Arizona happy for added rest
PHOENIX, Arizona: The Arizona Diamondbacks were the first club to clinch their opening round series, but that doesn't mean they're taking their next playoff opponents lightly.
Fresh off three-game sweeps of the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies, respectively, the Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies meet on Thursday in Game 1 of the National League Championship series.
The Diamondbacks look at the four-day rest between series as a blessing and not a curse.
"You have to love having four days off this time of year," Arizona outfielder Eric Byrnes said. "I don't think it helps one team over another. It is just nice to have time off."
The Diamondbacks will go with 18-game winner Brandon Webb while Colorado is starting Jeff Francis (17-9) in Game 1 at Phoenix.
Colorado had the edge in head-to-head matches this year, winning 10 of 18 regular season games.
Arizona has advanced to its first NL championship series since 2001, rekindling thoughts of its World Series victory that year.
"Everybody questioned us going into this postseason, and I don't really blame them," said Byrnes.
"There are 25 guys in here who did not question themselves. We've been winning baseball games the same way all year. Different guys on different nights, with production from our young hitters.
"People want to call it luck. Call it what you want. We're not afraid to win a game."
Arizona began its second-half push to the NL West pennant by winning a series against Chicago in mid-July, starting a stretch in which it won 21 of 27 games to vault into the division lead.
"Obviously you have high expectations coming out of spring training, everybody does," manager Bob Melvin said.
AFP
(China Daily 10/11/2007 page23)
