Rockies: Matt Holliday. Becoming only the fifth player since 1949 to lead the NL in both batting average and RBI, Holliday burnished his MVP credentials with five home runs and 17 RBI in his last 12 games, while batting .442 (23-for-52). The Rockies feel just as strongly that Holliday deserves it as the Phillies feel about Jimmy Rollins. "Matt Holliday, for us, is the MVP," manager Clint Hurdle said. "The runs he's driven in have been significant. Timing has been critical."
Phillies: Pat Burrell. It was a tale of two seasons. In the first half, Burrell hit .215 with 11 homers and 37 RBI, including batting .129 in June. After the break was a different story: .295-19-60. And that included a torrid July, when he batted .435 and helped carry the team. Even when he wasn't getting hits, he had good discipline at the plate, drawing 114 walks. With the Phillies ahead in the late innings, he usually comes out for a pinch-runner or a defensive replacement.
ADVANTAGE: ROCKIES
CENTERFIELD
Rockies: Ryan Spilborghs/Cory Sullivan. Against lefthanders, Spilborghs gets the nod. He's a high-energy guy. The last player cut in spring training, he was called up in mid-May and has contributed. Late in the season, he had several clutch hits. Against righthanders, Sullivan plays. He didn't make the team out of spring training, either. He doesn't have much power, but brings speed to the lineup.
Phillies: Aaron Rowand. On the field, Rowand had a career year heading into an offseason when he can become a free agent. He went hitless in consecutive games only five times all season. Off the field, he remained one of the biggest reasons the Phillies developed such a strong bond, but it remains to be seen whether the Phillies can afford to bring him back.
ADVANTAGE: PHILLIES
RIGHTFIELD
Rockies: Brad Hawpe. Most of Hawpe's damage this year was done against righthanded pitching. He batted more than 100 points higher (.315 to .214), had a much higher on-base percentage (.418 to .283), hit more homers (24 to five) and drove in more runs (94 to 22) than against lefties. Still, he hit a big home run down the stretch against San Diego southpaw Joe Thatcher and had another crucial hit against Diamondbacks lefty Doug Slaten.
Phillies: Shane Victorino/Jayson Werth. After Victorino was hurt in Chicago in late July, Werth went on a tear that helped keep the Phillies afloat. When Werth cooled off, Victorino came back to add some spark to the lineup with his speed. And while Werth can throw runners out, Victorino's arm makes third-base coaches think before even trying to send runners home.
ADVANTAGE: ROCKIES
STARTING PITCHING
Rockies: LHP Jeff Francis, LHP Franklin Morales, RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, RHP Josh Fogg. The key is how the younger guys, Morales and Jimenez, react to postseason pressure. Both pitched well after being called up from the minors, but are inexperienced. Morales has only eight career starts in the big leagues and Jimenez 16. Francis doesn't have overpowering stuff, but knows how to pitch. Fogg is a journeyman who earned the nickname "Dragonslayer" this year for an uncanny ability beat the opposing team's ace.
Phillies: LHP Cole Hamels, RHP Kyle Kendrick, LHP Jamie Moyer, RHP Kyle Lohse. The Phillies were able to line up their rotation as they wanted it, meaning Hamels could start two games if needed. Kendrick opened the season at Double A Reading, but has been unflappable all season. Moyer and Lohse are veterans who have pitched in big games before.
ADVANTAGE: PHILLIES
BULLPEN
Rockies: Manny Corpas (closer), Brian Fuentes, Jeremy Affeldt, LaTroy Hawkins, Ryan Speier. Corpas was 19-for-20 in save opportunities after replacing Fuentes as the closer on July 7. Fuentes bounced back, however and allowed only three runs in his last 20 appearances. Affeldt is unscored on in his last seven outings and Speier has retired 12 of the last 15 batters he's faced. The bullpen is deep, which helps explain why Colorado was 74-1 when leading after eight innings this season.
Phillies: Brett Myers (closer), Tom Gordon, J.C. Romero. It has already become part of Phillies lore, the way Romero, Gordon and Myers pitched almost every day down the stretch as the Phillies closed with a 13-4 rush to overhaul the Mets and win the NL East. The question is whether they can continue that effectiveness into the playoffs, especially the 39-year-old Gordon, who has battled shoulder problems for more than a year. And if manager Charlie Manuel uses any other relievers, the game might well be out of hand anyway.
