Rockies Hitting: Rockies Hitting: The Rockies, like the Phillies offence is powered by an MVP Candidate in Matt Holliday who hit 36 home runs and drove in 137 runs.
He is supported by Todd Helton, who had a .434 on-base percentage, and emerging talented hitters in Garrett Atkins, Troy Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe.
While the Rockies hit 40 less home runs than the Phillies, they still finished tied with them for the NL lead in on-base percentage, and were behind them in runs scored and batting average. Colorado has an American League quality offence that could club itself deep into the post-season.
Phillies Hitting:
Jimmy Rollins caused a stir in January when he said the Phillies were the team to beat in the NL East. After needing all 162 to games to prove that he was correct, the NL MVP candidate will lead his club into the postseason.
Rollins joined Curtis Granderson, Willie Mays and Frank "Wildfire" Schulte as the only players in major league history with 20 stolen bases, 20 homers, 20 triples and 20 doubles. The Phillies also boast the best offensive second baseman in the league in Chase Utley, and have Ryan Howard, who despite missing 18 games still clubbed 47 home runs and drove in 137 runs himself.
The Phillies are the offensive juggernaut of the NL, leading the league in runs scored, home runs and On-base percentage and they will need their big three to continue to produce in the post-season.
Rockies Pitching:
North Delta, B.C.'s Jeff Francis made huge strides in 2007 and is close to being a true number one pitcher. Despite his 17-9 record, he finished with a 4.22 ERA which is good, but not in the same class as the elite pitchers.
After Francis, the Rockies starters fall off. Josh Fogg is a serviceable arm as a late rotation starter. Because of injury, the Rockies will turn to hard throwing youngsters Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales.
The Rockies bullpen finished a respectable 6th in the NL for ERA, and have a really good eighth and ninth inning combination in Brian Fuentes and Manny Corpas.
The reality for the Rockies is that none of their starting pitchers - aside from Morales (who has only made eight starts) boasts an ERA under 4.00. If Francis struggles, the Rockies might not have enough starting pitching to have an extended stay in the postseason.
Phillies Pitching:
The pitching in Philadelphia is as bad as the hitting is good. They rank 13th out of 16 teams in ERA. As for their starters, the Phillies are lead by super sophomore Cole Hamels who despite missing seven starts still managed 15 wins. After Hamels is where things become dicey.
Rookie Kyle Kendrick has posted a solid 10-4 record with a 3.87 ERA, but he was a double-A pitcher to start the season. After the youngsters the Phillies have question marks with veterans Jamie Moyer, Adam Eaton and Kyle Lohse.
The Phillies bullpen is also always a question mark. Closer Brett Myers can bring the heat, but he has struggled at key times this year, and Tom Gordon, Antonio Alfonseca and Jose Mesa have showed their age.
Pitching in the playoffs is always key and the Phillies will need someone in their bullpen to get hot and serve as a bridge to Myers, or the Phillies time in the post-season could be short.