2007 NLCS recap

This was the year of the postseason sweep. Aside from Cleveland beating the Yankees in four in the ALDS, and then Boston eliminating Cleveland in seven in the ALCS, all series were sweeps - great for the victors, not so great for broadcasters nor fans who like rich drama.

By beating Arizona in four, Colorado reached its first Fall Classic. It was an ironic breeze for a team that required so much drama to get there, with Matt Holliday's face-first slide in the 13th inning winning that Game 163 playoff against San Diego.

Brandon Webb had won the 2006 NL Cy Young Award, and he would finish second in the 2007 voting, but he was lit up by the Rockies in Game 1 at Chase Field. Game 2, however, contained the key play in the series. In the top of the 11th inning, D-backs closer Jose Valverde -- who had led the Majors with 47 saves (in 54 chances) in 2007 -- loaded the bases and then walked leadoff man Willy Taveras with two outs to force in the eventual winning run.

Holliday homered in both of the remaining games at Coors Field, earning the NLCS MVP and leading the Rockies into their first World Series, which would be short-lived against Boston. Clint Hurdle's Rockies were the first team to start a postseason 7-0 since the 1976 Reds, who swept the NLCS and the World Series.

This marked the sixth year in a row that at least one Wild Card team was represented in the World Series, a streak that would end the following year.

Path to the NLCS
NLDS: Colorado over Philadelphia (3 games to 0); Arizona over Chicago (3 games to 0)

Managers: Clint Hurdle, COL; Bob Melvin, ARI

MVP: Matt Holliday