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.

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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.

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Lineup Card: Rockies vs Giants

Jason Hammel on the mound tonight for Colorado.  It's pretty obvious what he needs to do...

Avoid the disaster inning.

Especially in San Francisco, and especially against Barry Zito.  One bad inning against him... lights out.

Rockies Lineup (27-24)

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

Good time for a day off for Ian Stewart.  Rockies will now have three big left-handed bats on the bench in case they run into Brian Wilson late in the night.  

Giants Lineup (27-23)

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

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Rock Solid Recap: He's Real, And He's Spectacular

If you weren't sure, that's only because you hadn't seen him pitch yet.

Now that you have, you're sure.

Rockies 4, Giants 0

Winning Player: Ubaldo Jimenez

I don't know what I can tell you that isn't already obvious.

I could rattle off the amazing numbers, but you've already seen those a 100 times.

I could tell you he throws hard, his ball moves, and he gets stronger as the game moves along. I think you can all see that for yourself

I'll just settle for telling you it's a special thing we're witnessing. A special thing that not only Rockies fans are invested in, but after today, baseball fans from all over the world will be invested Ubaldo Jimenez.

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Lineup Card: Ubaldo vs. Lincecum

On this Memorial Day, we cannot thank those who have served and sacrificed for our country enough.

Thank you for fighting for us.

Thank you for giving us the freedom to travel and spend time with our loved ones.

Thank you for giving baseball nerds like myself the opportunity to sit here and write about the game I've grown up loving, and for giving all of us the freedom to sit back and watch two of the most talented pitchers in our lifetime pitch in one of the most beautiful ballparks in the world.

Rockies Lineup (26-24)

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

Giants Lineup (27-22)

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

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