Byrnes is unfazed by 2-0 hole

DENVER - The Diamondbacks arrived down, 2-0, in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series. They outhit the Rockies in the first two games, which may be damning them with faint praise, as Arizona hit .247 to Colorado's .211. Arizona's pitchers surrendered one extra-base hit (a Willy Taveras double in Game 2) and struck out four more batters in the first two games.

So it didn't exactly come as a major shock that Diamondbacks outfielder Eric Byrnes, never known to be shy, let it be known before last night's Game 3 at Coors Field that the better team in this series was the one that had yet to win a game. Byrnes had two of the three Arizona RBIs in the first two games and was the only player on either team batting .300 or better with at least seven at-bats. In this series, that almost qualifies as Ruthian numbers.

"I think we're a good team," Byrnes said. "I also don't think the Rockies have outplayed us, because they haven't. Not even close. They've had a little luck go their way. Definitely, the ball has bounced in their direction. They've been the beneficiary of some calls. So, when we look at that as a group on those two games, we have not been outplayed. If anything, I think it's the other way around. We are not fazed by what's going on right now." Indeed, Byrnes hit a vicious liner that was turned into a double play (instead of an RBI single) in the first inning.

Byrnes's remarks caused a bit of a stir and managers and players alike were asked about it. The general consensus: it's Eric being Eric. Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said, "I really like Eric and it's his perception," while Diamondbacks boss Bob Melvin said, "it's neither here nor there. He's our captain. He's a good quote, the best on our team."

Said Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki, "They can outplay us all four games and if we end up winning the series, I'll be fine with that."

Cold, hard facts

The weather was dreary, - cold temperatures, drizzle - forcing the cancellation of batting practice. They get their share of chilly conditions in Colorado and Hurdle said, with Belichickian brevity and logic, "You play baseball when it's time to play baseball. The weather is going to be what it is going to be. It presents a little different challenge, but it's one we're not uncomfortable or unfamiliar with here." The temperature for Game 2 in Phoenix was 87 degrees and the Diamondbacks did not have a lot of cold-weather experience, although Melvin said they survived a chilly series in Washington early in the season . . . Tonight's starter for Arizona, Micah Owings, gives the Diamondbacks nine decent hitters in their lineup. Twice this season, Owings had four-hit games, becoming the first pitcher since Whitey Ford in 1953 to pull off such a feat. In the second of his four-hit games, he belted two homers and knocked in six runs. Melvin said he might consider batting Owings somewhere other than ninth next season. "He gives us an added dynamic when he's in the lineup," Melvin said . . . Former Red Sox Tony Clark, who sat out Game 1 because Colorado started lefthander Jeff Francis, was in the lineup last night at first base. Melvin also kept the lefthanded-hitting Jeff Salazar in right field.