Rock Solid Recap: Mixed results for White in ugly Rockies victory

With three exceptions...

1. Carlos Gonzalez's ridiculous catch (Watch) 

2. Seth Smith's 478-foot home run (Watch)

3. Jonathan Herrera's game-winning two-run home run (Watch)

... every other piece of footage from this game should be doused in gasoline and burned.

Rockies 8, Astros 6 (boxscore)

The Colorado Rockies did not play good baseball. In fact, they were pretty horrible. The infield defense suffered from several lapses. The baserunning was atrocious... again. It just wasn't something you'd show to a group of little leaguers hoping to learn the basic fundamentals of baseball.

And then you have the Houston Astros, who could probably learn things by watching little leaguers on tape. Heck, maybe that's where manager Brad Mills got the idea to move relief pitcher Wesley Wright to right field for one batter and then back to the pitcher's mound. Hey, it worked. Give him that much.

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Lineup Card: 8-23-11 Rockies vs Astros

The Rockies have been awarded a waiver claim on Houston Astros left-hander Wandy Rodriguez. That means the Rockies have 48 hours from the time the waiver was awarded to work out a trade with Houston, or the Astros can just hand him to the Rockies and make them pay his entire contract. 

I honestly don't see either happening at this point. The Rockies are unlikely to want to part with what Houston needs, and Houston is unlikely to lower their asking price just for a salary dump. Plus they can move him in the offseason when the demand will likely be higher.

It's an interesting move for the Rockies to try to make, but this will likely become a non-story quickly.

Links

• Yesterday's Recap: The Astros are really bad
• Denver Post: Rockies acquire Kevin Kouzmanoff

Colorado Rockies (61-68) 

1. CF Dexter Fowler
2. 3B Chris Nelson
3. RF Carlos Gonzalez
4. SS Troy Tulowitzki
5. 1B Todd Helton
6. LF Seth Smith
7. C  Chris Iannetta (he's hitting higher than 8th!)
8. 2B Jonathan Herrera
9. P   Alex White

Houston Astros (42-86)

1. CF Jordan Schafer
2. 2B Jose Altuve
3. LF J.D. Martinez
4. 1B Carlos Lee
5. RF Brian Bogusevic
6. 3B Jimmy Paredes
7. SS Clint Barmes
8. C   Humberto Quintero
9. P   Bud Norris

Rock Solid Recap: The Astros are really bad

I had a feeling this homestand with the Marlins, Dodgers and Astros would have people believing again. Just based on what I've read on Twitter, people are indeed buying in, although cautiously.

Hey, I don't blame you. It's been a rough summer. Any glimmer of hope is welcomed here.

Of course this homestand will end after two more games, and then the Rockies will go on the road for nine division road games. But hey, they've taken care of business at home, which is also welcomed. Now if they can actually gain a little ground on that trip while climbing closer to .500, then you might be on to something.

It doesn't hurt that the teams they're chasing are the definition of bleh. But then again, the Rockies fit that description as well. With less pitching.

Rockies 9, Astros 5 (boxscore)

This one was over early. The offense came out firing against Brett Myers, plating six runs on six hits in the first. The inning included a number of quality plate appearances, beginning with Eric Young's leadoff walk, and concluding with yes, a two-run double from Jhoulys Chacin.

Watch Chacin smack a double

In between Dexter Fowler doubled, Carlos Gonzalez doubled in two, Todd Helton singled home CarGo, Ty Wigginton doubled, and then Mark Ellis got Todd home with an infield single. Terrific inning.

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Lineup Card: 8-22-11 Rockies vs Astros

The Rockies open the biggest series of the season tonight...

Alright, I'm lying. But it is a pretty big series for Houston... as they look to avoid elimination from the playoff race... in August.

Links

• Yesterday's Recap: Rare positive baseball thoughts on a Sunday
• Purple Row: Why you should keep watching the 2011 Rockies
• Rockies Woman: A Sunday Win! A Day Game Win! A Series Win!

Colorado Rockies (60-68)

1. LF Eric Young
2. CF Dexter Fowler
3. RF Carlos Gonzalez
4. SS Troy Tulowitzki
5. 1B Todd Helton
6. 3B Ty Wigginton
7. 2B Mark Ellis
8. C   Chris Iannetta
9. P    Jhoulys Chacin

Chacin has pitched down the competition at times this season. I don't know that that's possible though against these Astros.

Houston Astros (42-85)

1. CF Jordan Schafer
2. 2B Jose Altuve
3. LF J.D. Martinez
4. 1B Carlos Lee
5. RF Brian Bogusevic
6. 3B Jimmy Paredes
7. SS Clint Barmes
8. C   Humberto Quintero
9. P   Brett Myers

This is Astros lineup is a who's who of who the hell is that guy? I can tell you this... Altuve is fast. Bogusevic is pretty strong. And that's about it. Maybe I can tell you more after the game. 

Rock Solid Recap: Rare positive baseball thoughts on a Sunday

You might want to bookmark this post, it could be a collector's edition.

For the first since April 17., the Colorado Rockies have won a Sunday baseball game!

It's true! I watched it with my own eyes.

Rockies 5, Dodgers 3 (boxscore)

Yes, they won it, but it certainly wasn't easy. The Rockies offense did a typical Sunday disappearing act from the 2nd-6th innings. In fact, the offense as a whole only collected three hits in the game. That's an on-going problem that we've dissected and thrown up in our collective shoes thinking about for five months. But at least on this day they made their hits count.

Two of them were home runs.

Carlos Gonzalez hit a two-run blast in the first to start the game's scoring. (Watch)

Seth Smith then connected for a titantic 458-foot go-ahead home run in the seventh. Smith's ball landed in the second deck in right center field, above the bullpen. Not unusual to see second deck shots to straightaway right, but that's quite a poke to where Smith hit it. (Watch)

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