Rock Solid Recap: Bizarre Night

For several reasons.

1. Aaron Cook pitched well.

Not just well, very well. Not sure how many people expected this.

For a guy who missed a good month of ML action, you have to be pleased with what you saw. Cook looked healthy... and I don't just mean physically, he looked pretty good mentally as well. I an cautiously optimistic about what Cook can give the team the final month of the season.

2. Melvin Mora tripled.

I was secretly pulling for back-to-back triples with Mora and Giambi, but I gladly accepted the HR as a consolation (highlight). Can't be too picky at this point.

3. Jason Giambi made a web gem.

Giambi played his best all-around game of the season. He's had better nights in the batters box, but the Rockies simply don't win this game without this web gem (highlight).

4. The Rockies offense did it's typical disappearing act on the road from the 3rd inning on... and still won.

I would be curious to learn how many teams (home or away) have won a game in which 19 of their batters were retired in a row during a stretch. Maybe an extra inning game would be more likely, but I doubt it happens often in a nine inning game.

5. Jim Tracy managed a nice game.

Q: Is Sam Deduno going to develop into a good pitcher?

A:  Probably.

Q: Is he ready to be that guy now?

A: Not close. 

Q: Was it unfair to use him in a late and close situation tonight?

A: Possibly. 

Q: Did Jim Tracy have much of a choice?

A: Nope.

I thought Tracy managed Aaron Cook well tonight. I would have liked to have seen Iannetta in the lineup again, but you can't get everything you want.  The bullpen is all out of order right now (a lot of that goes on Tracy for his mishandling throughout the season), but under the circumstances of this specific one game season that was played tonight, Jim Tracy did a solid job.

6. Franklin Morales pitched well....

Just kidding.  It wasn't that crazy.

Rockies 4, Padres 3

Special hat tips to Jonathan Herrera, Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki, Rafael Betancourt and Huston Street for being a big part of the win tonight.

Tomorrow

Jason Hammel vs. Jon Garland

Another chance to win a road series. Get that job done and I guarantee you my optimism will increase by one level. To guarded probably, but that's better than nothing.

Don't forget this is a Fox afternoon game.

Lineup Card: Rockies @ Padres

-- Who is Cory Luebke?  Yahoo's Roto Arcade gives a snippet of information.  

You'll see that Yahoo ranks the starters scheduled for action tonight (for fantasy baseball purposes only).  Did you see where Aaron Cook ranked?  Mhm... 28th out of 30.  And that's throwing in a pitcher's ballpark.  Assuming they aren't counting on Cook getting a win this evening.  

-- A Minor Moral Victory from last night's loss.

Rockies Lineup (69-64)

1. CF  Fowler
2. 2B  Herrera
3. RF  Gonzalez
4. SS  Tulowitzki
5. 3B  Mora
6. 1B  Giambi
7. LF  Spilborghs
8. C    Olivo
9. P    Cook

Jim Tracy officially dislikes Chris Iannetta.

Padres Lineup (76-56)

1. 2B  Eckstein
2. SS  Tejeda
3. 1B  Gonzalez
4. RF  Ludwick
5. 3B  Headley
6. CF  Venable
7. C    Torrealba
8. LF  Denorfia
9. P    Luebke

A Minor Moral Victory

There isn't a lot to feel good about from a baseball perspective after last night's 12-11 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies... but there is one teeny tiny little development we can take some satisfaction in.

@brostanta My phone died at the game #rockies. Feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. On the plus side there was #no wave at #coorsfield 2night

I told you it was minor... but it's something!

Nice job Rockies fans and *grumble* Phillies fans too.

Rock Solid Recrap: A Staggering Blow

The Rockies have been on the receiving end of some powerful overhand punches over the years, but I'm not sure any have been placed as squarely on the chin as the one dealt out by the Philadelphia Phillies this evening.

More specifically... Chase Utley... (no highlight)

The Rockies are staggered, woozy, and one punch away from eating some canvas.

Phillies 12, Rockies 11

This game was the entire Rockies season presented to you in one four hour roller coaster ride of emotions. It was crazy, thrilling, frustrating, nerve-racking, back to thrilling, disappointing, still crazy, with a heart-breaking result.

The punch to the chin. The realization that our team falls one step short of where they could be, where they should be, and above all, where they need to be.

Our 2010 Rockies have all the talent in the world. They have a resilience few other teams can match when they play games at Coors Field. I love that. I love feeling like anything is possible, like no deficit is too much, like the Rockies control their own destiny and everyone else will know when it's time to get out of their way.

But that feeling disappears the moment this team hops on a plane. If they could pay with even 1/10th of the resilience on the road that they have at home, the Rockies wouldn't be absorbing any punches right now. They would be blocking and taking the fight right at everyone else.

That is what makes this season frustrating. The pieces, the talent, the intangibles, the attributes of a winner are all there. It's just the inability to put them all together for nine innings, day in and day out, especially away from Denver.

I'm proud of the team for continuing to battle through everything tonight. I'm disappointed the bullpen couldn't hold a lead for Jhoulys Chacin, who again pitched his backside off and gave the Rockies a chance to win. And I'll still be watching them tomorrow in San Diego.

My optimism may be overtaken by my honesty and the reality of the situation, but I don't give up. I still love tuning in. I will continue to do so until someone tells I'm staring at a blank screen.

It's happened before.

Tomorrow

Aaron Cook vs Cory Luebke (MLB Debut)

That probably doesn't mean many good things for the offense.

Lineup Card: Rockies vs Phillies

A one day make-up special.  I'm thinking it'll be an exciting atmosphere at Coors Field as we search for that light at the end of tunnel.  

Rockies Lineup (69-63)

1. 2B  Young
2. CF  Fowler
3. LF  Gonzalez
4. SS  Tulowitzki
5. 1B  Helton
6. 3B  Mora
7. RF  Smith
8. C    Iannetta
9. P     Chacin

Phillies Lineup (75-58)

1. SS  Rollins
2. 3B  Polanco
3. 2B  Utley
4. 1B  Howard
5. RF  Werth
6. LF  Ibanez
7. CF  Victorino
8. C    Schneider
9. P    Blanton