Rock Solid Recap: Rockies Finally Investing In Insurance

Insurance runs? What the hell are those? That's foreign terminology to this Rockies team.

Rockies 6, Giants 3

Or at least it USED to be foreign.

The turnaround actually began in San Diego, but we've seen the Rockies offense really step up big the 8th inning these first two Giant games.

Each game was 4-3 at the time. Rockies extended it to 7-3 last night thanks largely to Miguel Olivo, and 6-3 tonight. That's huge not only for your confidence, but equally huge for crushing your opponent's hope.

I think the term most like to use is "killer instinct".  We're starting to see it.

Ian Stewart

Stewie had a 10-pitch AB as a pinch-hitter late in last night's game. That AB resulted in a popup, but I was encouraged. Stewart then built on that tonight with good ABs against Lincecum, and another extended AB against a lefty. This time it was the veteran Jeremy Affeldt, and this time it resulted in a leadoff walk.

That leadoff walk set off the crucial 8th inning. I'd even call it a game changing AB with how the inning played out.

Clint Barmes

Sizzling hot.

A two-run bomb off Tim Lincecum in the 2nd. Then he kept the 8th inning going with a single through the left side. I don't know how long he can keep this up, but let's just enjoy this ride while it lasts. The defense will never falter, so he'll always be contributing one way or another.

He didn't do too bad in the marriage depeartment either. Hey, she's cute. She may struggle a little when the red light is on, but how many of us would do any better? At least she's willing to go on TV. Where are the other Rockies wives when it comes to making TV appearances?

Dexter Fowler

When Aaron Cook failed to get the bunt down all the pressure completely shifted to Dexter. He needed to have a quality AB to save the inning, and the kid came through. He honestly seemed unphased by the situation and very comfortable up there, which is something we didn't see at all for two months.

He battled Affeldt tooth and nail before delivering the knockout blow -- an RBI double into left field. He also pulled a triple into the corner off Lincecum. His patience is improved times ten. This version of Dexter Fowler is the one that will have a long, long ML career.

Jonathan Herrera

The pain in the ass came through with a two strike sacrifice fly against Lincecum. He then came back in the 8th and executes a PERFECT suicide squeeze.

Baseball player.

No fanfare. No hype. No nothing coming in. That's why big stats and size are so overvalued when enaluating a player's true worth. This kid just plays winning baseball.

Jhoulys Chacin

Whether it be Ryan Zimmerman or Aubrey Huff, Chacin always seems to have that one guy in the lineup that hurts him. Hey, one guy is better than nine, right?

He's progressing well from a pitching standpoint and also flashed some athleticism starting a 1-6-3 DP. Special things are right around the corner. Hopefully all of them take place in the big leagues as a Rockie.

Huston Street

Very impressed how he's quickly settled back into being Huston Street. I honestly expected some bumps in the road right off the bat, especially after Huston struggled a couple times in AAA, but he's cleaning everything up. He's as sharp as you need him to be.

Nate Schierholtz

The only big negative tonight... Rockies need to learn quickly that this guy has a cannon and it's accurate. Stop running on him! The extra base isn't there.

Tomorrow

Ubaldo Jimenez vs. Barry Zito

Hey, let's crush these Giants while the crushing is good.  They desperately need a confidence boost.  A win over Jimenez would surely qualify as that, and would likely turn them around completely.  It's important to not allow that to happen.  Big game.

Lineup Card: Rockies vs Giants

Rockies Lineup (42-37)

• CF Fowler
• 2B Herrera
• RF Gonzalez
• 1B Giambi
• LF Smith
• C   Olivo
• 3B Stewart
• 2B Barmes
• P   Chacin

Hawpe is still in recovery mode from the bruised ribs.  I don't think we'll see a DL stint at this point but less playing time between now and the all-star seems very likely.

Giants Lineup (40-38)

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

Torres can carry some ground with his speed but it'll be a chore for him to cut off the gaps with Burrell and Huff joining him.  Hopefully the Rockies can take advantage of that by peppering the gaps and especially attacking Burrell in LF.  He's still not quite sure how to work that glove on his hand.  

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Rock Solid Recap: A Solid Baseball Win

No need for overreactions today.

Rockies 7, Giants 3

We haven't seen a whole lot of these. You know, a game the Rockies play and execute well for the entire nine innings. An enitrely stress free ballgame that you never once doubted the Rockies would win. I think I can count maybe 5-6 of those at best -- and of course those were all Jimenez starts.

Bottom Line: I think we need to really savor this one!

Aaron Cook

As any good veteran should, Cook is flat out refusing to relinquish his spot in the rotation. I don't know how much trouble it was ever honestly in, but he's not losing it. Not with performances like we're seeing lately.

And the best news? I think there's still plenty room for improvement. His command is still getting away from him at times, but I slowly see him getting a handle on it (1 walk). When he is getting hit -- aside from the Matsui grand slam (bad pitch) and near Aaron Roward grand slam (bad pitch) -- it's choppers through the infield and seeing eye singles.

That's much more Cookmanlike.

This upcoming decision for Jim Tracy, Dan O'Dowd and many others will be excruciating. Chacin is the heavy favorite to be optioned, clearly, but I think of the established guys, Cook is looking more secure than Francis is right now. That's not to say Francis stinks... it's just the hitting the wall around 85-90 pitches every start.

But again, all the established guys are going to be safe upon DLR's returns, unless something significant occurs in the next week.

CarGo

Is it too soon to call Carlos Gonzalez is the best position player not named Todd Helton to wear a Rockies uniform?

A little too soon?

Alright, I'll just wait until the very second it's not too soon to say it. That home run was another bomb left on left. There just aren't a lot of guys who can swing it that powerfully left on left. It's beautiful.  It's special.  He should never leave the 3-hole until 2020.

Olivo

The life of a catcher. Miguel took another pounding tonight.

A foul tip off the cage. A foul tip off the sensitive spot. Had a strikeout go through the five-hole on him. He also had another rough slide at third, and a near collision at the plate right after that.

This forthcoming all-star selection is going to make all those ache and pains feel a whole lot better.

Melvin Mora

Is a big league third baseman. It's fortunate he couldn't materialize in the super utility role the Rockies envisioned, but that was actually a pretty poor vision. Maybe if he was 28 he could learn to play these positions, but not 38. The old saying is quite true here...

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Madison Bumgarner

Looks like a baseball player. He's a great athlete. The pitching will continue to develop as he gets used to the ML surroundings, but the makeup is clearly there.The Giants likely have themselves another gem to put in their already stacked rotation.

Damn them.

And Buster Posey ain't half bad either.

Tomorrow

Jhoulys Chacin vs. Tim Lincecum.

There's no doubt where I'll be when the first pitch is thrown out. Should be a good one.

Lineup Card -- Rockies vs Giants

Rockies Lineup (41-37)

• CF Fowler
• 1B Helton
• RF Gonzalez
• 3B Mora
• LF Spilborghs
• C  Olivo
• SS Barmes
• 2B Herrera
• P   Cook

Giants Lineup (40-37)

• CF Roward
• SS Renteria
• 1B Huff
• LF Burrell
• 3B Sandoval
• 2B Uribe
• C   Posey
• RF Schierhotlz
• P   Bumgarner

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I'm Pulling For Morales

I really am!

I hope you will as well.

He's off the big league roster. He can't kill the Rockies playoff hopes anymore. We have to put that anger and frustation behind us or channel it to be something more positive.

Rockies fans... He's still one of our guys. He's still a part of the Rockies organization. Quite honestly, he's still a BIG part of the organization.

True, he may never throw another meaningful pitch for the Rockies in his career, but the bottom line on Franklin remains that he's left-handed, he can throw hard, and he has the type of big league stuff every GM will salivate over. He just needs to figure out how to put it all together on a consistent basis.

We need that to happen while he's still under our umbrella. Or we at least need him to show signs of it so that if/when the Rockies decide to cut bait, there may be a decent return (prospect) on their investment.

I encourage our fans at Colorado Springs to not boo Morales when he walks a batter or throws a wild pitch. I know, I know, you pay your money, you can do what you want. That's fine. But just understand the bigger picture here involves not only rehabing Franklin's pitching mechanics, but also rehabing him mentally.

Hearing boos every time he makes mistake won't help in either process.

I can't force anyone else to join me on this, but there's really no reason not to. Let's give the kid a little support and give him the best possible chance to grow up and become the man/pitcher we all hoped he'd become.