Lineup Card: Rockies vs Brewers

Should be a fun night tonight at Coors Field regardless of how well or poorly the Rockies play.

It's Mustache Night.

The visuals that should provide could indeed be priceless... and timeless.

Rockies Lineup (59-55)

1. LF  Smith
2. 1B  Helton
3. CF  Gonzalez
4. SS  Tulowitzki
5. RF  Hawpe
6. 3B  Stewart
7. C    Olivo
8. 2B   Barmes
9. P     De La Rosa

Brewers Lineup (54-62)

1. 2B  Weeks
2. RF  Hart
3. 1B  Fielder
4. LF  Braun
5. 3B  McGehee
6. CF  Cain
7. SS  Escobar
8. C    Lucroy
9. P    Gallardo

Lucroy was a pain in the ass last night the Brewers visited.  And how about Casey McGehee?  He enters the game with a hit in his last 9 at-bats.  Hopefully that means he's ready to cool way off.  

Jim Tracy Should Read This

This being the tweet posted directly below. Everything that follows is just me rambling again.

@closernews Mariano Rivera was unavailable after pitching in the last two and in four of the last five. David Robertson gets one out and the save.

Mariano Rivera has yet to throw on three consecutive days this season.

Yes, even the great Mariano Rivera needs days off, and Joe Girardi gives them to him.

I'm sure Joe is reluctant to do so, because that Yankees bullpen is far from deep or stable even Kerry Wood added to the mix.  Yet Girardi always sticks to his guns and leaves Rivera seated on the third day.

Of course that philosophy could change at some point in September if for some reason the Yankees are in a desperate situation (I don't see that happening), but even then, having refrained from doing earlier in the season should have Rivera as close to full strength as a pitcher can be that time of year.

Now...

Who remembers the last time Milwaukee came to town? Remember what happened with Manny Corpas (closer at the time) when Jim Tracy ran him out there four days (not games - days) in a row and all three games in the Milwaukee series?

The first two were scoreless innings. Game 3 was a near disaster. Game 4 was a complete disaster.

Manny went on to be awful for about three weeks straight.

Huston Street was successful over a four day period back in July, allowing only one run while collecting a win and three saves. However, the last time Huston was asked to go three in row, the third day resulted in possibly the most devastating loss of the season... in Pittsburgh.

Just saying.

Also just saying... Last season when Tracy ridiculously used Street four days in a row -- seven of out nine overall -- in late August, Street disappeared for three weeks in September with biceps soreness.

Street would return but struggle mightily in the NLDS. He then started this season with shoulder soreness and missed three months.

The only exception to the rule so far is Matt Belisle. He has been pushed the limit on several occasions this season, but amazingly hasn't lost his effectiveness or feeling in his arm.

Knock on wood.

Bottom line...

To me this is bigger than a win or loss issue (which is big enough on its own), it's really a common sense issue. You can't keep running guys into the ground, even if they say they can handle the load, when the risks and affects -- short-term and long-term -- are plainly obvious.

Rock Solid Recrap: Lethargic State Of Mind

I was hoping for something a little closer to urgent... or conscious.

I try to avoid placing extra emphasis on any single game at this point of the season, but I really thought today's game presented a golden opportunity to turn a corner on the road, steal a win, a series, establish some confidence.

Perhaps even lay a foundation to build off of the next time they leave Coors Field.

Mets 4, Rockies 0

Those things didn't happen.

I'm really disappointed by that. Not just the result, but the entire nine inning package. It just wasn't good enough.

Yes, I get that Johan Santana was on his game today. I don't mean to take any credit away from him. But pardon me if I don't question a little bit if the Rockies inconsistent and too often lifeless offense had more to do with it than Santana. He may have just been in the right place at the right time.

Yes, I understand the Rockies battled hard last night to come back and win. That was great. I really appreciated and admired that effort. My recap should have driven that point home.

It's just... this team has put itself in a position where they have to battle everyday. Winning every other day in Pittsburgh and New York wouldn't be good enough under any circumstances. It's especially not good enough now, when every loss makes reaching your goals and potential more and more unlikely.

I'm not pulling the plug on this team. I'm just continually frustrated by what I perceive as a lack of urgency. That a switch can be flipped on and everything will be okay. That's my perception of this team's attitude. Wrong or right as it may be, that's where I stand.

These Rockies are absolutely talented enough to win a ton of games in a row, but it makes me extremely uncomfortable how comfortable they are allowing it to get to that point.

Hat tip

Jason Hammel started slow (2 in the 1st) and finished tired (2 in the 7th), but everything in between was really good. So I guess that qualifies Hammel as the Rockies player of the game.

Question

Don't you wish Don Baylor was K-Rod's father-in-law? Just wondering.

Tomorrow

Is Friday the 13th... Mustache Night at Coors Field... and my birthday. I'm equally excited about all three.

Oh... and there will be a baseball game as well. Jorge De La Rosa vs Yovani Gallardo.

That's a really tasty matchup if you love good pitching.

Lineup Card: Rockies @ Mets

If there was ever a perfect day to steal a road win, a road series win, and a winning road trip, today would be the day.  

The Mets are a complete mess.  David Wright is a bigger mess (and out of the lineup). Their bullpen imploded last night.  Their manager is under fire.  Their closer was arrested for decking his father-in-law in the clubhouse after the game.  

Mhm.  

Good day for the Rockies to go about their business. play a solid game, and fly home feeling good.  

Rockies Lineup (59-54)

1. CF  Fowler
2. RF  Spilborghs
3. LF  Gonzalez
4. SS  Tulowitzki
5. 1B  Mora
6. C    Olivo
7. 3B  Stewart
8. 2B  Barmes
9. P    Hammel

Mets Lineup (56-57)

1. SS  Reyes
2. RF  Martinez
3. LF  Pagan
4. 1B  Davis
5. CF  Beltran
6. 3B  Hessman
7. C   Thole
8. 2B  Tejada
9. P    Santana

Rock Solid Recap: Survival Instincts Kick In

For the first six innings I thought I would be writing the exact same recap I wrote last night, only fill in Jeff Francis' name where Ubaldo's was, because truth be told, the Rockies looked like a dead ass offensive team for that period of time.

Thankfully it never came to that. Now I can provide you with completely fresh nonsense insight and wisdom.

Rockies 6, Mets 2

The Rockies were a different team when they came to bat in the 7th. Or maybe Jon Niese just hit a wall. Whatever the case, the Rockies looked liked a team that realized this particular game was pretty significant.

The 7th started with singles by Troy Tulowitzki and Melvin Mora. Spilborghs moved the runners to 2nd & 3rd with a chopper to David Wright. Chris Iannetta followed with one of the key ABs of the game. It was a 9-pitch AB that began 0-2, was eventually worked to 3-2 after spoiling some tough pitches, and concluded with a sac fly to dead CF.

Great AB. That would be all the Rockies would get that frame, but it was something.  All this team needed at that point was something, anything to build on.

The 8th began with a Seth Smith strikeout and a solid Dexter Fowler AB where he just missed a double, but eventually grounded out.

Survival Mode: On

And these are the guys you're paying to do exactly what they do right here.

• Todd Helton: 2-out, 2-strike single to right. That's why he's Todd Helton.
• Carlos Gonzalez: Now here's the AB I really thought was exceptional. Gonzalez -- who rarely walks, has a tendency to press at times in these spots -- works a walk. Very solid approach.
• Troy Tulowitzki: After a wild pitch is intentionally walked. Respect.

Melvin Mora

Wins you a baseball game with one swing. (Highlight)

I wish the highlight showed the entire AB, because that's how a professional hitter handles his business. He just wanted to extend the AB long enough to get that one pitch he could drive. There was no guarantee he would do anything with the pitch if he got it, but the key was to stay alive to get a pitch where he wanted it.

He got it.

He didn't miss it.

A walk and two singles later, the Rockies would have a 5 run inning and would ride Betancourt and Street to the 6-2 victory.

Matt Belisle got a well deserved victory after striking out the side in the 7th. Jeff Francis deserved his name in the win column as well, but you know what? Who cares, as long as it's a Rockies name in the W column. We all know Jeff did his job.

Tomorrow

Jason Hammel vs. Johan Santana

I think we can look forward to some more Melvin Mora ABs and an appearance by Jason Giambi.

Also... Hammel needs to be good here.  Really good.