Lineup Card: Rockies vs. Blue Jays

This one just has an empty the bullpen type feel going into it.

Jesse Litsch: Making his first ML start in over a year after Tommy John Surgery.

Jeff Francis:  A little off his game the last couple starts.  If that issue isn't solved today, against a mostly right-handed power hitting club, he could be in line for a short opening.

Not to mention two offenses that seem destined to break out sometime soon.

Rockies Lineup (2-0)

• SS Herrera 
• 1B Helton
• CF Gonzalez
• RF Hawpe
• LF Spilborghs
• 3B Stewart
• C   Iannetta
• 2B Barmes
• P   Francis

So Ryan Spilborghs is now on the plus side of the platoon with Seth Smith.  Nothing wrong with that.  It gives Jim Tracy his best pinch-hitting option back in the late innings and allows Spilborghs to build up the ABs.

Blue Jays Lineup (34-29)

• RF Bautista
• 2B Hill
• LF Lind
• CF Wells
• SS Gonzalez
• 1B Overbay
• C  Buck
• 3B Encarnacion
• P   Litsch

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Lineup Card: Rockies vs. Blue Jays

Something I totally neglected in my Rock Solid Rain Shortened Recap last night was Ubaldo Jimenez being credited with his 3rd complete game.  Hey, six innings or nine, it still counts because he went the distance.  And regardless of how many innings it was, it still means the Rockies bullpen received a MUCH needed night off.

See, even when Ubaldo isn't his "best" he's still doing everything right for the team.

And we'll call Mother Nature and the umpires even with the Rockies for the botched game vs. Washington a month or so back.  You remember the Cesspool Game?

Here are tonight's starting nine... not starting ten.  We're in a National League park.

Rockies Lineup (1-0)

• 2B Herrera
• 1B Helton
• CF Gonzalez
• RF Hawpe
• LF Spilborghs
• C  Olivo
• 3B Stewart
• SS Barmes
• P   Hammel

Carlos Gonzalez hitting third!  Wow.  I hope this is more than just a temporary thing while Tulo's out of the lineup (groin)!  A few good games and maybe it won't be.  

Blue Jays Lineup (34-28)

• RF Lewis
• 2B Hill
• LF Bautista
• CF Wells
• SS Gonzalez
• 1B Overbay
• 3B Encarnacion
• C  Molina
• P   Morrow

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Lineup Card: Rockies vs. Blue Jays

We're starting all over (in my mind).  Welcome to Opening Day.

Rockies Lineup (0-0)

• CF Gonzalez
• 1B Helton
• SS Tulowitzki
• RF Hawpe
• 3B Mora
• LF Spilborghs
• C   Olivo
• 2B Barmes
• P   Jimenez

Blue Jays Lineup (34-27)

• LF Lewis (That's Fred, former Giant)
• 2B Hill (8 HR)
• RF Lind (8 HR)
• CF Wells (15 HR)
• 3B Bautista (18 HR)
• SS Gonzalez (13 HR)
• 1B Overbay (8 HR)
• C  Buck (9 HR)
• P  Romero

Bombs away Blue Jays.  This kid Romero is no pushover either.  Bottom line... Blue Jays are a handful!

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