Born just a month apart, the Rockies' Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins think alike, are built alike and -- most important as they enter their prime -- mash alike

	Holliday (above) and Atkins were two of just four players who hit above .320 with at least 20 homers, 100 RBIs and 100 runs last season. Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

By Kelli Anderson

Jackson Holliday, a mop-topped three-year-old who often wanders through the Colorado Rockies' clubhouse with a miniature bat in hand, is an accomplished mimic who can replicate the batters-box quirks of major leaguers on demand. Say "Nomar," and he kicks his feet together and fidgets with his imaginary batting gloves in perfect imitation of Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra. Say "Big Papi," and he spits on his gloves and claps his hands in the manner of Boston's David Ortiz. Say "Matt Holliday," and he draws a cross in the carpet with his bat and swings with a high front-leg kick, just like his dad, the Rockies' leftfielder. Say "Garrett Atkins," Colorado's third baseman, and Jackson lowers his grip and taps his right shoulder with the bat and squints into the distance.

The Rockies find Jackson's routine pretty hilarious, but most fans might not truly appreciate his performance. Certainly they'd recognize his spot-on impressions of Garciaparra and Ortiz, but how many would be familiar with his impersonations of Holliday and Atkins? Playing for a team that hasn't made it to the playoffs in a dozen years, the two Rockies sluggers are, after all, far from household names.

Born only 34 days apart, the 27-year-old righthanded hitters are best friends and, in the words of manager Clint Hurdle, "cornerstones of the Rockies organization." Both also enjoyed breakout seasons in 2006. Batting, for the most part, third and fourth in the lineup, Atkins and Holliday were two of only four players in the majors to bat over .320 with at least 20 homers, 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored. (The others were Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera.) "When you're watching them on video, it's tough to figure out what their tendencies are," says Cardinals backup catcher Gary Bennett, a former Rockie. "They may get beat inside in one at bat, and the next time you try to come in on them, they leave the yard. They seem to make adjustments throughout the at bat."

Says Marlins reliever Kevin Gregg, "They both hit for power, both hit for average, and they both drive the ball all over the field. They're a tough combination to have in a row."

(It's probably little consolation to pitchers that Hurdle recently sandwiched veteran lefty Todd Helton into the cleanup spot to give opposing managers a righty-lefty-righty problem to cope with late in games: Helton, a five-time All-Star, has a lifetime average of .333.)