It’s loud. In fact, I doubt Citizens Bank Park has ever been louder. The fans are cheering for everything. Strikes, foul balls, ground outs… everything.
Yet when MVP candidate Matt Holliday dug into the batter’s box, the fans let out a loud, “BOO!” Then they morphed into an even louder, “OVERRATED!” chant.
I don’t think Holliday is overrated, nor do I think his offensive statistics are overly skewed toward Coors Field. But I do think he will not win the MVP Award. He’ll finish in the top two.
Cole Hamels handled the Rockies in order during the top of the first. He threw 16 pitches – 12 strikes – and it looks like he mixed the curve with the changeup.
Jeff Francis won 17 games and had a 4.22 ERA for the Rockies this season. Those are impressive numbers considering that the young lefty pitches his home games at Coors Field. However, against the Phillies this season he got roughed up in two out of three starts.
The first time he saw the Phillies, the lefty whiffed eight and gave up just four hits in six innings. But the next two outings, Francis allowed 14 runs and 20 hits in a combined 8 1/3 innings.
Nonetheless, Francis got off to a good start when he struck out the side in order in the bottom of the first on just 12 pitches. Nine of those 12 were strikes.