Lineup Card: Rockies @ Cardinals 7-4-12

Monday's Recrap: Outman? More Like Out Of The Rotation.

Tuesday's Recap: Francis, Colvin Continue Carrying Rockies

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (31-49)

1. Dexter Fowler (CF)
2. Marco Scutaro (2B)
3. Carlos Gonzalez (LF)
4. Tyler Colvin (RF)
5. Todd Helton (1B)
6. Chris Nelson (3B)
7. Wil Nieves (C)
8. Jonathan Herrera (SS)
9. Jeremy Guthrie (P)

— Tyler Colvin is hitting cleanup for the time this season, which means he's now started at every spot in the order expect for 9th. I think we can rule that out now with interleague play over, but, then again, you know all about Dan O'Dowd and Jim Tracy's radical ideas.

— I would not have minded an outfield of Gonzalez, Fowler and Eric Young today for one reason: Defense doesn't matter with Jeremy Guthrie pitching. You just need guys who can run to the wall quickly.

— Josh Outman was optioned to Double-A Tulsa (according to Tracy Ringolsy) this afternoon. No word yet on if he shoulderblocked Tracy on his way out of the manager's office, but we do know Carlos Torres was recalled to take his spot.

 St. Louis Cardinals (42-39)

1. Rafael Furcal (SS)
2. Jon Jay (CF)
3. Matt Holliday (LF)
4. Carlos Beltran (RF)
5. Allen Craig (1B)
6. Yadier Molina (C)
7. David Freese (3B)
8. Skip Schumaker (2B)
9. Adam Wainwright (P)

More Rockies thoughts await you if you follow me on Twitter: @Townie813 & @HeavenHelton

Rock Solid Recap: Francis, Colvin Continue Carrying Rockies

Rockies 3, Cardinals 2 (boxscore)

Winning Player #1: Jeff Francis — 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 77 pitches (49 strikes)

Francis continues to pitch like a veteran that has reached the mountain top, hit rock bottom, and is hungry to make that long, exhausting climb back to where the view is best. He's really providing a huge boost to Dan O'Dowd pitching gimmick. In fact, he's completely unfazed by it.. and dare I say, it might actually suit him perfectly.

It's just unfortunate the Rockies don't have a real rotation and there are no healthy, productive arms around him right now, because this Jeff Francis as a 4th or 5th starter gives you a huge advantage over most of the National League in those slots.

Winning Player #2: Tyler Colvin

Dan O'Dowd did win one trade this offseason. He won it big. Tyler Colvin has been a wonderful addition so far, and his three-run homer on Tuesday was just the latest large contribution he's made.

I was cautiously optimistic when the O'Dowd acquired him over the Winter Meetings. My conclusion being: He'll need to hit to matter. Well, he's hitting (his .810 slugging percentage was the highest in baseball since June 9 entering Tuesday's game), and I'm flat out ecstatic he's a part of the organization now and should remain a big part of it for the foreseeable future.

Turning Point/Highlight of the Night

Watch Tyler Colvin's three-run jack

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Rock Solid Recrap: Outman? More Like Out Of The Rotation.

Cardinals 9, Rockies 3 (boxscore)

Josh Outman's Line: 3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 5 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 70 pitches (34 strikes)

Stick a fork in Outman, he's done as a starter in the Rockies paired pitching system.

In the 1st inning, Outman walked two and threw two wild pitches. That led to one run. In the 2nd, he walked the opposing pitcher, Kyle Lohse, after a 12-pitch plate appearance. In the 3rd, something reasonable actually happened - he allowed a solo home run to Matt Holliday.

And then he was done, because all of that took 70 pitches.

There's no way Jim Tracy could justify starting Outman again this weekend in Washington after this miserably inefficient, all-around dreadful performance.

Well, I take that back, there are ways Tracy could justify it in his OWN mind, we'd just all lose OUR minds trying to sort through the rambling explanation.

Anyway, the Rockies will have to figure out if they like Outman in the bullpen or if he needs mechanical (more like mental) tuneup at Colorado Springs. I'm guessing it'll be the former, but I'm not sure there's much to be gained from him throwing 3-4 innings at the beginning, to likely throwing 2-3 innings in the middle.

What. A. Mess.

Tyler Chatwood's Piggyback Line: 2 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 1 BB, 1 K, 63 pitches (30 strikes)

Two pitchers from the same team in the same game throwing at least 60 pitches, and neither can crack 50% on strikes thrown.

I bet that doesn't happen very often.

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Lineup Card: Rockies @ Cardinals 7-2-12

Sunday's Recrap: Kip Bleepin' Wells

Lineups 

Colorado Rockies (30-48)

1. Eric Young (CF)
2. Marco Scutaro (SS)
3. Carlos Gonzalez (LF)
4. Michael Cuddyer (1B)
5. Tyler Colvin (RF)
6. Jordan Pacheco (3B)
7. Chris Nelson (2B)
8. Wilin Rosario (C)
9. Josh Outman (P)

No Dexter Fowler tonight, because... well... we really don't know at this point. Probably just a Jim Tracy decision, but Troy Renck is looking into it anyway.

No Todd Helton tonight, either. That's easier to explain. He's struggling and Jim Tracy feels like Michael Cuddyer is emerging from his June swoon, so Cuddyer plays. Also, Tyler Colvin needs to keep playing.

Update: Troy Renck reports Dexter Fowler is sitting tonight with a sore left lat muscle and Todd Helton is nursing a sore hip. Please disregard my previous analysis. 

St. Louis Cardinals (41-38)

1. Rafael Furcal (SS)
2. Jon Jay (CF)
3. Matt Holliday (LF)
4. Carlos Beltran (RF)
5. Allen Craig (1B)
6. Yadier Molina (C)
7. David Freese (3B)
8. Daniel Descalso (2B)
9. Kyle Lohse (P)

More Rockies thoughts await you if you follow me on Twitter: @Townie813 & @HeavenHelton

Rock Solid Recrap: Kip Bleepin' Wells

Padres 2, Rockies 0 (boxscore)

What Went Wrong

Not a lot more needs to be said. 

Turning Point: The pitching was terrific. The offense was crap. That must mean the defense played a major role in the Rockies defeat on Sunday.

Of course they did. This time it was a total breakdown on the infield after a jam sandwich off the bat of Logan Forythe landed safely behind the mound, just out of the reach of Drew Pomeranz and Jordan Pacheco. Pacheco then scooped the ball and airmailed a throw over Jason Giambi's head for a two-base error. Chris Denorfia scored from second to give San Diego a 1-0 lead in the 3rd.

That was seriously all the Padres needed, but they added an insurance run in the 7th just to be safe.

Highlight of the Afternoon: There was ONE. It came via the arm of Dexter Fowler in that 3rd inning.

Watch Fowler complete the double play with an OF assist 

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