The BUZZ in Philly 

It’s official ~ the Phillies will host the Colorado Rockies in the National League Division Series Championship, beginning tomorrow at 3pm at Citizens Bank Park.

Lefty Cole Hamels will take the mound for the Phillies against the Rockies’ left-handed hurler, Jeff Francis.

Hamels’ most recent performance speaks for itself. Francis is 17-9 with a 4.22 ERA this season. Against the Phillies on September 13th he lasted only 3 and 1/3 innings, giving up 8 runs on 8 hits. It was his worst performance of his last ten outings and certainly won’t help his confidence on Wednesday night, when he once again takes the mound in hitter’s-heaven.

The other much-anticipated matchup pits MVP-candidate Jimmy Rollins against Matt Holliday, also considered a favorite for the award.

Holliday scored (well, sort of) the winning run in the bottom of the 13th inning last night to allow the Rockies to slide (no pun intended) into the NLDS. Holliday is hitting .340 with a .607 slugging percentage that includes 36 homeruns and 136 RBI’s. The right-handed slugger will certainly be a formidable opponent for Hamels, as the switch-hitting Rollins will be for Francis.

The sporting goods stores are sold out of shirts, fans are making their work and school absentee excuses for tomorrow, and the first playoff-pitch in 14 years in this town can’t get here fast enough.

Let’s PLAY BALL!

Jon Buzby is a nationally-syndicated columnist who can be reached through his website at www.jonbuzby.com.