Deadspin
The best part about the playoffs is that every team can, legitimately, be considered a "team of destiny." The only team last year that probably didn't have a claim as a "team of destiny" going into the playoffs was the team who won the World Series.
But these two, the Phillies and the Rockies, probably have the most legitimate claims to destiny status. It's almost a shame the two most inspiring stories have to face each other in the NLDS; it would be like George Mason and, we dunno, Virginia Commonwealth having to play in the NCAA First Round. That said, it means one of them, amazingly, will be one series from the World Series. But which one? (Drama! Thanks, Dane!)
A look at predictions from around the Internets:
• CoolStandings: Rockies in four.
• AJ Daulerio: Phillies in four.
• Will Carroll: Rockies in four.
• Jeff Pearlman: Phillies in five.
• Jayson Stark: Phillies in five.
• Buster Olney: Phillies in five.
• DEADSPIN: Phillies in four. Cole Hamels is starting to look like a true ace, and the Phillies' hitters are dramatically better. Remember, Philly has some momentum too.
Thoughts?
Comments
Phillies in two.
Because we're the team to beat.
As this no longer affects fantasy baseball..
Phillies in 5
Karma: Exhibit A- Here is why the Philadelphia Phillies will win this series in 4 games, clinching the series in Colorado.
Gotta continue with the improbable: Purple Mountain Majesties in five.
Rox in 4. You can't discount how huge and crazy last night in Denver was, and that's going to keep pushing them.
Phillies in five.
Never discount the effect of an extra game on the 10 pitchers the Rockies had to use.
Mets in....whoops!
Phils in four.
Phillies in 4.
I am not a shameless homer!!!
Padres in 5!
What? Someone had to say it.
Somehow it'll be the Rockies in 1, because that's what happens to Philadelphia.
Phightings in four with Charlie doing the truffle-shuffle in the clubhouse.
@ArkansasFred: I am.
Phillies in three.
They were a team of destiny in '64, and they ripped my little heart out. That said, FIGHTIN' PHILS IN 4!!
Rocks in 4.
Roxors in foxor.
It all comes down to the best 3 out of 5 games.
Rock out with the Rox out ! Phils in 4.
Hamels may be good but um... Kylekendrickkylelohsejamiemoyer.
Rockies in 5.
you know, the Buster X 2 is going to make my head explode.
Phils in 3. If I'm not mistaken, the Rockies MVP's face was shredded ron-popeil style.
Dig up Tug, get Robin Roberts a male prostitute, clone Richie Ashburn, punch Dave Hollins in the balls- Phils in 3!
Phils have Hamels and....? Rockies in four.
Has Doyle McPoyle recovered from his gunshot wound yet? Because that could affect this series.
Front Range Large Rocks in 5.
The Phillies pitching staff will fall prey to Colorado's lineup of affable white lumberjacks (and Kaz Matsui).
The team that scores more runs in 3 out of the 5 contests will win. Yea Sportmanship!!!!!
-ESPNation
Rox in 3.
"Phillies' hitters are dramatically better" hehe.
Rockies in rapture.
Rockies in four, they will be favored by the umpires because all of their good young hitters aren't you know black
/sad but possibly true racism
rockies in 5. pat burrell still plays for philly right? rockies in 4 then.
Rockies in 4.
No fear of the Phillie pitching staff.
All games will be high scoring.
As a Rockies fan living in Philly, I almost hope that the Phillies win because I don't think I'll be able to take all the fucking whining and self-flagellating from these bitter, caustic, negative sonsofbitches. That said, Rockies in 5.
@UkraineNotWeak: Not games one and two. Not in that afternoon sun/shade at CBP.
Team A, but possibly B, in at least 3 games, but maybe more.
The Phillies in 3 because they are more consistent in their constancy and concetration [sic].
-Joe Morgan
I have no idea who'll win. But between these two pitching staffs and the two stadiums they'll play in, MLB will have to call on NASA to figure out how many runs are scored per game.
@Gasface: Rockies fan? You guys exist?
Phillies in one 'cause Cole Hamels doesn't need a five-game series to beat the Rockies.
@Stev D: Dig up Tug, get Robin Roberts a male prostitute, clone Richie Ashburn, punch John Kruk in the ball
Fixed.
@Gasface: Yep, we're good people.
Phils in phour.
Phillies in Phour.
Philly in 3 before realizing they've lost and the city hates them again
@Stev D: Dig up Tug, get Robin Roberts a male prostitute, clone Richie Ashburn, punch John Kruk in the ball -- Phils in 3!
Fixed.
Ah, shit, double posted. My badsies.
Mea culpa, mea culpa.
@Chamomiles Davis: DAMMIT!
I had never heard of CoolStandings.com. I checked out their site & saw that they were 2-5 in picking the series winners in the 2006 playoffs. So I'm comfortable with their prediction here.
Oh - Phillies in 5.
Rockies in 3. Todd Helton hits a homerun every at bat
@rubylegs: Is Cole Hamels the new Chuck Norris or what?
This should be interesting...I heard that Brett Myers thinks Clint Hurdle is a retard.
Phils in two cause I''ve got tickets to thursdays game
Realistically, Phils in 4 with cole only having to pitch once
umpires that actually know when someone touched home plate will make a difference in this series
Rockies in 4 if McClellan is umping.
Otherwise, Phillies in 4.
I was watching the phillies post-game sunday and I swear Jamie Moyer is a real-life Eddie Harris with his side part.
Rick Vaughn: What's that shit on your chest?
Eddie Harris: [wiping his finger across his chest] Crisco?
Eddie Harris: [wiping it across his waist line]
Eddie Harris: Bardol?
Eddie Harris: [wiping it along his head]
Eddie Harris: Vagisil. Any one of them will give you another two to three inches drop on your curve ball. Of course if the umps are watching me real close I'll rub a little jalapeño up my nose, get it runnin', and if I need to load the ball up I just...
Eddie Harris: [wipes his nose]
Eddie Harris: ...wipe my nose.
I just realized, you can replace the letter "f" with a "ph" and it makes the same sound..couple that with a referance to the Phillies and you better batton down the hatches.
I think everyone is missing the point here. The Phils have JC Romero and Tom Gordon. How could they possibly be beaten?
Phils in 4.
Rockies in 5