Rock Solid Recap: Halfway to 100 Wins

Of course they won't get there, but 50 is still half of 100.

Rockies 1, Reds 0

Staying positive while attempting to provide a realistic persepctive isn't always easy.

Aaron Cook, Chris Iannetta, and Huston Street made it a little easier today.

Aaron Cook

The Rockies desperately needed the Ohio native's best today.

• 7 IP
• 6 H (scattered just enough)
• 0 R
• 1 BB
• 5 K (tied season high and a couple were very well timed). 
• 82 pitches -- 58 strikes
• 12 groundouts -- 4 flyouts.

Those ratios and things all qualify in the good-to-great range. Add them all together and they equal Cook's first road win of the season.

Highlight: Cook's 7 Shutout Innings

Chris Iannetta

Fantastic game by Chris. The HR will get most of the pub -- it's a worthy highlight to be sure -- but the job he did behind the plate with Cook and the bullpen is what really sealed this win.

He asserted himself several different times with trips to the mound. I don't keep track of stuff like that, but it seemed to me that each visit was well timed and meaningful.  That's a sign his comfort and confidence as a catcher are rising with each start.

Dare we give Miguel Olivo any credit for that?

If Iannetta continues moving the direction he's going now, the Rockies will be employing the most valuable backup backstop in the league. That's a far cry from where they were a month ago.

Highlight: Chris Iannetta's Solo HR

Huston Street

Were you a little worried?

I wouldn't blame you.

For me, though, Huston Street is the truest definition of a closer you can find. I watch him. I see the opponent bloop a hit in here and there. First and third, one out, no outs. I don't get worried.

Heart rate accerlates a couple beats a minute, but it's not the overwhelming feeling of dread I've had with the other 900 closers we've seen in the Rockies history.

Maybe I'll get uneasy when Tracy uses him four days in a row, or the first couple appearances off the DL, but my general feeling with Street is this guy in a Top 5 closer in baseball. If healthy, the Rockies have a bargain on their hands -- and will also soon have a brand new all-time saves leader.

Highlight: Street Closes The Door

Jonathan Herrera

Lost the hitting streak, but provided two superb Web Gems.

Highlights: Diving Stop, Great Throw

Travis Wood

He's going to be really good. He's already more than good enough to fill a 4th-5th rotation spot. He may never reach Volquez territory (ace stature) in their organization, but the Reds don't need him to either.  Their rotation depth will make the Reds very dangerous in 2010 and well beyond.

Wood gets the majority of the credit for holding the Rockies offense in check today. That said, they still need to find ways to scratch together an extra run here and there. Their inability to do so has been the difference between wins and losses on several occasions already.  That won't change in Florida and Philadelphia.

Tomorrow

It's Ubaldo day.  Which means scratching and clawing for the extra run or two will definitely be the difference in a win or a heart-breaking, low-scoring loss.