D-Backs notebook: Old friends now foes in NLCS

The NL championship series is a reunion for Jeff Salazar and Ryan Spilborghs, roommates in the Colorado system who became best friends while working their way up to the majors through Tri-City, Ashville, Visalia, Tulsa and Colorado Springs.

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“We talk crap nonstop,” said Salazar, who with his family and agent Rob Martin had dinner with Spilborghs on Thursday.

“Who’s going to win, who’s not going to win. How we’re going to win. It’s fun. When he gets up to bat, I want to rob him probably more than anyone else, and vice versa.”

Both started the year in the minors this season after the Rockies opted to add veterans Steve Finley and John Mabry, signings that eventually cost Salazar his spot in Colorado when both veterans had to be added to the major league roster in late spring.

Salazar, always ranked among the best defenders in the Rockies organization by Baseball America, was without a home for only two hours before being claimed off waivers by the D-Backs on March 29, and homered in his first spring training game with Arizona two days later.

Spilborghs joined the Rockies on May 19. Salazar was with the D-Backs the first week of July, and for good Aug. 15.

“Everybody’s happy for him,” Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said.

Salazar understands why both teams have made it this far.

“I’ve been in both clubhouses. I’ve been around both teams,” Salazar said.

“The thing I have learned about the game of baseball is that teams like us and like them are in this situation because they understand the unity and the chemistry it takes. That’s what they teach.

“Like the New England Patriots. They are not out for themselves. It’s probably why both teams are in this position. They aren’t selfish over there, either.”

STILL WRONG

After further review, the D-Backs still believe umpire Larry Vanover was incorrect when he ruled Justin Upton was guilty of interference in the seventh inning Thursday, turning a force out into a debilitating double play.

“It was a good, hard slide. He was still within a distance of the bag,” Melvin said.

And if Upton threw his right shoulder at second baseman Kazua Matsui, as replays indicated?

“So you’re supposed to just slide into the bag?” Melvin said.

“It’s human nature. … His job is to go in there and try to take the guy out. And when you are still within distance of the bag… It will happen nine times out of 10, guys will vary their angle a little bit.

“The call is the call. The last thing we want to is dwell on it and have it carry over.”

The call hurt because it was very unlikely Colorado’s Matsui could have thrown to first in time to double up Augie Ojeda, although Melvin said an umpire should not factor that into his decision.

“His focus is right there on second base. It’s difficult for him to turn and evaluate that,” Melvin said.

SHORT HOPS

The D-Backs were not to leave the Valley for Denver until this morning and have a voluntary workout planned late this afternoon. “It’s up for whoever wants some work, but it’s not a necessity,” Melvin said. In fact, it is the first optional workout of the season. …

A D-Backs fan fell out of the left-field stands Friday night while attempting to catch a fly ball during Colorado’s batting practice, and Rockies left-hander Franklin Morales was one of two Rockies who ran to his assistance. After a moment, the fan walked off the field under his own power, assisted by security personnel. ...

The D-Backs usually wear black jerseys only on Saturday, but they went to black for Game 2 on Friday, perhaps to take the Rockies out of their rhythm. The Rockies had worn black for their last seven games, ever since wearing their white sleeveless attire in a 4-2 loss to Brandon Webb and the D-Backs on Sept. 28 in Coors Field. …

Upton was hit in the left wrist in the regular-season finale, causing him to leave in the second inning, and was hit in the left knee in the teams’ next meeting, in Game 1 of the NL championship series Thursday, but he does not believe he is a target. “They’re not picking on me. The second one was on a change-up,” he said.