Not so fast.
When Colo-rado swept Phil-adelphia in the 2007 NLDS, the teams combined for only 24 runs in three games. Now, each club boasts even stronger pitching.
The Phillies have two former Cy Young winners and last year's World Series and NL Championship Series MVP on their staff. The Rockies were the only team in the majors to have all five starters reach double-digit wins.
"I look at our starting pitching as very good," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "I think it's as good as any team in the National League, and I think that our starting pitching will play up big in this series."
The defending World Series champion Phillies will send last year's American League Cy Young winner Cliff Lee (14-13, 3.22 ERA) to the mound for Game 1 of the NLDS tonight. Ubaldo Jimenez (15-12, 3.47) gets the start for the Rockies.
Both pitchers are aware the ball travels well at Citizens Bank Park, and they're facing plenty of hitters who can drive them out.
"I think it's well noted that it's a hitter's ballpark," Lee said. "It still doesn't mean you can't throw right-handers in and you can't come in on lefties because you're scared they're going to hit a home run. Obviously, you get in certain situations where you might not want to come in on a guy. But for the most part, I'm going to pitch the way I pitch, regardless."
Pitching at Coors Field prepares Jimenez for just about anything, so he shouldn't have trouble blocking it out of his mind.
"I'm not going to be thinking about the park because it's a hitter's park, anybody can hit them out," Jimenez said. "The only thing I can do is try to look at my fastball and try to throw everything down so they can hit groundballs."
Lee has faced the Rockies only once in his career, beating them 3-1 on Aug. 6. He allowed one run and six hits, striking out nine in seven innings.
Jimenez held the Phillies to one run in 6 1/3 innings to clinch the '07 series but is 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA in two regular-season starts against them.
"Anybody in that lineup can hurt you," Jimenez said. "It's a big challenge. But there's nothing you can do. The only thing, I'm going to go out there and just pitch my game, try to win."
Cole Hamels, who was dominant in Philadelphia's postseason run last October, will face Aaron Cook in Game 2. Jason Hammel got the nod over Jason Marquis to pitch Game 3 for Colorado. The Phillies will go with three-time Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez, Joe Blanton or J.A. Happ.
