Lineup Card -- Rockies vs Red Sox

Rockies Lineup (37-33)

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

Red Sox Lineup (43-29)

• SS Scutaro
• 2B Pedroia
• C  Martinez
• 1B Ortiz
• 3B Beltre
• LF Nava
• RF Reddick
• CF McDonald
• P   Lackey

Simply stated... this will be Ubaldo's most difficult task so far this season.  

Read more »

Rock Solid Recap: A Step Towards Manhood

Rockies 2, Red Sox 1

Winning Player: Jhoulys Chacin

There are starts in the Major Leagues, and then there are starts in the Major Leagues against the Boston Red Sox (and their ace) in your home ballpark.

No problem, huh kid?

Seriously, to embrace that challenge, knowing your team's scoring opportunities will be limited, and knowing the reputation of the lineup you're facing, shows the makeup Chacin has. It's all there. It's all going to be on full display at some point real soon.

There are still some steps remaining for young Jhoulys Chacin to reach that level...

• Slowing the heartbeat a little bit when there's traffic  
• Getting comfortable in the stretch
• Repeating the same motion  
• Not overthinking a situation  
• Trusting his stuff

... but tonight was a large step in the right direction on many fronts. Tonight you could clearly see why the Rockies (and all scouts who have seen him) visualize him as a fixture in their rotation for years to come. Tonight was pretty damn special.

Speaking of special. A pretty special night for Chris Nelson.

Nelson made his first ML start at third base -- a position he hasn't seen much of throughout in baseball playing days -- and had an up and down game there. However, it was his first ML hit in the 5th inning that led directly to the Rockies first run.

Another First

Huston Street was in the building and active. Manny Corpas was in the building but not available after pitching four straight days (two very poorly).

Enter Matt Belisle.

It was shaky at times, but Belisle earned his first save since 2005 -- first as a Rockie. That opportunity was made possible by Rockies bullpen cornerstones, Rafael Betancourt and Joe Beimel, holding the Red Sox in check. It was also made possible by possibly the defensive play of the year for Colorado.

Clint ****ing Barmes! (Video Highlight)

I don't know how important this game will look in the standings for Colorado or Boston 3 1/2 months from now, but I do know I'll remember this game for four very specific reasons.

1. Jhoulys Chacin pitched a gem. 
2. Chris Nelson's first hit. 
3. The bad bounce single by Spilly. 
4. Clint Barmes robs Mike Lowell.

What a game.

Lineup Card Rockies vs Red Sox

I wrote a rebuttal (kind of) to Woody Paige's article that appeared in the Denver Post this morning.  Check that out over at Bugs & Cranks.

In other news... Welcome back Huston Street!

Rockies Lineup (36-33)

• 3B Herrera
• 1B Helton
• CF Gonzalez
• LF Spilborghs
• RF Hawpe
• C  Olivo
• 2B Barmes
• SS Nelson
• P   Chacin

Red Sox Lineup (43-28)

• SS Scutaro
• 2B Pedroia
• C  Martinez
• 1B Youkilis
• 3B Beltre
• RF Nava
• CF Cameron
• LF Reddick
• P   Lester

This is a far less intimidating lineup than the one we saw in the 2007 World Series.  That said, there's still fire power, especially in the middle.  Chacin will need to do a better job or trusting his pitches and commanding his pitches if he wants to stick around past 4-5 innings.  

Read more »

Updated Player Rankings 6-21-10

1. Ubaldo Jimenez
2. Jason Hammel
3. Miguel Olivo
4. Joe Beimel
5. Jeff Francis
6. Seth Smith
7. Manny Corpas 
8. Ryan Spilborghs 
9. Carlos Gonzalez
10. Rafael Betancourt
11. Clint Barmes
12. Todd Helton
13. Matt Belisle
14. Brad Hawpe
15. Jhoulys Chacin
16. Jonathan Herrera
17. Melvin Mora
18. Aaron Cook
19. Randy Flores
20. Juan Rincon
21. Chris Nelson
22. Ian Stewart
23. Chris Iannetta
24. Jason Giambi
25. Franklin Morales

No question about it, Ubaldo Jimenez is in a class all to himself.  Now Jason Hammel is behind him... in a class all to himself.  At least for now.  

Seth Smith jumps a few due to his recent heroics.

I couldn't drop Manny Corpas very far because the circumstances surrounding his "collapse" are being understated by Jim Tracy and the media.  He was set up to fail.

Clint Barmes gets a bump because I'm pleased with his defense at SS.  It's easy to lose sight of his overall value when there's a Troy Tulowitzki on the team and he's limited to 2B.

By the same token, Jonathan Herrera has come on pretty strong as he gets more comfortable with every day life in the big leagues.  His defense has been pretty consistent with the usual work from Barmes at 2B, and the bat seems to be coming around as well.  He's no Tulo, but he has value.  

Nelson and Rincon haven't done much, so it may not be fair to rank them above anyone, but the Fab 4 below them have disappointed and underperformed since Opening Day.  The Rockies came into this season relying on all four to be productive.  Their collective contribution of zilch is a big reason why the Rockies sit uncomfortably at three games over .500.  

A Trade Request To Dan O'Dowd

Mr. O'Dowd,

I'm not one to discuss or dream up trade rumors because I think it's a waste of time and energy for people with little knowledge of the inner-workings of trade talks to pretend like we have that knowledge.

This is just me pitching the name of a player out there that I like.

Jhonny Peralta -- IF -- Cleveland

He's 28.  By all accounts he has a reasonable contract.  Most importantly, the Indians sound willing to part company with him.

He's topped 20 HRs three times since 2005.  He averages roughly 80 RBI a season over that period of time.  He also plays two positions the Rockies currently need assistance at.

SS is his primary position.  He's no Troy Tulowitzki, very few are, but he could help the Rockies withstand the loss of Tulo for a number of weeks.

When that time passes, and maybe even before then, Peralta is a fine candidate to get ABs at 3B from Ian Stewart.  Let's face it, you need better production from the hot corner offensively.  A platoon there involving those two could maximize some production there.

What happens to Melvin Mora?

Well, we've seen he can play a little LF.  He could get ABs there, but the ultimate use for Mora is a platoon with Helton at 1B, while serving as a PH.  Jason Giambi would be the odd man out of this scenario.

I just wanted to throw Peralta's name out there.  Aaron Hill, Dan Uggla, Kelly Johnson, Craig Counsell are all names that intrigue me.  Names like Ryan Theriot, Cesar Izturis, Kaz Matsui, Julio Lugo and Adam Everett do not interest me.  In fact, I never want to hear those names linked to the Rockies again.

I like Peralta better than all of them.  Where he plays makes sense.  The money seems to make sense.  I don't know if they talent would match up, but you can always dangle Franklin Morales, right?

Thank you for reading, Mr O'Dowd.  I appreciate your time.

Mark R. Townsend
Heaven & Helton