via www.selmanc.info

Celebrate the most amazing comeback in Rockies' history.

Just got this text message from Silverblood: "Holy. Hell." About the best way to sum up the game.

Let's win this one in regulation innings. Olsen's allowed 21 hits and 15 runs over 13 2/3 IP in his career against the Rockies.

Go Rockies!

via media.rockymountainnews.com

Nothing like celebrating a win with some fireworks afterward. What did last night's game mean to the players? Let's look at their own words:

"This is something to build on," Herges said. "This is a big win. We came back twice. I hate talking about last year, but that's what we did last year. We picked each other up. That's the kind of game we won all the time last year, and it's what we can do."

"If there's ever such a thing as a spark, this should be it," Spilborghs said.

Maybe they declared their independence from bad baseball last night.

Clint Hurdle says Jeff Baker will receive more playing time at first base in order to have Helton's lower back heal. Also in the article, Matt Holliday wants to participate in the Home Run Derby if he's asked to, and, as we first learned a few weeks ago, the Rockies have a better chance at signing Andy Burns now that Kentucky's coaching staff is in a period of transition.

Time for more fireworks tonight. Certainly after the game, but let's see some more out of the Rockies' bats.

Enjoy your Fourth of July!

Colorado Springs, W 5-3 - The Sky Sox scored all five runs in the fifth inning. Cory Sullivan drove one run in on a ground out; Jayson Nix hit a two-run homer (14); Ian Stewart singled and Seth Smith scored on that play after an error; and Edwin Bellorin doubled in Stewart.

Franklin Morales allowed only two runs (on a homer) over 6 2/3 innings, walked four, and struck out four. Ryan Speier allowed the other run on the way to his second save.

Tulsa, W 8-1 - Brandon Hynick went eight innings, allowed one run on five hits, walked two, and struck out one. He also drove in a run. Jeff Kindel went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Daniel Carte drove in two runs, and Dexter Fowler collected two hits and an RBI.

Modesto, W 5-2 - Aneury Rodriguez threw eight shutout innings last night for the Nuts. He allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out six. David Patton allowed two runs on four hits.

Jay Cox led the offense last night with a double and a homer to drive in two runs. Daniel Mayora and Mike Paulk drove in the other runs. Anthony Jackson stole his 21st base.

Asheville, W 4-3 - Despite allowing two runs in the top of the ninth, Randall Taylor saved his 24th game. Connor Graham started the game, went seven innings, and allowed one run on three hits and four walks. He struck out five.

Darin Holcomb drove in two runs on his 11th homer to reach base for the 30th consecutive game, and Brian Rike drove in a run. Everth Cabrera and Kevin Clark each walked twice, the former scoring once and the latter twice. Cabrera stole his 52nd base. Jeff Cunningham had three hits.

Tri-City, L 5-12 - Juan Nicasio was knocked around for seven runs in 2 2/3 innings, all scored in the third. Five runs of them scored on three consecutive singles. Andy Groves allowed four runs over the next three outs.

Charlie Blackmon had a two-run triple in the fifth and drove in a total of three runs. Johnny Bowden had a double and an RBI. Thomas Field went 2-for-2 with two walks.

I received some photos from someone who attended Wednesday's Tri-City game. You can check them out by clicking on the link at the bottom of this post.

Christian Friedrich should make his debut on Wednesday. It also mentions that Hector Gomez had TJ surgery earlier in the week.

Casper, W 5-2 - Wilin Rosario had two doubles, one of which drove in two runs in the fifth. A run scored earlier that inning on an error. In the top of the ninth, back-to-back wild pitches scored two more runs. James Sims went 2-for-2 with two doubles, two runs scored, and two walks. He also stole his second base.

Dan Houston struck out eight  and allowed one run on his way to a three-hit, six-inning performance. Isaiah Froneberger struck out three, as did Kurt Yacko in the bottom of the ninth.

Continue reading this post »

Let's hope that Redman's return from exile in the land of AAA goes as smoothly in 2008 as it did in 2007, and that there aren't any reminders of why he was exiled in the first place.

Go Rockies!

Yesterday's win over the Padres was an audition in front of opposing team's scouts for several players, not just the Rockies. So the beatdown of Randy Wolf winds up as a double win for the Rox, as those scouts couldn't have come away impressed by what they saw. We humiliate the Padres now, and weaken them in the future. How great is that?

Of course, we had our own showroom of luxurious players on display for only the most discerning of buyers. Dave Krieger gives some odds that we find such discernment for players like Brian Fuentes, Garrett Atkins and of course, the masterpiece of our collection, Matt Holliday.

Speaking of whom, according to Ken Rosenthal, the Angels would want us to give them our best player, but also would want us to take a big mistake off their hands. Yes, that makes perfect sense. Gary Matthews Junior is just what we want to replace Matt Holliday. Obviously La Anaheim would need to considerably juice such a deal with wheelbarrels full of cash, wheelbarrels full of prospects and probably wheelbarrels full of In'N'Out burgers to make it work and a case of beer. I don't think those kinds of trades ever come to fruition.

Not mentioned by Krieger, but suddenly available is one Yorvit Torrealba, who has become disaffected by the Rockies decision to start a catcher that produces more than once or twice a week. Since there were scouts in the stands last night, it's probably good that yesterday was one of those times. The Marlins have been looking at the Nationals Paul Lo Duca, but apparently are no longer interested in Yorvit. Otherwise, the buyers in the catching market look absent right now, but I wouldn't expect it remain that way. At the very least, the Rockies should be able to move him this winter. Renck also responds to the Rosenthal report on the Angels interest in Holliday by adding the fact that Matthews has a no trade clause. Matthews would likely waive the clause for a deal to get into a situation where he plays more, but the fact that it would carry over with him to his new club severely limits his value.

St Louis should be added to the list of clubs interested in Brian Fuentes, and suddenly while reading the report I got all hot and bothered:

"Certainly the Rockies are fishing for prospects and names such as (OF Colby) Rasmus, (C Bryan) Anderson and (LHP Jaime) Garcia will be thrown around. John Mozeliak insists he is not going to trade Rasmus. I believe it, but no GM would publicly make available his top prospect since it would only erode leverage.

Nice as it is to think, very nice in fact, that Rasmus for Fuentes may be possible (and this from a St. Louis source, no less) I wouldn't bet the ranch on it. Those other two names he mentions are considerable themselves. The Fuentes derby is looking very likely to net the Rockies something crazy good.

Colorado Springs: W 9-2

Ian Stewart, Seth Smith and Jayson Nix all homered and had a pair of hits for the Sky Sox to help drive some uncharacteristic high scoring at Tacoma. Sean Smith pitched six and two thirds, allowing two runs to pick up the win. Would he be a better option than Mark Redman? I'd say probably not, while Smith has an advantage in run prevention, he's done it by avoiding good hitters, which won't be as effective a strategy with the quality of the MLB. While this is exactly the strategy that Redman depoys, Mark's got the added advantages of experience and his left arm. Still the differences between the two might not amount to much. Since Redman isn't likely to factor into the team's 2009 plans, but Smith most likely is, the decision to call up Redman to replace Francis might be lacking foresight. Since 2008 is pretty much a total wash out, I'd rather the team spend its efforts on prepping for 2009, including giving guys like Smith some needed big league experience when the opportunity arises.

Instead, the Rockies moves seem to have a lot to do with replacing one defective part with the part that's most similar to that part. Never mind that because of the similarities the parts may well be defective in exactly the same way. Of course, going to a Cook, Jimenez, JDLR, Reynolds, Smith rotation for a few weeks would be a PR hit (Cook and the uncooked?) but let's face it, replacing Smith with Redman in that five doesn't make it look any prettier.

Tulsa: Off

Modesto: W 5-3

Andrew Johnston had such a horrendous year in 2007 that I've probably been subconciously avoiding talking about his 2008, but it's hard not to notice the 0.83 ERA and the seventeen saves and the 65% GB rate which has allowed him to post one of the lowest H/9 rates in the California League despite a defense that doesn't have the best range behind him. I think I'm okay allowing him back into my prospect radar right now.

Keith Weiser started the game that Johnston saved, and started it well, pitching seven innings while allowing just five hits and a walk. Matt Repec hit a three run homer as part of a four run fourth, and a Victor Ferrante triple in the ninth plated the last run for the Nuts.

Asheville: Off

Tri-City: W 13-0

Despite a .226 average, 24th round pick Thomas Field had the second best OBP on the team heading into yesterday's game, but perhaps somewhat surprisingly he also was the team's second best RBI producer. That meant that either he had been remarkable clutch or was really good at drawing the bases loaded walk. If you've been watching the box scores you'll know it's more of that first category, and as if to emphasize the point he came through with six more RBI yesterday, including two off a first inning, two out double and three more off a bases loaded double in the fourth. With 14 RBI on the season now, he's no longer the Dust Devils second best in that category.

In his two prior appearances in relief, Brad McAtee was probably not as good as his sparkilng ERA would have you believe, but he was just as good yesterday as the five scoreless innings, four hits (all singles), one walk, three strikeout appearance looks. Jeffrey Murphy, on the other hand, has probably been better than his 4.26 ERA, yesterday he pitched three scoreless in relief, also struck out three and allowed just one hit. In all, opposing batters are hitting just .095 off of him this season.

Casper: L 4-12

Matt Baugh handed Casper's bullpen a 4-2 lead, and Chad Rose and Eric Schaler took a hammer to it. Rose had his initiation to what sort of pain can be inflicted on pitchers in the Pioneer League if they make too many mistakes, giving up six in the seventh inning. Schaler, who's no virgin to that pain, gave up four more in the eighth. The shell shocked Ghosts offense didn't recover. Nick Valdez hit his second homerun as part of a two hit day.