Rockies, Phillies set to rekindle contentious relationship

Paul Willis, Special to the Rocky

Published October 2, 2007 at midnight

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When the Rockies left Philadelphia on Sept. 13 after an intense four-game series split with the Phillies, it seemed like it might have been a positive thing the teams weren't scheduled to meet again this season.

Three weeks and two improbable paths later, the Rockies and Phillies will revisit their contentious series with the stakes much higher in a best-of-five National League Division Series.

"It's going to be a battle," third baseman Garrett Atkins said. "We play hard, they play hard."

Tensions reached a crescendo in the final game when Phillies reliever Antonio Alfonseca narrowly missed Todd Helton's head with a pitch and instead hit the sprawling Rockies first baseman in the hand.

Alfonseca was suspended for four games, although he initially appealed, claiming he didn't try to hit Helton. Helton and manager Clint Hurdle did not provide any in-depth comments in the aftermath, but each indicated he believed the beaning was intentional.

The Phillies perhaps were retaliating for two of their players getting plunked earlier in the game.

Rockies starter Jeff Francis hit second baseman Chase Utley in the second inning and reliever Ramon Ortiz nailed outfielder Jayson Werth in the back with the bases loaded in the fifth.

Two days earlier, Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday, who hit four home runs in the series, was plunked by Geoff Geary.

"I never even thought about it until you brought it up," Holliday said. "We've got a couple days to worry about Philadelphia. I'm just enjoying (Monday)."

The Rockies, who won the regular-season series 4-3, predictably were tight-lipped about any festering tensions, but outfielder Ryan Spilborghs allowed this much: "We've only faced Philly a couple times, but we feel we are going to beat them. There's no doubt in our minds that we're the better team, so we're looking forward to it."

The teams are built similarly, with a strong top-to-bottom order and a pitching staff that makes up for some of its shortcomings with guile.

"Both teams are in the top of the National League in hitting, so that says it will be pretty even right there," reliever LaTroy Hawkins said.

"It's going to come down to pitching, but that's what it always comes down to."

The season series was also emotional for the Rockies because of a few curious umpiring decisions.

Reliever Brian Fuentes figures to be in the majority in his contention that everything from the regular-season slate will be wiped clean once the postseason begins.

"Now it starts over," Fuentes said. "Zero-zero — nobody's winning, nobody's losing, everyone's tied."

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