For MAKE PLAYS' MLB playoff preview, we decided to gaze into our crystal balls to see what every one of the eight postseason teams would need to do to take home the World Series. Here, Mike discusses how the NL Wild Card Rockies could win their first ever title.
A star was born this Rocktober.
World, Ubaldo. Ubaldo, world.
The pitcher with the strange name became a household name as Ubaldo Jimenez set a postseason record with five wins as the Rockies won their first World Series title in franchise history by sweeping the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
In the clinching Game 4, Jimenez gave up one run on three hits through eight innings to lower his postseason ERA to 0.32.
The young righty began the postseason on the right foot, outdueling last year's World Series MVP Cole Hamels and setting the tone for the Rockies to win the series in four games.
Jimenez also won the clincher in the NLCS by shutting out the Los Angeles Dodgers. A sixth-inning Brad Hawpe home run was all Jimenez needed to pick up his third win of the postseason.
The World Series title caps an improbable turnaround for the Rockies, who had the second-worst record in the National League as of June, prompting the firing of manager Clint Hurdle. The team promoted Jim Tracy to manager, a move many credit to be the turning point of the season. Tracy insists this team had the talent to win all along.
Sitting ten feet from Tracy in the locker room was the longest-tenured Rockie, first baseman Todd Helton. Helton, whose power has declined over the years, channeled 2001 and slammed two homers in the World Series.
While his teammates jumped around in celebration, Helton could only sit at his locker and smile, comparing past Rockies pitchers to their current star in Jimenez.
-Mike
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