There is no doubt that some bad calls have gone against the Rockies in the last few games, but the question is why. Is MLB trying to get a bigger market in the playoffs? Are umps holding a grudge over the SpillySlam incident? Are we not getting respect? Or is it just plain human error that we're noticing more in the pennant race. Many opinions have been expressed on the issue, so I thought a formal poll was in order.

Like everybody around here, I have loved the national attention the Rockies have gotten over the last week or so. But it frustrates me a bit because the national media is acting like we've been mediocre until the last couple weeks and have come out of nowhere. When the Dodgers got off to their hot start in the first half, they were lauded as clear NL favorites and something of a juggernaut.

The Dodgers were 51-30 in their first 81 games, or half a season, on pace for a 102-60 full season record.

The Rockies have gone 55-26 in their last 81 games, also half a season, a pace for a 110-52 record for a full season.

This is not some three week or one month fluke type thing in 2007, the Rockies are one of the best teams in baseball and should be treated as such, instead they are treated as some sort of Cinderella story because they got off to a slow start.


It's just a bit insulting, IMO.

In last night's game thread, I believe, It was brought up that Stephen Drew was someone's favorite non-Rockie. That got me wondering who everybody's favorite non-Rockie players were around here. I think we should eliminate former Rockies from the conversation, so no picking Matt Holliday or Brian Fuentes. It should be interesting to see who the other popular players are among the Rowbots around here. A why to your selection would be nice too.

By the way, my favorite non-Rockie is Chipper Jones. I've got family in Atlanta and the Braves have pretty mych always been my second favorite team.

And I've got the stats to prove it.

Since Jackson took over for Frerotte against Detroit, here are his numbers compared to McNabb's:

Jackson: 64.0% completions, 740 yards, 8 TD, 1 INT, 115.4 QB Rating

McNabb: 62.9% completions, 886 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT, 91.9 QB Rating

Too small of a sample size you say, let's take a look at their season stats:

Jackson: 59.1% completions, 1,056 yards, 9 TD, 2 INT, 95.4 QB Rating

McNabb: 60.4% completions, 3,916 yards, 23 TD, 11 INT, 86.4 QB Rating

Also, if you project T-Jack's numbers out to the same number of attempts as McNabb, it gives him 4,047 yards, 34 TDs and 8 INT, better than McNabb. So, everyone saying that Jackson will cost the Vikings the game today should look at the numbers and realize that McNabb is just as likely to screw things up for Philly. 

The first official playoff game at Coors Field since 1995 saw a little bit of everything. But, the important part was that the Rockies were up 2-0 on the Phils, and only needed one win to get to the NLCS.

Ubaldo Jimenez struggled a bit in the first inning, but struck out Aaron Rowand to escape a jam with runners on 1st and 3rd.

In the second, it got weird. With Ubaldo facing Shane Victorino to leadoff the inning, all of the field lights at Coors shut off for 14 minutes. Giving Ubaldo much needed time to clear his head. Once the lights came back on, Ubaldo set the Phillies down in order in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings.

The problem for the Rockies was that Jamie Moyer was doing the same thing. The Rockies threatened in the bottom of the second, getting 2-out singles from Hawpe and Spilly. Moyer then walked Yorvit to load the bases...for Ubaldo, who grounded out to end the inning.

No one really threatened to score again until the fifth when Yorvit got a one out single and was sacrificed to second by Ubaldo. That brought up Game 2 hero Kaz Matsui, who tripled down the left field line, scoring Torrealba and giving the Rockies a 1-0 lead.

The Phillies answered in the 7th, when Victorino hit a solo shot off a tired Ubaldom tying the game, 1-1.

The game stayed tied until the bottom of the 8th, when Atkins and Hawpe each got 2-out singles, putting runners on 1st and 3rd for the pitchers' spot. Jeff Baker came in to pinch hit and dropped a bloop single into right field, scoring Atkins and giving the Rockies a 2-1 lead with Corpas ready in the 'pen to face the heart of the Phillies order.

Corpas did his job in the 9th, striking out Ryan Howard and getting weak ground balls from Rowand and Victorino, and the Rockies were headed to the NLCS!

The brooms were everywhere that night, I was there with my brother and family and we had a silver and black broom with a Rockies logo on it. I'll try and post a pic of it later tonight with some more of the story of my day that day.

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.