Even with Smith and Atkins, Jim Tracy has still been finding PH AB's late in close games for Omar Quintanilla. Giambi should at least help the Rockies avoid having to do that anymore.

Infante ramped it up to 97 mph last night, sitting at that 94-96 range most of the night. Just an incredible performance.

You\'re welcome. Shortstop\'s definitely our weak spot besides the bench. I don\'t know if Boots lived up to his nickname in the field, but at least he put up a solid offensive line.

Hey, I think my May 20 team can compete here, so long as all my starters stay healthy/ C: Ramon Hernandez (Career OPS+ 96) 1B: Joe Harris (OPS+ 136) 2B: Boots Grantham (OPS+ 121) 3B: Ken Boyer (1964 MVP, OPS+ 116) SS: Wilson Valdez (OPS+ 41, but at least he makes some up with the glove. I think I may hand this off to rookie/AAA prospect Adam Rosales, though) LF: Jayson Werth OPS+ 109) CF: Bobby Murcer (OPS+ 124) RF: Austin Kearns (OPS+ 105) DH/Manager: Sadaharu Oh (868 career HR\'s) Bench OF: Jose Zardon Bench OF: Jim Lyttle Bench IF: Luis Garcia Bench IF: Stan Benjamin Util/C: Fritz Von Kulnitz SP: Hal Newhouser (HOF, 130 ERA+) SP: David Wells (career 108 ERA+) SP: Pete Appleton (14-9 136 ERA+ in 1932, career 103 ERA+) SP: Todd Stottlemyre (career 100 ERA+) SP: Harry Taylor (career 103 ERA+) Swing: Jake Thielman (242 IP in 1905, career 86 ERA+) RP: Tom Morgan RP: Wilcy Moore RP: Lee Griffeth RP: Jess Buckles CL: Walter Bernhardt (infinite ERA+, a K/9 of 9.00, of course he just pitched one inning...)

While your observation that Livan Hernandez needs to be removed from the rotation yesterday is astute (if easy) I think you fail to give enough credit to the remarkable job Jorge De La Rosa has done being exactly the kind of miss bats pitcher you advocate the Rockies should get. While Tulo\'s resurgence has been a large part of the gains the Rockies have made this season, JDLR\'s part in stabilizing the rotation over the second half has been just as vital. I don\'t know if it\'s at all sustainable given his career and how the season began, but as long as he does keep this up, the Rockies have 4/5 of their rotation at a level where they give the team at least a halfway decent chance to win much of the time. The big issue with Morales would be a bullpen tax, I don\'t know if he\'s gone past six innings in any start with Colorado Springs this year, but if the Rockies could come up with a dual starter solution (Morales plus a Redman/Rusch/Hernandez scrub?) in the roster expansion, they could minimize this effect and get at least something worthy of fifth starterdom. I don\'t know if the team\'s management is creative enough to see this, however.