Colorado Rockies

They say that sometimes you can predict the outcome of a baseball game strictly from the first batter to take his hacks.

Unfortunately for the Colorado Rockies, that saying rang true in their opening bout with the Philadelphia Phillies in Game One of the National League Division Series.

When Dexter Fowler swung at Cliff Lee's first pitch of the game, flying out weakly to right field, it was a sad portent of things to come for the red-hot Rox in their eventual 5-1 drubbing at the hands of the NL East Champions.

The Colorado Rockies opened their postseason in Philadelphia, the same place that they did in 2007. Both teams are essentially full of the same players. Except for one.

Watching Cliff Lee pitch is one of those things as an opposing fan that drives you crazy. He doesn't have overwhelming stuff by any stretch of the imagination, the movement on his pitches isn't great, and he throws very hittable strikes.  All those factors seem like they should add up to easy on base opportunities for a good hitting team. 

But today, he completely confounded the Rockies batsmen, and made Citizens Bank Park look like a pitcher's haven instead of the bread box it is.

Sure, the Yankees have the most stacked lineup since Woodstock.

Yeah, the Angels seem to have destiny on their side.

Of course, Dodgers have been the best team in the National League all season long.

And, true, the Phillies are the defending champs.

But... what about the Colorado Rockies?

In a comment I read recently, someone attempted to explain the reason why Ichiro hits a lot of home runs. Basically, the premise of the argument was that Ichiro felt that if he tried to hit home runs, his batting average would suffer.

Well it's comparison time now because I found a player who has the same career high in average as Ichiro and did exactly what Ichiro said he could not do.

In 2004, Ichiro had his best season in the Major Leagues; it was the year he set the record for most hits in a season.

Here's a look at the numbers for Ichiro:

When Matt Holliday was traded this offseason, Colorado Rockies fans were not a happy bunch.

Fans and media members alike claimed the trade was proof that Rockies owners Charlie and Dick Monfront were not willing to make the necessary financial commitment to field a winning team.

Yorvit Torrealba did his best to be the hero for the second night in a row, but the Colorado Rockies ended up losing in the 10th inning on a bases-loaded walk to Padres pinch-hitter Nick Hundley.

Never, ever go to sleep on these Rockies.

As the unending pageantry of the All-Star pregame show continues its free-fall from glitzy longing for past glories to sob story shlock, I think it's high time to take a look back at the first half of the season that was for yours, mine, and our Colorado Rockies.

On May 27, when the Rockies record stood at 18-28 and the team had just suffered through a, well, insufferable three-game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers, the outlook appeared a bit grim for the boys in the purple pinstripes.