In what’s been an unpredictable season, the battle for the pennant in the senior circuit will be between two NL West rivals.

Both the Diamondbacks and Rockies weren’t expected to be here when the year began. Apparently, nobody informed them.

In what promises be a refreshing series between two younger teams, the baseball should be fun to watch.

Here’s how the NLCS competitors match up:

1B- Arizona platoons veteran switch hitter Tony Clark and Conor Jackson. During the regular season, they combined for 32 home runs and 111 runs batted in. In their NLDS sweep of the Cubs, they had just one hit and an RBI in 14 total at bats.
Colorado counters with accomplished 12-year veteran Todd Helton, who batted .320 with 17 homers and 91 RBI’s during the regular season. In his first postseason series, the 34 year-old out of Knoxville Tennessee had just a triple and run scored in 12 at bats.

Edge: Rockies

2B- The Diamondbacks start 32 year-old journeyman Augie Ojeda who made it back to the bigs for the first time since 2004. In 57 games, he hit .274 with a homer, two triples, 12 RBI’s and a .354 on-base percentage (OBP). Ojeda had a very good first round going 4-for-9 with a .545 OBP.

The Rockies have the reliable Kaz Matsui, who has become the catalyst for their offense out of the leadoff spot. After struggling in New York, the 31 year-old from Japan has found a home in Denver. Boasting a quick glove and solid speed, Matsui got into 104 games and finished at .288-4-37 adding 24 doubles and six triples while swiping 32 bases along with a .342 OBP. He was spectacular in a first round sweep of the Phillies going 5-for-12 with a dinger, two triples and club leading six knocked in to go with a .500 OBP and over 1,000 slugging.

Edge: Rockies

SS- Arizona uses second-year player Stephen Drew. After a disappointing first full season in which the former 2004 first round pick hit only .238 with 12 homers and 60 RBI’s while striking out 100 times, he stepped up and hammered the Cubs finishing 7-for-14 including four extra base hits (2 HR), four RBI’s and four runs. He can be a little shaky in the field making 17 errors during the season and one in the first round.

Colorado has NL Rookie of The Year candidate Troy Tulowitzki. The 22 year-old 2005 seventh overall selection who has been compared to Derek Jeter put up gaudy numbers (.291-24-99, 104 runs, 62 extra base hits) this season out of the two-hole. In 12 postseason at bats, he got just two hits including a home run while fanning five times. It didn’t affect him in the field where he displayed tremendous range along with a strong arm.

Edge: Rockies

3B- The Diamondbacks start Mark Reynolds at the hot corner. The 24 year-old rookie out of Kentucky had a nice debut season hitting .279 with 16 dingers and 62 RBI’s in 366 at bats. He was 2-for-10 with a homer, two runs and four K’s in the NLDS. In the field, the 2004 16th round pick did commit 11 errors during the season and one against the Cubs.

Garrett Atkins mans the hot corner for Colorado. The 27 year-old slugger is part of a potent Rockies’ lineup batting fifth. During the season, he hit .301 with 25 long balls and 111 knocked in. Against the Phillies, he was 3-for-13 with two doubles, an RBI and three runs scored. In the field, he’s a little shaky making 14 errors this season. Colorado skipper Clint Hurdle will usually bring in defensive replacement Jamey Carroll late in games.

Edge: Rockies

C- Chris Snyder is the starting backstop for the Diamondbacks. The 26 year-old former 2002 second round pick got into 111 games and set new career highs in homers (13) and RBI’s (47). He was 1-for-7 with a walk and two runs in the division series. Rookie Miguel Montero backs up. The 24 year-old Venezuelan hit 10 homers and drove in 37 in 214 at bats.

Yorvit Torrealba starts for the Rockies and calls a solid game. The 29 year-old out of Venezuela hit .255 with eight homers and 47 RBI’s in 113 games this season. He’s coming off a good first round in which the backstop was 5-for-10 with two walks, three RBI’s and three runs scored.

Edge: Diamondbacks

LF- Eric Byrnes is the sparkplug for the Diamondbacks’ offense. The often overlooked 31 year-old vet is the leader of this team. He plays a solid left field and also bats third. Ironically, the California native was a Rockie for a brief stint two years ago but struggled mightily hitting just .189 with 11 K’s in 15 games. Since, he’s found a home in Arizona. He followed a breakout 2006 with a .286 average, 59 extra base hits (21 HR, 8 triples) and a career high 50 stolen bases. In the NLDS, he was on base in all three games with three hits, a homer, three knocked in and a steal. If Arizona is to prevail, he must be involved.

The Rockies counter with their offensive leader and NL MVP candidate Matt Holliday. The 27 year-old out of Stillwater Oklahoma paced the senior circuit in hits (216), batting average (.340) and RBI’s (137). He also ranked fourth with 36 dingers and third with 120 runs.  His 50 doubles also led the league. Holliday also swiped 11 bases. In his first playoff series, he had three hits, two of which were out of the park in the last two games. If he gets hot, watch out.

Edge: Rockies

CF- If there is a clear advantage for the D-Backs offensively, it’s here with rookie Chris Young. While he isn’t getting as much recognition as Tulowitzki, Ryan Braun and Hunter Pence, the 24 year-old who was acquired from the White Sox last year for Javier Vazquez brings both power and speed to Arizona’s outfield. In his first full season, the Houston native hit 32 home runs, stole 27 bases and drove in 68 while scoring 85 runs in 148 games. He did bat just .237 and struck out 141. Young hit two dingers in 11 at bats in the NLDS, drove in four, stole a base and K’d 8 times.

The Rockies start Ryan Spilborghs. The 28 year-old out of Santa Barbara got into 97 games in his second year and hit .299 with 11 jacks, 51 RBI’s and a .363 OBP. He was 2-for-8 against the Phillies with three walks and scored a couple of runs. Cory Sullivan is the backup. In 140 ABs, he had two homers and 14 RBI’s. He was 1-for-2 off the bench in the first round.

Edge: Diamondbacks

RF- In the opening round, 2005 first overall selection Justin Upton got two of the three starts in right and reached base six times (3-for-5, 3 BB) scoring twice and driving in one. The 20 year-old younger brother of Tampa’s BJ Upton is still very raw. After his recall, Justin got 140 at bats and hit .221 with two homers, 11 RBI’s while striking out 37 times. He does possess good speed as his eight doubles and three triples attest. He also made five errors. Ex-Rockie Jeff Salazar got the other start. The 26 year-old former Colorado 2002 eighth rounder was hitless in three ABs. In 38 games for Arizona, he hit .277 with eight extra base hits and 10 knocked in.

Brad Hawpe just might be the forgotten man in that Rockie top six. A very productive hitter, the 28 year-old former LSU star continued to improve in his fourth season. He increased production in homers (29 in ‘07, 22 in ‘06) and RBI’s (116 in ‘07, 84 in ‘06). The 2000 11th round pick was 3-for-11 in the NLDS with a couple of walks plus a run. He didn’t drive in one run. He’s certainly due to find his swing in this series.

Edge: Rockies

SP- The Diamondbacks have to feel pretty good about being able to send ace Brandon Webb to the mound for Game One. The 28 year-old Ashland Kentucky native followed his 2006 Cy Young with a respectable 18-10 record and a 3.01 ERA plus 194 K’s in 236.1 IP. The workhorse was splendid in Game 1 of the NLDS going seven strong permitting just a run while K-ing nine Cubs. He’s clearly the best starter in this series and anchors a four-man rotation which includes southpaw Doug Davis (13-12, 4.25 ERA) battle tested Livan Hernandez (Game 3 WP, 6 IP, ER) and rookie Micah Owings (8-8, 4.30 ERA, 2 CG) who also is a double threat at the plate (.333-4-15, 12 XBH in 60 AB).

The Rockies don’t have many recognizable names in their staff but the best of the bunch is southpaw Jeff Francis who will take the ball in Game One Thursday night against Webb. In the first game of the previous round, the 26 year-old out of British Columbia already outdueled Philly ace Cole Hamels by working the first six allowing two solo homers for the Phils’ only runs while K-ing eight. The 2002 ninth overall selection established career highs in wins (17), IP (215.1) and K’s (165). He’ll try to stay away from the long ball (25 allowed) and keep his team in the games. Hard throwing Dominican Ubaldo Jimenez (4-4, 4.28) gets the Game 2 start and will try to duplicate his last performance against the D-Backs in which the 23 year-old permitted only a run in six-plus while fanning 10. Rookie Franklin Morales (3-2, 3.43) has just eight starts and has never faced Arizona. Aaron Cook (8-7, 4.12, 2 CG) gets the nod in Game Four.

Edge: Diamondbacks

RP- Bob Melvin has a solid pen featuring major league save leader Jose Valverde.The 28 year-old Dominican overpowered hitters (78 K’s in 64.1 IP) while saving a career best 47. He allowed just a .196 batting average against (BAA). Against the Cubs, he was very sharp pitching three scoreless final frames allowing just two baserunners while saving a game and fanning six. Vet Brandon Lyon (6-4, 2.68 ERA) and second-year reliever Tony Pena (85.1 IP, 63 H, 63 K’s) are the two setup men asked to get Valverde the ball. Each combined for five scoreless in Round 1. Arizona also has the well traveled Juan Cruz and vet closer Bob Wickman if needed.

On the other side, Hurdle doesn’t ask his starters to pitch as deep into games. If they can give him six, that’s about as good as it gets. He can mix and match with Ryan Speier, vets LaTroy Hawkins, Matt Herges and lefty specialist Jeremy Affeldt. Fifth starter Josh Fogg is also available for middle relief and worked two scoreless to notch a win in the NLDS. The objective is to get the ball to their 1-2 punch of setup man Brian Fuentes (61 IP, 56 K’s, 20 SV) and second-year closer Manny Corpas (4-2, 2.08, 19 SV) who saved all three games against Philadelphia without giving up a run.

Edge: Even

Intangibles: Both teams can use this to their advantage. The Rockies enter red hot having won 17 of their last 18 to get here. They have the feel of a team of destiny. When Jeff Baker is delivering a series clinching hit in the eighth in his first postseason at bat, it just might be your year.

The Diamondbacks were 10-8 against Colorado this year and have been disrespected by many due to their no-name roster. Sometimes, those are the kind of teams that win at this time of year. It’s not always star-filled rosters which win championships. Just ask the Yankees and Mets who are both on the golf course.

Managers: Both Melvin and Hurdle have done excellent jobs and could each be a Manager Of The Year candidate along with Philly’s Charlie Manuel. Each seems to know what buttons to push and is very in touch with game situations.

Edge: Even

Series Prediction: This could be a potential great series with many of the game’s young stars on display for the rest of the world to see. The Rockies clearly hold the edge at the plate but the Diamondbacks boast better pitching which is usually what wins at this time of year.

Diamondbacks in 6