Los Angeles Dodgers Clinch National League West Division

A little context, if you need reminding: in early June, the Rockies trailed the Dodgers in the NL West by 30 games. Yes, thirty. Since then, the team has caught fire, and thanks to a five-game skid on the part of the Dodgers and a three-game series between the two teams to finish out the season, the Rockies could take the division.

Colorado already has the wild card sewn up, so if the Dodgers do give up the division title, they’ll claim the wild card as a safety net. Still, this would be a historic finish if the Rockies can pull it off. They won last night’s contest in Los Angeles, and if they win on Saturday and Sunday, the division is theirs.

SB Nation’s own Purple Row highlights the historical significance:

The last time the Rockies were this close to the Los Angeles Dodgers, they were 3-3 and half a game back after losing to the Phillies on April 12. Now, 154 games later, after both teams have already secured at least a playoff berth, Colorado has closed the gap back to one game and with two more wins in this series could secure their first division crown in franchise history.

And over at True Blue LA, an interesting question is raised:

The five game losing streak is the longest of the year for the Dodgers and for the 3rd time they struck out 13 times. Not the greatest time to have your longest losing streak but just one win will change the smell coming from the team right now. It is strange to know that you could lose out and still be playing in the postseason. I wonder who was the last team to lose their last seven games and still make the playoffs?

Saturday’s game starts at 10:10 p.m. Eastern. Check back with these blogs near game time for the live threads.

Braves blog Talking Chop sums it up.

No offense and a stellar starting pitching performance. If that isn’t the refrain for our season I don’t know what is. Losing a 2-to-1 game like this to the worst team in baseball is like rubbing salt in the wound of the Rockies clinching the wild card earlier in the evening.

Michael Roberts of the Denver Westword thinks that although the Rockies may be Wild Card champs, there’s no way — seriously, no way — the Rockies can sweep the Dodgers to win the West:

If the Rockies … then sweep the Dodgers at home, they’d take the division.

But it will never happen. Never-ever. There’s a better chance of Barack Obama and Glenn Beck sharing an open-mouthed kiss live on Fox News than the Rockies taking three from the Dodgers, for two simple reasons: They hardly ever beat the Dodgers, period, and they really hardly ever beat them at home.

Perhaps a wager is in order? Somebody call Obama and Beck! Quick! Or, for the sake of America, don’t. Please don’t.

A World Series trip in 2007 was all fine and dandy for the Rockies, but this time they want to make it even better in 2009. Win a game? Two? Maybe four. It’s possible:

Colorado’s route to the playoffs this year is different from 2007. It led the Wild Card race for 31 straight days before locking it up on Thursday. In ’07, the Rockies won 14 of their final 15 regular-season games, including the classic play-in game against the Padres.

But, incredibly, the spirit of 2007 could return in ’09.

The regular-season ends with a three-game road set against the fading Dodgers that starts Friday night. The Dodgers’ magic number to clinch the NL West has been one since Monday. But if the Rockies sweep, not only will they end the year with seven straight wins, but they will win the first division title in club history. Mathematically, it’s possible for them to earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

It’s a long shot, but you can’t put it past the Rox.

May 1 is called May Day. I move that October 1 be called “Rocktober Day.”

Wwith the win today, the Rockies are just 4-5 on October 1, but look closer. All five losses came from losing teams – all four wins came by virtue of winning teams. More importantly, three of those wins represent the only three times this franchise has clinched a playoff berth. All three clinches came on October 1 at Coors Field. Really – it’s Rocktober Day.

The Rocktober Day Parade will spart promptly at 11 a.m. tomorrow.