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Yes, this is coming at an extremely inopportune time considering that they are now up by two games in their series with the Phillies, but I have decided that the Rockies are going to be my team of the playoffs.  You see, as a Pirate fan I basically have to decide before the playoffs what team I’m going to support, but the one game playoff this year threw that off.

After watching Matt Herges throw three excellent innings Monday night only for Jorge Julio to come on and attempt to blow the game to be quickly followed by the best closer in baseball history blowing a save to give the Rockies a win, I could do nothing but decide that they are my team.

When you consider the fact that they have two ex-Pirate pitchers on the staff (Herges and Josh Fogg) and throw in the proper development of young ace Jeff Francis, this is the team that the Pirates should be.  Add in the effect that young studs Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales had on that September sprint and the electricity that they bring to the mound every time out, this organization is set for the near and the far future and they did it the right way.  By scouting, signing, and developing the right talent while making the right choices in the draft.

The fact that they have a legitimate candidate for MVP (and best hitter in baseball) in Matt Holliday, who scored the controversial winning run on Monday night, doesn’t hurt matters any.  They also have the player that Stephen Drew should be in Troy Tulowitzki, the most exciting of the new breed of all-around stud shortstop who also happens to have a cannon for an arm.

Throw all of this in and consider that the Rockies were expected to be one of the worst teams in baseball this season and their story is simply more interesting than that of any of the other playoff teams.

As for the other contenders:

New York Yankees -  They are the evil empire.

Cleveland Indians – They have really intriguing young talent, but this is a Pittsburgh sports blog.  We don’t root for Cleveland teams.

Boston – They have Josh Beckett, who is one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball this season and the ever present Japanese media circus.  They are, however, the mini-Evil Empire and I simply can not root for a team that spends that much money.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – They have Vlad, but they also have five names.

Philadelphia Phillies – Well, not only are they down two to nothing right now, but they also got into the playoffs by winning the Mets’ war of attrition with themselves.

Arizona Diamondbacks – Yes, they have some very entertaining young talent, but the Diamondbacks are in the Western time zone and it’s a pain to catch upon all of their various games.  They (or the Indians) are probably my second favorite team.

Chicago Cubs – They do have Aramis Ramirez, but that seems to be reason to not root for them.  It’s sort of painful to see him play and think that he could have been a Pirate.  Also, the Cubs spend way too much money in the mold of the Red Sox and Yankees and are, therefore, unrootable.

So the Rockies it is, but I am not going to enjoy the “luxury” of goat testicles (like they serve at Coors Field).  Even if they win.

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