Rock Solid Recap: A Healthy 4-2 Win

This one was good for the blood pressure.

Rockies 4, Padres 2

True, there were still a few hold your breath moments in the final three innings, but overall this ride was a pretty smooth one thanks to Jason Hammel and a good bullpen.

Jason Hammel

Hammel continued his transformation from coin flip to reliable starter with 6 1/3 innings of 5 hit, 2 run baseball. That makes 9 out of 11 starts Hammel has pitched into the 7th inning or beyond since coming off the DL.

I knew there was some talent here with Hammel. I knew the Rockies were very fortunate to have a guy of his ability tucked safely into their #5 rotation spot. I just never envisioned him taking a step to this level and then sustaining for an 11 start period of time. That's not an easy thing for the Cliff Lee's or Roy Halladay's of the world to do, let alone a guy like Hammel.

It speaks a lot to the work he's put in. I think some credit has to go to Bob Apodaca. And I really think Miguel Olivo is a big piece of the equation as well. He may even be the biggest piece. Just look at what Miguel did for Zack Greinke last season and is helping do with Ubaldo this season. Pitchers seem to take that big step to reaching their potential when Olivo's involved.

Chris Iannetta

Tonight some credit goes to Chris Iannetta as well. I didn't know if he could settle into the reserve role and regain his usefulness. He's getting there. I'm sure he's not happy about it, but we're not seeing the frustrations come to the forefront. He's not jumpy at the plate or out of rhythm behind it. He's just doing what a solid backup backstop should, and that's blend in and never miss a beat when he plays.

Huston Street

Could probably pitch 100 days in a row if he's that efficient and dominant. His stuff is crisp, smooth, nasty, filthy, sick... fill in the blank as you please.

Carlos Gonzalez

Highlight: CarGo's Home Run

Highlight: CarGo Robs Adrian

He adds one. He takes one away. That's a two run swing. Rockies win 4-2.

I don't need convoluted ratios and fractions to figure this stuff out. Why do so many other people?

Matt Belisle

Seven pitches. Three outs.

Pitch efficiency, along with an arm used to heavier workloads, are why he's holding up much better than Manny Corpas.

Melvin Mora

Has added a ton of professionalism and a pretty solid bat as a bonus. Very significant signing by Dan O'Dowd.

Highlight: Mora's 1st HR of 2010

Brad Eldred

Highlight: 2-Run HR

That's where the big boys (Stewart & Giambi) hit it. Only they aren't right-handed. As Jim Tracy likes to say, Eldred's power isn't good, it's ridiculous. Well said.

Dexter Fowler

All I can say... Damn that HR he hit Wednesday.

It was a huge blast in the grand scheme of things, but Fowler is the old bad Dexter ever since. Get Rene Lachemann on line one and tell him he's spending the all-star break with the Fowlers. I'd also pencil him in for a day off tomorrow.

Tomorrow

Jeff Francis vs Clayton Richard

I think you know the situation with the standings. I'd like to focus on how big of a start this is for Francis. He's been pretty awful lately, and was extra awful in his start at Petco Park.

I would expect Jim Tracy to have all bullpen hands on deck (Chacin and Aaron Cook included), and will not hesistate to remove Francis early if it looks bad. I believe Tracy realizes that finishing this first half with a win would be monumental.

Imagine the thoughts (panic) that would be going through Padres' players, coaches and fans minds if they did all that work to end up in a tie at the break. Allowing San Diego to steal one and breathe again would alleviate all that and make them very comfortable (and dangerous) again.

As they say in the NBA: Finish the half strong. No allowing a layup on the final possession.

Rock Solid Recap: Iannetta Welcomes Another Rookie To Coors Field

And then kindly walks the overwhelmed youngster off the mound in game-winning HR fashion.

Highlight: Welcome to the bigs, Mr. MacLane

Bonus Highlight: Iannetta's Walk-Off against the Mets

Rockies 8, Cardinals 7

Wow.

Remember when the Rockies couldn't hit themselves out of a paper bag from the 6th-7th inning on? When was that? 2004? Sure seems that long ago with the way this offense is firing right now.

It's impossible to even imagine the team went through a stretch that awful for such a prolonged period of time.  But that's baseball.  Just when you think you have the answers, the game changes the questions.

There's a common threat holding this entire offensive turnaround together.

That thread? The Colorado Springs Sky Sox.

Jonathan Herrera. Chris Iannetta. Dexter Fowler. Brad Eldred.

All men who came up from AAA or were shipped to AAA to fix their swing and returned with an improved offensive mindset. Rene Lachemann deserves a lot of the credit for this. The young men thmselves also deserve the credit for their hard work and dedication, but Lachemann is a truly professional baseball man that the Rockies are very lucky to have in their organization.

Let's see how the Four Horsemen of the Springs fared tonight.

Brad Eldred

In his Rockies debut, Eldred hit three baseballs extremely hard. Each resulted in a hit. Each hit led to Eldred scoring a run. That's making an impact.

Jonathan Herrera

Three more hits. Didn't score a run or knock a run in but kept the lineup moving. Made the opposing pitchers throw extra pitches. He's a professional pain the ass.

Dexter Fowler

There aren't going to be many situations where you'll want to see Dexter Fowler swing for the fences. Down three in the 8th inning with two men on base is one of those rare times. Fowler came through, as he seemingly has everyday since his recall.

Highlight: Fowler's 3-Run Blast

This is the guy we all prayed Fowler would become. We had our doubts through all the struggles. Of course there's always still work to be done to improve and remain consistent, but he's in a great place right now. Just going through a stretch like this will give him confidence in the future that he can overcome any and all slumps.

Chris Iannetta

Well, you already know about the walk-off bomb.

He won't be reclaiming everyday catching duties any time soon, but he's not the lonely lost kitten out there anymore either.

In total: 8-18, 2 HR, 2B, 6 R, 4 RBI

Ian Stewart

Is tonight's overlooked star of the game.

Stewart didn't even start the game, yet by the completion of the 6th inning he was 2-for-2 with 3 RBI.  Seriously.  And both hits came against a lefty.  Those two knocks set the stage for another special comeback.

Highlight: Stewart's Tough Grab

Aaron Cook

Not good again tonight for Cook. I'll say this in his defense, in Jeff Francis' defense, in Jhoulys Chacin's defnese and in Esmil Rogers' defense... the Cardinals can flat rake.

I'm still less worried about Cook right now than Francis, but maybe all involved should get a little pass for having to deal with a Cardinal offense that is as hot as it's been all season.

Matt Belisle & Huston Street

That said, these two men, along with Manny Corpas last night, deserve all the more credit for holding St. Louis down and allowing the Rockies offense to peck away and eventually finish the job.

Huston Street gets his first win of the season.  Matt Belisle gets another huge pat on the back from all his appreciative teammates.

Team Wins

These past 7-10 days have been all about winning team baseball. Guys picking others up. Guys coming up from the minors and contributing immediately.  It's incredibly fun to watch and it's satisfying to watch because you know your favorite baseball team is doing their work the right way.

There are just some teams and organizations that win constantly whose fans can't honestly experience that feeling.  That's great for them that their team wins, but I think it has to be a little bit of a hollow enjoyment compared to teams like the Rockies and Twins.

Tomorrow

Ubaldo Jimenez vs Chris Carpenter

Seems like Ubaldo needs to be pretty special to wrestle the all-star starting gig from Josh Johnson.  That should serve as great motivation.  Chris Carpenter will just be motivated to pitch a complete game so the St. Louis bullpen can't implode again.

Gonna be a fun afternoon at the yard.

Hits & Misses: Spring Training Game 22

Rockies 9 Reds 1 (Boxscore)

Hits

Brad Eldred

Once again, how nice is it that the Rockies have guys like Eldred and Michael Paulk killing the baseball this spring, and nobody is talking about them making the major league team? We've come a long, long ways.

Jorge De La Rosa

He's ready. I'm ready. Ubaldo's ready. Good thing there's still two weeks left, though, since nobody else seems to be ready.

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