deep into October. It's not about talent anymore but who plays the best for a month. And believe it or not, the Rockies are playing terrific, fundamentally sound baseball and they are a team of tough guys, who all believe in themselves. Manny Corpas is really opening eyes as a closer, kind of being a posterchild for the unknown Rockies player who is making a name for himself. It's alright Rockies, we know you now!
Arizona Diamondbacks: It took the D'backs exactly one pitch, one swing and one stab into the Cubs fans hearts to prove that they aren't intimidated by the friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. Centerfielder Chris Young didn't waste any time for his best (regular season) Alfonso Soriano impression, hammering the first offering from Rich Hill into the left field bleachers. After that Arizona continued what they did all season - a little play here, a little play there, solid defense and then a few big bangs. These young guys play with unmatched enthusiasm and they just feel good about themselves. We don't have a great batting average?! Whatever. We don't have big bats in the lineup?! Who cares... it's one at bat at a time and if we get to the 6th or 7th inning, we got some guys in the pen that can send the opponent's fans home early. Tony Pena, Brandon Lyon, and closer Jose Valverde did an outstanding job all season and continued their prolific game in the postseason. To really characterize the young D'backs we just have to look at their new bench coach: Orlando Hudson, out for the season, but as excited as a little kid while cheering his teammates on. Bob Melvin does a great job of leading his youngsters and making them believe in their ability. We start to believe, too.
The Bad
Philadelphia Phillies: Well, one fairytale continues, another one turns into a story without a happy end. The Phillies sluggers could at no point in this series find their rythmn and a team like the Phillies right now just can't overcome that. They don't have the pitching to win 2-1, 3-2 or something like that. Guys like Jose Mesa, J.C. Romero, Kyle Lohse... sorry, won't get it done. Jimmy Rollins tried to inspire his troops in Game 2 but it just wasn't enough. Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand... don't look at the stats, Phillies fans, it's ugly! Especially Howard and Utley were just overmatched by the Colorado lefties. This team has heart and they got a lot of fight in themselves, yet they live and die by the long ball and that recipe will cause stomach problems in the postseason. When Carlos Ruiz (props to him) has your best batting average over three games, you're in trouble. Not anymore, Phillies fans, see you next year!
Chicago Cubs: I made a bet yesterday, putting quite a bit of money on the fact that Aramis Ramirez (who had terrific numbers against Livan Hernandez) won't strike out three times in Game 3. After five strikes in two at bats I was wondering what they hell I was thinking. Even though "ARam" managed to put the ball in play often enough for me to win the bet (YES!), his struggles at the plate were characteristic for his buddies with the big bats. Alfonso Soriano was awful, Cliff Floyd sucked, Derrek Lee at least batted .333 but a very quiet .333... well, who else could be blamed?! I suspected something like that earlier in the year, the Cubs are a team that has no identity at the plate, no game plan and they suffer from terrible execution. Moving runners over?!? Never heard of it. Seriously, when you manage an astounding 5 runs against Livan Hernandez (who almost made Rick Ankiel look like a control freak yesterday) and Doug "I have a 4.34 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP for my career" Davis, then you just don't deserve to advance in the MLB postseason. But the ultimate loser on this Cubs team wasn't even wearing batting gloves, he was sitting in their dugout: Lou Piniella! I'm sick of the whole story about how he is a great manager. First he leaves Jason Marquis off the playoff roster, robbing himself of tons of options with his pitching staff (sounds weird to praise Marquis but he was good for the Cubbies this year). And how in goddamn hell can you take out Carlos Zambrano after 85 pitches in Game one in the middle of a classic pitchers duel with the reigning Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb?! Saving him for Game 4?!? Guess what, Sweet Lou, there isn't a game 4 anymore and you canned your ace atleast two innings too early. I feel for Cubs fans and I completely understand why they booed, the Cubs played terrible baseball after Piniella took out Big Z in game 1. That changed the entire momentum in the series and ultimatively proved to be a deciding factor. 100 years is a long time, wow...
The Ugly
NLCS Rockies vs. Diamondbacks: First, I want to tip my hat to these two young teams, they deserve to be where they are and they both are great stories. Yet we can't overlook the fact that they both ran into two terribly flawed teams in the Phillies and the Cubs. It's great to see all their young talent out there but in the end, as a "neutral" baseball fan in the National League... I don't know... Rockies vs. Diamondbacks... we'll see, but it's just not something I'm really dying to watch. I wish both teams luck and in the end one of them will win the World Series against the vaunted American League only to make me look bad, but hey... I'm not that excited about this series. Again, no knock on them, they deserve everything but for baseball, that might not be the most exciting series. Yes, I'm a hater... I'll admit it!
Sweeps: Great for the winning teams but I would much rather see a series that is going down to the final out, the final game. Well, the Rockies and D'backs played to well for that plus the Cubbies and the Phils played much too bad for that. Maybe we see a little more excitement and drama in the NLCS, the ALDS and ALCS... and maybe even the World Series. We keep waiting!
You see, no individual awards today, maybe for Pat Burrell's "outstanding" defense or Stephen Drew incredible play, but we just had to made a final judgement after both NLDS are over. We will keep an eye on the young and upcoming teams, we will shed a little tear for Chicago and Philly fans and we will continue to watch October baseball!
For the pictures click: http://mos-baseball.blogspot.com
