The Coors Field Cesspool

And the umps just stood and watched as the game continued for several innings in a complete cesspool of mud and slop. Both teams have to be a little angry the game continued, but even more thankful they didn't lose a player to injury in those conditions.

A Waterlogged and Muddy Recrap

This was not as ugly as the score indicates, but was every bit as ugly as this picture of the field indicates.

Nationals 14, Rockies 6

The Rockies played fairly well tonight for seven innings, The Nationals just played a little better.

So many losses have been frustratiing because it felt like the Rockies gave it away. This wasn't one of those. The Nationals just came in and took it. Everytime the Rockies battled back, which was often, the Nationals distanced themselves some more.  A sign of a solid baseball team.

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Running Thoughts: Chacin vs. Lannan

Colorado Rockies (16-17) vs Washington Nationals (19-15)
Coors Field
First Pitch: 7:18 (38 minute rain delay)
Attendance:
Lineup Card (Tonight's lineups)
Couch Time

Tarp is off the field.  Baseball in mere moments.

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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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