The Denver Rockies are the 2007 National League champions. Anyone team that has crossed their path in their last 22 games has nothing to show for it but a loss.
21-22. That’s crazy.
Not one baseball analyst, devotee, or fan could have ever predicted what the 2007 Rockies have done.
But how did the impossible become possible? Was it destiny, magic, talent, momentum, Matt Holliday?
Here are why the Rockies won the right to win the World Series:
Just over a week ago, Matt Holliday slid into home plate in the bottom of the 13th inning to score the game-winning run. Anyone who was watching at home saw that Holliday’s horrific slide (face first?) should have been out. Fortunately for the Rockies, home plate umpire Tim Mcclelland, couldn’t tell and, therefore, ruled it safe.
Trevor Hoffman began the bottom of the 13th inning with a comfortable 8-6 Padre lead, but gave it up. Saving games has marked him as baseball’s best closer with 524 career saves, but he just couldn’t get it done. The Padres haven’t lost a game, in extras with a two-run lead, since June 13, 2004 against the New York Yankees.
In game one of the NLDS, Phillies ace Cole Hamels, pitched 6.2 innings, all of which were scoreless except for the second inning of his outing when he gave up two runs. Anybody watching could tell that the usually calm and controlled pitcher was agitated. He told reporters later that it was the long-sleeved shirt that he was wearing underneath his jersey that was the problem. Why would Hamels decide to wear a long-sleeved shirt on a very hot day in Philly? Who knows, but he did. The shirt made him sweat more, causing him to lose his grip on the ball. After he took off the long sleeves, Hamels was back, but the damage had already been done.
The bases are loaded and Manuel relieves starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick with starting pitcher Kyle Lohse. Using a pitcher who isn’t used to beginning a game in a pressure situation is questionable (idiotic). Due up was Kazuo Matsui who grand-slammed-it. 6-3 Rockies.
In game three of the NLDS, with one out earned by Tom Gordon, Manuel pulls him and replaces him with J.C. Romero to get an advantage over lefthander Todd Helton. Helton flied out to right for out number two. Then both Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe single. Hurdle then pinch-hits righthander, Jeff Baker. Manuel keeps Romero in and leaves his righthanded, closing pitcher, Brett Myers, in the bullpen. Baker singles and Atkins scores. 2-1 Rockies.
During the regular season, Holliday was No. 1 in the NL in hits, doubles, RBIs, total bases, and batting average. Those statistics are what makes him a good hitter and in contention for the NL MVP award. But what makes him a great hitter is his ability to hit with runners in scoring position. That’s what wins games. In the fourth game of the NLCS in the bottom of the fourth, with two men on, and Holliday up to bat, he slams one deep to center field for a 452-foot home run.
The Rockies have made baseball history this year with their stellar defensive skills in a hitter-friendly park. They only made 68 errors, giving them a .98925 fielding percentage. But like most things, you have to see it to appreciate it. Diving catches by Taveras. Outs at first by Troy Tulowitzki. Three double plays in three innings.
The D-Backs had one of the worst hitting records in the NL and the Rockies had the second best hitting record at the end of the regular season. In the NLCS, however, it was the D-backs (.254/.312/.359) who out hit the Rockies (.222/.316/.311). This didn’t matter. The Rockies’ pitching staff was able to control the damage that the D-Back hitters threatened them with. In fact, the D-Backs didn’t score more than one run in any inning until the fourth game.
The D-Backs only drew eight walks in four games against the Rockies. Zero of those walks scored. The Rockies, however, drew 18 walks and six of which scored. One of which was Willy Taveras’ walk from Jose Valverde with the bases loaded that brought home the winning run.
The Rockies’ staff ERA was 1.89 in the NLCS. Brian Fuentes was the only pitcher to allow more than one run in the series. On September 10th, Ubaldo Jimenez was 3-3 with a 4.15 ERA. He finished the regular season with a 4.28 ERA. In the postseason? 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA. On September 11th, Morales was 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA. He ended the regular season with a 3.43 ERA.
Before the start of every game, Hurdle writes and circles the number 64 at the top of the Rockies lineup card. Why does he do this? He does this to honor 15-year-old Kyle Blakeman, who died this past summer from a very rare type of cancer. Hurdle and Blakeman had been friends. They often chatted about the Rockies, and when Hurdle asked Blakeman for some luck, Blakeman gave him the number 64, which he had worn on his football jersey. The next day Hurdle wrote and circled the number at the top of the lineup card, and guess what happened? The Rockies won 6-5. Since then Hurdle has started every game with the number 64.
Whatever you want to call it, the Rockies have it. Tons of it. And they are using it to pound their opponents.
