On Sunday, Aaron Cook was selected to the All-Star Game. Most Rockies fans were very happy for him, and while I was as well, I was also a little nervous. Why, you ask? Cook is the third Rockies pitcher, after Mike Hampton in 2001 and Shawn Chacon in 2003, to be selected to the All-Star Game. For Hampton and Chacon, the selection spelled doom for their Rockies careers. Some numbers to digest:

Mike Hampton:

Before the All-Star Break in 2001: 9-5, 4.02 ERA

Rockies Career after 2001 All-Star Game: 12-23, 6.56 ERA

Shawn Chacon:

Before the All-Star Break in 2003: 11-4, 4.27 ERA

Rockies Career after 2003 All-Star Game: 2-20, 5.53 ERA

Combined, the two men were 20-9 with a 4.14 ERA in the seasons before their All-Star appearances and 14-43 with a 6.16 ERA in their Rockies career afterwards. There is also the fact that Hampton hasn't made a Major League appearance in three seasons with arm injuries and Chacon recently went Latrell Spreewell on his GM and his career is likely over. Let's hope that Cookie can break the Curse of the All-Star Rockies pitcher.

I took all of the Jeff Baker jokes from the last couple days and put them in one place. Here they are:

Jeff Baker once saw a cow on the road. He punched a hole through it so he could see the other side.

 

God's ideal golf foursome is two Jeff Bakers and Tiger Woods... and Woods is only thrown is so God could get some of the money he loses to Bake back.

 

Jeff Baker doesn’t worry about changing his clock twice a year for daylight savings time.

 

The sun rises and sets when Bake tells it to.

 

Jeff Baker is what Willis was talking about.

 

In Soviet Russia,  Jeff Baker plays you.

 

Jeff Baker can sneeze with his eyes open, AND get a hit while doing so.

 

Jeff Baker went to church today... the preacher paid him 10%.

 

There is no theory of evolution, there is only what Jeff Baker allows to live.

 

The world shuts down when Jeff Baker fails.

 

Jeff Baker once caught a pop up. With someone else’s prosthetic hand.

 

Jeff Baker doesn't catch fly balls, he squeezes them into submission.

 

On the 7th day God rested...and Jeff Baker invented baseball.

 

Jeff Baker ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one.

 

When you say, “no one is perfect” Jeff Baker takes it as a personal insult.

 

Jeff Baker doesn’t fail. He waits.

 

Jeff Baker bowled a 300. In one frame.

 

Jeff Baker's chin is so strong...it could knock out Kimbo Slice.

 

Jeff Baker does not own a house. He walks into random houses and people move.

 

Jeff Baker doesn't take batting practice...he takes moonshot practice. The upper deck shudders everytime Jeff Baker swings the bat.

 

Jeff Baker doesn’t say “Who’s your daddy?” because he knows the answer.

 

Jeff Baker doesn't sleep with women...he impregnates them with his smouldering eyes.

 

When Jeff Baker wants an egg, he cracks open a chicken.

 

Jeff Baker can play Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. By himself. With nothing but his penis and a drum set.

 

Eric Byrnes is allowed to live because Jeff Baker doesn’t kill women.

 

Jeff Baker discovered the meaning of life. Too bad he didn’t want to share it with anyone.

 

There is no such thing as global warming. Jeff Baker was cold, so he turned the sun up.

 

Jeff Baker doesn’t use facts. If he thinks it, it becomes fact.

 

In the beginning there was nothing. Then Jeff Baker hit a ball off it and said, “Get a job.” That is the story of the universe.

 

Jeff Baker put laxative companies out of business. He scares the shit out of everyone.

 

There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq...Jeff Baker plays in Colorado.

 

Jeff Baker understands Hurdle’s managerial decisions. He just doesn’t believe in sharing.

 

Outer space exists because it’s afraid to be on the same planet as Jeff Baker.

 

The dead-ball era was named after every one of Jeff Baker’s at-bats. Because he kills the ball when he hits it. He literally kills it.

 

Jeff Baker can bend the space time continuum, turning strikes into balls and giving Willy only 20’ to steal second.

 

Jeff Baker uses a night light. Not because Jeff Baker is afraid of the dark, but because the dark is afraid of Jeff Baker.

 

Behind Todd Helton's beard is Jeff Baker’s fist.

 

 

 

 

4-5, 94 1/3 IP, 82 H, 61 R, 50 ER, 49 BB, 82 K, 10 HRA, 4.77 ERA, 1.39 WHIP

1-1, 17 2/3 IP, 17 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 10 BB, 9 K, 2 HRA, 4.07 ERA, 1.53 WHIP

Those two lines are both for the same pitcher, Ubaldo Jimenez. The first line is his numbers in games caught by Yorvit Torrealba, the second line is his numbers in games caught by Chris Iannetta. We are constantly being told by "the powers that be" that Torrealba is in there because of his excellent mentoring of our Latin pitchers.

With Ubaldo at least, there seems to be no big difference between his performance with Torrealba and Iannetta behind the plate. His walk and strikeout numbers are a little better with Torrealba, but his ERA is nearly a full run lower with Iannetta behind the dish. So, it doesn't seem to matter to Ubaldo who his catcher is. Franklin Morales, however, is a different story.

With Torrealba: 2-3, 41 1/3 IP, 37 H, 16 R, 16 ER, 23 BB, 22 K, 1 HRA, 3.48 ERA, 1.45 WHIP

With Iannetta: 2-1, 18 IP, 20 H, 16 R, 16 ER, 8 BB, 9 K, 2 HRA, 8.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP

Morales, unlike Ubaldo, seems to actually benefit from having Torrealba catch him. His ERA more than doubles with Iannetta behind the plate. But Frankie's in the minors now, so if you look at the numbers the club currently has no excuse for keeping Iannetta on the bench. If/when Franklin comes back, though, get Yorvit behind the plate when Morales is on the mound. 

Here are the team and some individual rankings from the new game Major League Baseball 2k8:

1. New York Yankees
   
2. Detroit Tigers
   
3. Boston Red Sox
   
4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
   
5. New York Mets
   
6. Los Angeles Dodgers
   
7. Cleveland Indians
   
8. Minnesota Twins
   
9. Chicago Cubs
   
10. San Diego Padres
    
11. Toronto Blue Jays
    
12. Atlanta Braves
    
13. Philadelphia Phillies
    
14. Tampa Bay Rays
    
15. St. Louis Cardinals
    
16. Colorado Rockies
    
17. Chicago White Sox
    
18. Milwaukee Brewers
    
19. Cincinnati Reds
    
20. Seattle Mariners
    
21. Oakland Athletics
    
22. Arizona Diamondbacks
    
23. Houston Astros
    
24. Baltimore Orioles
    
25. San Francisco Giants
    
26. Washington Nationals
    
27. Pittsburgh Pirates
    
28. Texas Rangers
    
29. Kansas City Royals
    
30. Florida Marlins

Some individuals:
Helton: 88 Overall (10th best 1B)
Tulo: 82 Overall (9th at SS)
Atkins: 85 Overall (9th at 3B)
Holliday: 90 Overall (5th in LF)
Hawpe: 80 Overall (14th in RF)
Corpas: 84 Overall (20th best Closer)

Nobody else is in the top 20 at their position, unless you count Marcus Giles who is better than Kaz for some reason.

Catcher:
Yorvit Torrealba-Rockies: Torrealba's main strength is the way he handles the Rockies' young pitching staff and calls games. While he has come up with some key hits in the postseason, Torrealba is a below average hitter overall.
Jason Varitek-Red Sox:  Boston's captain is an above average hitter, with 17 home runs and 68 RBIs in the regular season. He is just average defensively.
Edge: Varitek is the heart and soul of the Red Sox. That and the pop in his bat give the edge to Boston.

1st Base:
Todd Helton-Rockies: Like Varitek, Helton is the heart and soul of his team. While not the player he once was, Helton is still outstanding defensively and above average at the plate.
Kevin Youkilis-Red Sox: Youkilis is very similar to Helton. He is above average defensively and has been solid hitting second for the Red Sox with a .288 average in the regular season.
Edge: These two players are very similar, but Helton's defense gives the Rockies the edge.

2nd Base:
Kazuo Matsui-Rockies: Playing in just 104 games for the Rockies, Matsui was just average at the plate. Where he had a big impact was on the basepaths, with 32 stolen bases this season. He has also been above average defensively.
Dustin Pedroia-Red Sox: The likely AL Rookie of the Year, Pedroia hit .317 for the Sox in the regular season, striking out just 42 times in 139 games. He was also solid at second base defensively.
Edge: Because of the spark he provides for the team, the edge goes to Matsui and the Rockies.

Shortstop:
Troy Tulowitzki-Rockies: Tulowitzki has been the catalyst for the Rockies' late season run. He hit 24 homers and drove in 99 during the regular season and played outstanding defense.
Julio Lugo-Red Sox: Lugo is above average defensively, but is easily the weakest bat of any starter in the series. Lugo hit just .237 in the regular season and .219 in the AL Playoffs.
Edge: Big advantage for the Rockies and Tulowitzki here.

3rd Base:
Garrett Atkins-Rockies: Atkins has a very good bat, with 25 home runs and 111 RBIs in the regular season. He struggles defensively, often being pulled for Jamey Carroll late in games.
Mike Lowell: Lowell had a very good year offensively, hitting .324 with 21 homers and 120 RBIs. He is also very good defensively at the hot corner.
Edge: Lowell would likely be the AL MVP if not for A-Rod's performance this season, so Boston gets the edge here.

Left Field:
Matt Holliday-Rockies: The NLCS MVP hit .340 with 36 home runs and 137 RBIs in the regular season. He has also hit four home runs in seven postseason games and has improved his defense significantly.
Manny Ramirez-Red Sox: While he has more name recognition than Holliday, Ramirez was not significantly better in 2007. He hit .296 with 20 home runs and just 88 RBIs in the regular season. He is also noted for his defense, but not in a good way.
Edge: America, get ready to meet Matt Holliday, advantage Rockies.

Center Field:
Willy Taveras-Rockies: Taveras played in just 97 games for the Rockies this season, but led the team with 33 steals. Taveras also hit .320 on the year and played a very good center field defensively.
Coco Crisp/Jacoby Ellsbury-Red Sox: Crisp and Ellsbury have platooned in center throughout September. Ellsbury has the better bat, but Crisp is very good defensively.
Edge: The edge goes to the Rockies because they won't use a platoon.

Right Field:
Brad Hawpe-Rockies: Hawpe hits far better against righties than against lefties. The Red Sox will start four righties in the series. Hawpe hit .315 with 24 homers against righties in 2007 and has a cannon for an arm in right field.
J.D. Drew-Red Sox: Drew has been a $70 million disappointment for Boston this season, hitting just .270 with 11 home runs. On the positive side, he will not be a liability defensively.
Edge: The edge easily goes to Colorado here, Hawpe has been very solid.

DH:
Ryan Spilborghs-Rockies: Spilborghs played very well as a pinch hitter and as Taveras' replacement in 2007. He had 11 home runs and 51 RBIs to go with his .299 average in 97 games in 2007.
David Ortiz-Red Sox: Ortiz was Boston's best hitter this season, hitting .332 with 35 home runs. Ortiz has also been very good in the playoffs, with 11 home runs in 47 postseason games.
Edge: Spilborghs is a good hitter, but he's no Big Papi. Boston gets the edge.