After the Twins and Tigers game, we are going to break down the Brewers and Rockies matchup.  Even though the Braves have fallen out of the sky to put a little heat on the Rockies, the Rockies are still my favorite for the Wild Card.  Once they’re in it’s a different story because of a few weaknesses that need to be straightened out in the last days of the season.

Two challenges stand out in my mind: the pitching of Jason Marquis, and the Rockies lineup against left handed pitchers. It’s time for Jason Marquis to step up.  Here’s a guy who had a great first half, which is his trademark, but he can’t escape his other trademark which is a pitcher who needs to put two good halves together and complete a season.  He’s carried the wagon for most of the season, but this start tonight might just determine if he’s going to have a spot in the rotation come playoff time. 

The other challenge the Rockies need to address in these next few games is their lineup against left handed pitching. With 4 out of the next 6 games against lefties, Jim Tracy will be able to shuffle around guys like Garrett Atkins, Ryan Spilborghs, Carlos Gonzalez, Seth Smith, and Dexter Fower to see whose stroke is in rhythm with the southpaws.

With all of our focus on the playoffs, it’s time to shift on a few teams that will be going home in a week.  For the Rangers and the Giants, the season was just two weeks too long.  They took a few steps forward, and now they see what improvements need to be made in the offseason. 

And with 81 wins the Marines had a season they can feel good about.  It didn’t take long for the entire organization to put that 100 loss season in the rear view mirror.  From players to scouts, coaching staff to the front office, all around top to bottom, the organization was completely turned around, and there’s a team to look forward to next season.

It’s playoff time, no second guessing – Clint Hurdle