How ugly was last night's third inning? Was it as ugly as a velvet Elvis painting, as Patrick Saunders believes?

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Actually, isn't it possible that Cook saw a velvet Elvis painting in the stands, causing him to commit the error in the third inning?

At least Cook's taking responsibility: "I knew I was going to have to try to battle through it and try to get the ball down," Cook said. "I just didn't execute." There were far too many line drives off Cook last night, and look at the results. 

If you want to know what the Rockies were handed last night, don't ask Clint Hurdle:

"We got handed something (Monday night)," Hurdle said. "We need to get a good night's sleep in our own beds and come back out (tonight) and bounce back."

Handed a loss? A wake up call? A win? Certainly one of those three, maybe a second one, but not all three.

Todd Helton had an MRI yesterday, but there's still no timetable for his return.

At least the guys aren't going at each other like Prince Fielder did with Manny Parra last night (unless that's what you want):

Not counting single-series road trips, this 10-game road stint was the best one by the Rockies yet:

Let's hope that the Rockies aren't on a pendulum and are about to swing to the other (bad) side again. Twenty-one of the Rockies' remaining games come on the road, and they're mostly in the division. Next week's series in Washington and early September's three-game stop in Atlanta are the exceptions.

But now the Rockies are back home for 10 games against the Nats, the Padres, and D'Backs. There's no season record yet against the Nats, but the Rockies are 2-1 at home while playing the Padres and a big 0-3 hosting the D'Backs. You remember those three games against the Snakes to start the home season from April 4-6, right? Outscored 5-20, Manny blowing the save in the final game after Franklin Morales went six innings and limited the D'Backs to two hits. Maybe it's better if you don't.

So, the Nationals are the worst team in the majors right now, having 41 wins in 111 contests. They also have a worse road record than the Rockies: 18-37. They have Tim Redding taking the mound tonight. The Rockies have Aaron Cook. That's about right.

It might be corrected by the time you read this, but notice that Renck twice makes the same mistake. Maybe it's because lately the suckitude of the two players has intertwined them.

Okay, a couple of notes from the overhead view of last night's game. First, records aside, the Rockies looked like a considerably better team last night, and defense was a huge part of the disparity. I mean, Stewart looking like a shortstop playing third was one thing, and Cook fielding his position like Maddux another, but our outfield also showed superior range and ability and I would say there was at least a two run swing in our favor because of it. Garrett Atkins' first inning double that got by the lead-footed Adam Dunn was nearly identical to a line drive later caught by Holliday. Taveras' range and first step were just as impressive from the top down vantage point my view level seat provided.

Second, Brad Hawpe going the opposite way for both his homerun and double were also quite pleasing to watch. Baker's shot was just a laser (And yeah, I'm happy with Jeff at second,) but Brad just sort of flicked at those pitches and yet still had enough pure power to get them  to the wall and over it. I hate to realize the implications of this statement for our team's absent elder statesman, but I really think the lineup that the Rockies used last night is probably their best available given the personnel they have in the system, even if everybody was healthy. The upgrade on defense with Stewart at third over Atkins and his power makes up for the loss of Helton's OBP. In fact, I think a closer debate would be for pushing Fowler to center over Taveras.

I don't know if I have much else to say right now. Cook was once again quietly impressive, which was nice for him to show in front of a lot of his hometown supporters. The way he worked out of the jam after the Griffey triple just crushed the hopes of the Reds fans in attendance, as they had really come alive at that point. Anyway, I hope to make it back out early tonight to get a seat, as it'll likely be a bit more crowded on Adam Dunn bobblehead night.

Yesterday's Yankees Pirates trade takes one potential Fuentes suitor off the table, and it reveals somewhat where the market for players vs prospects is at right now. The primary piece in the deal was Jose Tabata, a gifted young player who had been somewhat overhyped by the Yankees press machine his first couple of professional seasons, and therefore has seemed somewhat disappointing this year. He is not currently what would be considered an impact player along the lines of what O'Dowd is looking for, but he could become one. You would figure Fuentes and certainly Holliday are of greater value, it will be interesting to see where this takes things over the next few days.

What do you say about the Rockies after their sweep of the Pirates? You could say this:

Suddenly, the Rockies are playing their best baseball of the season — at least at home, where they are 9-1 in their last 10.

At home, the Rockies are 29-21; on the road, the Rockies are 14-36. Now, that's shouldn't really be a surprise to anyone here. We have to go all the way back to the middle of June when the Rockies took two of three from the White Sox to win a series on the road. They also took two of three from the Dodgers in early June and two of three from the Padres and Astros in back-to-back series in April.

But that doesn't mean a whole lot for this upcoming series at home against the Dodgers. Maybe Troy Tulowitzki's return to the lineup tonight will. Though I think that was the same thought many had the last time Troy returned to the lineup. Troy had a hit in six of his last seven games before going on the DL, two of those being two-run homers. Yet, he only had one multi-hit game since his return on June 20, and that was in the next day's game. Will Tulo be the everyday shortstop upon his return? Maybe not.

But with Clint Barmes and Jeff Baker swinging hot bats and the team playing well, Hurdle is in no rush to say Tulowitzki is the everyday shortstop.

Hurdle is never in a rush to say or do something, but hot bats don't last forever, obviously.

Cook's next trip to the mound will be Friday, starting the opener against Cincinnati. That's a good way to start the series, but the question with the Rockies, as it always has been, is, how do they finish the series?

Here are some lovely photos of some lovely girls with some er, uh, uhm, hrrrm, ehh, Rockies players who can play lovely baseball. From time to time, that is.

Aaron Cook and Matt Holliday did a fine job of representing the Rockies at the All-Star Game last night, although I wonder if we get any sympathy points from fans around the majors for Clint Hurdle's display of his passion for the bunt. That said, I do think most fans will be thankful that the pitcher he taxed the most in the long, long, affair was one of his own.

Holliday's blast, of course, underscores the sub-drama of a potential trade this summer, the bat showing that he's more than just a Coors Field phenom on a stage that amounts to an open house for potential bidders for his services. With Hideki Matsui going down with season ending surgery, the Yankees themselves would probably be wise to take note of what Holliday did last night at the house that Ruth built and Steinbrenner's taking down, albeit, the most loathed team in the majors may first be looking into the availability of the most loathed player.

Troy Tulowitzki is ready to start his rehab stint, and could be back with the Rockies by Monday.

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Yeah, this is up at 7pm ET, but first pitch isn't scheduled until 8:40 or so. TV spectacle and whatnot. Anyway, Yankee Stadium hosts its final All-Star Game, as New Yankee Stadium opens its gates next season.

St. Louis hosts next year's All-Star Game.

Go Aaron Cook! Go Matt Holliday! Don't mess things up, Clint Hurdle!

After yesterday's start, it appears Jorge De La Rosa won't be back in the rotation once the second half of the season starts. De La Rosa will give way to Kip Wells, who still has two more rehab starts to make. Farther down on the article, Franklin Morales and Jason Hirsh are mentioned, but the possiblity of either pitching for the Rockies any time soon appears remote.

Aaron Cook and his family will add a baby girl in late July.

In a look at which teams have interest in which Rockies, Tracy Ringolsby's column mentions that Juan Morillo, Ryan Mattheus, and Casey Weathers are possible call-ups should some team trade for Matt Herges.

Mark Kiszla. Matt Holliday. New York. Scale of 1-10. Yankees at 11. Or something.

Well, according to our fearless leader, at least, who sees a lot of similarities between the Lions of aught seven and the Rockies of aught six. A key difference that Hurdle somehow left out was that the Lions -according to a Google search, since I really don't know much about it- had cleaned house in their coaching ranks before what had been a sorry franchise was able to turn around. I mean, just a minor detail

As good as Aaron Cook has been for us in the past, I was somewhat surprised to find out that yesterday was his first career shutout. If he continues to pitch like he has for us this season, it shouldn't be his last. Hurdle indicated that Cookie will be going to Yankees Stadium for the Rox, which was probably a no-brainer even if somebody else was the All-Star manager.

As could usually be expected this time of season, despite Brian Fuentes' fiasco Monday night, the Rockies reliever is actually getting more interest from teams wanting to make a trade. The Cedrick Bowers call-up from yesterday should be a sign that the Rockies are seriously considering divesting themselves of their current closer, as if Bowers is successful the Rockies would have that security blanket of a lefty in the pen that every manager seems to demand.

Ooh now you've gone and made me really really mad. You won't like it when I'm angry...

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The Rockies are now peeved that Ramon Ramirez made good on his threats to give Yorvit Torrealba some high heat, and so like so many comic book fans who sadly think that they too have some inner hulk that's waiting to be let out, they've vowed that this aggression won't stand. And they'll make sure of it by writing a strongly worded letter after leaving Kansas City with another series loss and possible sweep. Mmm hmm, paint me impressed.

Let me be succinct: if a team can't win on the road against other bad teams, they are themselves a bad team. If a team can't win more than four games in a row, they are not going to the playoffs. Fourteen games under .500 with seventeen to go before the All-Star break means we'd have to go I'd say at least 13-4 before then to leave the door to a comeback open, but there's been nothing in the team's performance to date that says the Rockies are capable of such a run this year. Aaron Cook will get four of those starts, so maybe we can go 3-1 or even 4-0 in them. Ubaldo Jimenez has been pitching well lately, so I can even see a 3-1 in his four with a little luck. The other six or seven wins, however, in three starts each by Reynolds, Francis and JDLR, just won't come without an offense that we simply don't seem to have this season.

See? Moving up. And with his return tonight, Tulo will look to get back on track just as the Rockies have done recently.

Apparently this is news: "Thanks to wins, Holliday not on trading block"

Jerry Manuel is a funny guy. After Jose Reyes had a tantrum in Tuesday''s game, Manuel eventually talked with Reyes:

"I told him next time he does that I'm going to get my blade out and cut him. I'm a gangster. You go gangster on me, I'm going to have to get you. You do that again, I'm going to cut you right on the field," quipped Manuel[.]

Everyone better stay on Manuel's good side.

The Mets make their second trip to Colorado this season. Aaron Cook opposes John Maine tonight. That feels a bit familiar.