Baseball is much more fun to write about when it involves a team that is competing in the post-season. Jealousy has struck me in the worst way, and so I thought that I’d put my two cents into this whole playoff picture. While I can hope that it is not much longer before I can write a playoff article about my own home team, until then, I will make do with what is offered to me.

The Rockies power their way to their third post season appearance.

The fact is, because of my history rooting for a team that is consistently the underdog, I have a hard time drawing myself away from aligning myself with a team that can play that role. In 2009, the team that best fits that calling are the Colorado Rockies. A young organization who many did not expect to make the post season after the loss of star player Matt Holiday, and a change of direction by firing manager Clint Hurdle, the team has now opened eyes by making an appearance in the playoffs… again. For a team that has only been in existence since 1993, they have found themselves in the playoffs three times (1995, 2007, 2009).

Talk about a well-run organization.

This season, the Rockies have to face the defending champion, Philadelphia Phillies in the first round. Through the first two games, they have held their own. The loss in game one was nothing Colorado didn’t do, but, instead was mainly due to the fact that Cliff Lee is a ridiculously good pitcher. Lee, who the Phillies were lucky to acquire in the middle of the season, should provide to be a challenging task if the Rockies have to face him again in this series.

The Rockies, however, have a few tricks up their sleeve as well.

Ian Stewart has yet to see legitimate playing time in this series. Because the first two starters for Philly (Lee and Hammels) have been left handed, Stewart has been left out of the lineup, replaced by Garrett Atkins. While it was rumored that J.A. Happ would be the starter for game three, he ended up being used as a relief pitcher in game two. Unfortunately, for Happ, he took a line drive off his knee and left the game, leaving his status for tomorrow undoubtedly in jeopardy. For Ian Stewart, the news was music to his ears, considering he should see playing time increase.

So why is Stewart such a factor to the Rockies’ success for the rest of the series? Well, for one, he took the job from Atkins at 3B for a reason. Stewart is a power hitter, launching 25 home runs this season. He batted .322, almost 100 points higher than Atkins, who saw his average drop to .226. Stewart is a mainstay in the middle of Colorado’s lineup, and they obviously have missed him in the first two games.

"We want Adam Eaton to pitch for you!" "We're not giving in THAT easily!"

Sitting next to Stewart in the dugout is Jason Giambi. Quite possibly the best option anybody could ask for to come off the bench, Giambi is batting .294 through 19 games in a Rockies’ uniform. Giambi has seen 42 games of post-season play (before this year), posting a .289 batting average with 7 home runs and 18 RBI’s. With that kind of option coming off the bench for Colorado, the Rockies have seemed to have found one of the best pinch hitting options in a long time. Can you imagine? Top of the 9th, game on the line, your pitcher is coming up to bat, and instead, you have the option to put mustache-less Jason Giambi at the plate? I picture a reenactment of the famous Kirk Gibson moment, pumping the fist, winning the game, wind rushing through the mustac… wait… nevermind.

Maybe the biggest reason the Rockies will be successful in the postseason is because of the lack of one Adam Eaton on the playoff roster. With a roster full of pitching talent, the last thing the team would want to do is put Adam Eaton in arms length of a baseball during the playoffs. Without the inclusion of this guy on the roster, the Rockies are almost promised a World Series championship. So far, the Rockies’ pitching has been decent, although the showing in the first game of the series could have used some improvement. So, for all of you who are hoping the Rockies can pull out the series win, imagine Adam Eaton pitching yesterday. Instead of a 5-1 loss, Adam would have probably given up at least twice as many runs, shrugged his shoulders, and continued to be one of the most boring players in the history of Major League Baseball. To Colorado, the option to designate for assignment has never looked better.

So let the games begin. The Phillies will try their best, no doubt about that. But, ultimately, they will fail because Colorado is the underdog, and the underdog always wins. Especially when Adam Eaton isn’t included on the post-season roster.