Today marks the opening bell for most of the Rockies minor league affiliates, but for one key member of the expected Colorado Springs Sky Sox rotation, it marks an opportunity for a redemption of sorts. Greg Reynolds will get a chance to return to the bigs tomorrow in the place of the injured Ubaldo Jimenez.
Despite Jimenez's loss, the Rockies have started the season about as well as could be expected, going 3-1 on their opening homestand and sweeping the Dodgers to take an early and mostly meaningless lead in the NL West division. Still it's nice to be ahead.
I guess that should be the "always-putrid NL West," at least according to Vassar's college rag:
The NL West, which houses the defending World Champions as well as the only other non-Philadelphia NL team in the last four years to go to the World Series. Of course, Vassar always was the Miss South Carolina of the Seven Sisters. Just in case you despair for the state of liberal arts education in America, however, I counter with the keen intellect of Kate Hampson at the Washburn Review to show the country still has a chance:
The Rockies, in fact, are going to win the NL West for the first time in franchise history, with a powerful lineup and a solid pitching staff. Colorado's records of late have reflected the play of possible Hall-of-Fame first baseman Todd Helton.
And as for the minor league opening bell, you can go through some of the rest of the links after the bump:
Modesto Nuts' name revisited - Bee Editorials - Modbee.com
Take me out to the ballgame | Tulsa World
Rockies push Rutledge, keep others in extended spring | Inside the Colorado Rockies
It's go time for Ben Paulsen and the Tulsa Drillers | Tulsa World