I know Alex likes the Rox quite a bit, but they will need to get one nice performance from Francis.  My guess is that Webb outpitches him twice, and the D'Backs win in 6.

Lots of Canadian connections in this series.

For the Rockies, Jeff Francis is a native son, Jamey Carroll is an ex-Expo and Troy Tulowitzki is the Blue Jays' starting shortstop (what, he isn't?).

For the Diamondbacks, ex-Jay Orlando Hudson was having the best season of his career before getting hurt; ex-Jay Brandon Lyon had a very nice year in middle relief and Doug Davis is an ex-Jay as well. And Livan Hernandez is another link to the Expos.

Speaking of the Diamondbacks, anyone catch pitcher Micah Owings' batting line? 333/349/683, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 12 XBH in 20 H.

I buy Pythagoras.

'Backs Pythagorean W/L = 79-83
Rox Pythagorean W/l = 91-72

Rox in six.

Wikipedia says of Pythagoras:

"Pythagoras undertook a reform of the cultural life of Croton, urging the citizens to follow virtue and form an elite circle of followers around himself called Pythagoreans. Very strict rules of conduct governed this cultural center. He opened his school to male and female students alike. Those who joined the inner circle of Pythagoras's society called themselves the Mathematikoi. They lived at the school, owned no personal possessions and were required to assume a mainly vegetarian diet (meat that could be sacrificed was allowed to be eaten). Other students who lived in neighboring areas were also permitted to attend Pythagoras's school. Known as Akousmatikoi, these students were permitted to eat meat and own personal belongings."

It seems likely that he could not be bought!  By the way, does "mathematikoi" sound like a punk sabermatrician, or what?

The NL is merely the Washington Nationals of baseball. Mere footnotes on the AL's continuing march to glory. To quote from the Froggie on the castle wall in the Monty Python movie, "I spit in your general direction."

It would take too long to explain how I know this, but the Rockies will defeat Cleveland in the end. Ask me later.

Mylegacy, I felt the exact same way last year. I thought neither the Cards or Mets stood a chance against a Tigers team that easily handled the Athletics and was extremely well rested for the World Series. That's what's funny about conventional wisdom, and why they actually play the games - baseball is one heck of a strange game.  All last year did was further prove the notion that the playoffs is such a crapshoot, and I wouldn't count out whichever NL team makes it.

Part of the beauty of baseball in its childhood was the importance of the regular season. The current playoff system, while more exciting for the casual fan, has ruined that. I think there's something to be said for leagues like the English Premiership that puts all its importance on a season full of games as opposed to a 2-3 week period where one team can get lucky.

I think there's something to be said for leagues like the English Premiership that puts all its importance on a season full of games as opposed to a 2-3 week period where one team can get lucky.

But the playoffs is when the "momentum" from the regular series carries over, and the true "clutch" hitters shine.

Baseball playoffs are completely stupid, pointless, and dumb.  A best of 5????????????  Are you freaking kidding me.

I'm doing an experiment where I flipped a coin last weekend to predict the outcome of each series.  I compared the results to 10 ESPN baseball "experts" picking the same series'.

So far I'm 3-1, while the majority of the "experts" are 2-2 or worse.

Anyone seriously "predicting" in these threads is just delusional if they think there is any way to predict such a short series.  If you could actually do it you wouldn't bother any more because you would be a millionaire and laying on a beach in Aruba.

My guess is that Webb outpitches him twice

I won't disagree with that, but given the Rockies' huge offensive advantage, I could still see them taking at least 1 of those games. After the number 1s, I like the Rockies' starting pitching a bit better, even if Aaron Cook isn't at top form, and their offense is so much better I don't see the DBacks taking any games that Webb doesn't pitch. Rockies in 5 for me!

I'm not sure if this is common knowledge, but it's definitely noteworthy and I had no idea:

Brandon Webb's Pronounced Splits

2007
        PA   K%  BB%  K/BB  HR% BABIP   BA  OBP  SLG
vs RH  461 25.4  5.2  4.88  0.9  .264 .199 .244 .258
vs LH  514 15.0  9.3  1.60  1.6  .309 .272 .342 .406 

Career
        PA   K%  BB%  K/BB  HR% BABIP   BA  OBP  SLG
vs RH 2155 23.9  5.7  4.18  1.0  .274 .211 .266 .284
vs LH 2396 15.2 10.2  1.48  2.3  .304 .273 .349 .420 

Kinda one-sided. The Rockies should start lefty Cory Sullivan over righty Ryan Spilborghs in center field, unless Spilborghs is way superior glovewise. That gives them four lefties - Helton, Hawpe, the switch-hitter Matsui and Sullivan.

In other news, there is an incongruous, what-the-hell-are-you-doing-there? offday between Games 4 and 5, five days after game 1. So Webb will almost certainly pitch game 4 on three days' rest and be in line to start game 7 on four days' if the series gets that far. This year's postseason schedule definitely favors the teams with the very best Aces.

I'm not sure if this is common knowledge, but it's definitely noteworthy and I had no idea:

Any Strat-O-Matic players would know all about Webb's pronounced platoon splits.

I'm glad someone mentioned this. Strat-O cards reveal a lot about platoon differences, including things that the players' managers seem to overlook completely. For instance, anyone who has played the game for the past few seasons knows that Vernon Wells is a middle-of-any-lineup hitter vs. LHP, but more a 6 or 7 hitter vs most RHP.

  I recall that Bill James wrote years ago that every MLB manager should play the game for a while as it might prove enlightening.

  I avoid mentioning this much myself because people call me names. Hey, I know Strat-O is a board game, played with cardboard, but it's full of numbers that weren't just made up.

McLeod's interview with Orlando Hudson is a bit unusual. It starts off as you'd expect, with Hudson talking about how he loves Toronto, and other routine things. However this part kind of surprised me:

"I thank J.P. Ricciardi for making that trade, I really do. I really love it here."

Asked why he thought the move was in his best interests, Hudson suddenly turned mute.

"I don't want to take it out of proportion," he said. "I tell you what, you ask me that question when I retire and I'll be happy to tell you."

What could he be talking about?

Just noticed an oddity about the playoffs. The teams in the AL both have identical 96-66 records (best in the AL) while the two NL teams have 90 wins (best in the NL). We actually have a shot at having the two best teams in the regular season meet in the WS (AL will provide it, the NL might but worst case is a team that is 1/2 a game back once all was said and done). Been awhile.