Rockies' Rocktober No Fluke

The best team in the National League will be playing in the World Series in 2007 after all:

To win 21 times in 22 games, now that's fluky. The '61 Yankees never did that. The '84 Tigers never did that. The '86 Mets never did that. Only four other teams in the past 70 years have ever gone on a 21-1 tear. So it's as much a measure of good luck as good baseball.

But there's nothing fluky about the team that has strung together that 21-1 streak. If there is, how could we explain all this?

• The Rockies led the league in hitting.

• They had the highest fielding percentage in the history of baseball.

• They led the league in ERA after the All-Star break.

• And they have the best record in the National League since May 1, June 1, July 1, Aug. 1, Sept. 1 and Oct. 1.

So if anybody wants to make a case that the best team in the NL isn't about to play in this World Series, be our guest. But our response will be: See above.

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