It is simply amazing.

The Rockies are only 4 games out of the Wild Card despite every starter but Jimenez hitting the DL this year, Tulo out for a month, Stewart not hitting for average, Helton on the way out, Iannetta clearly a AAA player, Hawpe so far off the map he’s playing AAA for the Rays – and they have Manuel Corpas on the roster – on purpose! All of those things, all of those close games that they blew, the terrible post-All Star slide and they are still in contention, although a long shot. Honestly, imagine if this team could actually put it together.

Yeah- in my Major League debut I stuck out 14, walked none, gave up 4 hits in 7 innings and stuck out the last 7 guys I faced while hitting 101 mph a few times along the way.  Yepper, that’s exactly what I did. Struck out 14, stuck out the side on 11 pitches, got the win – this is exactly what happened to me.

It should be clear – the team has 5 saves so far. 5.  And only a handful of teams have lost more 1-run games than Colorado. 

They need Huston Street and more than that, they need him to be Huston Street. He can’t be a former shade of his past succes; he’s got to come blow the doors off 20th and Blake.  The Rockies bullpen is stocked with set-up men and no closer.  Corpas?  If the Rox thought he could close they wouldn’t have traded for Street in the first place.  Fuentes priced himself out of town.  With his velocity and the Rox’ abundance of starting pitching, maybe De La Rosa could close if he could control the walks.

None are the right solution.  Get Street back healthy and get yourself back into the division race.  Sitting .500 at the All-Star Break isn’t going to cut it.

A lot of baseball players are claiming they will not go to the All-Star Game in Arizona if this immigration law stands.

Ballplayers drop out of games for many reasons – don’t like the manager, just played, about to play, injuries or just wanting the rest, wanting to be with the family… anything.

I don’t know that baseball can force players to attend but wouldn’t it be an interesting slap in the face of the AZ government if the fans and managers selecting those teams opted for all-international teams?

You could certainly form two meaningful rosters of non-USA born players, so why not go for it.

10% into the season, time to make some picks

Tampa wins the AL East, Minnesota in the Central, the Angels in the .500 West and the Yankees in the WC

Phillies in the East, Cardinals clinch a month early and the Rockies find enough pitchers to beat out the Giants.

World Series – repeat matchup of Tampa and Philadelphia, this time the Rays take home the hardware.