"The advice from Rockies hitting instructor Don Baylor for tonight's game against Philadelphia's Pedro Martinez is simple: React to what you are seeing, not who you are facing.

"You can't worry about a reputation," Baylor said. "We will watch tape and be ready."

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was even more blunt: "If you get caught up in somebody's name in the playoffs, then you will be (done) because everybody you face is good."

Martinez provided great theater Friday, cracking jokes and nearly straining his rotator cuff patting himself on the back for choosing to sign with the Phillies.

Despite his long career, the Rockies have little experience against the veteran. He spent a chunk of time in the American

League with the Red Sox and was frequently hurt when the Mets played the Rockies the last four seasons. Martinez is 6-2 with a 3.40 postseason ERA, and helped the Red Sox win the 2004 World Series.

"He would kick the ball up to the plate if he thought it would help him get a strike," said Jason Giambi, the lone Rockies player with any real history against the 37-year-old. "He's going to throw strikes, so you have to be ready to hit."

Added manager Jim Tracy, who was the bench coach in Montreal when Martinez won a Cy Young while with the Expos, "He is a competitor. There's no doubt about that.""