LOS ANGELES - Two years ago, the Colorado Rockies won 14 of their last 15 games to make it to the playoffs, where they faced the Phillies in the first round.
This season the Rockies went 74-42 after a horrendous 18-28 start to make it to the playoffs, where they'll face the Phillies in the first round.
The more things change, the more they stay the same . . .
Here's a look at the similarities and differences, then and now:
2007 2009
1B Todd Helton Todd Helton
2B Kaz Matsui Clint Barmes
SS Troy Tulowitzki Troy Tulowitzki
3B Garrett Atkins Ian Stewart
LF Matt Holliday Seth Smith &
Ryan Spilborghs
CF Ryan Spilborghs Dexter Fowler
RF Brad Hawpe Brad Hawpe
C Yorvit Torrealba Yorvit Torrealba
& Chris Iannetta
SP Jeff Francis Ubaldo Jimenez
Franklin Morales Aaron Cook
Ubaldo Jimenez Jorge De La Rosa
Jason Marquis
C Manny Corpas Huston Street
Notes: Carlos Gonzalez also rotates among all three outfield positions; De La Rosa left Saturday's game in the fourth inning with a tight groin.
"A lot of the core guys that are here now were there in '07," said Clint Barmes, then a utility player. "I'd like to think that going through that experience matters and has been a big part of that as well.
"And also, the additions we've made have obviously been a big part. The bullpen, [Jason] Giambi, obviously. I feel like we've been a little more consistent as opposed to the '07 team where we made the run late to get in. The last few months, anyway, we've played pretty solid baseball, consistent baseball."
Said Troy Tulowitzki: "In '07, we made a run at the end that nobody had ever seen before. And we just kind of appeared in the playoffs. This year we just kind of were a better team all the way through. So it's a little bit different. But any time you make the playoffs, it's rewarding."
- Paul Hagen
