Thoughts on Todd Helton's 2000th game with Rockies

Congratulations are in order for Todd Helton. 2,000 games in Major League Baseball. 2,000. All of them with our Colorado Rockies.

Of active players, only Derek Jeter and Chipper Jones can say the same thing. I couldn't be prouder of the player or the organization for making that happen.

I wish Todd could play 2,000 more. To this day he is still one of my favorite people/players to watch do their job. That counts any sport or any form of entertainment. He's just plain fun to watch. Especially when he's in the box spoiling tough two-strike pitches or make another slick pick at first base. I love those little things.

He's not the same player he once was, but he's still the same man with the same drive and the same professionalism. He's never given away one at-bat, or taken a day off mentally in the field. He's always getting the most out of himself, even when his body wasn't cooperating.

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Rock Solid Recrap: Rockies lose series to AL version of themselves

If the Rockies fired Jim Tracy tonight, it wouldn't fix everything - and very likely wouldn't fix anything - but I sure wouldn't be upset or angry. 

It's easy to say he's not the Rockies only problem or their biggest problem. That's the truth. But he certainly is a big problem. A problem that needs to be eliminated eventually. 

He was awful today. Completely overmanaged a very winnable game, helping turn it into a disaster. He used three pitches to get through the seventh, which I guess was necessary after Rafael Betancourt allowed the lead-off home run to Gordon Beckham? Or something.

He did allow Betancourt to face one more hitter, whom he retied, but then got the hook in favor of Rex Brothers. Personally, I would try to have a little more faith in Raffy. You know? You've demoted him to the 7th, which I can't argue with. But with a three-run, how can he regain his confidence getting yanked after one mistake?

Brothers came in and struggled again, which is totally on him. He needs to lock that down, but he didn't, so then we go to Matt Belisle. Belisle needs only one pitch to get the Rockies out of the jam.

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Lineup Card: 6-30-11 Rockies vs White Sox

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. 

Links

• Yesterday's recap: Sluggish Rockies give one back to Sox
• Purple Row: Transaction notes

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (39-41)

1. CF Carlos Gonzalez
2. 2B Jonathan Herrera
3. 1B Todd Helton
4. SS Troy Tulowitzki
5. RF Seth Smith
6. 3B Ty Wigginton
7. LF Charlie Blackmon
8. C   Matt Pagnozzi
9. P   Aaron Cook

Game No. 2,000 for Todd Helton. Pretty damn cool!

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Rock Solid Recrap: Sluggish Rockies give one back to Sox

Ugh. Tonight was exactly like last night in terms of both teams pitching well, but looking terrible at the plate and defensively. It was another game that was there for the taking for Colorado. All it would have taken on a couple different occasions was one big hit or one less mistake on the bases to notch back-to-back wins.

It didn't happen. This time it was the White Sox getting the win, though they didn't really have to take it like Troy Tulowitzki did last night. They just benefitted from one big break.

White Sox 3, Rockies 2 (boxscore)

Of course most of the criticism will center around that break Chicago caught. It came in the 9th inning on a play at the plate. Carlos Quentin tags up and scores the winning run on a shallow flyball to right field. Seth Smith made the catch with his momentum coming towards home, but the throw was off line, handcuffed Chris Iannetta, and Quentin got in.

Watch the icky play

My take: Yeah, Iannetta probably should have picked that ball and made the tag. But think about it, the catcher had to go 8-10 feet up the line to try and catch a ball on a shorthop. I've pointed out his sloppiness blocking baseballs in the past, though it's different behind the plate. Point is I'm certainly no apologist of his, but this all tells you it's a bad throw. And he also had a runner baring down on him.

It's not an easy play.

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Lineup Card: 6-29-11 Rockies vs White Sox

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.

Links

• Yesterday's recap: Pitching holds strong, Tulo steals the W
• Blake Street Bulletin: Fight mediocrity
• Rockies Review: The Un-Ty-Er

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (39-40)

1. CF Carlos Gonzalez
2. 2B Jonathan Herrera
3. 1B Jason Giambi
4. SS Troy Tulowitzki
5. 3B Ty Wigginton
6. RF Seth Smith
7. LF Ryan Spilborghs
8. C  Chris Iannetta
9. P   Ubaldo Jimenez

Sound the alarms: Seth Smith is starting against a left-hander! Please let him have a good night!

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