Monday Morning Rockpile:

by Rox Girl on Aug 20, 2007 8:31 AM MDT in Rockpile

It's hard to say how damaging the 2-4 road trip was to our playoff chances at this point, but the disappointment caused by it seems considerably easier to gauge. Watching apparent victory slip away like we did yesterday is certainly crushing. There were good signs, however. Jeff Francis wasn't perfect, but he minimized the damage against him and was efficient. His post-game responses as recorded here and here show maturity and leadership, and not the youthful frustration that would lead him to overreach and slump for several starts in previous years.

Also in a change from previous years -and earlier this season- the fact that Todd Helton even hits that homerun to give us a late lead is welcome even though the end result was much the same.

The schedule does present us a golden opportunity to make up some ground this week, as we have the weakest opponents of our divisional competition by far. We should be able to gain two games with a good homestand and with a slight correction for the D-backs against the Brewers and Cubs. It's scoreboard watching season, it's nice to have that for once.

Update [2007-8-20 16:23:59 by Russ]: The WWL is running an MLB "Face of the Franchise" vote as part of their SportsNation section. Purple Row was chosen for the blogger part of the panel. I think the choice and the explanation for the vote should appear on Wednesday. If you want a hint as to who I chose (actually, Rox Girl chose the guy and convinced me to go with him), click on the Rockies symbol and then look at the choices given in the poll area. He's the one that stands out.

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Division

The Diamondbacks' slate of playing the Cubs and Brewers at home is cake compared to the Dodgers and Padres, who both must play in New York and Philly this week. Ah, unbalanced schedules.

The Coors Effect... thinking about changing the name to The Humidor Effect.

by Rox Fan in TN on Aug 20, 2007 8:40 AM MDT reply actions

i'm psyched

i really feel like the team is going to come out swinging and just crush the bucs and nats this week. two sweeps are probably too much to ask, but 5-2? that's well within reach. the bats will be hot and the rotation will hold things together. the pen? that's another question. hopefully they won't be relied upon too much in tight situations. honestly, though, i have a really good feeling about this week. a week from today the team is only going to be 1 or 2 back from the WC. you heard it here first.

rockies in october.

by LarryB303 on Aug 20, 2007 9:22 AM MDT reply actions

Play to your strengths

The Rockies have been better at home all year, and here is the perfect opportunity. Unfortunately, they've struggled against struggling teams, so they need to reverse that trend.

But that said I see absolutely no reason why they shouldn't be able to win or even sweep both series. This is an absolutely golden opportunity and it seems to me that the Rockies need to take it and use it or the title of "Pretender" will hang over their heads for probably the rest of the season. Personally, I have faith in them.

I don't know if you could say that this week is the critical juncture in the season - those do seem to happen a lot - but I think the boys will be in a really tough position if they don't just kill the Bucs and the Nats.

Anyway, they'd just better win on Friday. It's Silverblood's b-day and we'll both be down behind home plate.

www.myspace.com/notthisday.com

by Squeaky on Aug 20, 2007 9:31 AM MDT reply actions

Homestand

I'm a bit more worried about this upcoming homestand against the Nationals and Pirates. Both teams are at the bottom of their respective divisions but they're also the kind of team that can beat you when you're not looking. The Rockies struggled with the Nats losing 3 of 4 in Washington in late July and the Pirates are coming in after winning two straight against Philly and are 6-4 in their last 10.

This is a huge homestand in that we can make up some ground after the road trip, but I don't think we can chalk up sweeps and great results yet, especially with all the injuries.

by Florida Rockies Fan on Aug 20, 2007 11:31 AM MDT reply actions

Nice to See

The Row get some face time. Keep up the good work.

TGFPR!!

by jlot10 on Aug 20, 2007 3:40 PM MDT reply actions

The one that stands ourt?

um, I guess I'm WAY too close to the Rockies as I like 'em all (for different reasons)

Chairman of the Sub-committee to resign Kazuo Matsui

by Redhawk on Aug 20, 2007 5:10 PM MDT reply actions

Yes, even Hurdle

but face I mean as in one of the main reasons the Rockies are so mediocre. He's the face of the front office/management/owner side of the organization.

I assume you picked Holliday.

Chairman of the Sub-committee to resign Kazuo Matsui

by Redhawk on Aug 20, 2007 5:20 PM MDT up reply actions

Nope, actually we picked Hurdle

Or I suggested him and Russ went along. I'm sure the full reasoning for the choice will come out Wednesday, but as you suggest, he's representative of the ownership/front office face, and until this team shows a commitment to really move forward with things, he seems to be the one who most fits.

by Rox Girl on Aug 20, 2007 5:30 PM MDT up reply actions

That actually makes sense

I look forward to the day when it's Tulo or Matt who actually represents what this team is about.

www.myspace.com/notthisday.com

by Squeaky on Aug 20, 2007 5:39 PM MDT up reply actions

Basically, that's what I wrote.

However, I think I came off as angry in what I wrote and insulted (sort of) the Monforts.

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Aug 20, 2007 6:56 PM MDT up reply actions

The short piece

that goes with it was written back in June, so the part about Helton in there probably wouldn't appear that way if I wrote it more recently.

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Aug 20, 2007 7:07 PM MDT up reply actions

I'm guessing Tulo...

Because his name 'stands out' farther than the other ones.

Heh, me and my literal translation. Otherwise I'm guessing Holliday.

www.myspace.com/notthisday.com

by Squeaky on Aug 20, 2007 5:27 PM MDT reply actions

the Pirates

have been putting up a lot of runs lately and Gorzallany is a pretty good young pitcher and the Nats have been tough in games. 5-2 would be doing good.

by DieHardRoxFan on Aug 20, 2007 6:41 PM MDT reply actions