Clamoring for a trade... Sheesh... what Phillies fans were doing with Pat Burrell before late 2007 was clambering. We're a lot nicer to Garrett, and we certainly acknowledge that he is one of the two best hitters on the team this season -assuming Chris Iannetta is overreaching his potential a bit with his start- and very grateful for his role in last season's team. I'm just waiting to hear a better solution. Trade Stewart for whom? Is it just a one for one deal or do we have to add a "throw-in" that comes and bites us Joe Nathan-like down the road?

No this might be clamoring. "Forgotten man " Jeff Baker has been putting up this line since April 10, 2007: .192/.262/.277, and that includes the bounce he got from his infield single yesterday. Which would you rather have subbing for Todd Helton, that, or Willy Taveras' .234/.307/.290 line from his admittedly miserable 2008? Baker's not being forgotten, he's being willfully, and perhaps rightfully, ignored because he just isn't producing. Even so, he's got nearly as many AB's this year as Chris Iannetta, who now that I think about it, and the way he took throws at third the other day, might not have been a bad idea to be the rest sub for Todd last night.

Kosuke Fukudome didn't have anything on Brian Fuentes yesterday afternoon during the ninth inning. Neither did Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, for that matter. That certainly was quite the first test for Fuentes in his return to the closer role: facing the heart of the Cubs lineup. How long will this move last?

Hurdle said it served no purpose to say whether the move would be temporary, since there is no way to predict how Fuentes and Corpas will perform.

"I think you do is what's best for the club," Hurdle said. "And that's to give the ball to Brian right now, get the heat off Manny, give him an opportunity to work his way (back). See how that plays out."

Sounds as if Hurdle will stick with this until Fuentes blows a few saves in a row, no?

Cook might have a new nickname soon, "The Terminator," if he keeps coming up big after the Rockies fall big time.

Tracy Ringolsby suggests two possible lineup changes, one Hurdle likely won't do and the other, possibly. Todd Helton moving to the two-hole has been bandied around before, but would Hurdle actually stick with such a move for long?

Mark Kiszla chimes in with a "This isn't October anymore for the Rockies" piece.

Next up, a weekend series against the Dodgers. We'll get our first look at Hiroki Kuroda tonight.

Clint Hurdle is considering making a few changes to the lineup today, according to this short entry from the Denver Post. So who gets the day off? Do we see Tulo sit, even though he says he doesn't want to? A change to the outfield this time around? The possibilities are not endless, but maybe Hurdle will get a hit with today's lineup. And no, I don't mean the 'H' column will have a '1' in it. I mean a lineup that collects a bunch of hits and scores enough runs to win today. I know I was just setting that joke up for someone.

Once Kaz Matsui puts his problems behind him and returns to the Houston lineup, the Rockies, Troy Renck speculates, could inquire into Mark Loretta's availability. Renck also notes that O'Dowd concedes that any long-term contract with Holliday will have to start at $100M. And have you forgotten that the Diamondbacks won a World Series in 2001?

Todd Helton hasn't lost his humor: " 'I have one ab now,' said Helton when asked about his trimmer, leaner physique." There are also updates on Redman and Vizcaino in that article.

Time for Cook to continue on his path to a breakthrough season this afternoon.

Doug Davis' surgery for thyroid cancer "was very successful," the team doctor said. As Davis recovers and works his way back towards pitching in the majors, the Rockies and D'Backs meet for round two this season. In the first round the D'Backs rang the Rockies' bell, but with the Rockies' bats seemingly coming alive on Wednesday this time it should be more of a challenge. First up is Francis vs. Webb, and Francis will want to get back at the D'Backs for his last outing. Twelve hits and five runs is not up to snuff. Nor is allowing three home runs. Plus, the D'Backs are riding a six-game winning streak. We don't need to see that go any longer.

What about those Giants? They're now winners of three straight after Kevin Correia threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings against the Cardinals last night. The Rockies don't need to be competing for the bottom of the NL West. Besides, I think Adam Wainwright was just being nice to the Giants by getting their hopes up for just a bit longer.

Since Josh Fogg is no longer a Rockie, the team needed a new player representative in the Union. Fogg tabbed The Physicist for that role.

Todd Helton says that the ivy grown at Coors helps hitters since some of the shine is eliminated.

Well, that road trip in St. Louis was disappointing, to say the least. But we should put that out of our minds for now. The Rockies return home to celebrate last year's pennant win this weekend.  We'll wait until tomorrow night to see the pennant unveiled. Today Joe Kennedy's widow and son will take the field before the game:

The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Kaige Kennedy, who is 16 months old and the son of the late Joe Kennedy, a former Rockies pitcher. Todd Helton, a close friend of Kennedy and his widow, Jami, will accompany Kaige on the field.

That'll be a great moment.

Todd Helton has the right idea that this Opening Day will be different than past ones:

"I always look forward to it because it is a chance for the fans and the team to reunite, and this one will have a little more meaning to it," he said.

Sure, it would have even more meaning if the team was celebrating a World Series victory, but when someone mentions the '07 Rockies season the first thought isn't going to be, "The Rockies lost the World Series." It's going to be, "Those 21 days . . ." The club's already seen the impact that run has had on ticket sales.

For those of you attending the game today, enjoy it! We'll expect your stories and photos about the Opener later today.