Rock Solid Recap: The Little Things Add Up

Now that was a profressional baseball game that makes you proud to be a baseball fan. Very well played by both sides.

Rockies 3, Diamondbacks 2

Winning Player: Jhoulys Chacin

Anytime your 22-year-old starter gives you six innings of two run baseball, you best win the game for him. When you win the game for him, you must give him the game ball.

Chacin was fantastic in limiting a really strong Arizona lineup to just four hits and two walks. He struck out five and also induced a well timed double play ball off the bat of Chris Snyder in the second inning. That was his biggest pitch of the night.

Maybe his biggest moment of the game came in an under-the-radar AB.

His successful sacrifice bunt in the 2nd inning led directly to a stolen run. The bunt pushed runners to 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Miguel Olivo then scored from third on an Ian Kennedy wild pitch.

One simple little bit of execution leads to a stolen run. It was really was huge, because all the Rockies could muster aside from that run were solo HRs from Brad Hawpe and Troy Tulowitzki.  That's why I always stress the little things.

Save: Ian Stewart/Clint Barmes

Listen, the bullpen did great once again tonight backing up Chacin. The usual trio -- Belisle, Bemiel and Corpas -- got the nine outs and sealed the deal once again. Credit to them.

But that play Clint Barmes made in the 9th inning was huge. Not only to knock the ball down, preventing a 1st and 3rd situation, he actually got an out of the play. We all know how precious and elusive outs 25, 26 and 27 can be. Barmes secured 26 right there.

That's why he plays.

And the two plays Ian Stewart made in the late innings. Incredible. Diving and throwing from his backside, and then leaning over the rail in the D-Backs dugout for out 25. When the Rockies flash leather, they win baseball games. They win them inspite of whatever offensive struggles they're going through.

It's a defense first team.

Stewart's swing also looked good. Two knocks the opposite way plus a walk. Todd Helton chipped in with three hits.

Eat that, Mark Kiszla.

Ubaldo takes the ball tomorrow. Let's hope for a Stress Free Wednesday against former Rockie Rodrigo Lopez and the rest of the D-Backs.

Lineup Card: Rockies vs D-Backs

While the Rockies did recall Chris Iannetta today, they still haven't recalled Matt Daley.  I try to not read too much into that, but it put a tiny thought in my mind that they may be concerned about Jimenez.  Maybe not so much that he can't make his start, but there may be concern the situation could flare up again during his start, so they're keeping an extra long reliever around.

Or maybe Jim Tracy just doesn't like Matt Daley.  *Shrugs*

Rockies Lineup (22-22)

• LF Smith
• CF Fowler
• 1B Helton
• SS Tulowitzki
• RF Hawpe
• C   Olivo
• 3B Stewart
• 2B Barmes
• P   Chacin

Diamondbacks Lineup (20-25)

• 2B Johnson
• LF Jackson
• SS Drew
• RF Upton
• 1B LaRoche
• 3B Reynolds
• CF Young
• C   Snyder
• P   Kennedy

They still have a damn good lineup.  Rockies are going to need to score to win this series.  Score big even.

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Tuesday Links

A handful of links on a Tuesday afternoon.  Tonight's Lineups will be going up soon.

Chris Iannetta is back!  (Denver Post)

Here's a great take on the importance of this upcoming stretch of baseball for the Rockies.  (TrueFanColorado)

Mark Kiszla... Still getting paid to be a moron.  (Denver Post)

David Martin fires back at Kiszla.... and also reminds us how big of a scumbag Kiszla is.  (Rockies Review)

Time to get reacquainted with the Arizona Diamondbacks.  (Purple Row)

And finally... my own take of the Rockies signing of Kaz Matsui.  (Heaven & Helton)

Rockies Sign Kaz Matsui...

... to a minor league contract.

Which thankfully means he's not on the 40 man roster.

That's the only part of the deal that excites me.

If he becomes a member of the 40 man roster, or plays in a meaningful game for the Rockies this season, well... we're screwed.

I understand he had a good season in 2007 (which is still three years ago and getting further away).  I know he's a likable guy and all.  But he's so far done it's not even funny.  It's actually sad how done he is.

The Houston Astros (baseball's most desperate team for anything resembling baseball players) just released him.  The Astros didn't have a hot shot young prospect they were clearing playing time for... or a red hot veteran that commanded the job. All they have at second base are journeymen Geoff Blum and Jeff Keppinger.

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Couch Time: Don't Trade Morales

Everybody's frustrated by the struggles of Franklin Morales in 2010.

I am. You are. He is. The Rockies are.

By my count, that's everybody.

Frustration (anger, disgust, so forth) often lead the less disciplined to make rash and reactionary decisions.

Example: When you're young, your boyfriend/girlfriend does something that really pisses you off or frustrates you, there's a pretty decent chance you break up with them.

Of course that all changes again a couple days later you talk and things are normal. The door to reconciliation opens up. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't, but the point is that door remains open despite your reactionary decision.

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