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Rockies Rolling Along

By ARNIE STAPLETON, The Associated Press

Published: October 14, 2007

DENVER - Long known for their big bats, the Colorado Rockies have suddenly become masters of small ball.

Several sluggers have vanished in the playoffs. The Rockies have just one extra-base hit in the NL Championship Series, and that was a double by speedy leadoff man Willy Taveras that nobody else could have legged out.

Yet the rollin' Rockies are unbeaten in the postseason and they're two wins from their first World Series while the snake-bit Arizona Diamondbacks can't seem to catch a break.

The forecast for Game 3 tonight calls for highs in the 40s with a chance of rain.

Plus, in the 48-year history of divisional play, no team has been able to overcome losing the first two games at home to win a league championship series.

Arizona outfielder Eric Byrnes said the Diamondbacks don't feel as though they're facing long odds.

'I think we're a good team. I also don't think the Rockies have outplayed us, because they haven't. Not even close,' Byrnes said. 'They've had a little luck go their way. Definitely the ball has bounced in their direction. They've been the beneficiary of some calls.

'We look back on those first two games, we have not been outplayed. If anything I think it's the other way around,' Byrnes said. 'So, that gives us confidence knowing that we can play with them. That and the fact that we played them about 9,000 times this year. We are not really fazed by what's going on right now.'

Neither are the Rockies, who have won 19 of 20 and insist they're not stumped by their offensive slump.

Try this for lumbering lumber: Todd Helton is hitting .100 in the postseason and is 1-for-19 since slapping a triple in his first postseason at-bat. MVP hopeful Matt Holliday and Rookie of the Year contender Troy Tulowitzki are both scuffling at .190. Garrett Atkins leads the befuddled bunch with a relatively robust .250 batting average.

REDS: Dusty Baker has agreed to become Cincinnati's manager, the Chicago Tribune reported late Saturday. Baker has agreed to a three-year contract and is expected to be introduced at a news conference in Cincinnati on Monday.

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