Rock Solid Ryan Spilborghs Show Recap

Rockies 10, Blue Jays 3

Winning Player: Ryan Spilborghs

Not just today, but the entire weekend.  He set the tone for the offense on Friday night with an opposte field HR.  He set the tone today with TWO opposite field HRs (#1 & #2) and a triple.  Heck, if he had a few more ABs in the Houston series, who knows, he could be looking at NL Player of the Week honors.

He was simply a beast all three games.

Or as they say on the Toronto broadcasts: Ryan Spilborghs was quite the O-ffensive force this weekend.

Now I just wish guys like Ian Stewart could condition themselves to consistently drive the ball the other way.  That's the power alley.  Extend the arms, drive it, watch it fly.  Spilborghs is so good at that when he's on his game.  As is Todd Helton.  It's just so... beautiful... to watch.

I'm such a sucker for good fundamental hitting.  I can't help myself.

By the way, Toronto's broadcasts are actually pretty good.  Not filled with much personality or anything, just solid play-by-play, game analysis and knowledge of the opponent.  I appreciated that and always enjoy hearing different voices talk about the Rockies.  It helps keep a good perspective.

Needless to say they were very complimentary this weekend.  Especially of Ryan Spilborghs and Rockies pitching.  Oh, and they couldn't stop gushing about Carlos Gonzalez either (Highlight).  Neither can I, and I can't get over how much I love Helton hitting 2nd and CarGo hitting in an RBI position.  That's a dream come true from about five weeks ago.

Another thing I took from their broadcast is a new understanding for how incredibly popular Jeff Francis is in the entire country of Canada.  They almost treated his start today as if it were Stephen Strasburg making his debut again.

Note that I said almost.  It wasn't quite that over the top, but it was still a big deal.

Jeff didn't disappoint either.  That was a very strong outing against an offense I didn't think he'd fare well against.  He had solid command of his entire arsenal, and changed speeds well enough to slow their power bats.  Good stuff from Jeff.

Also, a well called game by Chris Iannetta behind the plate.  That hasn't been a strong suit for him lately, but I suspect it's something he was coached on between starts.  The game plan was good.  The execution was better.

And Chris threw a couple hits out there as well.  Literally threw (Highlight) them out there, but we'll take them.  Can't forget Clint Barmes either.  He continues to pacify his critics with some very solid baseball.  Two big RBI doubles today and more great defense at shortstop.

This was a terrific weekend of baseball for the Rockies entire team.  Now they take a trip to Minnesota to take on the team they try to mirror themselves after.  Can't wait for the action to begin on Tuesday night at brand new Target Field.

Until then... enjoy your Tacos Rockies fans.  You've been waiting for two weeks!

Lineup Card: Rockies vs. Blue Jays

This one just has an empty the bullpen type feel going into it.

Jesse Litsch: Making his first ML start in over a year after Tommy John Surgery.

Jeff Francis:  A little off his game the last couple starts.  If that issue isn't solved today, against a mostly right-handed power hitting club, he could be in line for a short opening.

Not to mention two offenses that seem destined to break out sometime soon.

Rockies Lineup (2-0)

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

So Ryan Spilborghs is now on the plus side of the platoon with Seth Smith.  Nothing wrong with that.  It gives Jim Tracy his best pinch-hitting option back in the late innings and allows Spilborghs to build up the ABs.

Blue Jays Lineup (34-29)

• RF Bautista
• 2B Hill
• LF Lind
• CF Wells
• SS Gonzalez
• 1B Overbay
• C  Buck
• 3B Encarnacion
• P   Litsch

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Rock Solid Recap: Second In Command

As of this moment, Ubaldo Jimenez is no longer the hottest Rockies starting pitcher.  That title now belongs to Jason Hammel.

I mean, all you have to do is look at the ERA comparison since we restarted the season yesterday to figure that out: Hammel 0.00, Jimenez 4.50.  It's a no contest.

For real though...

Now that he's completely healthy from the groin issue (which is never minor), Hammel has turned the corner.  That's not to say he's going to start rivaling Jimenez in the CY Young race, but I think it's safe to view him as more than a solid bottom of the rotation pitcher.  He's moving up the ladder, and in terms of the Rockies current rotation, he's the deputy to Ubaldo's sheriff.

Now we just need 1 1/2 of Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis, Jorge De La Rosa and Jhoulys Chacin to step.  It can a whole Cook and a half a Francis.  A Francis and a half Cook/De La Rosa.  Maybe 1/2 of three.  We just need a little something more from the bottom 3/5ths.  Not a lot more, just a little something.

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Lineup Card: Rockies vs. Blue Jays

Something I totally neglected in my Rock Solid Rain Shortened Recap last night was Ubaldo Jimenez being credited with his 3rd complete game.  Hey, six innings or nine, it still counts because he went the distance.  And regardless of how many innings it was, it still means the Rockies bullpen received a MUCH needed night off.

See, even when Ubaldo isn't his "best" he's still doing everything right for the team.

And we'll call Mother Nature and the umpires even with the Rockies for the botched game vs. Washington a month or so back.  You remember the Cesspool Game?

Here are tonight's starting nine... not starting ten.  We're in a National League park.

Rockies Lineup (1-0)

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

Carlos Gonzalez hitting third!  Wow.  I hope this is more than just a temporary thing while Tulo's out of the lineup (groin)!  A few good games and maybe it won't be.  

Blue Jays Lineup (34-28)

• RF Lewis
• 2B Hill
• LF Bautista
• CF Wells
• SS Gonzalez
• 1B Overbay
• 3B Encarnacion
• C  Molina
• P   Morrow

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Rock Solid Rain Shortened Recap: 1-0

Before I get into the unimportant stuff, I want to send along my congratulations to David Martin (Rockies Review) and his wife on the birth of their first child (a boy).  Hopefully David is able to negotiate an Ubaldo or Helton somewhere in his son's name.

Good luck with that.

I was going to suggest that since his son was born on my dad's birthday that maybe his son could be named after my dad.  Then it occurred to me that his son's name would be Russell Martin.  So I'll pull that request off the table.

In all seriousness though, best wishes to the new parents!

Now: Back to Baseball

Earlier today I called for a season restart.  We wouldn't forget the first 60 games (how could we?), but we weren't focusing on those anymore.  It's fresh start.  All that matters is what happens from now on.

Game 1: Rockies 5, Blue Jays 3 (6)

What a weird, messy, disjointed, windy, rainy, icky game.

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