Rock Solid Recrap: Role Reversal

Wasn't the Arizona bullpen supposed to be the implosion waiting to happen?

Wasn't the Colorado bullpen supposed to come right in and lock things down for Aaron Cook when he exited with a three run lead?

That's not how things played out tonight, and for second time this season, Arizona steals a win from the Rockies they had no business stealing.

Diamondbacks 7, Rockies 6

Arizona Bullpen -- 3 IP, 1 BB, 6 K

Colorado Bullpen -- 3 1/3 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

That's a hideous breakdown if you're a Rockies supporter.. or their pitching coach.

The only guy who came in and did his job was Rafael Betancourt. Daley, Beimel, Belisle, Flores,and Corpas all struggled to varying degrees, with Corpas ultimately blowing the save and taking the loss.

Not. Pretty.

Read more »

Lineup Card: Rockies vs D-Backs

The Diamondbacks return home after an 0-9 road trip through Colorado, San Francisco and Los Angeles.  They have not scored a single run since the second inning of their game in LA on Monday.  That's a streak of 31 innings after losing consecutive 1-0 decision in 10 and 14 innings respectively.

Needless to say, they are struggling.

It's also needless to say they won't go the rest of the season without scoring a run or winning a game. Before this stretch, Arizona had the highest scoring offense in the NL.  Once they get the bats going again, those runs will pour in again.  And strangely, their pitching hasn't been a problem the last week.

What I'm saying is they could get hot quickly.

The Rockies just have to be careful they don't get caught sleepwalking through a winnable series like we saw in Chicago and Houston.  Take care of business.  Let the next team be the one Arizona gets well against.

Rockies Lineup (28-25)

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

Diamondbacks Lineup (20-34)

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

Read more »

Rock Solid Recrap: Cained Again

Giants 4, Rockies 1

So the Rockies didn't get the sweep they sought in San Francisco tonight.   There's one pretty good reason for that.

Matt Cain.

Cain, who may soon challenge Tim Lincecum for the "Giant Ace" title, was simply outstanding tonight. The Rockies could not sustain any type of offensive threat against him.  The only mistake he made was crushed by Troy Tulowitzki, but beyond that every pitch he made had a purpose and hit its spot.

When that happens, you just tip your cap and then hope your starter is Ubaldo Jimenez, or is channeling Ubaldo Jimenez.

Jeff Francis was neither.

Read more »

Lineup Card: Rockies vs Giants

The Rockies are on the cusp of something very significant tonight in San Francisco.  To go in to that stadium against the team with the best home record in 2009 (and against Lincecum, Zito, and now Cain tonight no less) and sweep the series, would be one of the high points in Rockies road history.

A history in which there haven't been many road highlights.

I hope they aren't satisfied with winning the series.  I hope they come out and fight as hard as they have the first two games to put them in this position.

Rockies Lineup (28-24)

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

Might seem like a strange time to bench Barmes.  I kinda like the idea though.  He's in a good place right now, why send him out there against a guy he usually struggles against and risk losing that.  Besides that, he can stay fresh, and Jonathan Herrara can get his feet wet in a big game.

Miguel Olivo was scratched from the original lineup with a displaced thumbnail on his right hand.  Sounds like he's available if needed and will start on Friday.  

Giants Lineup (27-24)

• RF Torres
• 2B Sanchez
• 3B Sandoval
• SS Uribe
• C  Molina
• LF Huff
• 1B Posey
• CF Roward
• P   Cain

Slight shuffling of the deck for the Giants. Although I think any team that hits Juan Uribe cleanup has some issues to address with their offense.

Read more »

Rock Solid Recap: Maligned Rockies Come Up Big

If Baseball is a game of what have you done for me lately, then three of the Rockies biggest targets for criticism have taken the elevator from outhouse to penthouse in San Francisco.

I'm fully aware outhouses don't have elevators but just go with me here. It's late.

Rockies 2, Giants 1 (11)

Winning Player: Clint Barmes

Aside from Franklin Morales, no Rockie has taken more flack than Clint. Granted, some of it has been warranted, but the majority of it has been complete nonsense and/or a fabrication based on useless statisitcal analysis. .

Whatever the case, I think almost all of that criticism -- warranted and nonsense -- is going to die down for the next few weeks. He's earned a break.

Read more »