This years NLCS shows us that spending money on quality is better than spending money on quantity. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies were as dominant as anyone in the Division Series.
These small-market teams have defied the odds to get here, and should make for a great NLCS.
The Rockies are led on offense by the young gun Troy Tulowitzki and the veterans Brad Hawpe, Matt Holliday and Knoxville native Todd Helton.
This core provides as solid a group of mashers as the majors has to offer, and Kazuo Matsui has quietly (until nearly hitting for the cycle) evolved into a top tier leadoff hitter.
The Arizona D’Backs counter with a lineup that isn’t known for its flash; rather they are known for that small-ball gritty style that won the White Sox a World Series not to long ago.
Steven Drew and Eric Byrnes thrive in the respective roles they play consistently making contact when they step up to the plate.
The starting pitching is a strength for Arizona and a weakness for the Rockies. For the D’backs, Brandon Webb is the NL’s best pither, and Livan Hernandez has a lot of October on his resume. The bullpen is an area of strength for both of these teams. Corpas and Fuentes are stellar finishing games for Colorado.
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle has a lot of good arms at his disposal late in games, but Arizona has the NL’s saves leader in Valverde who has a nasty split-finger fastball. The Rockies have lost once in their last 18 games, that was against Brandon Webb.
A short series appears to favor the Rockies, but if the D’backs stretch the series to six or seven games they have a chance to cool down the hottest team in baseball. Look for the Rockies to win in five games.

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