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WHOOOOOO!

One of my friends doesn't have cable, but I'm glad. Having to call him all night to tell him about the game meant someone heard me around the fifth inning when I said the Rockies would win by one run in the 13th.

Which they did, finishing off the Padres 9-8 just moments ago.

What a great game. The Rockies jumped out to a 3-0 lead, which would have been a lot more comforting if they hadn't been playing at home.

Then Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres crushed a grand slam to put the Padres back in the lead. The Pads added another run in the inning to make it 5-3, but I wasn't worried. Why? Coors Field.

When you think about it, there's no better park in the world for a one-game playoff. I don't care if baseball purists hate it, Coors is...hold up, I'm glad that baseball purists hate it. But Coors is the perfect backdrop for one winner-takes-all game, because no team is ever out of it. I love that this wasn't one of those 5-2 playoff games where the 2-run team never really had a chance.

Anyway, the Rockies pulled out a win in spectacular fashion, scoring three runs in the bottom of the 13th after the Padres pulled ahead. (They really scored two runs, and received the third as a gift call from the home plate umpire, but I don't care at this point. The Rockies just made the friggin' playoffs.)

Will they stick around in the postseason? All things being equal, I think the Rockies are better than this year's Philadelphia Phillies. But all things aren't equal, and the Rockies went through ten pitchers tonight just to earn the right to play Wednesday (at 1 p.m. Mountain, according to ESPN). But I don't care about that right now. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Comments

blaine said…
I agree with you on Coors field, no better place to have a playoff game.

I love the Rockies chances against the Phillies. We have a lot of momentum and we have been getting some big hits just at the right times in the last 15 games.

I was sure that was a homerun in the 8th, but Orel Hershiser said that if the ball hit that fence just behind the yellow padding and the ball comes back into the field then it is in play. Is that the correct ruling?

I watched the replays at the plate at least 10 times and I'm not so sure he DIDN'T touch the plate. From the angles they showed on TV there is no way to know for certain if he got the plate or not.
9:15 AM
Mike said…
Yeah, you're right about the home plate thing...can't really say for sure. I don't think he touched, though. It was actually kind of good for Holliday that he was a little shaken up for a second and everyone gave him room-I've always though the worst thing about making a game-winning baseball play would be having everyone pile on you afterwards.

I don't know what the exact rule on the "homer" is, except that I've seen a ton of home runs that bounced back onto the field and it's never been in play after that. I don't know why this would be an exception.
9:46 AM
John said…
What a great game - in my opinion, this was the best game in baseball since Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, when the Red Sox came back to knock of the Yankees. And Coors Field was the perfect setting - the game was obviously going to come down to the last play (although I had half a mind to chase down Holliday and whip him after he misplayed that ball in the 8th).

As for the Phillies, I agree both that we are the better team and that we are more spent, even though the Phills went on a crazy run at the end of the season to win the NL East. I wouldn;t be surprised if we lose Game 1 - but if we have anything left at all, we should be able to stay in the series.
11:56 AM
David said…
i'm just enjoying mr. johnny, rather... mikey come lately on the baseball coverage.

given the state of the broncos, i think we should give them a fortnight ban.

the game was so awesome. the rockies, are playing with heart. with confidence. the fact that they beat up the potential cy young winner... is great for them. they certainly have momentum going into the game, which has questionable value.

i say it means a lot. they are playing with an edge, and they all look sharp.

except that slide... holliday, feet first you jackass. he goes feet first and it's not even a close call.

also, this game finally eclipsed the best coors field moment of all time, previoulsy held by dante bichette happens - 14th inning walk off home run at the coors field opener.
12:34 AM
Mike said…
Amen on the slide! Holliday looked like a pitcher or something there.

Normally I'd discount momentum, but the Rockies have me believing. Not sure if that's because they really are on a roll or if my exuberance is making me irrational.

Now can someone please tell me why the game is starting in the middle of the afternoon?
1:17 PM
Anonymous said…
go rox
12:23 PM
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