Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

Rockies trade Baker to Cubs for prospect

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July 2

Denver Post

"Jeff Baker, the Rockies multi-purpose utility man, was traded to the Chicago Cubs today in exchange for minor-league pitching prospect Alberto Alburquerque. Baker confirmed this morning that the trade had been made. "I'm looking forward to this opportunity," Baker said. Baker, who spent parts of four big-league seasons with the Rockies, is coming back from a stint on the 60-day disabled list because of an injured left hand."

Rockies send Baker to Cubs for prospect

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July 2

MLB.com

"The Rockies traded utility infielder Jeff Baker to the Cubs for Class A Daytona relief pitcher Alberto Alburquerque, who will be assigned to Double-A Tulsa, Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd confirmed Thursday morning. Baker, who was at the end of a rehab stint for a right hand sprain, said he learned of the trade in a conversation with Cubs general manager Jim Hendry on Wednesday night."I haven't talked with [Cubs manager] Lou Piniella, but I did talk with Jim Hendry last night," said Baker as he headed to a flight Thursday morning so he could join the Cubs for their game against the Brewers at Wrigley Field on Thursday night. "I'm excited for the opportunity. I don't know what their ..."

Source: Cubs deal for Rockies' Baker

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July 2

Yahoo! Sports

"The Chicago Cubs have acquired Jeff Baker from the Colorado Rockies, according to a source close to the club. It is unclear who the Rockies will receive in return for Baker or the Cubs' plans for him."

Dodgers survive control issues

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July 2

L.A. Daily News

"Clayton Kershaw battled two enemies Wednesday at Dodger Stadium and managed to get the best of both. Not only did the pesky and patient Colorado Rockies provide an obstacle, Kershaw also overcame his own lack of control to pitch the opening leg of the Dodgers' fifth shutout this season and first since June 3. The Dodgers' 1-0 victory over the Rockies, in the team's last game without Manny Ramirez, was their third by that score this year, proving that the pitching staff knows how to turn a little into a lot. The lone run came on Rafael Furcal's pinch-hit single in the eighth inning. To say the Dodgers are relieved to be adding a bat like Ramirez's on Friday is an understatement. Since ..."

Rockies angry with loss of series at L.A

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July 2

Denver Post

"Respect is not the destination, which illustrates just how far the Rockies have ascended in a month. On May 29, their manager was fired, and any cliche about saving the season would have been too lame to use in a pregame speech. "We were out of it, completely dead, according to most people," closer Huston Street said. A month later, the Rockies departed Dodger Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, genuinely disappointed over losing a series to the National League's best team following a 1-0 defeat. "I am not into moral victories," said first baseman Todd Helton. "We came here expecting to win." That was the prevailing vibe afterward. Dropping two of three games to the Dodgers left the Rockies ..."

Buchholz's recovery follows historic path

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July 2

Denver Post

"In 2008, Taylor Buchholz became one of the best setup men in baseball because of his ability to snap off dynamite curveballs. But he paid the price when his right elbow gave out on him in spring training. When three-plus months of rehabilitation failed to alleviate the throbbing in his right arm, the Rockies reliever underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction on June 17. The procedure, better known as "Tommy John surgery," is named after the former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher who had his left elbow rebuilt in 1974. It is, by any measure, one of the major advancements in sports medicine history. "If all goes well, I'll be as good as new," Buchholz, 27, said the day after his ..."

Torrealba back; Phillips in limbo for next 10 days

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July 2

Denver Post

"After being unable to work out a trade, the Rockies reinstated Yorvit Torrealba from the restricted list after Wednesday's game, designating backup catcher Paul Phillips for assignment. Torrealba expected to be traded when he left the clubhouse, but had hoped to stay. "I told them that I want to be here," Torrealba said. "I love my teammates." Torrealba's situation had many layers. He hasn't played since June 1 after leaving the team following the abduction and safe return of his son Yorvit in Venezuela. An agreement was worked out with Major League Baseball allowing Torrealba to have a five-game assignment in the minor leagues to get back in shape. The Rockies were sensitive to his ..."

Dodgers blank Rockies 1-0 in series finale

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July 2

Denver Post

"You expect this kind of series in October, not July. When the Dodgers, the National League's best team, collided with the Rockies, the NL's hottest team, there intensity befitted the Fall. Nothing specifically was a stake. But the Rockies earned a measure of respect and hinted strongly that the season's final three games in Los Angeles could take on special significance. On a blistering hot day, the Rockies fell 1-0, Jason Hammel the victim of one mistake. It didn't seem fair. As people became mouse potatoes following the game cast on their computers - the game wasn't televised - Hammel muzzled the Dodgers for seven innings. Entering the eighth, the Dodgers' scoreless streak sat at 16 ..."

Dodgers' offense will finally get a boost

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July 2

Los Angeles Times

"The 50-game suspension of Manny Ramirez ended on the day the Dodgers became the first team to win 50 games this season -- and with the Dodgers' top standing in the National League, little changed from the day he was banned. After squeaking past the Colorado Rockies, 1-0, at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, the Dodgers finished with a record of 29-21 during Ramirez's absence and are now 50-29. The Dodgers also hold a seven-game lead in the NL West over the San Francisco Giants, which is half a game bigger than the lead they had when Ramirez was suspended May 7 for violating baseball's drug policy. And they edged Colorado in front of 40,455 much the same way they won many of their games during ..."

Rockies' Torrealba waits, wonders what next

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July 1

Denver Post

"Yorvit Torrealba's status remains in limbo after the decision to activate him was delayed until Friday. Manager Jim Tracy was told this morning the situation would not have to be resolved until then after believing today was the deadline. As a result, backup catcher Paul Phillips is starting today against L.A., and Torrealba is sitting, wondering what will happen next. "I know that they might try and trade me. I understand because they have done so well without me," Torrealba said. "But if you ask me what I want, I want to be here. I love the guys on this team. It's out of my control." Torrealba has not played in the big leagues since June 2 when he left the team following the kidnapping ..."

Rockies' late late show provides plenty of drama, must-see TV

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July 1

Denver Post

columnist Woody Paige

"The national pastime lasted well past my bedtime Monday night. But I stayed awake for every pitch and was glued to the TV - well, not literally, because that could be painful, like sticking your tongue to a frozen pole, which I've done. For the record, I devoured an entire $4.79 bag of Lay's barbecue chips. Regular-season baseball games on television are usually as riveting as "Iron Chef America." ("He threw a four-seamer" ranks right up there with "Oh, he's making a souffle.") Nevertheless, the Rockies-Dodgers game was enthralling, entrancing, engrossing, en . . . en . . . en-marvelous. I even enjoyed the 42 commercials featuring Dealin' Doug selling cars in a Swami costume. The game ..."

Marquis discovers "special" gem in L.A.

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July 1

Denver Post

"They aren't exactly shivers looking for a spine to race up. But the Rockies have become scary to the rest of the National League. There is only one bully, and the Rockies finally looked the Dodgers in the eye Tuesday night without a quivering lip. With an efficient right arm and a single, two-run swing of the bat, Jason Marquis reduced the Dodgers to splinters, guiding the Rockies to a 3-0 victory. "That was something special, as good as I have seen in my 7 1/2 years behind this desk," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. For those doubting Marquis' all-star candidacy, this performance offered a chilling rebuttal. It was magnificent, if not notable, on many levels. He finished with 66 strikes ..."

Bullpen boost now becoming high priority

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July 1

Denver Post

"Forget the standings. The difference between the Rockies and Dodgers can be explained by their bullpens, underlining why the Rockies are actively looking for relief help. The Dodgers have won nine of 11 games against Colorado. In the head-to-head matchups, Los Angeles' bullpen owned a 2.66 ERA, compared with the Rockies' 8.25 performance. So it should come as no surprise that Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd is trolling for a reliever. Colorado had interest in Washington's Joel Hanrahan, who was traded Tuesday to Pittsburgh, and would love to bring back Houston's LaTroy Hawkins, though he's not yet on the block. "If something hits us in the face and makes sense, we have to look at it," ..."

Manny's return could help Rockies

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July 1

Denver Post

columnist Troy E. Renck

"Manny Ramirez returns Friday. That's when the Rockies need to make up ground. I know it doesn't make any sense that the Dodgers will be worse with their best player back. But hear me out. Ramirez isn't returning after missing a few days with a strained hamstring or sore knee. He will have missed 50 games for cheating - a lengthy, humiliating absence that's foreign to him. When Ramirez rejoins the lineup Friday, it might as well be March 1. That's how far he will be behind. "It's not like he's going to hit five home runs in the first 10 games," Dodgers third-base coach Larry Bowa said. "It's going to take him a few weeks to get going." Even people close to Ramirez don't dispute this logic, ..."

Andre Ethier is a natural for walk-off drama Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times Andre Ethier celebrates his game-ending home run against Colorado Rockies in the 13th inning Monday night. He has seven walk-off, game-winning hits since the start of the 2008 season, tops in the major leagues.

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July 1

Los Angeles Times

"With the score tied 2-2, Juan Pierre on third base and two out in the 10th inning, the Dodgers' Andre Ethier faced Colorado Rockies reliever Alan Embree with a chance to win the game. But Embree struck him out with a slider. Three innings later, though, Ethier lined a home run into the right-field pavilion at Dodger Stadium to give the Dodgers a 4-2 win Monday night -- his fourth walk-off hit this season. Ethier has seven walk-off, game-winning hits since the start of the 2008 season, tops in the major leagues. And his latest came after he hit three home runs in an 8-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Friday. Ethier has a team-leading 15 homers. The left-handed hitter said being in "the ..."

Dodgers are shut down by Rockies' Jason Marquis Mark Avery / Associated Press Colorado starter Jason Marquis pitched a complete game, giving up no runs and two hits with three strikeouts, and also drove in a pair of runs in the Rockies' 3-0 victory over the Dodgers.

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July 1

Los Angeles Times

"The Dodgers' Chad Billingsley pitched well Tuesday night in his quest to become the National League's first 10-game winner. Unfortunately for the right-hander and the Dodgers, they faced the Colorado Rockies' Jason Marquis, who pitched -- and hit -- even better and did become the league's first 10-game winner. Marquis threw a two-hit shutout and drove in two runs to lead the Rockies past the Dodgers, 3-0, in front of 43,437 at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night. It was the first time the Dodgers were limited to two hits in more than a year, and their off-and-on offense has scored only seven runs in the last four games. As a result, the Dodgers have lost five of their last seven games. Marquis ..."

Rockies seeking relief

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June 30

Foxsports.com

(scroll down)

"The surging Rockies are looking "pretty seriously" for bullpen help, according to a source with knowledge of the team's thinking. Their problem is the same one facing practically every other club: A shortage of suitable options. The Rockies had strong interest in Nationals right-hander Joel Hanrahan early in the season, but Hanrahan has allowed eight earned runs in his last 2-1/3 innings, increasing his ERA to 7.71. Several better options are longshots. # Astros right-hander LaTroy Hawkins, a pitcher the Rockies would love to re-acquire, is unlikely to be available with his team in contention. # Diamondbacks righty Chad Qualls would be an ideal fit, but the D-Backs might be reluctant to ..."

Cinderella back in Colorado

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June 30

MLB.com

"Buzzards were hovering over Coors Field as Memorial Day approached, ready to pick apart the Rockies and fly away with the best pieces they could grab.What I really mean is, general managers were poised to call Colorado GM Dan O'Dowd and discuss deals for any of his frontline players that might be available.The Rockies were having a dreadful season, so far out of the NL West race in last place, it was generally agreed they were a good target for contenders needing a pitcher or a hitter or a key bench player.The Phillies, desperate for pitching help, had their sights on right-hander Jason Marquis, who can be a free agent after the season. Other teams were also scouting the Rockies.Before ..."

Thirteen lucky for Dodgers, Ethier

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June 30

L.A. Daily News

"Andre Ethier is at it again. His two-run home run in the bottom of the 13th inning Monday gave the Dodgers a 4-2 victory over the red-hot Colorado Rockies. It was Ethier's fourth walk-off hit this season and his major-league leading seventh since 2007. Ethier came to the plate in the 13 th with Casey Blake on first base and sheepishly admitted that he had a slightly different plan on his mind. "I don't think (manager) Joe (Torre) is going to be too happy to hear this, but I was thinking about maybe bunting Casey over just to get a guy at second base and avoid maybe a double-play ball," Ethier said. "I have a tendency sometimes to hit into double plays." He thought better of that idea and ..."

Dealing Dan now holds aces

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June 30

Denver Post

columnist Patrick Saunders

"Sitting in an airport, waiting for my flight back home, I mulled the state of the Rockies and arrived at the following conclusions: • Dan O'Dowd takes a lot of heat, but the general manager's deal that sent Matt Holliday to Oakland and brought Huston Street, Carlos Gonzalez and Greg Smith (someday, maybe) to the Mile High City is starting to look like a masterstroke. • Holliday, with a big push out the door by agent Scott Boras, was never going to stay with the Rockies. Now Holliday is in limbo, playing in a lousy ballpark for a lousy team that looks like it has already quit. Hopefully, Holliday gets traded to a contender in July. And I do think he'll get a decent (but not great) ..."

Rockies lose in 13th inning at L.A.

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June 30

Denver Post

"Everything about the Rockies' revival suggests that it has roots, that this team should be able to contend for the next three months. But a missing component exists that is impossible to ignore: The Rockies can't beat the Dodgers. The Rockies fell 4-2 on Monday night in 13 innings on Andre Ethier's walk-off home run, their ninth loss in 10 games against the National League's best team. "That's a (heck) of a tough game to lose," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. The Rockies have a new coach, but when they come to Los Angeles they need a couch. It was one game in a season that hasn't reached the halfway point. But to dismiss its importance out of hand would be foolish. The Dodgers remain in ..."

For now, Atkins first choice to play third

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June 30

Denver Post

"Those close to Garrett Atkins know him for two things: his ability to hit and his dry wit. Both were on display in batting practice Monday as Atkins prepared for his first start in two weeks at third base. "I am back from the dead," he joked. Atkins is one of the few Rockies in franchise history to enjoy success at Dodger Stadium, clubbing 13 home runs and driving in 50 runs. But that, manager Jim Tracy explained, had nothing to do with why he was in the lineup ahead of Ian Stewart. "He's in there because of what I have seen recently," Tracy said. Atkins went 9-for-20 as a designated hitter last week and is hitting .289 against left-handers. His swing has smoothed out, with the barrel ..."

Red-hot Rockies now a bigger threat to Dodgers

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June 30

Denver Post

"With the red-hot Rockies set to take on the division-leading Dodgers tonight for the first of a three-game series, both clubs are playing down the matchup. The Dodgers have no reason to acknowledge the Rockies as a threat. They have beaten them eight times in nine games this season. And Dodgers manager Joe Torre admitted today: "Regardless of what happens, if we win the series it's not going to change how they think about themselves or affect either team's pysche." Perhaps. But in this month-long redemption tour, it wouldn't hurt the Rockies to stare down the division bully, take a punch and give one back. The last time the Rockies and Dodgers faced one another the Rockies were last in the ..."

Thirteen lucky for Dodgers, Ethier

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June 30

L.A. Daily News

"Andre Ethier is at it again. His two-run home run in the bottom of the 13th inning Monday gave the Dodgers a 4-2 victory over the red-hot Colorado Rockies. It was Ethier's fourth walk-off hit this season and his major-league leading seventh since 2007. Ethier came to the plate in the 13 th with Casey Blake on first base and sheepishly admitted that he had a slightly different plan on his mind. "I don't think (manager) Joe (Torre) is going to be too happy to hear this, but I was thinking about maybe bunting Casey over just to get a guy at second base and avoid maybe a double-play ball," Ethier said. "I have a tendency sometimes to hit into double plays." He thought better of that idea and ..."

Andre Ethier's homer in 13th lifts Dodgers over Rockies

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June 30

Los Angeles Times

"Andre Ethier hit another walk-off home run -- this one in the 13th inning -- to lift the Dodgers past the Colorado Rockies, 4-2, Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Ethier's blast off Colorado reliever Joel Peralta on a 1-2 pitch came after Casey Blake singled to open the inning. It was Ethier's fourth walk-off home run of the season, "and I didn't know if it was going out, if it was going to be high enough," said Manager Joe Torre. "To have that thing stay in the air was a beautiful sight." Ethier said he "was just going up there and having fun," but said this game-winner was especially satisfying because "you've got to win the division games if you want to make the playoffs. We found that ..."

ROCKIES 3, A'S 1

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June 29

San Francisco Chronicle

"Oakland's miserable 2009 crawled along Sunday, with the offense barely registering, as usual, and still more bad injury news on the horizon. The Rockies scored twice in the second against Vin Mazzaro, virtually assuring victory given the zombie state of the A's lineup, and Colorado ticked off a 3-1 win and left town with a three-game sweep, the Rockies' first ever against Oakland. The A's five-game losing streak matches their season high, and they are 12 games below .500, a new low for them this season. "We're swinging it pretty well, the ball's just not dropping," Mazzaro said after Oakland out-hit Colorado 11-9 at the Coliseum. "We've just got to go out and keep hacking." Mazzaro and ..."

Rockies' Gonzalez makes mark at plate vs. former team

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June 29

Denver Post

"A lack of confidence is not part of Carlos Gonzalez's DNA. So it's no surprise that he was merely content with, not ecstatic about, his weekend performance against his former team. "My swing feels the same. Nothing has really been changed," he said. "I guess I'm just more comfortable at the plate. I think that's the difference." Gonzalez didn't play in the first game of the A's series Friday night but went 4-for-7 with a double, a triple, two walks, two runs scored and one RBI in the final two games. It was the first time Gonzalez had back-to- back multihit games in a Rockies uniform. He arrived in Oakland with a .180 average. He left town hitting .228. Even while struggling at the plate, ..."

Time nigh for Rox to contend vs. bullies

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June 29

Denver Post

"The Rockies' scintillating streak of 20 victories in 23 games has been defined by excellent starting pitching, power hitting and crisp defense. As well as the blessed absence of the Los Angeles Dodgers on their docket. That changes tonight when the Rockies open a three-game series at Dodger Stadium against the team with the best record (48-28) in baseball. L.A. is 8-1 against the Rockies this season, outscoring them 74-43. The Clint Hurdle era ended, and the Jim Tracy era began, after the Dodgers swept three games from the Rockies at Coors Field in late May. "We are going against an opponent that is the bully on the block," Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca said. "They have bloodied our ..."

Rockies' Street puts out A's late fireworks

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June 28

Contra Costa Times

"The A's furious comeback late in Saturday night's game is the kind of gutsy effort that manager Bob Geren typically raves about in his postgame comments. But Geren cut to the heart of the matter and saw the bottom line in an 11-9 loss to the Colorado Rockies, in which the A's trailed by nine only to make the visitors sweat things out in the ninth inning. "I thought the way we came back at the end showed heart," Geren said. "But we gave up four homers. You're down 11-2, and it's tough to come back from that kind of deficit." Most of the 18,624 fans had left by the time the A's scored four in the ninth, shrinking an 11-5 deficit and having forced the Rockies to summon closer Huston Street. ..."

A's loss to Rockies is a real throwaway

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June 28

Contra Costa Times

"The stage was set for Matt Holliday as he stepped into the batter's box with runners on the corners and the A's down by three runs with two outs in the eighth inning. But he walked on four pitches, loading the bases. Then it was left to Jason Giambi, who worked the count full before taking ball four. Up came Kurt Suzuki, who had hit a solo home run one inning earlier. But, Suzuki helped typify his team's offensive frustrations Friday with an inning-ending pop out behind first base, and the A's went on to lose 4-2 to the Colorado Rockies at the Coliseum. Former Athletic Huston Street, who was greeted by a mixture of cheers and boos, worked a perfect ninth inning for his 17th save as the ..."

Scoring 7 runs late no good if down 9

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June 28

San Francisco Chronicle

"When Trevor Cahill got his first two outs via fly balls, it introduced an ominous cloud for A's fans over an otherwise flawlessly clear and pleasantly warm Saturday evening at the Coliseum. The 21-year-old starter is at his best when his sinker is darting downward and inducing groundballs - not when it's hovering up in the strike zone and begging to be swatted into the air. The Colorado hitters quickly grasped that fact, hammering four homers in as many innings and handing the A's an 11-9 loss in front of 18,624 fans - many of whom were long gone by the time Oakland frantically tried to rally from a nine-run deficit. After falling behind 11-2 in the sixth inning, the A's showed some life ..."

Gonzalez hitting his stride

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June 28

Denver Post

"Carlos Gonzalez's fourth-inning triple Saturday, his first in a Rockies uniform, could be a good omen. He followed it with a single in the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Gonzalez's laser from center field nailed Matt Holliday at the plate. Gonzalez, of course, was part of the Holliday trade last November. Before his June 5 call-up from Triple-A Colorado Springs, Gonzalez ranked second in the Pacific Coast League with seven three-baggers. But it's no secret the outfielder has struggled. Since being called up, his strike zone expanded and he was swinging at bad pitches. But the Rockies are 12-2 when he starts. Hammer time."

Hammel's win streak doesn't shock Apodaca

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June 28

Denver Post

"No one signifies the Rockies' June boon better than starter Jason Hammel. His five consecutive victories represent the longest active streak by a National League starter. Friday night, the 26-year-old pitched a career-high 7 1/3 innings in the Rockies' 4-2 victory over the Athletics. In his five victories, Hammel's ERA is a sparkling 1.99. His June ERA, which includes a no-decision against the Pirates, is 3.41. If any Rockies fans are shocked by Hammel's growth spurt, pitching coach Bob Apodaca is not. "I'm not surprised at all," Apodaca said Saturday. "But I think his emphasis has changed. He thought of himself more as a breaking-ball pitcher. We needed to get him thinking about the ..."

Street stops scary rally by A's

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June 28

Denver Post

"Call this ugly game the one that almost got away. After cruising to an 11-2 lead through six innings Saturday night, the Rockies watched their seldom-used relievers - namely Alan Embree and Juan Rincon - collapse. It wasn't until closer Huston Street came on to quash the Oakland Athletics' rally that the Rockies breathed a gigantic sigh and exited with a strange 11-9 victory. Street notched his 18th save in 19 tries. That Street would even have to throw a pitch seemed an absurd notion two-thirds of the way through the game. For the balance of the evening, the Rockies were in control. They got a splendid performance from mercurial starter Jorge De La Rosa and were fueled by an offense that"

Rockies' Hawpe undergoes quiet transformation

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June 28

Denver Post

"Brad Hawpe has a head too small and a heart three sizes too big. He is the Rockies' best player this season, primed for his first all-star berth, but you'd never know it. That's because all he cares about is winning and helping teammates. He's weird like that. "When it all comes down to it, you want a guy who has your back and shows up ready to play," said Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, Hawpe's role model. "Brad always does that." Talk to Hawpe for a while, and you wonder if the interview should be aired in black and white. With a projector. Hawpe is simple in his life, old school in his values. Heck, he is 30, pulling down a $5.5 million salary this season, hitting a ridiculous .397 ..."

Hawpe, De La Rosa pace Rockies win

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June 28

Denver Post

"Call this ugly game the one that almost got away. After cruising to an 11-2 lead through six innings Saturday night, the Rockies watched their seldom-used relievers - namely Alan Embree and Juan Rincon - collapse. It wasn't until closer Huston Street came on the squash the Oakland A's rally that Rockies breathed a gigantic sigh and exited with a strange 11-9 victory. Street notched his 18th save in 19 tries. That Street would even have to throw a pitch seemed an absurd notion two-thirds of the way through the game. For the balance of the evening, the Rockies were in total control. They got a splendid a splendid performance from mercurial starter Jorge De La Rosa, and were fueled by an ..."

Could Rockies closer Huston Street be fitted for a new set of pinstripes?

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June 27

Newark Star-Ledger

"The Yankees may want to keep an eye turned toward the Rockies, because of Colorado stumbles, right-handed reliever Huston Street may become available again. If that's so, don't be surprised to see the Yankees come knocking. Apparently, they already have this season. A major league source, who requested anonymity because he isn't authorized to comment on other teams, told me that the Yankees' reported interest in Street was serious. The source said that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman approached the Rockies about a deal as early as the middle of May, as the Yankees' bullpen struggled. Meanwhile, the source said the Rockies had already begun combing through the Yankees' minor league ..."

Gonzalez happy with trade to Rockies

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June 27

San Francisco Chronicle

"Carlos Gonzalez had to stop himself during a pregame interview. He said he was hoping to spend his career with the Rockies, then laughed and said, "I was going to say 'A's.' It's understandable that the outfielder is getting confused. Colorado is his third organization in three years. Oakland got him from Arizona in the Dan Haren deal then sent him to the Rockies in the Matt Holliday trade. "Hopefully, I'll stay here a little longer than one year," Gonzalez said. Like former A's closer Huston Street, Gonzalez is not at all unhappy with the move. "The guys always expect to win," he said. "I'm not saying Oakland was playing to lose, but it feels a little nicer here. There's a lot more ..."

Rockies' Street seals the deal against A's

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June 27

Denver Post

"While the eyes of Rockies Nation were looking to see what Matt Holliday looked like in A's green and gold, Jason Hammel stole the show. Hammel pitched a career-high 7 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on four hits Friday night as the Rockies hung on to beat Oakland 4-2. Closer Huston Street played a co-starring role. Pitching against his former team for the first time, Street heard a smattering of boos from the sparse crowd but set down the A's in order in the ninth for his 17th save in 18 opportunities. The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum has traditionally been a graveyard for the Rockies. They hadn't won there since June 14, 1997, and entered Friday's game 1-7 all-time in Oakland. But ..."

Coliseum holds fond memories for Tulowitzki

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June 27

Denver Post

"Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is no longer a beautiful baseball park. It hasn't been since Raiders owner Al Davis installed a 10,000-seat upper deck beyond left and center field in 1996. But despite the looming presence of "Mount Davis," the park remains home for Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. Memories came flooding back Friday afternoon as he walked the infield before the Rockies-A's game. "My dad and I used to come here countless times to watch the A's," said Tulowitzki, who grew up in nearby Sunnyvale. "We would usually sit in the bleachers, but they don't have them anymore." Tulowitzki used to come to camps and play in high school all-star games on the field. He was a 6-year-old ..."

Online balloting to decide '09 All-Stars

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June 26

MLB.com

"We, the people, are deciding who goes to the 80th All-Star Game July 14 in St. Louis.We are ready for the mad rush.We are entering that Validation Key over and over, submitting our 25 allotted votes in the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com.We punched those Walt Disney Pictures G-Force All-Star Game paper ballots and left those little chads all over ballparks, and now those last paper ballots are being collected tonight at Pittsburgh and Houston as it goes online-only for the homestretch.We know it's the final week to decide starters. Our deadline as empowered fans is 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, and we know that only because we have been staring at this javascript voting app ..."

Mother's Day bats now up for auction

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June 26

MLB.com

"It has been a big first half of baseball for current American League All-Star first baseman vote front-runner Mark Teixeira, and that included that memorable Mother's Day game back in his hometown of Baltimore, where he crushed a two-run homer for the Yankees.He was swinging a pink bat."It's obviously huge -- I think that's the first home run I've hit with a pink bat, so I'm going to go bring that to Mom right now," Teixeira said on May 9, referring to Margy, a breast cancer survivor who had been diagnosed when he was a freshman at Baltimore's St. Joseph's High School. "As soon as I hit it, I thought about it. It's pretty special to me."Margy may have gotten that pink bat, but another one ..."

Young's stellar play earns Futures Game nod

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June 26

Denver Post

"The Futures Game received a blast from the past Thursday. Triple-A second baseman Eric Young Jr., whose father hit one of the most famous home runs in Rockies history in 1993, was named to the Team USA roster for the July 12 game. He will be managed by St. Louis Cardinals legend Ozzie Smith and face the Rockies' top pitching prospect, Jhouyls Chacin, who was named to the World team led by St. Louis coach Jose Oquendo. Young is enjoying a breakthrough season for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, building off his terrific performance in the Arizona Fall League. After impressing the Rockies with his speed in spring training, Young leads the Pacific Coast League with 43 stolen bases and is hitting ..."

Rockies' closer brings stability to bullpen

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June 26

Denver Post

"They are baseball's closers, responsible for tiptoeing through the final land mines to secure a victory. The ninth inning is central to understanding the Rockies' revival. Forget Wall Street and Main Street, Colorado's stimulus package has come from Huston Street. During the Rockies' 17-3 run, the slender right-hander is 1-0 with eight saves and a 3.12 ERA. "It was crazy earlier in the season. But people kind of forget that we not only lost (Matt) Holliday, but we lost Brian Fuentes, who was one of our best players over the last five years," outfielder Brad Hawpe said. "In Huston, we got back a guy who can shut the door. Everyone revolves around his role. He has bred confidence in the rest ..."

Holliday finding his way with A's

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June 26

Denver Post

"Matt Holliday is meticulous, a man of routines from batting practice to his workouts. So perhaps it should come as no surprise that moving from the Rockies to the Athletics, with the accompanying switch in leagues, has been difficult. When the Rockies face their former best player tonight in Oakland, Calif., they find not a conquering warrior, but a slugger still trying to find his way. He has no regrets, only disgust with an April that only could have been made worse with an audit. "There's something to being around guys you know, that know how you tick. They know the things to say," Holliday said. "Maybe I even underestimated the impact some of those things can have. It's been an ..."

10 most likely to be traded - Infielders

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June 25

NBC Sports

"Mark DeRosa (Indians) - With Grady Sizemore back, the Indians aren't likely to sell just yet. Still, at least as big of a problem as being 10 games behind is that they have four teams ahead of them in the AL Central. DeRosa has been talked about as trade bait for close to two months now, and the Indians have soured on him as a third baseman after originally acquiring him to play the position. Given that he's on pace for about 30 homers and 110 RBI, it shouldn't be a problem getting more for him in trade than they would by letting him walk for draft picks at season's end. Garrett Atkins (Rockies) - It certainly doesn't bode well for Atkins' future in Colorado that he's been given a total of ..."

Rockies' Marquis, Spilborghs are keepers

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June 25

Denver Post

columnist Patrick Saunders

"Your Rockies are swirling in the rumor whirlpool as much as any team out there. There is, however, no truth to the rumor that the Rockies are plotting to trade Ryan Spilborghs to the Braves in exchange for Jon"

Road turns against Rockies

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June 25

Denver Post

"This is no longer a road trip. It's Freud for thought. Who are the Rockies? Are they the team that reduced five teams to bugs on their windshield while racing back from obscurity? Or are they the club that spent the season's first six weeks digging a hole worthy of a front-end loader? On a cool Wednesday night, they were the victims of identity theft, the Los Angeles Angels adopting Colorado's June persona in an 11-3 beatdown at Angel Stadium. It marked the first time the Rockies lost back-to-back games since June 3. And it comes at an intriguing time, with Colorado headed to Oakland this weekend to face its former best player, Matt Holliday, before a redemption series in L.A. against the ..."

Angels veteran Guerrero shows he's still cut above the rest in victory

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June 25

L.A. Daily News

"It looks like Vladimir Guerrero's new haircut is identity-altering in more ways that one. Not only does Guerrero look like a new man with his tightly cropped head, he's performing like a new man as well, at least for one night anyway. Guerrero hit an RBI double and a two-run home run in his first two at-bats and, combined with Joe Saunders' pitching, the Angels had their way with the Colorado Rockies in an 11-3 victory Wednesday at Angel Stadium. After winning 17 of 18 games, the Rockies have now lost back-to-back games for the first time since June 2-3. As well as Saunders pitched, this one was more about Guerrero's revival. "I've never been much of a thinker so I don't really see this ..."

Angels' Vladimir Guerrero returns to power in 11-3 win

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June 25

Los Angeles Times

"The Dodgers weren't the only Southland team with a superstar slugger who has been missing in action for much of the season. Vladimir Guerrero hardly resembled himself recently, even before he sheared his trademark dreadlocks. He had lost his characteristic pop, enduring a power outage so severe that his spot as the Angels' cleanup hitter appeared to be in jeopardy. Two robust swings of his bat later, it was back to Vladdy being Vladdy. Guerrero ended the second-longest home-run drought of his career and doubled in another run Wednesday at Angel Stadium, helping the Angels beat the Colorado Rockies, 11-3. The designated hitter drove in three runs as part of an 11-hit barrage on a night ..."

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