Taveras quickly gets up to speed in series

DENVER -- Shortly after Willy Taveras went to the sidelines with a strained quadriceps last month, the Colorado Rockies embarked on a historic winning streak, leaping from fourth to second in the National League West, beating the San Diego Padres in a one-game playoff to earn the league's last postseason berth, then sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL division series.

So when Taveras hobbled back into the Rockies' clubhouse before the start of the League Championship Series in Arizona last week, he was hoping to be added to the team's playoff roster. But he wasn't so sure he wanted to be added to the lineup.

"I was nervous to go out there," joked Taveras, bundled in a wool cap and heavy jacket against the chill of the Rockies' dugout at Coors Field on Saturday. "If we lose, it was all on me. I feel I'm a big part of this team and when they're winning ballgames without you, that makes you think a little bit."

Now, however, they're winning games with Taveras. Or better yet, make that because of him.

The surprising Rockies head into Game 3 of the NLCS tonight leading the best-of-seven series, 2-0, thanks largely to two spectacular performances by their oft-injured center fielder.

In Game 1 he singled, stole second and then scored what proved to be the game-winning run in a 5-1 victory. And a night later he did even better, walking and scoring in the fifth, walking with the bases-loaded to drive in the winning run in the 11th and saving a run with a sparkling diving catch in the seventh inning of a 3-2 victory.

"To this point," Diamondbacks Manager Bob Melvin deadpanned, "he's had a great series."

Despite Taveras' demonstrated ability to change a game -- and a playoff series -- Colorado Manager Clint Hurdle waited until the night before the NLCS opener before activating him. His team, after all, had won without him -- several times, in fact, since a strained groin, a crushed index finger and a strained right quadriceps, among other ailments, limited Taveras to a career-low 97 games this summer.

"Are we superstitious to that effect?" Hurdle asked. "I think there's a little -- not superstition, but there's a mojo that's playing you want to be respectful of."

Against that, however, Hurdle had other facts to weigh: such as the fact that, despite that limited playing time, Taveras led the team with 33 stolen bases and was tied for second with a .320 batting average.