Insight: The Cardinals' 10 World Series titles are second to the Yankees. They've also won 17 NL pennants ... The Dodgers were bums for most of their time in Brooklyn (1883-1957) and have won five of the franchise's six championships since moving to LA ... No sports franchise has lost more than the Phillies, though that is sooo last century. This is arguably the golden era for the Phils, who also began play in 1883 ... This is just the third postseason appearance for the Rockies, who debuted in 1993. Colorado was swept by the Red Sox in 2007 in its only World Series appearance.
Putting the NL playoff teams in their place
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Story continues below.
Home wins
1. Rockies 512. Dodgers 50
3. Cardinals 46
4. Phillies 45
Road wins
1. Phillies 482. Cardinals 45
2. Dodgers 45
4. Rockies 41
Bullpen – overall
1. Dodgers2. Rockies
3. Phillies
4. Cardinals
Insight: LA has plenty of depth, especially after the deadline acquisition of George Sherrill, who was the closer for the Orioles ... Though most of the guys in the Rockies' bullpen weren't with the club out of spring training, the unit has been solid lately ... The Phillies would be fine if baseball didn't require a ninth inning ... The Cardinals will rely on some kids who've never been in the postseason.
Bullpen – closers
1. Dodgers, Jonathan Broxton2. Rockies, Huston Street
3. Cardinals, Ryan Franklin
4. Phillies, Brad Lidge
Insight: Broxton is having the best season of his career and hasn't allowed an earned run in 22 of his last 23 outings ... Street would get the nod for No. 1, but he's battling elbow tendinitis and still doesn't quite look 100 percent ... Franklin struggled down the stretch ... Wonder if Charlie Manuel's gesture to Brad Lidge to get the final out of the division clincher will have any residual effect for Lidge's confidence.
Defense
1. Phillies2. Rockies
3. Dodgers
4. Cardinals
Average home attendance
1. Dodgers 46,4402. Phillies 44,453
3. Cardinals 41,275
4. Rockies 32,902
Insight: The Dodgers led all of baseball and the Phillies and Cardinals were third and fourth, respectively. The Yankees were second ... LA drew a major league-best 57,099 for its home opener on April 13 against the rival Giants ... The Phillies' road average of 30,760 was the smallest of the four NL playoff teams.
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