Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

Rockies decline Torrealba's option, and he becomes a free agent

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November 7

Denver Post

"After failing to come to an agreement on a two-year contract, the Rockies declined catcher Yorvit Torrealba's 2010 option Friday, making him a free agent. The reasons were financial, not personal, so there remains a decent shot Torrealba could return if he doesn't find what he wants on the open market. "He would love to go back, and we have agreed to stay in touch," agent Melvin Roman told The Denver Post. "The way we left it, there's still a chance of that happening." The Rockies held a $4 million option for next season but chose to exercise a $500,000 buyout. The team discussed a multiyear deal with Roman as a way of decreasing Torrealba's salary next season. They have had similar talks ..."

Rockies zero in on going the distance

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November 6

Denver Post

"Several Rockies players watched the World Series with a keen eye. It is, in many ways, a signal of how everything has changed in Colorado. When they saw the Yankees clinch their 27th championship, they didn't want to be them, they wanted to beat them. "Our goal is to win a championship," shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. The Rockies will likely enter spring training as co-favorites to win the National League West along with the Dodgers, who are going through owner divorce drama, and the Giants, who desperately need more offense. With thick skin and endless patience, the Rockies have created a sleek business model patterned after the Minnesota Twins. Colorado was the seventh most efficient ..."

Rockies sign relievers Flores, Belisle

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November 6

Denver Post

"The Rockies didn't waste any time making sure they have some depth in their bullpen for the 2010 season. The club announced today that it agreed to one-year major-league contracts with right-hander Matt Belisle and left-hander reliever Randy Flores. The Rockies still must decided if they will pick up the $5.4 million club option for set-up man Rafael Betancourt. The Rockies could also offer Betancourt a two-year deal, spreading out the right-hander's salary over two years. The Rockies also are exploring a long-term deal with closer Huston Street. Belisle, 29, emerged as a reliable bullpen presence late in the season. He had three stints with the Rockies and spent much of the season at ..."

Rockies sign Belisle and Flores

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November 5

InsideTheRockies.com

"With right-handed reliever Matt Belisle and left-handed reliever Randy Flores agreeing to terms with the Rockies on Thursday, it would appear that Joe Bemiel won't return. The Rockies would appear ready to go with the left-handed combo of Franklin Morales and Flores in the bullpen. The Rockies also announced they removed right-handed releiver Joel Peralta and infielder Omar Quintanilla from thier 40-man major-league roster. Peralta opted to become a free agent. Quintanilla was placed on the Triple-A Colorado Springs roster. Belisle, 29, was 3-1 with a 5.52 ERA in 24 appearances with the Rockies in 2009. During the last of this three stints with the Rockies Belisle was 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA ..."

Hurdle Joins Texas

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November 5

InsideTheRockies.com

"Clint Hurdle had ties in Texas. General manager John Daniels and his chief aid, Thad Levine, both worked in the Rockies front office before going to Texas, and Scott Servais, the director of player development, was a catcher in Colorado. The official release from the Rangers: Arlington, Texas – Texas Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels formally announced today that the club has named Clint Hurdle as the team's new hitting coach. The hiring fills the only vacancy on the Rangers' 2010 coaching staff. "Clint adds another experienced, successful coach to our major league staff," said Daniels. "He's demonstrated an ability to communicate, motivate, and emphasize a team-first offensive ..."

Time to Work on Roster

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November 4

InsideTheRockies.com

"Next week the Rockies have decisions to make on options for three players. What would you do? The pending options: C Yorvit Torrealba, $500,000 buyout on option of $4.0 million). LHP Alan Embree $250,000 buyout on option of $3.0 million). RHP Rafael Betancourt no buyout on $5.4 million option. My move would be to rework Betancourt and try to get a two-year deal with a possible buyout for a third year that would lower the annual salary but provide him more security."

Former Rockies assistant to GM has many memories of early days

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November 3

Denver Post

"Chris Rice always will feel some ownership of the Colorado Rockies. And well she should. There's something about being part of an expansion major-league baseball team that sticks with you through thick and thin. Rice quickly recalls her memories of the a fledgling Rockies franchise that blossomed into Denver's and Colorado's very own big-league team. "It's intriguing to think back and remember all the preparatory things we had to do and the detail work we did to get the franchise up and running," said Rice, who is an executive assistant with the Atlanta Braves. "It was interesting meeting all the new people. I came to the Rockies as assistant to general manager Bob Gebhard." Names and ..."

Clint Hurdle a finalist for Rangers' hitting job

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October 30

Denver Post

columnist Troy E. Renck

"Watching words spill out of Ozzie Guillen's mouth on the Fox TV set down the left-field line brought back memories. Former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle was a lot of things to a lot of people - nobody was more charitable or gracious with his time in the community. Back to Thursday night, Hurdle, like Guillen, is a talker. Sometimes charming. Sometimes angry. Always offering an opinion. At his baseball core, however, Hurdle is a teacher. So it wasn't a surprise to learn that he's one of four finalists for the Texas Rangers' hitting instructor job. Hurdle has told people close to him that he wants back into coaching. And this could be an ideal landing spot. Fired after the Rockies stumbled ..."

Old Rockies ties make Dante Bichette a Yankees fan in the Series

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October 27

Denver Post

"If you want to know who Dante Bichette is pulling for in the World Series, go back to his playing days with the Rockies. Bichette and current Yankees manager Joe Girardi were teammates on the original Rockies roster in 1993, and they developed a lasting friendship over three seasons. So it's no surprise Bichette will be rooting for New York to defeat Philadelphia. "Joe was my buddy on the Rockies," Bichette said. "Our lockers were next to each other during the best year I ever had. He could talk to me when I was struggling, and it helped." Girardi and Bichette have sons named after the other, signifying the depth of their friendship. Girardi came to the Rockies through the expansion draft ..."

Players respond to Tracy's style

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October 25

Denver Post

columnist Troy E. Renck

"To understand why Rockies manager Jim Tracy will sign a multiyear deal this week, don't focus on Tracy. Listen to what others say about him. "Jim is different. He's special. It was the way he talked to me from Day One," reliever Rafael Betancourt said. "I knew what my role was, I knew when I was coming into the game. The way he treated me, I never wanted to let him down." Reliever Huston Street, who clashed with former A's boss Bob Geren, was more specific. "I've never seen someone manage a bullpen better than him," Street said. Managers make their money in two ways: maximizing their bench and putting relievers in position to succeed. Tracy does both. Strategy will always be important as ..."

Rockies' Tracy named NL manager of year

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October 22

Denver Post

"In 2009, the Rockies' Jim Tracy became the managers' manager. Wednesday, Tracy was named Sporting News' National League manager of the year. Tracy was selected by a panel of 22 major-league managers. The Angels' Mike Scioscia received the award in the American League. "This is flattering, but I really believe this honor belongs to the entire Rockies organization," Tracy said Wednesday night from his home outside of Pittsburgh. "Our owners, Dick and Charlie Monfort, and (general manager) Dan O'Dowd and his entire staff made this happen. And as I've said many times, I had a love affair with our players this year. There is nothing false about me saying that.""

Tulowitzki would have loved winner-take-all game vs. Phillies

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October 21

Denver Post

columnist Troy E. Renck

"It was no surprise to see a talented National League shortstop celebrating a breathless victory Monday. Just figured it would be the Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki, not Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins. Rollins' walkoff double against the Dodgers has the Phillies on the verge of back-to-back World Series appearances. Tulowitzki watched it play out at home in California, on television. "Yeah, of course," Tulowitzki, a baseball junkie, said Tuesday. He's not sulking, in case you're wondering. Nine days after his team was eliminated, he has already returned to the gym. "I have started to work out," said Tulowitzki, who is expected to finish in the top five in the NL MVP race next month. The Game 4 loss ..."

Rockies to sign Tracy, O'Dowd to long-term deals

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October 20

Denver Post

"Jim Tracy has returned to Pennsylvania to attend to some projects around his house, but he could return to Denver later this week to sign a multiyear deal as the Rockies' manager. On Monday, a major-league source close to the situation said the Rockies will first hammer out a new multiyear contract with general manager Dan O'Dowd. That deal should be worked out in the next few days, the source said, clearing the way to finalize Tracy's deal. The Rockies are also expected to invite the entire coaching staff to return in the same roles: bench coach Tom Runnells, pitching coach Bob Apodaca, first-base coach Glenallen Hill, third-base coach Rich Dauer, hitting coach Don Baylor and bullpen ..."

Hawpe Not On Market

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October 19

InsideTheRockies.com

"Brad Hawpe found himself watching more than playing in the post-season for the Rockies. He, however, remains a key part in the Rockies long-range planning. Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd has been surprised by media reports that the Rockies will look to trade Hawpe, a 2009 All-Star, who struggled in the second half of the season. He started Game 1 of the NL Division Series against Philadelphia, but was limited to one pinch-hit appearance in the final three games. "The Rockies understand the value of Brad Hawpe on the field and off," said O'Dowd. "We have no desire to move him at all. He has leadership ability and a commitment to the approach we feel is important for a team's success." ..."

Baseball in November is ridiculous

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October 17

Denver Post

columnist Troy E. Renck

"There is clarity in brevity. Baseball has to come to its senses and abbreviate the season. Not by games, but days. The seventh game of the World Series is scheduled for Nov. 5. That is patently ridiculous. Weather becomes a factor. Why wouldn't it? What's next, the Fall Classic airing after the Lions on Thanksgiving? No owner worth his black American Express card will give up a home date. Too much money at stake. I get it. So let's have a minimum of four day-night doubleheaders during the season. And, as much as this hurts, take away at least three off days. The season also needs to start April 1 and end roughly Sept. 20. That would help the playoffs wrap up by mid-October. And while we're ..."

Leafs playing in fear

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October 14

Toronto Sun

"Joey MacDonald's regular-season debut in goal for the Maple Leafs was a microcosm of the team's early season struggles. The Leafs call-up from the Marlies couldn't reverse Toronto's sagging fortunes as visiting Colorado escaped the ACC with a 4-1 win. (Greg Henkenhaf/Sun Media) They've tried benchings, bag skates and callups, while burning through three goaltenders in two weeks. But the Maple Leafs can't get in the W column except the one marked woes. Those are piling up quickly on general manager Brian Burke's plate as he ponders what's wrong on the ice, in the dressing room and behind the bench. His 0-5-1 club was booed off the ice at the Air Canada Centre again last night. Whatever ..."

Bet your bottom dollar on tomorrow

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October 14

Denver Post

columnist Woody Paige

"The red-haired waif was right. It didn't happen until 11:27 a.m., but, finally, the sun did come out tomorrow. So clear away the sorrow. The Rockies had a sensational, rock 'em, sock 'em, knock 'em season. When I was at spring training in late February, I was watching the Rockies stumble and stagger to an 0-8 spring training start. They looked as awful as I felt, confined to bed with pneumonia and coughing with a broken rib. The Rox were outscored 60-28 in those eight games. The offense was abysmal and the defense shaky. Pitchers Jason Hirsh (coming back from injury), Greg Smith (acquired from Oakland in the Matt Holliday trade), Franklin Morales (striving to be a starter again), Jorge De ..."

With some exceptions, the Colorado Rockies appear to be in great shape for the future

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October 14

Denver Post

"Last year the Rockies were so hurt, so bad, they briefly played journeyman Doug Bernier at second base. In the clubhouse Monday night, after a stinging playoff exit that left eyes moist and red, the Rockies were so deep that all-stars Jason Marquis and Brad Hawpe were reduced to bench ornaments against the Phillies. Every offseason begins with questions, but that fact alone addressed the most pertinent: Are the Rockies moving forward? Yes. "This team should only get better," pitcher Jorge De La Rosa said. "We have a lot of good players here, and we are young.""

Street Suffers A Bitter Loss

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October 13

InsideTheRockies.com

"Rockies closer Huston Street was standing at his locker, being very forthright about a very painful ninth inning Monday. General manager Dan O'Dowd interrupted the give-and-take, hugged Street and said, "We wouldn't have been here without you. You did a hell of a job." The Rockies and, in particular, Street weren't expecting words of solace. Not after a stunning three-run rally in the eighth gave the Rockies a 4-2 lead in Game 4 of the National League Division Series. Not with Street, who went 35-for-37 in save opportunities during the regular season, taking the mound and this NLDS seemingly headed back to Citizens Bank Park for a winner-take-all fifth game. Deflating ninth innings were ..."

Eyre pitches 9th for Phils

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October 13

Camden Courier-Post

"As Scott Eyre hobbled out of the Phillies' clubhouse late Sunday night, the severity of his sprained right ankle wasn't known. Monday night, he felt no pain. "Once the adrenalin takes over, nothing hurts anymore," said Eyre, soaked with champagne after recording the first two outs in the ninth inning of the Phillies' Division Series-clinching 5-4 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. "It's not cold when you're pitching in a game like this. Your ankle doesn't hurt anymore. Nothing hurts." Eyre turned his ankle and tumbled off the mound as he attempted to field a bunt by Dexter Fowler in the seventh inning Sunday night. He saw team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti on Monday and was ..."

Rockies quickly turn to offseason deals, questions

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October 13

Denver Post

"The Rockies figured they would be in Philadelphia tonight, finishing a dramatic division series. Instead of a winner-take-all game, talk has shifted to the winter. The Rockies have several key decisions facing them over the next several weeks. Here's a look at the most important: General manager Dan O'Dowd is expected to receive a contract extension soon, based on what ownership has said in recent weeks. At which point, he will discuss a new contract for manager Jim Tracy. "Everybody knows he will be back after the job he did," shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said of Tracy."

Rockies' big guns fired little but blanks

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October 13

Denver Post

"The contrasting images will linger over the winter and into spring training. The Phillies' No. 3 and No. 4 hitters, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, were menacing figures. Their Rockies counterparts, Todd Helton and Troy Tulowitzki, were pedestrian. Howard's two-out, two-run double to right in the ninth inning of Monday's clincher sent a stake through the Rockies' hearts. Howard hit .375 in the National League division series and drove in six runs. Utley hit .429 and crossed the plate five times. They are an unnerving duo for any pitcher to face - just ask Rockies closer Huston Street."

Weight of world tough to bear for Rockies' Street

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October 13

Denver Post

columnist Mark Kiszla

"All lost, the one thing Rockies relief pitcher Huston Street refused to do was cry. His voice cracked. Anguish moistened the corners of his eyes. But tears? No way. A ballgame blown, Street fought to keep what little this beaten man had: his dignity. "The lazy step for me would be to walk out of here with my tail between my legs and tears coming down my face, then go home and lay in bed for two weeks," Street said Monday night, after surrendering three runs in a nightmarish ninth inning that gave Philadelphia a shocking 5-4 victory and eliminated Colorado from the playoffs. Here's what you need to know about the sudden death of Colorado's baseball season: The pain of losing a no-tomorrow ..."

Instinct takes over as Fowler leaps into second

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October 13

Denver Post

"It was going to be leap of faith. The hop that brought back hope. Dexter Fowler punctuated his strong rookie season with a jump over Phillies second baseman Chase Utley in the eighth inning, an athletic feat that ignited the Rockies' most impressive rally of the series. Following Fowler's baserunning brilliance, the Rockies rallied to take a 4-2 lead. "It was total instinct," Fowler said. "I didn't really even think about it. I was just trying to avoid him and to somehow make it safely." With one out, Fowler walked. Todd Helton hit a weak roller to Utley, the Rockies' foil in the Phillies' win Sunday. It set up as an inning-ending double play. As Fowler raced toward Utley, he veered right ..."

Rockies manager Tracy argues calls, acknowledges umps' tough job

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October 13

Denver Post

"Rockies manager Jim Tracy did more running than his players Monday. Tracy jogged on the field twice in the first inning to argue calls, and again in the top of the third. By the time he returned to the dugout, the Rockies' normally mild-mannered manager had confronted all three base umpires - Angel Hernandez at first, Tim Timmons at second and crew chief Gerry Davis at third. Nothing unusual there in a division series at times overshadowed by questionable calls. Tracy had popped out of the dugout in the ninth inning of Sunday night's Game 3 of the Phillies-Rockies series to challenge a call by first-base ump Ron Kulpa. Tracy's contention was that Todd Helton had kept his foot on the bag on ..."

Rockies and fans embrace Game 4

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October 13

Denver Post

columnist Benjamin Hochman

"Scenes from a ballpark . . . Eleven-year-old Abriana White-Hulce from Children's Hospital, bundled up in her wheelchair on the field, receiving a pregame hug from Troy Tulowitzki. Fans surrounded the statue in front of Coors Field, anxiously awaiting the arrival of their friends with the tickets ("They said 3:30, right?"). The parking lot next to Jackson's Bar charging $40. But a beer's just $37. A gentleman wearing the red Rockies Fourth-of-July hat . . . to the Rockies-PHILLIES game. Really? You're that big of a Rockies fan, but of all your Rockies apparel, the hat you chose to wear is one that looks just like the hat of the opposing team? A man wearing a Broncos No. 6 "CUTLER" jersey, ..."

Phillies fight off Rockies 5-4 in Game 4 of NLDS

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October 13

Denver Post

"The dream died on a refrigerated Monday night at Coors Field. The Rockies' remarkable season ended not with sprinkled pixie dust, but with the finality of a car crash. They lost 5-4 to the Philadelphia Phillies, eliminated in Game 4 of their National League division series. The air bags deployed squarely in the face of Huston Street. He had been so close to sending the Rockies to Game 5 in Philadelphia tonight at Citizens Bank Park. What would have been his most memorable save as a Rockie became a series of cringes. He was within one strike, one out, of pumping his fist. But he couldn't finish, leaving the Rockies closed for business. "It's impossible to put into words how bad it feels, ..."

Gonzalez gets Phillies staff's full attention

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October 13

Denver Post

columnist Jim Armstrong

"This note's for you, Fightin' Phils. . . . So what was the word on Carlos Gonzalez in the Phillies' preseries meetings? "Honestly, I don't even know," said reliever Scott Eyre. "I've got ADD, so we went over it in the meeting, but I forgot. All I know is we pitched him in and we pitched him out, but it didn't matter. You like to see talent like that come up." . . . Eyre thought he got off easy. "I gave up a jam-shot single to a guy hitting .750 in the series," he said. OK, so he was exaggerating. CarGo only hit .588. . . . Former Rockies GM Bob Gebhard, now the Diamondbacks' assistant GM, on CarGo, dealt by the D-backs to Oakland in the Danny Haren trade: "We hated to give him up. Every ..."

Phillies slugger Ryan Howard's calm approach pays off with ninth-inning RBIs

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October 13

Denver Post

"The Phillies surrounded Ryan Howard, waving champagne bottles and spraying suds at the slugger, who unflappably fielded questions about his big at-bat. "I was calm," Howard said of his two-out, two-on, ninth-inning at-bat against Rockies closer Huston Street. "I wanted to be in that situation." The greats don't sweat, not even with 49,940 raucous fans waving towels and screaming as loud as they can for their team to get the final out. Howard certainly wasn't fazed. With the Phillies trailing 4-2, the left-handed slugger worked the count to 2-1, then drilled a 91-mph fastball over the middle of the plate to the warning track in right, driving in the tying runs. Howard then scored the ..."

Colorado's own Lidge closes out Colorado Rockies

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October 13

Denver Post

"First came the champagne shower that seemed to flow from waterfalls courtesy of Brad Lidge's delirious Phillies teammates. Then came the beer, poured from what looked like oil cans. For good measure, they added Coca-Cola just to make sure Lidge's soul patch got nice and sticky. The coup d'etat came from an avalanche of cold fluid that made Sunday night's Ice Ball seem like a July game in Phoenix. "Hey, that was a bucket of ICE WATER!" Lidge yelled with a smile even icicles couldn't break. "That doesn't count!" The last time Lidge was this happy after a game in Colorado, he had pitched Cherry Creek High School to the 1995 state title over Arvada West. That day in Colorado Springs, he beat a ..."

MLB tries to get timing down in playoffs

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October 13

Washington Times

"Philadelphia Phillies fans rejoiced after their team topped the Colorado Rockies 6-5 in Game 3 of the National League Division Series, if for no other reason than they could finally go to bed. The tense playoff game finished after midnight Monday in Denver and past 2 a.m. on the East Coast, highlighting the challenges Major League Baseball faces in scheduling games to please the most fans. "We have to consider a lot of factors when we're scheduling the games," baseball spokesman Matt Bourne said when asked why the game started after 10 p.m. Eastern time. "When you have so many games taking place in such a short period of time, some games are going to scheduled during the day and some are ..."

Phillies erupt in the ninth to win, 5-4

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October 13

Los Angeles Times

"Cliff Lee couldn't help but eavesdrop. "Get me to the plate, boys," the Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher heard first baseman Ryan Howard say when the ninth inning started. When the top of the lineup ensured Howard of that, he delivered. The cleanup man hit a two-out, two-run double to tie Monday's National League division series Game 4 with Colorado and Jayson Werth followed with what turned into the series-deciding run-scoring single in the Phillies' 5-4 victory at Coors Field. The Phillies advanced to the NL Championship Series for the second consecutive season. They'll again face the Dodgers, whom they defeated in five games last year en route to a World Series title. Game 1 of ..."

Phillies' bullpen rises and falls

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October 13

Philadelphia Inquirer

"The baseball old-timers say you can't get too high or low. You've got to find a comfortable plateau and avoid the peaks and valleys.Tell that to the Phillies' relievers.In less than 24 hours, as their team won two games here to clinch their National League division series, the back end of the Phillies' bullpen had more emotional swings than Sammy Sosa.Before, during, and after his two performances, Ryan Madson was up and down and up again, much like the best and worst of his pitches.Scott Eyre, who was writhing in pain with a mild ankle sprain when he left Game 3, got two big outs in the ninth inning of the dramatic 5-4 win in Game 4, the series clincher.And Brad Lidge was home at last.Not ..."

Tracy stays out of umpiring controversy

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October 13

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Colorado manager Jim Tracy refused to be drawn into a controversy over umpiring in the National League division series.The issue arose in the ninth inning of Sunday's game when the Phillies' Chase Utley reached on an infield single, setting up Ryan Howard's sacrifice fly, which gave the Phils a 6-5 victory at Coors Field.Replays showed the ball should have been called foul because it hit Utley while he was in the batter's box. Plate umpire Jerry Meals admitted as much in a postgame conversation. Utley said the ball "might have clipped my leg," and ran because no umpire made a foul call.Tracy did not contest the fair-ball ruling at the time. He held to that position yesterday."That's not ..."

Street falls short for 2d straight night

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October 13

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Huston Street learned again last night that the playoffs are a whole different animal from the regular season.

Street, Colorado's closer, gave away a two-run lead in the ninth inning as the Phillies rallied for a 5-4 victory at Coors Field to close out the National League division series. Street lost each of the final two games.

"It's a group of good players," Street said of the Phillies. "That group battles you. They have my respect. I wish we could have played them one more."

Street allowed four runs in 22/3 innings during this series, pushing his career playoff ERA to 9.00. He has a three-game losing streak in the post-season dating back to his time with Oakland.

"The playoffs ..."

Street fails again

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October 13

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Huston Street learned again last night that the playoffs are a whole different animal from the regular season. Street, Colorado's closer, gave away a two-run lead in the ninth inning as the Phillies rallied for a 5-4 victory at Coors Field to close out the National League division series. Street lost each of the final two games "It's a group of good players," Street said of the Phillies. "That group battles you. They have my respect. I wish we could have played them one more." Street allowed four runs in 22/3 innings during this series, pushing his career playoff ERA to 9.00. He has a three-game losing streak in the post-season dating back to his time with Oakland. "The playoffs are about ..."

Phils erupt in 9th, finish off Rockies

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October 13

Philadelphia Inquirer

"All the elements of a championship team were on view in the ninth inning of tonight's 5-4, division series-clinching win against Colorado: Jimmy Rollins fired up the offense, Ryan Howard crushed a ball to right field for two series-defining runs batted in, and Brad Lidge earned the save. The Phillies, who promised all season they would bring their most dynamic selves to the postseason, followed through. Now they will play the Los Angeles Dodgers, starting Thursday, for a berth in the World Series. After Ryan Madson faltered in the eighth, the Phils appeared headed home for a deciding Game 5. But this team prides itself on the ability to come back, and the Phils regard Rollins as the man ..."

Lidge was too much, says Tulowitzki

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October 13

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Facing elimination from the National League playoffs, Colorado manager Jim Tracy considered the sagging state of his offense before last night's game. Lots of chances but not many runs. "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, I guess," Tracy said. What a wonderful holiday season it would be, the lament goes. Not for the Rockies. The ifs and buts ended their season. With a ninth-inning rally, the Phillies defeated the Rockies, 5-4, at Coors Field last night to close out the series in four games. The recurring theme to the series was the Rockies failure to take advantage of opportunities. The ending served as a cruel tease to the Rockies' season. With two outs in the eighth, the Rockies ..."

Phillies eliminate Rockies

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October 13

Philadelphia Inquirer

"When the Phillies allowed three runs in the eighth inning last night, Ruben Amaro Jr. began to think about the trip home. With Game 4 appearing lost, the first-year general manager resigned himself to logistics."I was thinking about the flight home," he said an hour later, standing in the corner of a wild visitors' clubhouse at Coors Field, quiet and exhausted. "Thinking about whether Cole [Hamels] would be ready for a Game 5 start, and about how tough it would be to stop their momentum."Amaro did not know that Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, and Brad Lidge would lead the Phils to defeat Colorado, 5-4, clinching a strange and intense National League division series in four games and earning ..."

Phillies pull win out of thin air

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October 13

Philadelphia Inquirer

"The Phillies were supposed to be the team with the shaky closer in the National League division series.But Colorado Rockies closer Huston Street was the guy who had problems, while Phillies closer Brad Lidge prospered.Street converted 35 of 37 save chances during the regular season, but blew two in the series. His latest came last night when he let a two-run lead get away in the ninth as the Phillies rallied for three runs and a 5-4 win in the decisive fifth game of the series.Lidge, who led the majors with 11 blown saves during a personally miserable regular season, struck out dangerous Troy Tulowitzki with two men on base for the save. "That's what this time of year is all about," Lidge ..."

The Phillies played this one like 2008

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October 13

Philadelphia Inquirer

columnist Phil Sheridan

"Buy the bulk-size antacids. If this division series was any indication, the Phillies are going to frazzle your nerves and keep you up late for the rest of October and maybe the early part of November, too.That's the bad news. The good news is that the defending champions have slipped right back into their 2008 postseason groove. The Phillies don't make it easy, on themselves or on their jangled fans, but they have become one of those teams that do whatever it takes to win."We're going to find a way to get it done," said Brad Lidge, who established himself again as the man who throws the final pitch. "Our guys don't just have the talent, but they believe in themselves, too. It could be a ..."

Head-scratching moves work out

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October 13

Philadelphia Daily News

"It all worked out, somehow. But Phillies manager Charlie Manuel seemed to make a pretzel out of what could have been a doughnut.Why? Why? Why?Why lefty specialist Scott Eyre to start the ninth with a one-run lead, and not resurrected closer Brad Lidge right away? Lidge had to enter with two outs and two of Eyre's runners on base.Eyre injured his right ankle badly enough to leave Game 3 the night before. He told Manuel he was fit before last night's game, and Eyre certainly looked fit, getting pinch-hitter Eric Young Jr., pitching unearthly hot lefty Carlos Gonzalez (10-for-17) tough, and getting switch-hitter Dexter Fowler before lefty Todd Helton got a hit.Lidge entered and struck out ..."

9th-inning rally helps Phillies clinch series

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October 13

Philadelphia Daily News

"There are not enough words to explain exactly how it happened. There was a key error that led to a three-run, lead-squandering inning in the bottom of the eighth and then a three-run rally in the top of the ninth. There were two bases-loaded situations that died and went to the land of missed scoring opportunities. There was another brilliant outing by the ace lefthander that somehow ended on the verge of his first postseason loss. But somehow, someway - perhaps T-shirts should be made with those two words - this is how it ended: with Brad Lidge on the mound retiring Troy Tulowitzki for his second straight save, with hugs and high-fives and champagne and a second straight berth in the ..."

Howard didn't miss it

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October 13

Philadelphia Daily News

"It was one of the biggest moments of Ryan Howard's already-illustrious career. With two outs in the top of the ninth inning and the Phillies trailing, 4-2, the All-Star first baseman stepped to the plate against Rockies closer Huston Street with runners on first and second. At the time, he carried the hopes of the rest of his teammates, not to mention millions of hopefuls in Philadelphia. The Phillies were one out away from a Game 4 loss, one out away from a late-night flight back to Pennsylvania for a decisive Game 5.You can imagine the thoughts that might have rattled around in his mind. But according to Howard, there was only one."Just go up there and try to get a good pitch to hit and ..."

He had been safest Street in Denver

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October 13

Philadelphia Daily News

"Colorado Rockies closer Huston Street was standing at his locker, being very forthright about a very painful ninth inning. General manager Dan O'Dowd interrupted the give-and-take, hugged Street and said, "We wouldn't have been here without you. You did a hell of a job."The Rockies, and in particular Street, weren't expecting words of solace. Not after a stunning three-run rally in the eighth gave the Rockies a 4-2 lead in Game 4 of the National League Division Series. Not with Street, who went 35-for-37 in save opportunities during the regular season, taking the mound and this NLDS seemingly headed back to Citizens Bank Park for a winner-take-all fifth game.Deflating ninth innings were ..."

Lidge shows he can make the save

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October 13

Philadelphia Daily News

columnist Sam Donnellon

"All September, Brad Lidge spoke of the last two nights. Each time he coughed up a save, each time his slider slid too much or too little, or his fastball sat up there in the hitter's eyes, he would talk about how his "crappy season" wouldn't mean anything to him once the postseason began."Did you believe it?" Lidge was asked as wave after wave of champagne poured over his head in the clubhouse following the Phillies' 5-4 clinching victory over the Rockies. "Or were you selling it to yourself?""I'm not sure," he said. "But deep down I really thought that it was going to happen. I'm not sure how else I would have said it. But I honestly felt that it was going to happen."He entered the ninth ..."

Victorino, Werth provide sparks for Phils

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October 13

Philadelphia Daily News

"Yeah, it takes a village, or a whole lineup, or whatever. Tonight, with the mayor and the council president and the mercenary marshall contained, it took a couple of standout citizens. Shane Victorino smoked a solo homer off Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez in the first inning. Jayson Werth ripped another, in the sixth, for a 2-0 lead that gave the Phillies the edge until their eighth-inning collapse. Then, Werth regained the lead with an RBI single in the ninth. Sure, Victorino and Werth were All-Stars, but they were the asterisk sort. They entered the season as sizable question marks in an otherwise formidable, pedigreed lineup and defense. Could Victorino hold up for an entire season? ..."

Phillies Top a Late Rally With One of Their Own

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October 13

New York Times

"In the Coors Field stands, a crowd that had been muffled by mittens and mufflers and a sense of dread for the end of the season had been roused by another furious Colorado Rockies comeback. Below, inside the Philadelphia Phillies' clubhouse, fizzy drinks waited to be uncorked and cigars waited to be smoked. They seemed destined to become favors for a party canceled at the last moment. It looked as if the Phillies were headed east instead of west, to a Game 5 of the National League division series with the Rockies instead of a Game 1 of a championship series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Colorado had scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Monday night. The Rockies had a ..."

Rockies tweak Game 4 lineup

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October 12

Denver Post

"With their season teetering on the edge of the cliff, manager Jim Tracy is tweaking his lineup today.s He will start Seth Smith in left field and hit him seventh, the latest evidence of how far Brad Hawpe has fallen on the depth chart. The rest of the lineup looks familiar against left-hander Cliff Lee, with Garrett Atkins moving up to fifth and Yorvit Torrealba dropping back to sixth. "You are in a situation where you have to put the lineup out there that feels like puts you in the best position to score runs," Tracy said. "And if you happen to be in a valley, you are not going to be in there.""

Patience pays for Gonzalez

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October 12

Denver Post

"That lefty vs. lefty thing? That theory that the Phillies got a huge break from Mother Nature with Saturday's postponement? That they could shelve the old righty, Pedro Martinez, for lefty J.A. Happ against the Rockies' lefty-laden lineup? Somehow, lefty left fielder Carlos Gonzalez didn't get the memo. Also, he didn't get the weather report that it was 35 degrees at game time, tying for the coldest postseason game in history. Since when do Venezuelan lefties go 3-for-4 with a home run and double, all the hits coming against lefties? In an epic lefty-lefty matchup at the axis of this National League division series, Gonzalez has become a statistical anomaly. Through three games, Gonzalez ..."

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