Running Thoughts: Cook vs. Richard

Preview

Lineup

Huston Street could begin a rehab assignment on Monday.  That's awesome news.  

The Rockies are getting very close to being healthy, which makes this next stretch of games even more important.  I mean tonight in San Diego.  I mean this weekend in LA.  I mean next week vs Philly.  

You don't want to dig a hole now with these guys on the verge of returning.  Stay afloat, keep the pressure off them when they return, and then get ready to take off in a big way in the middle of the month.

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Lineup Card: Game 3 @ San Diego

Rockies Lineup

• LF Young
• CF Fowler
• 1B Helton
• SS Tulowitzki
• RF Gonzalez
• 3B Mora 
• C  Olivo
• 2B Barmes
• P   Cook

Where's Paul Phillips?

Kidding.  

I will predict that Ian Stewart's slump will continue as long as he's in and out of the lineup every other day.  I don't think it's necessary he sit against all lefties, especially a lefty like Clayton Richard.  

Clayton Kershaw, Johan  Santana, Jonathan Sanchez, Barry Zito.  Those are the lefties you rest him against.  Otherwise, just let him take his ABs and enjoy having his glove in the lineup.  

I'll have the Padres lineup when it becomes available.

Padres Lineup

• CF Gwynn
• 2B Eckstein
• 1B Gonzalez
• 3B Headley
• RF Venable
• LF Blanks
• SS J. Hairston
• C   Hundley
• P   Richard

That looks like a lot of groundball outs for Aaron Cook.  

I Demand Stability

The more I think about the lineup (and the CONSTANT shuffling) the more I want stability.  For the next 500 or so words I'm going to tell Jim Tracy how to fill out his lineup card and provide his team with that stability.

My Lineup Card (tonight vs San Diego)

CF Fowler
LF Spilborghs
1B Helton
SS Tulowitzki
RF Gonzalez
C Olivo
3B Stewart
2B Barmes
P Cook

This will not just be the lineup tonight, this will be the lineup for the next several days (insert Seth Smith for Spilborghs vs.a righty).

When Brad Hawpe returns, your lineup should look like this.

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Rock Solid Recrap: You Can Blame Morales

Padres 3, Rockies 2

And you'd be right to do so. He plain and simply failed at his job tonight.

He came out missing the strike zone, which ultimately led to home plate umpire Mark Carlson squeezing him the rest of the inning (especially the Gonzalez AB). And you know that didn't end well at all.

There's obviously some work that needs to be done on the mental side for Franklin. Taking him away from pressure situations in the short term might be a smart move, but I'm honestly not sure who you replace him with given Betancourt, Daley and Corpas not being very sharp lately.

That'll be something that will have Jim Tracy tossing and turning in his hotel room tonight.

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