Friday Morning Rockpile:

by Russ on Apr 18, 2008 8:59 AM MDT in Rockpile

Clint Hurdle put it best after last night's win:

"Baseball doesn't have a clock; that's what makes it beautiful," manager Clint Hurdle said. "But I think this game is really going to help us. We have some guys who are really grinding and been taking this too seriously, and we ended up having some fun with this."

Baseball has to have a winner. It's even better when your team wins it. Troy agrees:

"It was tough out there — it was hard to keep your eyes open in those last at-bats," Tulowitzki said. "But if you're going to play this long you might as well win it."

Hopefully Hurdle and Tulo are on to somethin g:

"You never know when it's going to start. It's gotta start somewhere," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said of the struggling Tulowitzki. "So that's a good a place as any for him. [...] So he's got to feel good."

He'll want to feel good as the team moves on to Houston for the weekend. We'll get to see our old buddy Kazuo Matsui play for the first time tonight in an Astros uniform as he comes off the DL for anal fissure.

Forbes' annual "The Business of Baseball" rankings came out. The Rockies had the greatest 1-yr. value change at 17%. Overall the team comes in at 21. If you want to compare this year's rankings to last year, here's the link to 2007's. Tracy Ringolsby has some thoughts on this rankings for the Rockies.

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I guess no one's talking because everyone's still asleep

The poster formerly known as Blake20th.

by NewMexicanSteven on Apr 18, 2008 10:22 AM MDT 0 recs

My 14 month old...

was up all night teething…Made for a good excuse to catch the entire ballgame, and call in late for work ;-)

by GreeleyRoxFan on Apr 18, 2008 1:54 PM MDT up 0 recs

What a game...

It was quite the game. Watched the whole thing. As weird as it is too say it, there was a bit of the feeling that was so prevalent the last month and through the playoffs last year – that the Rockies were beginning to gel, and that the bullpen would hold them long enough to pull this through.

One wonders if Tulo can maintain some momentum coming out of this. Every time the batters for the inning were shown, I remember thinking there was a automatic out in there somewhere: Tulo, Nix, etc.

by SpiritOf95 on Apr 18, 2008 10:57 AM MDT 0 recs

I didn't make it past the 14th

But I think your observation about gelling is a good one. I felt it too. After losing Game 1 of the series, I felt it was imperative that the Rox find a way to win the series. And they did. Very September07-like. We’ve won 3 of the last 4, and now have to chance to really right the ship in Houston. Here’s hoping!

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~ Earl Wilson

by rockhead on Apr 18, 2008 11:06 AM MDT up 0 recs

I watched

the 9th-18th innings (had to get in the requisite episode of Deep Space Nine beforehand), but by the time the start of 19 rolled around, it was past 1 and that 8am alarm was sounding just awful…

But I totally agree with you – this is the type of game that can be the tipping point for a season (or at least a stretch of one). The hitters don’t feel like they have to hack every pitch out of the park now, since our starter managed to last 7 innings. The bullpen showed themselves to be very solid. At the same time, I think the pressure has been lessened on our starters, since they know that our bullpen can hold up no matter the circumstances. Taking 2 of 3 in a series is always great, but it’s even better to do it in a division rival’s ballpark, and even better to do it in a back-breaking fashion (after 22 innings, a loss will really crush your spriits (see: today’s post over at Gaslamp Ball) ).

by oo_nrb on Apr 18, 2008 11:20 AM MDT up 0 recs

+1

for Star Trek

"I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do."

by DbacksSkins on Apr 18, 2008 11:25 AM MDT up 0 recs

Woo!

I really am looking forward to rocking this belt by the time the ASG rolls around!

by oo_nrb on Apr 18, 2008 11:26 AM MDT up 0 recs

Maybe this really IS a rivalry....

You guys finally win the NL pennant, and the Dbacks are STILL one spot more valuable….

"I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do."

by DbacksSkins on Apr 18, 2008 11:07 AM MDT 0 recs

I hate when that happens.

;)

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~ Earl Wilson

by rockhead on Apr 18, 2008 11:13 AM MDT up 0 recs

"It may be the longest game I've ever played in."

According to the RMN, Hurdle said that after the game.

He thinks he played in the game.

Question: whose uniform was he wearing?

Torrealba?
Nix?
Willy T? Was it Hurdle stealing that base?

Hurdle should probably get a pass. After 22 innings, anyone can get delusional

My daughter says she wants to marry Taylor Bucholz.
But I'm not sure about the beard.

by maris61 on Apr 18, 2008 11:13 AM MDT 0 recs

I think

he was referring to the fact that he played baseball “back in the day”, and then was lumping himself in with the players for last night. He may not have been playing, but he’s still got to get on the plane to Houston and report to the ballpark at the same time like everyone else.

Though with Hurdle, delusional is always a possibility ;) .

by oo_nrb on Apr 18, 2008 11:22 AM MDT up 0 recs

I knew what he meant

but the words didn’t quite come out right. I thought it was pretty funny. He has Stengel tendencies sometimes when it comes to the English language.

My daughter says she wants to marry Taylor Bucholz.
But I'm not sure about the beard.

by maris61 on Apr 18, 2008 11:57 AM MDT up 0 recs

Hurdle Was Actually

The next guy off the bench. Kinda went through the entire roster there.

Insert clever and witty remark slash pun here!

by ES46NE10 on Apr 18, 2008 12:01 PM MDT up 0 recs

After 21 innings, I wouldn’t be surprised if they had considered having him warm up in the bullpen.

"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."

by kishi on Apr 18, 2008 1:46 PM MDT up 0 recs

WHOA

Watched all 22 innings. The 6am alarm clock was a pain. But Drew and George kept me going. I told my roommate that after 23 i was going to sleep, cause can’t do much work with 4 hours of sleep. The morning coffee is still flowing and its noon now.

Always fun to watch Jeff Francis’ ma and pa in attendance, especially seeing how much energy she spends on each and every pitch.
I remember his first game vs Atlanta, could hear her scream on each and every pitch.

by ColoroxWS07 on Apr 18, 2008 12:07 PM MDT 0 recs

oh that was painful

This morning…not last night…well last night was painful too.

Nothing like calling to move an appointment and then going back to bed….and then getting up in time to have breakfast and lunch at the same time.

ummmmm coffee…....

What am going to do with all these "Jeff Baker for 2nd" bumper stickers?

by Redhawk on Apr 18, 2008 12:27 PM MDT up 0 recs

Tulo slump is over

Hope last night game is a shot in the arm for Tulo. Barmes deserves to play everyday with his hot bat.

by XO4ever on Apr 18, 2008 12:44 PM MDT 0 recs

tonight

The only thing I worry about (other then the bullpen) is Iannetta catching Morales. I would prefer Yorvit catching Morales and Jimenez (since he is better at managing the staff) with Ianneta catching the vets Cook, Francis and Former All-Star Mark Redman.

by ch3cooh1 on Apr 18, 2008 12:57 PM MDT 0 recs

I don't think we give CI

enough credit for his ability to manage the staff. Maybe that’s ignorance on my part, but if Morales gets hammered I think it’s Franklin not Chris.

The poster formerly known as Blake20th.

by NewMexicanSteven on Apr 18, 2008 1:44 PM MDT up 0 recs

ANYBODY KNOW IF THE ROX....

brought up a pitcher for tonight?

by 91 wins in 08 on Apr 18, 2008 1:43 PM MDT 0 recs

No word yet

I haven’t seen anything. Capellan would be the obvious candidate, although he’s not on the 40-man.

by Tom (RFTN) on Apr 18, 2008 2:22 PM MDT up 0 recs

Ask the Astros for a loaner

They’ll give you Valverde or Villareal for as long as you want them.

My daughter says she wants to marry Taylor Bucholz.
But I'm not sure about the beard.

by maris61 on Apr 18, 2008 2:45 PM MDT up 0 recs

The Astros are really good....

....at picking up relievers formerly developed by the Dbacks, who kicked ass in Arizona, and sucked after they left…. like Jose Valverde and Oscar Villareal…. may we interest you in BK Kim?

"I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do."

by DbacksSkins on Apr 18, 2008 5:01 PM MDT up 0 recs

After Wells....

I think Barmes was next in line to pitch. Seriously.

I went to bed after the top of the 11th. I didn’t want to see Bowie in there…figured it would be over. Got up this morning, and WOW! What a game…So proud of the boys. Pretty happy I didn’t stay up for it, though…hard enough to wake up this morning going to bed at a reasonable time.

by Squeaky on Apr 18, 2008 1:50 PM MDT 0 recs

Holy moses

I am sleep-deprived today as the result of this MORNING’s game, and we have another one this evening? Yikes. I may miss most of it, since there’s a dance I’m going to tonight, but I’m not sure anything can touch the insanity of sitting up into the wee hours of the morning with a bunch of fellow fanatics, getting goofy with exhaustion and still sticking it out to see the guys (FRIGGING FINALLY) pull it out of thin air. Definitely one that I think we’ll never forget, and any time we go into extra innings, this’ll be the gold standard and likely get referred to a lot….

Just make it stop.

by Silverblood on Apr 18, 2008 2:12 PM MDT 0 recs

Have you tried Gamecast?

I got a kick out of reading your comments … seems like you were having trouble with Gameday, as I often do. Have you tried ESPN’s Gameday? It has been working better than Gameday for me.

My daughter says she wants to marry Taylor Bucholz.
But I'm not sure about the beard.

by maris61 on Apr 18, 2008 2:44 PM MDT up 0 recs

correction

It’s “Gamecast” on ESPN.com, not Gameday.

My daughter says she wants to marry Taylor Bucholz.
But I'm not sure about the beard.

by maris61 on Apr 18, 2008 2:44 PM MDT up 0 recs

Could you imagine...

...if you had gone that long and your team lost?? Oh, wait….

"I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do."

by DbacksSkins on Apr 18, 2008 5:08 PM MDT up 0 recs

I'm a

I’m a Twins fan and have the MLB Extra Inning Package. I got home from home in the 8th inning and watched it until the end at 3:21. What a fantastic game. Congrats on the win.
and since it was the Rockies feed on last night, I got to see your teams commercials. There are great. Especially the one where the players are prima donnas

by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on Apr 18, 2008 2:13 PM MDT 0 recs

What I was wondering...

How much of the game did Cook and Morales see in Houston?

Every day is a Holliday!

by free7694 on Apr 18, 2008 3:28 PM MDT 0 recs

SportsCenter recap

Uploaded to FanShots is ESPN SportsCenter’s “Ultimate Highlight” recap of the 22-inning marathon featuring the calls of FSN’s Drew Goodman and George Frazier. Drew was at his finest with some terrific ad-libs as the game lingered on. My favorite quip—the bearded guy being “clean shaven” before the game started.

by DeepPurple on Apr 18, 2008 6:59 PM MDT 0 recs