On Monday, October 1, as the Padres played the Rockies for the final playoff spot in the National League, we Phillies fans in the newsroom were hoping - HOPING - that the Padres would win. Because the Rockies were hot - HOT - and HOT is hard to beat.
Well, the Phillies found out just how hard, getting swept by the aforementioned Rockies 3-0. The Phils, who averaged something like 6 runs a game in the regular season, could only muster 8 total runs during the short-lived series. They struck out at an alarming rate, showed a lack of discipline at the plate, and mustered a team batting average that didn't get above the Mendoza line. That's no way to win even if the team you're playing is NOT on a 17-1 roll or something ridiculous like that.
Maybe this is the Rockies' year. I will not be at all surprised if they manage to sweep the Diamondbacks and make it to the World Series. I may even root for them!