In August the Rockies have 14 games at home and 14 games on the road starting tonight with the opening game of a short two games series in Cincinnati, followed by a three game series in Philadelphia starting Tuesday. Other August road series include three games in Florida and three games in San Francisco. Home series include four with the Cubs and four games with the Giants.  The team needs to play well enough to stay in the race until September’s favorable schedule rolls around.

If the Rox can stay in the wild-card race with San Francisco, Chicago, Florida, and Atlanta through this month, they have a chance to win the wild-card race come September.

With 18 games at home and only 9 on the road in September, the Rockies’ will have a good chance to make the playoffs for the first time since the team’s magical run to the World Series in 2007.

In September, the Rockies don’t play any of the wild-card contenders at home, and just the Giants on the road. But the team does get home series’ with the Mets, Diamondbacks, Reds, Padres, and Brewers, which have all lost more than they’ve won this year. Add September road series with the Padres and  Diamondbacks, and the Rockies only play 6 games in September with teams that have winning records.

That’s when the wild-card race will get fun. Like I said, if the Rockies can stay in the race until September 1, they will have a good chance of playing for something in Rocktober. And as we see every year, it doesn’t matter how you get in the playoffs, it just matters that you get in.Then any team has a chance to make a run at the ring and create something special.

on the Padres and played more than acceptable baseball. I am sure that a lot of Rockies fans were just as curious as I was to see if they could pick up right where they left off. Colorado has the best record in baseball as of late (34-17) but still find themselves eight games back in the N.L. West. Of course, in my opinion, putting up 10 runs will do you some good, especially having Aaron Cook on the mound. You hit the ball and play defense and more times than not you will win the game. If guys can stay healthy and the pitching rotation does the best they can, than you will have a good year. It is definitely not the greatest thing when your team has to play the best baseball of any team just to reach .500, and still be a ways out of first place. However, over the years we have seen the Rockies potential and what they can do. We know they are capable of going on a long winning streak at the end of the regular season, but they have never proven that they can play a great full season. The beauty of sports is that anything can happen at any

given time, and that means the Rockies just have to stay as consistent as they have been. Are they winning because of their flawless defense? Is it the new manager Jim Tracy? Honestly, it doesn’t really matter, as long as they are winning. and I just hope the Rockies can stay on the path they are currently following.

Finally, all the winning the Rockies have been doing is paying off. After last night’s win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, they have moved into first place in the N.L. Wild Card Race. It must be a relief to teams to find out that when you actually play fundamental baseball things work out in your favor. It seems like such a simple concept really, play better than the opposing team, and win. However, the Rockies have never been consistent in proving that early in the season. As long as the Rockies’ starters can continue to produce strong outings, then the offense can continue to do what they have always done, score runs. In the past years, the offense has never failed to put runs, but its hard to win when the pitching rotation gives up twice as many. As fans, I think we just need to enjoy the ride and hope the Rockies can keep playing exceptional baseball. Keep in mind at the same time, that Todd Helton only needs one more double to become the 50th player in history to reach 500 doubles.

While there is no official word as of yet, the Denver Post is reporting that Clint Hurdle will be fired later this afternoon.  Jim Tracy, the bench coach brought in from Pittsburgh this year, is the likely interim replacement.  Though the Post’s story sheds no light on Bob Apodaca’s fate, I would be shocked if he is not given the boot as well.

My initial impression is somewhere between “Praise Baby Jesus” and “What good will it do?”  This is certainly a flawed team, but when you can look at Clint Hurdle’s seven year tenure and go, “Well, he had that two month run in the fall of 2007 where everything he did turned to gold…but other than that, he hasn’t done anything right,” it’s probably time to make a change.

More on this later.  I’m actually going to the game tonight, so I’ll (in all likelihood) get to witness Game 1 of the Jim Tracy era.  I will probably be the only one in the stands, considering Game 6 of the Nuggets/Lakers series will be going on a few miles away and the Rockies are now a season-high 10 games under .500.

Here are the starting lineups:

Philadelphia Phillies:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS.
2. Shane Victorino, CF.
3. Chase Utley, 2B.
4. Ryan Howard, 1B.
5. Jayson Werth, RF.
6. Raul Ibanez, LF.
7. Pedro Felix, 3B.
8. Carlos Ruiz, C.
9. Cole Hamels, P.

Colorado Rockies

1. Dexter Fowler, CF.
2. Ryan Spilborghs, LF.
3. Todd Helton, 1B.
4. Garrett Atkins, 3B.
5. Brad Hawpe, RF.
6. Troy Tulowitzki, SS.
7. Chris Iannetta, C.
8. Clint Barmes, 2B.
9. Jason Marquis, P.

I will be updating the game as we go.  Here’s to a home opening win at Coors Field!

With the Rockies using today ’s off day to prepare for the 2009 home opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, it gives me a chance to pause and reflect on what we saw at Chase Field the last three days.  After dropping the season opener in a slugfest, the Rockies’ staff settled down and some timely situational hitting helped deliver a series win against an Arizona team that absolutely tormented Colorado last year.

Color me cautiously optimistic.

Versatility. What I liked the most about the opening set in the desert was the Rockies’ display of lineup flexibility and overall roster depth.  For example, Ian Stewart received a surprise start on opening day at second base and plated a run. Then, he proceeded to come off the bench in the next two games to drive in a key insurance run in the second game and participate in a back-to-back home run situation that broke open the rubber game yesterday.  It is clear that Stewart needs plenty of ABs this year, because the guy can flat out rake and has tons of power to the gap.

We also saw Dexter Fowler make a successful 2009 starting debut yesterday, pushing Ryan Spilborghs down to the third hole from the leadoff spot.  Fowler was certainly productive, homering on the first pitch of the game (His first career home run and RBI), working deep counts at the plate, getting on base, and showing tremendous range in center field.  Fowler’s presence in the lineup also promoted Troy Tulowitzki to the second slot in the lineup.  Tulo’s propensity for striking out (213 Ks in 284 career games) would seem to make this move by Clint Hurdle questionable, but Tulo rewarded his manager yesterday by working three walks and setting the table for the middle of the lineup.  The three BBs set a career high, so perhaps we will see a more patient Tulo this year rather than the free-swinging version we’ve all come to know and love (and occasionally regret).

Fowler’s insertion into the lineup also shifted Seth Smith to the bench, but Smith has also been productive so far this season and will likely continue to hit in the two hole when the Rockies face a right handed starter.  Because Fowler is much better from the right side of the plate, I think that there will be a platoon situation for the foreseeable future, with Fowler starting against lefties and Smith starting against righties.

The bottom line is that the bench depth and lineup flexibility for the Rockies is in the upper echelon of the National League.  Stewart has appeared at 2B and in the corner outfield spots, and we all know he can play 3B as well.  Garrett Atkins can shift over to 1B whenever Todd Helton is resting.  Spilborghs will play a lot of CF but is probably suited better for LF, where he played yesterday.  Omar Quintanilla will be the typical middle infield backup but also appeared at 3B late in the game yesterday.  Jeff Baker started at 3B yesterday but can also play at 2B, 1B, or in LF.  Really, only Brad Hawpe, Tulo, Helton, Fowler, and Chris Iannetta/Yorvit Torrealba have designated positions when they are in the lineup.  That is a lot of options for Hurdle to mull over before every game.

Bullpen Spells Relief? Let’s look beyond Manny Corpas and Huston Street for a minute, because those two have looked flat out dominant in the limited time they’ve been on the mound at the end of games.  I am still troubled by the status of the Rockies’ middle relievers, especially since Taylor Buchholz will remain on the shelf for at least another month with a right elbow strain.  That means the 7th inning situation is probably a game-to-game approach until Buchholz’s return, perhaps leading to some role uncertainty in the bullpen.  Ryan Speier appears to be the one right hander who will come in with traffic on the bases during the middle innings.  He is probably best suited for the 7th inning role right now, with Alan Embree serving as the left handed specialist when the need arises.

Jason Grilli and Juan Morillo seem to be in flux right now.  Grilli came in on opening day in a tie game situation and gave up the game winning home run to the Diamondbacks’ Chad Tracy.  Then, Hurdle featured Grilli in mop-up duty yesterday when I was almost certain we would see Morillo and his 98+ mph heater.  It’s hard to say how Grilli will be used and it’s hard to say when Morillo will be used, if ever.  Morillo is out of options and will probably not clear waivers if he is sent down to Colorado Springs.  With newly acquired Jason Hammel due to arrive soon (He pitched a substantial amount in a minor league game last weekend and will not be available until tomorrow at the earliest) and Buchholz’s return not too far off in the future, it’s hard to say what Morillo’s ultimate fate will be.  Hurdle will have a lot of options to weigh in the coming weeks.  For now, I’m crossing my fingers that the starting pitchers can consistently make quality starts and go deep into games, because the bullpen looked very sketchy on opening day when Aaron Cook got knocked out in the third inning.

Looking Ahead.  The Phillies come to Denver this weekend for the first series of 2009 at Coors Field.  In the first game, the Phillies will throw Cole Hamels and the Rockies will counter with Jason Marquis.  In the second game, the probable pitchers are Brett Myers (0-1, 6.00) for the Phillies and Jorge De La Rosa for the Rockies.  In the series finale on Sunday, the Phillies will likely throw Chan Ho Park (0-0, 0.00) and the Rockies will send Aaron Cook (0-0, 23.14) to the mound.

It will be interesting to see how Marquis throws.  He had a rough spring, but he looked fairly solid in his last camp start against the Seattle Mariners (6 innings, 4 ERs).  Hamels dealt with a minor injury this spring and didn’t throw much, meaning that he could spend the early innings on Friday working the rust out.  Perhaps the Rockies can jump on him early and set the tone for the rest of the series, but don’t be surprised if Hamels holds his own.  The last time we saw him, he was dominating the 2008 playoffs.

If the Rockies can win tomorrow in the home opener, I like them to win the series and then move on to Chicago.  You have to like the Cook/Park matchup for the Rockies on Sunday, especially because Cook so rarely has back-to-back poor performances and Park’s career ERA at Coors Field is 5.66.  Trying to project what De La Rosa will do in game 2 is like throwing darts while blindfolded and after being spun around twenty times- you might get lucky and hit the dartboard, but you are more likely to endanger the other bar patrons than anything else.  Hopefully, De La Rosa can shake his Jekyll/Hyde identity this season, because he has a great arm and could shore up the back end of the rotation.

Other Notes.  As widely predicted, the Rockies sent Franklin Morales down to AAA, making room for Jason Hammel.  This certainly isn’t punishment for Morales but rather an effort to keep him on a regular schedule because the next few weeks contain enough off days that the Rockies can essentially run a four-man starting rotation.  As noted above, Hammel’s addition muddies the bullpen situation for the foreseeable future and Hammel will be available for duty this weekend.

That’s all for now.  I will be in and out this weekend and monitoring the games when I can.  Expect a few more “game threads” so you can follow the action and comment as necessary.  Here’s hoping for a successful opening home stand!

Colorado Rockies

1. Dexter Fowler, CF.
2. Troy Tulowitzki, SS.
3. Ryan Spilborghs, LF.
4. Garrett Atkins, 1B.
5. Brad Hawpe, RF.
6. Jeff Baker, 3B.
7. Clint Barmes, 2B.
8. Yovit Torrealba, C.
9. Franklin Morales, P.

Arizona Diamondbacks

1. Felipe Lopez, 2B.
2. Stephen Drew, SS.
3. Chris Young, CF.
4. Conor Jackson, 1B.
5. Mark Reynolds, 3B.
6. Eric Byrnes, LF.
7. Chris Snyder, C.
8. Justin Upton, RF.
9. Doug Davis, P.

I will be periodically updating the game in the comments section.

Here are the lineups:

Colorado Rockies

1. Ryan Spilborghs, CF.
2. Seth Smith, LF.
3. Todd Helton, 1B.
4. Garrett Atkins, 3B.
5. Brad Hawpe, RF.
6. Ian Stewart, 2B.
7. Troy Tulowitzki, SS.
8. Chris Iannetta, C.
9. Aaron Cook, P.

Arizona Diamondbacks

1. Felipe Lopez, 2B.
2. Chris Young, CF.
3. Stephen Drew, SS.
4. Chad Tracy, 3B.
5. Eric Byrnes, RF.
6. Tony Clark, 1B.
7. Conor Jackson, LF.
8. Chris Snyder, C.
9. Brandon Webb, P.

I’ll be updating the game in the comments section.

While Opening Day goes beyond the confines of the thirty Major League ballparks, it probably means something similar to every club out there: 0-0. A clean slate. Everybody’s in first place. 162 games left to make or break a season.

Certainly, the Colorado Rockies are approaching Opening Day 2009 with that attitude. Coming off an unsuccessful defense of the NL pennant last season, hope still springs eternal for the Rockies to return to the postseason this year. Surely, the memories of that magical run in the fall of 2007 remain vivid.

But the month of April has been just about anything but smiles and sunshine for the Rockies. In a month where postseason dreams can form over the ocean of the regular season, those aspirations can just as easily be dashed across the rocks below. Take a look at the Rockies’ history in April:

1993: 8-14, 6 games back after April 30. Finished 67-95.

1994: 10-12, 1 GB. Finished 53-64.

1995: 4-1, 0 GB. Finished 77-67. Won NL Wildcard.

1996: 11-14, 5 GB. Finished 83-79.

1997: 17-7, 0 GB. Finished 83-79.

1998: 11-16, 8 GB. Finished 77-85.

1999: 9-10, 4.5 GB. Finished 72-90.

2000: 11-14, 5 GB. Finished 82-80.

2001: 13-11, 1.5 GB. Finished 73-89.

2002: 10-16, 6 GB. Finished 73-89.

2003: 15-12, 4.5 GB. Finished 74-88.

2004: 9-12, 4.5 GB. Finished 68-94.

2005: 6-15, 8 GB. Finished 67-95.

2006: 15-10, 1.5 games ahead. Finished 76-86.

2007: 10-16, 5.5 GB. Finished 90-73. Won NL Pennant.

2008: 11-17, 9 GB. Finished 74-88.

Totals: 169-196 in April, 4.1875 GB on April 30 on average.

That’s five winning Aprils in sixteen seasons, including the 1995 April that only had five games due to the intrusion of the 1994 strike. Of those five winning Aprils, one resulted in the NL Wildcard berth (1995) and another in a 83-79 finish (1997), meaning a successful April translates to a Rockies’ winning season 40% of the time. Of the eleven losing Aprils, one resulted in the NL Pennant (2007) and two others netted a winning season (1996 and 2000), meaning an unsuccessful April translates to a winning season 27.3% of the time.

Granted, it is a small sample size because the Rockies have only existed since 1993, but the conclusion is that the Rockies have a better chance at a winning season (And thus, a better chance at making the playoffs) when they play well in the first month of the season. And the Rockies are 27 games below .500 all-time in April.

Now, with the premise that a successful April is better for a team than an unsuccessful April, let’s take a look at the Rockies schedule for the opening month:

Three game set @ Arizona.

Three game set in Denver again Philadelphia.

Two game set @ Wrigley against Chicago.

Three game set @ LA.

Return to the desert for three more @ Arizona.

Open a homestand with three games against LA.

Continue the homestand with three against San Diego.

That’s six games on the road against a team that went 82-80 last year and returns Brandon Webb and Dan Haren (probably the best 1-2 pitching combination in the NL), three games with the defending World Series champions, six games against the defending NL West champions that returns Manny Ramirez, two games against the defending NL Central champions, and three games against a San Diego team that appears to be the only reprieve on the schedule.

Ouch.

And here are the Rockies all-time regular season records against those teams:

Arizona: 77-108

Los Angeles: 109-140

San Diego: 127-122

Philadelphia: 51-67

Chicago: 64-73

Double ouch.

It is clear that the schedule maker did the Rockies no favors, but we’ve seen that a good start to the season may be vital to the Rockies’ ultimate success. Even though the regular season is often described as a marathon, the Rockies may need to make it a sprint these first three weeks and get themselves into a position to contend in an improved division.

While the schedule could make it an April of our discontent, the season might be made glorious by the suns of Cook, Jimenez, Street, Atkins, Helton, and Spilborghs. Hope certainly springs eternal from this Rockies’ fan. After all, they’re in first place and there’s still 162 games to lengthen their lead.