The NLCS Isn't Worth Watching,
Right? WRONG!
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Now that we're down to the final four teams in Major league baseball, I keep hearing
people say the NLCS will be boring and isn't worth watching. Sure, you have the
nationally popular Boston Red Sox vs. the lovable, powerful, Cleveland Indians in the
ALCS, and yes, that will be a great series, but what's wrong with the Arizona
Diamondbacks vs. the Colorado Rockies in the NLCS? Nothing. In fact, if the Rockies
win, we'll witness history. It will be their first appearance in a World Series....ever. OK,
not a history person, don't care about that? Fine, how about I give you some even
better reasons to watch?
The fact of the matter is these two teams are solid from top to bottom and they play a
good brand of baseball. The East Coast doesn't get to see a lot of their games as
we're well past our bedtime before they even throw their first pitch and we just assume
they aren't any good or we'd see them. That's really not the case. Arizona features a
plethora of young talent led by their pitching ace Brandon Webb. Webb, by the way,
was the Cy Young award winner in the National League in 2006 and has put up
numbers this year that may land him his second consecutive award. In 2007, Webb
ranked second in the league with 18 wins, second in the league in ERA at 3.01, fourth
in strikeouts with 194, first in innings pitched, and in the top 10 for WHIP, complete
games and winning percentage. It's worth watching this guy pitch! OK, so pitchers
don't play every day, fair enough. Well the DBacks feature some great bats too. They
are led by 24 year old rookie sensation Chris Young who manned center field for the
team from Arizona while hitting 32 bombs. They have a 24 year old short stop,
Stephen Drew, who can really hit the ball all over the field and pick anything that gets
hit his way. 25 year old Conor Jackson handles first base for the team and he is an up
and coming super star who will be a house hold name within 2 years. This kid can
really play. Finally, shutting down games for them they have the dominant closer Jose
Valverde who saved 47 games this year, ranking first in the league. They are a
complete team.
The Diamondbacks don't do it for you? Fine, how about the Rockies? Most people
make fun of the Rockies pitching because they have been known to give up runs at
Coors Field due to it's altitude, but say that to their ace Jeff Francis who won 17
games and finished in the top 7 in wins, winning percentage and innings pitched. Oh
by the way, he'll be pitching against Brandon Webb on Thursday. Seems like a pretty
good match up to me. But who will the Rockies trot out to bat against Webb and the
DBacks pitchers and support Francis and his mates? How about MVP candidate Matt
Holiday? All Holiday did this season was bat .340 with 36 home runs and 137 RBI. He
won the batting title, was first in RBI, was second in slugging, third in runs scored and
OPS, fourth in home runs and sixth in on base percentage! He is most likely going to
win the MVP and his numbers pretty much speak for themselves, he's worth watching.
He's also got Rookie of the Year candidate Troy Tulowitzki in the lineup with him. As a
22 year old rookie Tulowitzki batted .291 with 24HR and 99RBI. Most veterans don't
put up those numbers! Add in Todd Helton who batted .320 (9th in the league) with
17 HR and a league leading 116 walks, Brade Hawpe, .291 with 29HR and Garret
Atkins .301 with 25HR and you have a very potent lineup.
If all of that still doesn't get you to watch, how about this last little nugget of
information. These teams faced each other 18 times this year, they each won 9.
There is absolutely no clear cut favorite. It will be an exciting series from the first pitch
to the last out. I say watch it and love it, you are guaranteed to see some excitement
with these two teams.
