Lineup Card: Rockies vs D-Backs

Big start today for Jason Hammel.  Not that his spot in the rotation is in any immediate danger, he just needs to keep showing us some consistency after a slow start to the year and then the groin injury.

Unlike a lot of Rockies fans, I'm on Hammel's side.  I think he's a solid #5 starter that a number of teams would like to have.  It was clear most fans don't agree with that after reading some criticism of his start in Kansas City.

I actually thought the start was solid.  I mean anytime you can pitch into the 7th inning in an AL park with only two runs allowed, you've pitched well.  True a couple more runs were tacked on in the 7th, but it's hard to find a lot to complain about.

That said, he may have to be a little better than he was last Friday to beat Dan Haren today.

Rockies Lineup (24-22)

• CF Gonzalez
• LF Spilborghs
• 1B Giambi
• SS Tulowitzki
• RF Hawpe
• C   Iannetta (Welcome back)
• 3B Stewart
• 2B Barmes
• P   Hammel

Diamondbacks Lineup (20-27)

• 2B Johnson
• LF Parra
• SS Drew
• RF Upton
• 1B LaRoche
• 3B Reynolds
• CF Young
• C   Snyder
• P   Haren

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Couch Time: Don't Trade Morales

Everybody's frustrated by the struggles of Franklin Morales in 2010.

I am. You are. He is. The Rockies are.

By my count, that's everybody.

Frustration (anger, disgust, so forth) often lead the less disciplined to make rash and reactionary decisions.

Example: When you're young, your boyfriend/girlfriend does something that really pisses you off or frustrates you, there's a pretty decent chance you break up with them.

Of course that all changes again a couple days later you talk and things are normal. The door to reconciliation opens up. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't, but the point is that door remains open despite your reactionary decision.

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Rock Solid Recrap: Who's Left?

Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 3

Dan Haren did what Dan Haren does best... pitch a baseball. He made it look way too easy.

By my count the Rockies only hit the ball hard twice. Carlos Gonzalez led off the first with a clothesline HR to straight away center. In the 8th, Eric Young Jr. tagged a double to right. I mean he really tagged it. I'm impressed with what I'm seeing from him since his recall.

Losing Player: Jason Hammel

Bad.

And now hurt.

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Running Thoughts: Hammel vs. Haren

It's Dante Bichette Night at Coors Field!  Let's win one for Dante!  Or just win one because winning is better than losing!

Hey look... that's Larry Walker!  Nice surprise for all the folks out at the ballpark tonight.

Rockies go with the same lineup as yesterday.  No arguments there.

Arizona will have Justin Upton despite his fouling a ball off his leg last night.  Dammit.

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Looking Ahead: To The Slugging Snakes

The Diamondbacks outsmarted the entire baseball world when they brought in Kelly Johnson to play second base. Dude has 7 HRs already and is hitting .322 at the top of their order, and he really could have been had by anybody for next to nothing after a brutal 2009 in Atlanta. The D-Backs had the foresight to make the move knowing a bounce back was very likely.

Nice job by them.

Of course I don't think they saw this type of bounce back (he's already halfway to career high in HR) but it was a low-risk/high-reward move that's paying off.

If only they could have made a signing in the bullpen that made the same impact for them.

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