Looking Ahead: Time For Sharper Baseball

Throw the records out the window.

I don't care if the Dodgers are 20-8, 14-14, or 8-20, they're a talented team. Not only are they talented, but I think we're all aware of how well they play against Colorado.

I don't care that the Rockies are 14-14. The baseball they've played to get them that very average record simply won't cut it against this LA team. It barely cut it against San Diego, and it damn sure won't cut it in the Philadelphia series coming up next week.

But let's not get too far ahead.

Esmil Rogers vs. Hiroki Kuroda

Runs probably won't be easy to come by again for the offense. Kuroda is a solid pitcher that's off to a nice start. He's over the scary incident last season where he was struck in the head by a line drive. He's throwing the ball confidently, more confidently than anyone else on the LA staff, and will present a challenge.

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Rock Solid Recap: Bowling Shoe Ugly

Last night makes up for the 12-11 Arizona loss. Rockies didn't deserve this one at all.

Rockies 6, Padres 5  (12 innings)

Winning Player: Manny Corpas

Manny earned every bit of his individual W though.

He had a couple hiccups over the last two appearances but rebounded with 2 2/3 scoreless innnings tonight. Not just middle of the game scoreless innings either. We're talking 10th, 11th and 12th inning of a tightly contested, yet ugly baseball game.

After Franklin Morales provided the team with nothing for a second straight game, Corpas came in to clean up that mess. His only real blemish was a walk to Adrian Gonzalez that made pretty good baseball sense considering the situation.

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Running Thoughts: Cook vs. Richard

Preview

Lineup

Huston Street could begin a rehab assignment on Monday.  That's awesome news.  

The Rockies are getting very close to being healthy, which makes this next stretch of games even more important.  I mean tonight in San Diego.  I mean this weekend in LA.  I mean next week vs Philly.  

You don't want to dig a hole now with these guys on the verge of returning.  Stay afloat, keep the pressure off them when they return, and then get ready to take off in a big way in the middle of the month.

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Lineup Card: Game 3 @ San Diego

Rockies Lineup

• LF Young
• CF Fowler
• 1B Helton
• SS Tulowitzki
• RF Gonzalez
• 3B Mora 
• C  Olivo
• 2B Barmes
• P   Cook

Where's Paul Phillips?

Kidding.  

I will predict that Ian Stewart's slump will continue as long as he's in and out of the lineup every other day.  I don't think it's necessary he sit against all lefties, especially a lefty like Clayton Richard.  

Clayton Kershaw, Johan  Santana, Jonathan Sanchez, Barry Zito.  Those are the lefties you rest him against.  Otherwise, just let him take his ABs and enjoy having his glove in the lineup.  

I'll have the Padres lineup when it becomes available.

Padres Lineup

• CF Gwynn
• 2B Eckstein
• 1B Gonzalez
• 3B Headley
• RF Venable
• LF Blanks
• SS J. Hairston
• C   Hundley
• P   Richard

That looks like a lot of groundball outs for Aaron Cook.  

I Demand Stability

The more I think about the lineup (and the CONSTANT shuffling) the more I want stability.  For the next 500 or so words I'm going to tell Jim Tracy how to fill out his lineup card and provide his team with that stability.

My Lineup Card (tonight vs San Diego)

CF Fowler
LF Spilborghs
1B Helton
SS Tulowitzki
RF Gonzalez
C Olivo
3B Stewart
2B Barmes
P Cook

This will not just be the lineup tonight, this will be the lineup for the next several days (insert Seth Smith for Spilborghs vs.a righty).

When Brad Hawpe returns, your lineup should look like this.

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