Rock Solid Recap: Maligned Rockies Come Up Big

If Baseball is a game of what have you done for me lately, then three of the Rockies biggest targets for criticism have taken the elevator from outhouse to penthouse in San Francisco.

I'm fully aware outhouses don't have elevators but just go with me here. It's late.

Rockies 2, Giants 1 (11)

Winning Player: Clint Barmes

Aside from Franklin Morales, no Rockie has taken more flack than Clint. Granted, some of it has been warranted, but the majority of it has been complete nonsense and/or a fabrication based on useless statisitcal analysis. .

Whatever the case, I think almost all of that criticism -- warranted and nonsense -- is going to die down for the next few weeks. He's earned a break.

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Lineup Card: Rockies vs Giants

Jason Hammel on the mound tonight for Colorado.  It's pretty obvious what he needs to do...

Avoid the disaster inning.

Especially in San Francisco, and especially against Barry Zito.  One bad inning against him... lights out.

Rockies Lineup (27-24)

• CF Gonzalez
• LF Spilborghs
• 1B Helton
• SS Tulowitzki
• RF Hawpe
• C   Olivo
• 3B Mora
• 2B Barmes
• P   Hammel

Good time for a day off for Ian Stewart.  Rockies will now have three big left-handed bats on the bench in case they run into Brian Wilson late in the night.  

Giants Lineup (27-23)

• RF Torres
• 2B Sanchez
• 3B Sandoval
• LF Huff
• SS Uribe
• 1B Posey
• C  Molina
• CF Rowand
• P   Zito

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Rock Solid Recap: He's Real, And He's Spectacular

If you weren't sure, that's only because you hadn't seen him pitch yet.

Now that you have, you're sure.

Rockies 4, Giants 0

Winning Player: Ubaldo Jimenez

I don't know what I can tell you that isn't already obvious.

I could rattle off the amazing numbers, but you've already seen those a 100 times.

I could tell you he throws hard, his ball moves, and he gets stronger as the game moves along. I think you can all see that for yourself

I'll just settle for telling you it's a special thing we're witnessing. A special thing that not only Rockies fans are invested in, but after today, baseball fans from all over the world will be invested Ubaldo Jimenez.

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Lineup Card: Ubaldo vs. Lincecum

On this Memorial Day, we cannot thank those who have served and sacrificed for our country enough.

Thank you for fighting for us.

Thank you for giving us the freedom to travel and spend time with our loved ones.

Thank you for giving baseball nerds like myself the opportunity to sit here and write about the game I've grown up loving, and for giving all of us the freedom to sit back and watch two of the most talented pitchers in our lifetime pitch in one of the most beautiful ballparks in the world.

Rockies Lineup (26-24)

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

Giants Lineup (27-22)

• LF Torres
• 2B Sanchez
• 3B Sandoval
• RF Huff
• SS Uribe
• 1B Posey
• C   Molina
• CF Rowand
• P   Lincecum

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Fowler Demotion A Sound Decision

Troy Renck broke the news late last night.

Judging from the reaction I've heard and read everyone understands and is on board with this decision. I'm on board with all of you.  It makes nothing but sense and is, in fact, a bit overdue.

Fowler needs that extra bit of seasoning he missed out on by coming straight from AA in 2009.  He was able to get by on raw ability for most of his solid rookie season, but we all know how scouting works in MLB.  They found the hole in Fowler's left-handed swing.  He hasn't adjusted.  His numbers are down and his confidence is down with it.

Some are suggesting Fowler scrap switch-hitting altogether.  I wouldn't be opposed to that.  There's no doubt his right-handed swing is ML ready (His defense and speed also already measure up to that of a quality big leaguer), so all he'd need at AAA are a few right-handed ABs against some right-handed pitchers.

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