Lineup Card Game 1 vs Washington

Rockies Lineup (16-17)

• LF Gonzalez
• CF Fowler
• RF Hawpe
• SS Tulowitzki
• 1B Helton
• C  Olivo
• 3B Stewart
• 2B Barmes
• P   Chacin

For now it seems like Tracy's favorite lineup features CarGo leading off, Hawpe hitting third and Helton hitting fifth.  I think this will probably stick at least through the weekend.  

Nationals Lineup (19-15)

• CF Morgan
• 2B Kennedy
• 3B Zimmerman
• 1B Dunn
• LF Willingham
• C  Pudge
• RF Bernadina
• SS Desmond
• P   Lannan

Good lineup.  Good ballclub.  I think we all expected improvement.  I don't think anyone expected them to have the league leader in wins (Reliever Tyler Clippard) and the league leader in saves (Matt Capps).  This series is going to be a four day battle.  The Rocks are aware of that after splitting four in Washington.  

Lineups courtesy @TroyRenck and Washington Post.  

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Couch Time: Stealing Signs

A lot of talk yesterday centered around the controversial binoculars and the possibility of Philadelphia stealing signs.

I sensed a lot of anger and bitterness from Rockies fans over the situation. Not only Rockies fans, but I read many comments from Mets fans and others piling on to accuse the Phillies of cheating.

On the other side, the Phillies faithful got defensive and lashed out with the predictable "durrr we beat you, you're just a bunch of whiners, we're better than you" school yard crap.

That included the manager of the Phillies, Charlie Manual, who has proven the "any dope can manage talented players to success theory" to be correct for many years now. I've never considered him to be a great or even average manager. I thought that was proven rather convincingly when Clint Hurdle managed circles around him in the 2007 NLDS.

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Rock Solid Recap: Halladay Serves As Olivo's Slumpbuster

Rockies 4, Phillies 3

As I said earlier... to call this a big win would an understatement.

The Rockies didn't beat Roy Halladay, but they knocked him around quite a bit. Great swings up and down the lineup. High pitch counts. Bascially they made him work harder for his money than any other Halladay opponent this season. This approach needs to carry over to every pitcher, not just the elite ones.

Aaron Cook pitched a fantastic six innings. Seriously. I'm not a fan of the quality start stat, because I think it needs to be adjusted for ballpark and opponent, but this qualifies as a quality start on any scale. He kept the Rockies in the game and held down a terrific offense. I'm very pleased with Cook.

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Running Thoughts: Cook vs. Halladay

Lineup Card


It's what?  39 degrees?  As if Roy Halladay didn't have enough going for him.  

I don't know what approach the Rockies should take in this one.  Maybe they should hand out binoculars to everyone in the first five rows of the stands.  Even that probably wouldn't help.  

Top 1st

Aaron Cook gets through the first unscathed.  It was difficult though, as Melvin Mora failed to turn yet another routine double play ball.  I mean this was tailor made for 4-6-3, he bobbled it, fell on his ass, and recovered to throw out Howard at first.  Cook struck out Werth to end it.

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Lineup Card: Doubleheader Game 1

Let's try this again!

Rockies Lineup

• CF Gonzalez
• LF Smith
• 2B Mora
• RF Hawpe
• 1B Helton
• 3B Stewart
• C  Olivo
• SS Barmes
• P   Cook

Nice to have Carlos Gonzalez.   Tulowitzki wisely ruled out because of the cold.  That makes me hopeful that all Rockies have stretched out probably in this weather.  

Phillies Lineup

• CF Victorino
• 3B Polanco
• 2B Utley
• 1B Howard
• RF Werth
• LF Ibanez
• C   Ruiz
• SS Valdez
• P  Halladay

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