Lackluster Recrap: Apparently the Phillies have 7 aces now

Isn't that about where Kyle Kendrick ranks on the Philadelphia Phillies starting pitching depth chart? And that guy shuts you out for eight innings on four hits? What a train wreck.

Of all the hideous performances this season against marginal big league starters, this one rates pretty close to the most disappointing, discouraging, and dare I say, disgusting.

Throw in embarrassing while you're at it.

And nauseating.

Phillies 5, Rockies 0 (boxscore)

Sometimes when I have nothing nice to say about the Rockies performance I just jump right to the three positives in this spot. That's not going to happen this time. All I'm going to say is hats off to Edgmer Escalona for coming in and providing three scoreless innings of relief. That could come in handy on Wednesday if 1,000 things happen to go in the Rockies favor and they have a chance to beat Roy Halladay.

Honestly, if the Rockies don't get no-hit by Halladay I might be pretty thrilled. I'm fully expecting a full-on no-hitter alert deep into that game. Maybe even a perfect game alert.

That's all I have. I could sit here for another hour trying to think of creative ways to describe how poorly they played, or I could go to bed.

I'm going to bed.

Lackluster Recrap: Street + Phillies = Sadness

This season stinks doesn't it?

Phillies 4, Rockies 3 (10) (boxscore)

One out away from putting away the dreaded Phillies. If It seems like we've been there 100 times before, it's because we've actually been there 5-6 times. And that final out never seems to come. Unfortunately, they are the one team that owns Huston Street. Not that he hasn't had a bad outing here or there against someone else, but that's the team that always gets him.

They tormented him all throughout 2009, with the playoffs being nothing short of disastrous. He didn't face them in any meaningful action in 2010, but did fare well in two appearances. Save opportunity on Monday; two up, two down rather easily, and back to tormenting. Couldn't finish them.

Huston doesn't seem like the type that would let a team get in his head, but if the Phillies aren't in there, I'd be shocked. And if he doesn't have nightmares about that 3-2 pitch to John Mayberry that tied the game, I'd be shocked about that as well.

Steet has now allowed 10 home runs on the season. That's tops in baseball for a reliever and 25% of his total allowed in seven seasons. So yes, a very disturbing number, and looking at the here and now a big concern. But I'd like to think there's a good chance it'll get better if he simply starts locating better and making smarter pitches.

Read more »

Lineup Card: 8-1-11 Rockies vs Phillies

If you're looking for Rockies game lineups and you don't feel like searching all over Twitter or waiting for MLB.com to post them, check back to Heaven & Helton about 30-60 minutes before first pitch. They should be here waiting for you every night game and some afternoon games.

Links

Weekend Rec(r)aps

• Friday: Hammel punches back against Padres
• Saturday: The show must go on
• Sunday: Weekly Sunday Recrap
• Bugs & Cranks: Ubaldo Q & A with... Me 

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (51-57)

1. LF Eric Young
2. CF Dexter Fowler
3. 2B Mark Ellis
4. SS Troy Tulowitzki
5. 1B Ty Wigginton
6. 3B Chris Nelson
7. RF Seth Smith
8. C   Chris Iannetta
9. P    Jhoulys Chacin

Well here's your lineup against Cole Hamels. Todd Helton sits probably due to his recent 4-for-25. Seth Smith starts because there are so few options available. Mark Ellis hits third because.... And Eric Young in left field at Coors Field.

Read more »

Weekly Sunday Recrap

And it was looking so good. Juan Nicasio was incredible, striking out a personal high and a Rockies season high 10. The offense, while again not explosive, came through with enough timely hits to take the lead into the late innings.

It couldn't have been set up more perfectly to end this dreadful Sunday losing streak. And then Rex Brothers, the pitcher who has been untouchable for the past month, couldn't get anyone out. And then Matt Belisle, the pitcher who's been so good at cleaning up messes for two seasons, couldn't clean this one up.

Next thing you know...

Padres 8, Rockies 3 (boxscore)

Three positives

1. Juan Nicasio: Nevermind everything I previously wrote about Nicasio eventually becoming a late inning reliever. He's a starter now. He's going to be a starter for a long time to come. He had amazing stuff here. Don't care who it came against or what park it was in, it was fantastic.

Read more »

Rock Solid Recap: The show must go on

The human side of me is very sad to see Ubaldo Jimenez go. The sight of him embracing his teammates and saying his goodbyes admittedly choked me up. It was tough to watch. That's a real moment between real people that you know love and respect each other. It's emotional.

The baseball side of me understands the situation. I understand the Rockies made a move they 100% believe will make them better. I know they didn't make this move for the hell of it, to prove a point, to hurt Ubadlo or to annoy the fanbase. They made a business decision intended to put this team back in contention. I understand all of that, and I accept it for what it is.

The baseball side always wins out. I'm a fan of the Colorado Rockies first and foremost. As much as I love the players that come and go, some more willingly than others, none of them are bigger than the team I love. Even Todd Helton.

So I say goodbye to a class act in Ubaldo Jimenez. At the same time, I welcome Drew Pomeranz, Alex White, Joe Gardner and Matt McBride to the organization. Hopefully we grow to love one or two of them as much as we did Ubaldo.

Read more »