I think the next four series are going to wind up being incredibly important in deciding who goes to the playoffs from the National League in 2009. Consider the next four series of the teams currently within four games of a playoff spot:
LA Dodgers: @ St Louis, @ Atlanta, vs Milwaukee, vs Atlanta
Houston: @ Chicago, @ St. Louis, vs San Francisco, vs. Milwaukee
Chicago: vs. Houston, @ Florida, @ Cincinnati, @ Colorado
Atlanta: @ Florida, vs. Los Angeles, @ San Diego, @ Los Angeles
Florida: vs. Atlanta, vs. Chicago, @ Washington, @ Philadelphia
Philadelphia: @ Arizona, @ San Francisco, vs. Colorado, vs Florida
San Francisco: vs. Pittsburgh, vs. Philadelphia, @ Houston, vs. Cincinnati
Colorado: @ New York, @ Cincinnati, @ Philadelphia, vs Chicago
St. Louis: vs. Los Angeles, vs. Houston, @ New York, @ Pittsburgh
I put the series against other contenders in bold. For a team like the Rockies, an unusually soft opening to this road trip actually presents an unusually large opportunity to not only create more separation in the wild card chase, but also to make up significant ground on the Dodgers in the NL West heading into the final third of the season. Consider that after this road trip is completed, 33 of the Rockies remaining 54 games will be at Coors Field, more home games in the final third than any of these other playoff contending squads. Consider too that this season's mild unluckiness aside, Coors Field is the friendliest of environs one could hope for in a home stadium. I think we've been presented with a gas pedal by the baseball gods, it's time to put it to the floor.
GO ROCKIES!
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