Rock Solid Life-Shortening Recap

How did we live through 10 years of games like that night after night?

Rockies 8, Brewers 7

That one has to rank at or near the top of the wackiest, weirdest, craziest games played in Denver.

Oddly enough, it may not have been the craziest in baseball today. Rays/Marlins and Phillies/Twins make a strong case for that title.

What made this particular game a little extra crazier was the incredible struggles of the Rockies offense coming in. No one would blame you if you sensed the game was at 4-1. Even when they scored the three to tie in the 7th, I wouldn't have blamed you for feeling like they were going to find a way to fall short. The Rockies just don't win games like this in 2010.

On the other side, when the Rockies put four more on the board in the 8th, no one would have blamed you for feeling like the Rockies were secure with a four run lead. We should know better than that by now, but you just can't help but feel that way.

Then Manny Corpas comes in. I don't know what it is about closers in non-save situations, but once a closer is in that role for awhile, they simply can't succeed in non-save apeearances. That is among the biggest anomalies in baseball since the save stat came into play. No one can explain it or understand it.

Another anomaly (Denver only) is Jim Tracy going to Franklin Morales with the game on the line. Was Tracy afraid to use Joe Beimel because Prince Fielder doubled against him last night? If so, Tracy is a moron. Have your best guys ready regardless. Morales is not your best guy.

In fact, Morales should never touch a baseball in a 9th inning again this season. He just can't handle the pressure. It's even past the point where it's fair to question why he's even on the 25 man roster. He doesn't offer anything. I still think he could somewhere down the line, but that time is not now or anytime soon.

Co-Winning Players: Seth Smith and Jonathan Herrera

There's a reason Smith was given the nickname "Mr. Late Night". He's earned it in the past and he put a trademark on it tonight. Obviously his HR that tied the game was important, but the 2-out hit in the 8th was even more so. If that rally had died with only one run scored, chances are pretty good this game ended a lot differently.

That leads into the other Winning Player.

Jonathan Herrera's hit right after that ended up being the difference in the game. It's amazing how important those two out hits can be, even when they don't seem to be. Herrera's excellence wasn't just limited to one AB, he was fantastic all evening, collecting four hits, and playing a level of defense that is consistent with Tulowitzki and Barmes up the middle.

I was excited by the possibility of seeing Chris Nelson (don't overlook his bunt in that 8th inning) start tonight, but credit Jim Tracy for not only sticking with Herrera, but batting him leadoff. That made a big difference.

I still want to see Chris Nelson play, but I also don't see how you can sit Herrera after tonight. How about Herrera at third tomorrow, Nelson at short, Barmes at second, and Ian Stewart riding pine against a lefty? Write that one down, Jim.

One last thing...

The offense still needs to do a better job of putting the ball in play.  I think tonight was a good example of the many good things that can happen when you simply put wood on baseball.  That said, the strikeouts against Gallardo weren't great, but the overall patience and extending of the pitch count won this game for Colorado. If Gallardo goes one more inning, again, chances are this ends differently.  So credit there.

I'm exhausted again just thinking about the game. Be back with you again tomorrow. Let's pull for back-to-back weekend sweeps and the Rockies going five games over for the first time in 2010.

Lineup Card: Rockies vs Brewers

Rockies Lineup (5-2)

• 2B Herrera
• 1B Helton
• CF Spilborghs
• RF Hawpe
• LF Mora
• 3B Stewart
• C  Olivo
• 2B Barmes
• P  Francis

CarGo's out until Tuesday with the sore knee.  He tweaked the knee when he slipped fielding a ball Wednesday at Target Field.  I hate Target Field.  Melvin Mora plays LF tonight.  Something tells me he's going to have a busy night out there.  That's just how baseball works.  

All the speculation of Chris Nelson starting tonight was untrue, though Jim Tracy did say during his pregame yesterday that he didn't want to throw Nelson right into the fire.  I guess facing Yovani Gallardo counts as the fire.  

Brewers Lineup (28-39)

• 2B Weeks
• RF Hart
• LF Braun
• 1B Fielder
• 3B McGehee
• C  Lucroy
• CF Gomez
• SS Escobar
• P  Gallardo

Same lineup that was shutout by Hammel, Beimel, Betancourt and Corpas last night.  Doubt they'll be shutout again.  Need some offense!

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Rock Solid Recap: Nothing Noticeably Different

We're one game into the Troy Tulowitzki injury recovery period. So far, I'd say the impact has been minimal.

The offense still can't score. They're still getting fantastic defense from the middle infield. Jason Hammel is still on fire. The bullpen is still shutting the door.

Yup. Nothing's changed.  They won't miss Troy a bit.

Mhm.

Rockies 2, Brewers 0

Winning Player: Jason Hammel

When people were down on Hammel earlier this season I went out of my way to defend him as a well above average 4th/5th starter, with a chance to jump into that 3 spot. I'm not patting myself on the back for that, because even though I truly believed that and I was right, I never envisioned him going on a run like this.

If not for Jimenez doing what he's done just this season, Jason Hammel would currently be on the greatest roll for a Rockies starter ever. Seriously. 25 1/3 scoreless innings. With a big hat tip to Rafael Betancourt tonight for keeping that intact tonight.

A lot of people outside Colorado attributed his success post DL stint to an easy schedule. Well, he's now done it against two of the league's best offenses (Toronto and Milwaukee), and he's done it at Coors Field.

Jason Hammel has turned the corner. No way around it.

The Offense

Has not turned the corner. We just have to be thankful they scratched out what they did tonight and that it was enough.

By the way, Jason Hammel executed a perfect suicide squeeze and laced a double off Manny Parra. When your starting pitcher takes complete ownership of a baseball game like he did tonight, he better not pay for dinner out of his own pocket for the next 4 days. The offense has some paying up to do.

Shutout Record

The Rockies recorded a single-season franchise record 9th shutout tonight. They have 95 chances to make that double digits. I'll take those odds.

Tomorrow

I want to see Chris Nelson. I'm not really dying to see him or anything, I just think I have a decent read on what Jonathan Herrera offers, and I'd like to see if Nelson can offer more. Herrera is the definition of serviceable, which could work well if the rest of the offense was at least partially clicking. In this offense, it doesn't work. The Rockies need to make sure they maximize every little thing they can.

They also need to get Jeff Francis a win!

Lineup Card: Rockies vs Brewers

Rockies Lineup (4-2)

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

Life without Tulo begins.  You know who I'm looking at to step up?  Ian Stewart.  It has to be him.  He a guy that can absolutely carry the team if he heats up.  Looking at you, Ian.  Let's go!  

Brewers Lineup (28-38)

• 2B Weeks
• RF Hart
• LF Braun
• 1B Fielder
• 3B McGehee
• C  Lucroy
• CF Gomez
• SS Escobar
• P  Parra

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Rockies Aren't Dead Just Yet

I thought the lack of news last night and today was a good sign. How wrong I was. Tulo's out 6-8 weeks thanks to that worthless Twins reliever named Alex Burnett.

The Rockies, who were already operating with small margin for error thanks up and down play the first 10 weeks, are now... well... playing with paper thing margin for error.

The Rockies have two choices at this point.

1. Curl up and die.
2. Get motivated.

This season isn't over.  As long as you can pitch and defend, you're never out of it.  I know a lot of Rockies fans don't subscribe to the "pitching and defense win championships" mantra.  They may not WIN them, but they can keep you afloat.  That's what this team needs to focus on.  Stay afloat.  

Sustaining good play will be very difficult, but it's not impossible.  Other teams and fans are going to count them out now based on this.  The Rockies can take advantage of that if just keep showing up and playing ball.

It's not over.  It just got a whole lot more difficult.  But good things can still happen.  Let's try to not lose sight of that.   More importantly, let's hope the 25 now wearing Rockies uniforms (including Chris Nelson) also realize that.