Posts from the Rockies Category at FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

All this talk about Coors Field not being the offensive haven that it once was between the humidor and better Rockies pitching had to make some long for the days of nutso scores. For one night, and on July 4th of all nights, the old Coors made a grand return to the big stage as the Rockies defeated the Marlins ... ready ... 18-17.

The game featured the largest comeback in Rockies history, as they were once down in the game 13-4. It also included two dingers by Matt Holliday, one of which was a grannie in the seventh to cut the Marlins lead to 17-16. And it also included the latest blown save by Kevin Gregg in the ninth, his second in two nights, and fifth in his last 20 opportunities. Before the game, Fredi Gonzalez had said that Gregg was not in danger of losing his job. Maybe that has changed after tonight. I doubt it though ... heck, everyone was hitting tonight.

On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

You know, throughout the course of baseball history, there have been plenty of relief pitchers who made the transition to being a starter. Hell, before the specialty roles we've all come to know and love (I heart LOOGYs) started, the bullpen was just a place for managers to park starting pitchers who couldn't cut it.

They didn't want to use them, so they put them somewhere as far away as possible.

Anyway, I'm getting off track, what I was getting at was the fact that the move from bullpen to starter happens all the time nowadays. Just look in Chicago where Ryan Dempster has gone from being the Cubs closer last season to being their #2 starter this season. Boston's Jonathan Papelbon was a starter who became a closer then tried starting again only to return to closing and thrusting his pelvis in any given direction at any given time.

So why is Joba Chamberlain's move from the back of the Yankees bullpen to the rotation such a big deal? I swear to God, you turn to ESPN on any day that Joba is pitching and they're breaking into PTI to let us all know that Joba has reached the fifth inning.

"Not the fifth inning!" you scream from your sofa. "I better tune in to see if he makes it to the sixth, no time to feed the kids now!"

Seriously, the hype surrounding this "big" move is utterly ridiculous, so let's add to it after the jump, shall we?

One of the complaints about interleague baseball is that, with a few exceptions, the games are between teams with no historical rivalry which means less games between teams that do have such background to their meetings. On the surface this week's series between the Royals and the Rockies would fit the bill unless the thought of Clint Hurdle managing against the team he played against boils your potatoes.

Leave it to those two rapscallions, Ramon Ramirez and Yorvit Torrealba, to gin up some controversy where none existed. The Denver Post reports that the two players had a conversation before Ramirez walked Torrealba on four pitches in the ninth inning, a couple of which appeared to be in the general direction of the catcher's head and back.

Ramirez insisted afterward that the ball was wet from perspiration, saying "it slipped." Torrealba wasn't buying it. He said he was prepared for Ramirez to throw at him, though he wouldn't reveal why. "Ask him. It's all good," Torrealba said. "Every time I talk about stuff, I get fined or suspended."

Ramirez was traded by Colorado before the season and some Rockies said that he told them he was going to do some drilling when the two teams met. He pitched Monday and in the eighth inning on Tuesday without incident, however. We'll see if the two teams continue bucking for inclusion in our next edition of Old Boss, New Boss this evening.

On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

Kansas City Royals (35-43) vs. Colorado Rockies (32-46) - 8:10PM Est.

Remember earlier this season when the Diamondbacks started out the season something ridiculous like 20-1, Chase Utley had around 14 home runs in the first week of April, and everyone was saying that the National League had finally caught up to, and passed, the American League as the class of baseball?

You aren't hearing much about that anymore now that interleague play has started are you? That's because the AL is kicking the NL's butt so far this season. Only three teams in the American League have a losing record against the senior circuit right now (Toronto, Cleveland, Cincinnati) while only four National League teams (New York, Atlanta, Colorado, Cincinnati) have a winning record against the AL.

The biggest kick in the stomach for the National League? The Royals are 11-3 against them so far this season. The same Royals team that's 24-40 against it's own league. All of which means that if the Royals haven't contacted Bud Selig and asked about switching leagues yet, they should seriously consider it.

Remember when Troy Tulowitzki went down with that injury earlier in the season? Remember when "they" (whoever that might be) said he'd be out until "at least after the All-Star break?"

Well, he must be some kind of bad-ass, because now the Rockies are expecting him back on Friday. This Friday. As in June 20th.

He's already gotten in five games in Class-A without lingering complications and is headed to Triple-A this week to complete his rehab assignment.

So basically as fast as all the injured Rockies went down, they're coming back just as quickly ... after Brad Hawpe and Matt Holliday recently returned and having Clint Barmes back shortly as well. It sounds ridiculous to say, but with the entire NL West sputtering: they actually have a shot. The defending NL Champs are only 8.5 games out of first entering Monday night. Crazier things have happened, and we learned last year to not give up on this bunch.

Fantasy Spin: Tulo really struggled early in the season (.152, 1 HR, and a horrifying 19 OPS+ ... not a typo), but he's a better player than that. Last season he went .291-24-99 as a rookie. Yes, he also brings stellar defense ... but that's of no consequence in fantasy.

Regardless, he's a must-start shortstop in all but the shallowest fantasy leagues ever invented. Even in those he's a consideration. Rank him no worse than 10, and possibly higher; depending on the format.

On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

Los Angeles Angels (40-26) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (38-27) - 3:35PM Est.

Looking around today's schedule there just isn't a better matchup than the one in Los Angeles this afternoon, whether you're looking at it based on the strength of the two teams playing, or at the starting pitching matchups. The Angels and Rays will finish their three-game set in Anaheim with the rubber game this afternoon.

Neither of today's starters were available to their team to start the season, but ever since John Lackey and Scott Kazmir have rejoined their teams rotations they've both been the dominant aces their squads need to contend.

Today they square off against each other for the first time.

Things are not looking "good" for the Colorado Rockies, but they are certainly not as bleak as they were a few days ago. That's what the return of a few disabled players will do for you. And given that, the Rockies should be in pretty good spirits come Tuesday night, when Matt Holliday plans on making his return from the disabled list.

A left hamstring strain on May 24 forced Holliday to the disabled list, but after three games at Triple-A Colorado Springs he is ready to return. Holliday is slated to return Tuesday for the opener of a three-game set against the Giants at Coors Field.

He finished his stint on Sunday by hitting a home run in his first at-bat and going 2-for-4 in the Sky Sox's 6-3 loss to Salt Lake City. In three games, Holliday was 6-for-10 with a home run, a double and three RBIs during his rehab.

Holliday is clearly the most important player in the Rockies lineup; his home/road splits aside (he's average outside of Coors) he is still their MVP candidate and all world masher. While trade talks have been discussed, it seems unlikely that Holliday will get shipped out just yet.

The chance the Rockies actually make the postseason are pretty slim, but one has to think as long as a chance is there, Holliday will remain in a Colorado uniform. Oh, and everyone knows about his splits too. Which doesn't help his trade value.

Fantasy Spin: Get Holliday active tomorrow morning, obviously. The guy's a masher and a homestand against the Giants is a pretty nice welcome back present. On the other hand, if/when he comes off hot, you should go ahead and shop him, given the aforementioned splits. If he gets dealt this season, his value takes a hit.

Now that the exciting action of MLB's amateur draft has completed it's first round, it's time to take a look at our country's next millionaires. Find out which team drafted the son of the former offensive lineman pictured here and peruse our quick glance at the NL West first round selections.

San Francisco Giants (5) Gerald "Buster" Posey, Catcher, Florida State: Posey was supposed to go number one to Tampa Bay, but a little matter of money nudged the Rays off the scent, and Buster Posey went to the other side of the country to join the San Francisco Giants. Posey's asking price of $12 million wasn't enough to scare the Giants off ... although $12 million has to be nothing to a team who's paying Barry Zito a gazillion dollars to go 1-9 for them. Posey has only been a catcher for two seasons after converting from shortstop, but has been a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award as the nation's best collegiate catcher.

Los Angeles Dodgers (15) Ethan Martin, RHP, Stephens County School, (GA): Scouts took note of Martin after his performance in the LaGrange Invitational, where he struck out 12 hitters and gave up four hits in a 6-4 Stephens County win over American Heritage ... a game where Martin hit 99 on the gun four times. Martin can also get hitters out with a power breaking ball and a splitter. Here's your Ethan Martin oddity: Remember that incident where the pitcher and catcher conspired to hit the home plate umpire in the face with the pitch? The pitcher was Cody Martin ... Ethan's brother. Ethan played in that game at shortstop, and had vehemently argued with that umpire after striking out, which came just before the incident.

MLB's vice president of on-field operations Bob Watson brought the hammer down on Matt Kemp and Yorvit Torrealba for their impromptu wrestling exhibition during Tuesday's game. Kemp has been suspended four games; Torrealba, three. Both players were also fined an undisclosed amount. Kemp doesn't sound all that surprised about the punishment. From the LA Times:

"It was just out of frustration," he said Tuesday. "It was really stupid. It was not a good decision on my part. But it happened and you've got to deal with whatever it is that comes after that."

Kemp may be contrite, but he's still appealing the suspension. That's pretty much just a formality, though, since doing it allows him to play in the series that starts today against the Cubs. The Rockies are off today, so it's not clear if Torrealba will appeal or not, but it's customary for most players to appeal these things until the timing works out best.

MLB has already scrubbed most videos of the fight off the English-speaking tubes, but this Italian site is still showing it, in case you've somehow managed not to turn on a TV this week and see it a dozen times over.