Rock Solid Recap: Never A Boring Day At 20th & Blake

There's a whole mess of emotions to sort through today.

Rockies 6, Brewers 5

The Rockies won by the way.

In a lot of ways it feels like the worst loss of the season.

But they didn't lose. Thankfully.

Ubaldo Jimenez

Is a big reason they didn't lose today, and is the only reason we're having fantasies about another miracle run.

He started slow, but finished like a horse, a stud, an ace, a beast. The strides this man continues to make as a big league all-star are just incredible. To not have your best stuff early, but to rebound, to find your groove, to give your team eight strong innings when it looked like six might be pushing it. You thank your lucky stars you have a guy that special on your team.

It's unfortunate he didn't get his much deserved franchise record-breaking win today. This is the second straight start he should have had it, but it just goes to show why the 20 win and 300 win plateau is so special. It's hard to win games in MLB.

Huston Street

I can't put a whole lot of blame on the guy. I just can't. Or maybe I should because he never tells his manager he's not available today, because his manager is too GD clueless to understand the limitations of his closer.

Stop using Huston for two innings. He can't handle it.

Stop using Huston for three days straight. He can't handle it. Not many relievers can. Mariano Rivera can't, that's why Joe Girardi hasn't used him for three days straight all season. And Mariano is the G.O.A.T.

Get a clue, Tracy. Get a freaking clue.

Clint Barmes

I'm honestly not that upset with Clint for making a physical error. That happens. It happens to everyone. Sometimes it just happens at the worst possible time, which is exactly what that was.

I'm much more annoyed with his useless plate appearances of late. His and Miguel Olivo's, who would be named the worst player on the field in today's game if that award existed and I was in charge of naming him.

Rockies fans are now begging for the old Miguel Olivo to return. Honestly folks, this is the old and real Miguel Olivo we're seeing right now. This is the guy that doesn't last on a squad more than two years. We want the mirage version of Miguel Olivo, not the old one.

Time for another commitment to Chris Iannetta.

Eric Young

Shouldn't be used in the OF unless it's absolutely necessary. When the Rockies have all five of their regular OFers healthy, it's not necessary. More cluelessness from the skipper.

Troy Tulowitzki

Continues to hold the team together with his clutchness. Seriously. If the Rockies hadn't won Friday and today, this situation would be declared a national disaster. Tulo won't allow that to happen.

Tomorrow

Another of those well timed days off.

Back in action Tuesday in LA. As all over the place as it has been for the Rockies lately, it's actually 10 times worse in LA. Amazing. Very winnable road series if this team had any confidence playing on the road, which they apparently don't.

Lineup Card: Rockies vs Brewers

Well, today could be the day Ubaldo Jimenez makes franchise history with his 18th victory.  

In could also be the day that pushes Rockies management to pulling the plug on the 2010 season.

I say that because some tough decisions might need to be made before the August 31st waiver trade deadline, and a day off like tomorrow could be the day the Rockies front office gathers to make some of those decisions.  That's usually what off days are for.

Keep that in mind as you watch (or listen) today.

Rockies Lineup (60-56)

1. LF  Young
2. RF  Spilborghs
3. CF  Gonzalez
4. SS  Tulowitzki
5. 1B  Mora
6. 3B  Stewart
7. C    Olivo
8. 2B  Barmes
9. P    Jimenez

Brewers Lineup (55-63)

1. 2B  Weeks
2. RF  Hart
3. LF  Braun
4. 1B  Fielder
5. 3B  McGehee
6. CF  Dickerson
7. SS  Escobar
8. C    Kottaras
9. P     Parra

Table Scraps: Eric Young, Esmil Rogers and more

Some leftover thoughts I couldn't squeeze into last night's Rock Solid Recrap.

2nd Base Situation

I've always been in the Clint Barmes camp because of his defense and occasional (often well-timed) extra base hits.

That's changing now. That's changing because the offense around Clint Barmes is changing. Helton's power is down. Ian Stewart has been inconsistent. Brad Hawpe is all over the place. The offense just isn't as stable as it needs to be. so what Clint Barmes typically provides isn't good enough.

The defense always will be good enough, but the way the offensive is evolving leaves the Rockies in a spot where they can't afford an offensive player that struggles to reach base and struggles worse making productive outs.

That's where guys like Eric Young and Jonathan Herrera come in. They may be a step down defensively (Herrera isn't really much, but Young is), but their ability to be a pain in the ass creates run scoring opportunities this team can't manufacture right now.

Again, I like Clint Barmes. He's not the only problem here, but his value compared to his salary doesn't measure out well, and the options behind him are exactly what the team needs.

Esmil Rogers

There's a lot to work with (and like) here because his stuff is excellent and his composure/attitude is even a level above that. Don't get too caught in the numbers, just be happy with 5 2/3 innings of baseball that gave his team a chance to win. And then be excited that with a little more development, this kid will be a solid fixture in the rotation end of next year or early 2012.

Bob Uecker

I muted the TV and tuned in Uecker again last night. He spent a good half inning indirectly lecturing Jon Miller on how Coors Field is fair to both sides.

To paraphrase the Ueck.

"Sure a home run here might not be a home run somewhere else, but it's a home run for both sides here."

It kind of nauseates me that a true professional and truly brilliant broadcaster/journalist/entertainer like Uecker has to share a wing in the Hall of Fame with a whiner like Jon Miller.

Mike McClendon

The 25-year old right-hander made his Major League debut and did so by throwing three perfect innings. Not bad at all.

Of course the Rockies have been awfully generous to unproven (or flat out bad) pitchers in 2010, but in this case you definitely tip your cap to the young man stepping on a big league field for the first time and being dominant. Congrats to him.