Phillies-Rockies Live Blog! (Game 2)

So that didn't go well yesterday. No matter. Baseball is about shaking off whatever happened to you the day before and accepting that even the best teams will lose 60 games a year. The Rockies are on an incredible roll, but they simply don't have the kind of talent that can keep this up. Statistically, they're bound to fall. In a karmic sense, they're bound to fall. Remember back in July, when the Phillies courageously wrestled a wind-blown tarp to the ground while the Rockies cowered in their dugout? Pray all you want Rockies, the real righteous baseball team wears red.

Here are the lineups for Game 2. Note that the Rockies are going with rookie Franklin Morales (3-2, 3.43 ERA in eight starts) on the hill instead of Mark Redman:

Colorado
2B Kaz Matsui
SS Troy Tulowitzki
LF Matt Holliday
1B Todd Helton
3B Garrett Atkins
RF Brad Hawpe
CF Ryan Spilborghs
C Yorvit Torrealba
P Franklin Morales

Philadelphia
SS Jimmy Rollins
2B Chase Utley
LF Pat Burrell
1B Ryan Howard
CF Aaron Rowand
RF Jayson Werth
3B Wes Helms
C Carlos Ruiz
P Kyle Kendrick

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6:57 p.m., post-mortem, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: I really didn't expect the Phillies to do anything in the playoffs, considering just making it there was such a longshot. But I didn't expect them to get embarrassed, either, and that's precisely what's happening. I think Manuel has made a few boneheaded moves, like carrying only 10 pitchers and going to Lohse in this one, but he's made some good moves, too. For as much as I'd like to blame the pitching staff, it's not as if anyone really thought they would perform well. Instead, you have to look at the offense. Seven runs and 13 hits is what you might expect out of a single game from these guys, but it's taken them 18 innings to put up those numbers. You can't really say anything about Rollins, who was a spark-plug today, or even Howard, Utley or Burrell, who all have multiple hits. But where's Rowand? And Dobbs? And Victorino, even though I defended him? And all the supporting players who helped this offense go from good to great? The only time they're showing up is when you assess what's gone wrong. Helms, Dobbs and Nunez have all played third base and all failed to get a hit, so that position continues to be the Phils' achilles heel, but the spare parts the team used to mitigate this gaping hole in the lineup have vanished, and that's caused the offense to come apart. I'll be back at 9:30 Saturday night to live blog Game 3, but I can't help but think it will be one morbid Saturday night. That is, unless the Rockies decide to pack it in early so they can get to church the next morning.

6:41 p.m., It's over, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Howard looks at strike three. And it's over. The game, and likely the series. TBS swiftly switches to Cleveland. Oh, and look, the Yankees are already ahead! Lovely.

6:37 p.m., Bottom 9th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Make that two singles in the series, as Utley lifts one into left-center. Appropriately, Burrell is up in a desperate situation wherein he will likely fail. But no! It's a liner to left and runners first and second for Howard.

6:35 p.m., Bottom 9th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Rollins grounds out to second and all of a sudden it's up to Utley, who has but one single in the series.

6:34 p.m., Bottom 9th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Chris Coste pinch hitting for Romero. He hits it well, but right to Sullivan in center. Let's give the MVP one last hand in likely his final at-bat in Philly this year.

6:31 p.m., Mid 9th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Hawpe fans, and here we go. The best offense in the league has one inning to score five runs and avoid going down 0-2 headed to Colorado. I don't like their chances, either, but it's all they have. Let's say this: I like their chances to score five runs in the ninth better than the odds that they win three in a row.

6:29 p.m., Top 9th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Atkins loops a fly ball to Rowand, two away. Well, at least we still have the Eagl ... uh, never mind.

6:26 p.m., Top 9th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: J.C. Romero is on for some work for the Phils. That's pitcher No. 6 for Philadelphia. He gets Helton to ground out.

6:24 p.m., End 8th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: This we could see coming. Everyone gets back on their feet and in the game, and Ruiz grounds meekly to third to end the inning and leave the sacks packed. The pitcher's spot, Rollins and Utley due up in the ninth for Philadelphia, as if it still mattered. Helton, Atkins and Hawpe up in the top of the inning.

6:22 p.m., Bottom 8th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: The TBS guys are discussing the Corpas water-on-the-jersey mini-controversy as he prepares to throw to Ruiz. Belechick and Bonds aren't the only ones who cheat, guys, and everyone knows it.

6:20 p.m., Bottom 8th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Iguchi slams the tip of his bat to the ground in frustration as Reynolds calls a questionable strike two. The next pitch is too far inside and it's a full count. Everyone up, and it's ball four. Now the crowd is back, and Ruiz is up. No one up in the Rockies bullpen up ... until now, Manny Corpas, the closer, has begun to get ready. He apparently needs little time to warm up, as he's coming in now. Jamey Carroll replaces Matsui at second as part of a double-switch.

6:16 p.m., Bottom 8th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Jim Reynolds calls an inside strike on what Werth thought was ball four. No matter. The next pitch is way low, and Tad Iguchi comes up to pinch hit for Dobbs.

6:13 p.m., Bottom 8th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Rowand swings and misses strike three, but Torrealba misses it, too, so Howard advances to second. Two out for Werth.

6:10 p.m., Bottom 8th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Howard with a solid single into right field. The largest deficit the Phils have come back against to win was back in August against Milwaukee, when they erased a 6-0 lead. So sayeth Simpson.

6:09 p.m., Bottom 8th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: The new pitcher is ... well, let's wait through a Caliendo in-game spot and face time for Orsillo and Simpson ... Brian Fuentes! He's facing Howard.

6:07 p.m., Bottom 8th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Hurdle comes out, and it's another TBS man of mystery coming on to replace Speier for the Rockies.

6:06 p.m., Bottom 8th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: The PA system whips the crowd into one last hopeful frenzy. Not surprisingly, Burrell takes strike one to quiet things down. He lines a 1-2 pitch right to Tulowitzki. One down.

6:04 p.m., Mid 8th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Liner off of Holliday's bat caught by a leaping Rollins, who won't quit even if everyone else has at the very least turned their focus to Game 3. Burrell, Howard and Rowand up, so the faint hope of a spark may still exist. Maybe. Although I'm certainly not counting on it.

6:01 p.m., Top 8th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Matsui looking for a single to get the cycle, by the way. But he's not getting it. He flies out to Rowand. A smattering of light applause. Tulowitzki doubles to left. That's the eighth extra-base hit for the Rockies today.

5:58 p.m., Top 8th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Great. Now we're back up to two Caliendo ads per commercial break. Alfonseca on, and Cory Sullivan grounds the first pitch to Dobbs at third, who fires to first for out one. Philly fans don't even have the heart to boo Matsui, who's up now.

5:55 p.m., End 7th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Holliday calls off a backtracking Tulowitzki and catches the Utley fly ball in short left field to end the inning.

5:54 p.m., Bottom 7th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Utley teases us with a loud foul to right. By the way, if you're still counting, that's four RBIs now for Rollins and five runs for the team.

5:53 p.m., Bottom 7th, Rockies 10, Phillies 5: Victorino is looking to run on this at-bat, even though the sluggers are up for the Phils. That's a good call, as Torrealba's throw on a pitch-out goes out into center field as there was no one covering second. So Victorino moves all the way to third. The count is 1-2 on Rollins. He dribbles it down the first base line as Helton tags the bag, but Victorino takes advantage of the Rockies' mistake and scoots home.

5:50 p.m., Bottom 7th, Rockies 10, Phillies 4: Victorino singles to right. Let's hope Manuel pulls a double-switch of his own and keeps him in the game. The MVP is up.

5:48 p.m., Bottom 7th, Rockies 10, Phillies 4: Ryan Speier on for the Rockies. Cory Sullivan replaces Ryan Spilborghs in center field, and that's a double-switch, so Speier will bat seventh. Ruiz grounds to short. Victorino pinch-hitting.

5:45 p.m., Mid 7th, Rockies 10, Phillies 4: According to commercial evidence, Jared the Subway guy agrees with me that Howard's defense is underrated. So there's that.

5:44 p.m., Mid 7th, Rockies 10, Phillies 4: Torrealba skips it back to Condrey, who turns and fires to Utley, out at second, and, yes, out at first. Polite applause follows. Ruiz, the pitcher's spot and Rollins up for the Phillies.

5:42 p.m., Top 7th, Rockies 10, Phillies 4: Hawpe scorches one up the middle and it eludes a diving Utley. I have a deep urge to flip over to PTI right now. Spilborghs quickly follows with a base hit to left. Runners first and second for Torrealba.

5:38 p.m., Top 7th, Rockies 10, Phillies 4: Condrey continues to pitch for the Phils as Atkins stands in. He skies a long fly ball to center, but Rowand is there and we have one away.

5:36 p.m., End 6th, Rockies 10, Phillies 4: The howls of drunken fans echo in the emptying caverns of CBP. Affeldt gets Dobbs swinging. Live-blogging is not always glamorous, and still three innings to go.

5:34 p.m., Bottom 6th, Rockies 10, Phillies 4: Werth golfs one to Atkins at third, who fires to nip him at first. Dobbs bats now with two out.

5:32 p.m., Bottom 6th, Rockies 10, Phillies 4: And it's a 2-0 count to Rowand. A few, ultra-optimistic Philly fans begin to make noise. Their dreams, too, are quashed. Affeldt comes back to get him swinging.

5:29 p.m., Bottom 6th, Rockies 10, Phillies 4: Jeremy Affeldt comes on for the Rockies. Wait, so Fogg hit in the last half-inning for no good reason? Thanks a lot, Hurdle. We'll get you for that. Specifically, Ryan Howard will get you for that. Home run to left-center!

5:27 p.m., Mid 6th, Rockies 10, Phillies 3: Helton strikes out swinging. TBS throws it back to the studio for cruel analysis of the Matsui grand slam. At least Mets fans aren't any happier about this.

5:25 p.m., Top 6th, Rockies 10, Phillies 3: Base hit to left-center by Holliday, Matsui jogs home and no reaction from a stunned and dejected Philly crowd.

5:23 p.m., Top 6th, Rockies 9, Phillies 3: It's gone from boos to resigned silence at CBP. The only thing the Phillies have going for them is their offense right now, but it would be nice if someone other than Rollins decided to show up for the final innings here. Tulowitzki strikes out looking, two down for Holliday.

5:21 p.m., Top 6th, Rockies 9, Phillies 3: This is pathetic. When the Rockies feel confident enough to have Fogg bat for himself here, you know it's bad. Bronx cheer for strike one from Condrey to Matsui. Ah, but he puts one out into right field, Torrealba scores, Matsui all the way to third for a triple. Run charged to Mesa, by the way.

5:18 p.m., Top 6th, Rockies 8, Phillies 3: TBS doing a great job of capturing the Philly disgust. By the way, I think someone or something has come out onto the field ... apparently it was a bottle thrown from the upper deck. Nice. Now it's a 2-0 count to Fogg, who is trying to bunt. He finally lays it down and gets Torrealba over to second. Manuel out to the mound and is greeted by, you guessed it, boos. Condrey coming in.

5:16 p.m., Top 6th, Rockies 8, Phillies 3: Every ball now elicting a boo, every strike a bronx cheer. Count full to Spilborghs. Ball high, and it's getting ugly. The first two batters in the inning have reached on walks. Clay Condrey just now gets up and starts warming in the 'pen. Torrealba sends one to the gap in right-center and ... ugh. Two runs score on the single.

5:11 p.m., Top 6th, Rockies 6, Phillies 3: Hawpe walks on five pitches, and Spilborghs is up and takes ball one. Thank god Philadelphia is the capital of booing, because that's exactly what's called for here.

5:09 p.m., Top 6th, Rockies 6, Phillies 3: Loud boos rain down as Mesa runs the count on Hawpe to 3-0.

5:06 p.m., End 5th, Rockies 6, Phillies 3: Burrell swings and misses on a changeup. Never mind that whole "valiant" thing. That's the Burrell we know and loathe.

5:04 p.m., Bottom 5th, Rockies 6, Phillies 3: Fogg battles back to 3-2 with Burrell. A ... and I can't believe I'm writing this ... valiant Burrell fouls off a couple of pitches, and tension builds. Another foul, and the ninth pitch of the at-bat awaits.

5:02 p.m., Bottom 5th, Rockies 6, Phillies 3: There we go! Base hit up the middle, and Utley's struggles are over. All is right for estrogen-fueled Phils fans again. And it's up to Burrell here. I ... this still bothers me. Even with a 3-0 count here, this still bothers me. Action in both bullpens, by the way, including Jose Mesa in Philadelphia's.

4:59 p.m., Bottom 5th, Rockies 6, Phillies 3: Utley has tied the Division Series record for a position player for most consecutive strikeouts. Former Phillie Bob Walk, with six, holds the overall Division Series record. C'mon, Utley, the hearts of a million young, single women are with you! You can do this!

4:56 p.m., Bottom 5th, Rockies 6, Phillies 3: Bourn grounds to second, and here comes the MVP ... and here comes an in-game spot for Caliendo. Damn, I jinxed it. I gotta remember not to do that. Tulowitzki makes a nice play on a grounder up the middle to make it two out for Utley.

4:55 p.m., Bottom 5th, Rockies 6, Phillies 3: TBS gets kudos for keeping the Caliendo spots to a minimum so far today. I'll take "This Is Our Country" on a continuous loop over really bad Jack Nicholson impressions. Michael Bourn pinch-hitting for Lohse.

4:51 p.m., Mid 5th, Rockies 6, Phillies 3: Helton, who's been awfully quiet this series, grounds to Howard at first, who again shows off his defensive skills and flips to Lohse who covers. This is what I'm reduced to ... analyzing the defense of Howard. Rowand under an Atkins' fly ball, and another bronx cheer goes up for a 1-2-3 inning. By the way ... Mellancamp is back!

4:48 p.m., Top 5th, Rockies 6, Phillies 3: Ah, and look who's up. Holliday. And he strikes out looking! That's about the only thing that could have elicited a cheer from the crowd, and that's precisely what happens. He futilely jaws with the ump before heading back to the dugout.

4:45 p.m., End 4th, Rockies 6, Phillies 3: Coste and Barajas are both on the NLDS roster, by the way. Ruiz lifts a high fastball out to center, but Spilborghs slides to make the catch. Man, does this feel like a bad party right now. And I think I just saw my DD take two shots of rum.

4:42 p.m., Bottom 4th, Rockies 6, Phillies 3: Dobbs pinch hit for Helms and quickly flew out to Hawpe in right. Two out for Ruiz. Where's Chris Coste?

4:40 p.m., Bottom 4th, Rockies 6, Phillies 3: Thought I'd post the NLDS pitching roster here, just to make the rather grim situation clear. You tell me who Charlie thinks he's going with in Game 4.

57	Alfonseca, Antonio
55	Condrey, Clay
45	Gordon, Tom
35	Hamels, Cole
38	Kendrick, Kyle
37	Lohse, Kyle
49	Mesa, José
50	Moyer, Jamie
39	Myers, Brett
16	Romero, J.C.

Josh Fogg is in for the Rockies, by the way. He gets Werth to ground to short for the first out.

4:37 p.m., Top 4th, Rockies 6, Phillies 3: Tulowitzki grounds out to Rollins, and the Phillies head to the dugouts as everyone in the park boos. Nice move, Charlie. Where's J.D. Durbin when you need him? Well, he's not on the NLDS roster, so ... yeah, we're fucked.

4:35 p.m., Top 4th, Rockies 6, Phillies 3: I just took a look at the Phillies' NLDS roster and ... well, if this series goes to Game 4, and the Phils better hope it does, it looks like it's either Hamels on short rest or perhaps a return to a starting role for Brett Myers, because there's not another capable starter who'll be ready for Sunday. Moyer is going Game 3, by the way. The count is 1-2 to Matsui, and the fans are up and waving the towels. Make 'em white flags ... grand slam Matsui, to right field. Fuck, fuck, fuck!

4:31 p.m., Top 4th, Phillies 3, Rockies 2: Smith with a roller down the third base line, a swinging bunt, and Helms can't pick it, so the bases are loaded for Matsui. Manuel pops out, and it looks like we'll have to shuffle the rotation for Game 4, as Lohse is on his way in from the bullpen.

4:28 p.m., Top 4th, Phillies 3, Rockies 2: Simpson is surprised the Phillies aren't pitching around Torrealba to get to Morales. I'm surprised Simpson has a job. Kendrick runs the count to 3-1 anyway, and now they intentionally finish off the walk. Morales gets lifted for pinch-hitter Seth Smith. Who? He went 5-for-7 as a pinch-hitter in Sept., says Simpson.

4:25 p.m., Top 4th, Phillies 3, Rockies 2: Everyone to their feet for the 1-2 to Spilborghs. Low, ball two. Less noise this time, but no matter. Spilborghs pops to Howard and it's two out for Torrealba.

4:23 p.m., Top 4th, Phillies 3, Rockies 2: Hawpe sends Burrell retreating on a fly ball in left field, but he tracks it down and quickly gets the throw in to hold Atkins at second. The fans loudly applaud Burrell's defense, as though he were right behind J-Roll as deputy Mr. Phillie. This is a strange world.

4:21 p.m., Top 4th, Phillies 3, Rockies 2: Atkins doubles, and it's the second consecutive leadoff double and third consecutive inning with the leadoff man on. But the Rockies failed to score in the first two such instances. Stick it, Bill James!

4:17 p.m., End 3rd, Phillies 3, Rockies 2: Josh Fogg, the Rockies Game 4 starter who was the starter in Monday's tiebreaker, now warming up in the bullpen. Shit, and Morales picks off Howard at first! Rowand sends a fly ball to Hawpe to quickly end the inning.

4:15 p.m., Bottom 3rd, Phillies 3, Rockies 2: Howard hit by a pitch right on the hand. An audible "fuck!" goes up from him, but he looks all right. The winds at CBP shift as everyone exhales.

4:13 p.m., Bottom 3rd, Phillies 3, Rockies 2: Burrell lifts a lazy liner to Matsui to second on the first pitch. Yup, he's responding to the No. 3 hole well.

4:10 p.m., Mid 3rd, Phillies 3, Rockies 2: I'll bring up the shadows now simply to remark that while both Kendrick and Helton are in shadow, the ball travels through a couple of weird light spaces on the way to the plate. Weird architecture on CBP. Phillies Game 4 starter Kyle Lohse up in the 'pen for some reason. Helton pops up to Werth and the inning is done.

4:07 p.m., Top 3rd, Phillies 3, Rockies 2: Kendrick gets Tulo swinging. Big out. Holliday is roundly booed. He hits a sharp grounder to Helms, who checks the runner back to second and fires to first for the out. Looking good.

4:05 p.m., Top 3rd, Phillies 3, Rockies 2: If Dirk Nowitzki's sister married Troy Tulowitzki, she'd be named Nowitzki-Tulowitzki. Just so you know. He draws the count full. There's a girl sitting in the front row who seems very ensconced in what she's reading right now. She's missing a hell of a game. Ruiz out to the mound for a convo.

4:02 p.m., Top 3rd, Phillies 3, Rockies 2: Simpson says Kyle Kendrick's name reminds him of a NASCAR driver's name for the second time, and Matsui lifts a double to center. Unrelated occurances? I doubt it. Simpson hates the Phils!

3:58 p.m., End 2nd, Phillies 3, Rockies 2: The Phillies have their first lead of the series! And now Utley drives it deep, but it's to straightaway center, and Spilborghs is there to end the inning. But the Phils have gotten to Morales, and now they're in control. Hold 'em down, Kyle!

3:56 p.m., Bottom 2nd, Phillies 3, Rockies 2: I gotta say I agree with Manuel holding the runners on this one. I mean, you've got Rollins up, and Utley to follow, and it's not like this is shaping up to be a "scratch for every run" game. Morales looks nervous on the mound, stepping off the rubber and generally lollygagging and stalling for time. He was just delaying the inevitable. Rollins triples to the gap in left-center. M-V-P! M-V-P! M-V-P!

3:52 p.m., Bottom 2nd, Rockies 2, Phillies 1: Kendrick swinging away, as Manuel eschews the squeeze play. Little ground ball to Matsui at second, but Helms is stuck like a statue at third and it remains runners at second and third for Rollins. Boo birds are out.

3:50 p.m., Bottom 2nd, Rockies 2, Phillies 1: Umpire Darrell Cousins catches Morales going to his mouth, and a ball is tacked on the count. Insert oral fixation joke here. Of course, usually with the Rockies, it's an Oral Roberts fixation. And so the sexual repression in the Rockies clubhouse manifests itself. Incidentally, Ruiz is at bat, and the count is full. I know, I know, I can't read a lineup. Take back that college degree. He hits one to center over Spilborghs' head. Helms, who was holding at first, only makes it to third on the Ruiz double. NOW Kendrick is up.

3:45 p.m., Bottom 2nd, Rockies 2, Phillies 1: Helms works the count full. There's more of a buzz in the crowd today, by the way. A hearty cheer for a Helms walk brings up Kendrick. And bunting isn't just the tri-colored decoration on the walls.

3:42 p.m., Bottom 2nd, Rockies 2, Phillies 1: If Dane Cook is so fucking funny, why doesn't he tell a single joke in the MLB October ads? Here's Jayson Werth for his first postseason at-bat. He fans. Are you sure Victorino couldn't have done any better, Manuel?

3:38 p.m., Mid 2nd, Rockies 2, Phillies 1: Kendrick's cap looks like he borrowed it from Robin Roberts, by the way. It's not Steve Kline-level filthy, just well-worn looking. Maybe he got it out of David Wells' personal collection. He gets Morales swinging and the Phillies fans cheer wildly as the opposing pitcher goes down. Baby steps, baby steps.

3:35 p.m., Top 2nd, Rockies 2, Phillies 1: In case you were wondering, my connection froze momentarily, thus the eight-minute gap. But hey, you got an extra long update out of it, so you can't complain. 0-2 count on Torrealba, Ruiz with a snap throw on a high ball one and Spilborghs is back safely. Spilborghs is the opposite of Burrell as he draws a throw from Kendrick now. Still no confusing graphic, though. Torrealba flies to Rowand in center, Morales to bat.

3:32 p.m., Top 2nd, Rockies 2, Phillies 1: In case you were wondering, the TBS baserunner's graphic is a multi-colored bar superimposed on the dirt with a big nine on top of it. They explained what that meant at some point yesterday, but fuck if I remember what that was about. I'm a dedicated baseball fan, former baseball beat writer and college graduate. If someone like me can't figure it out, it's wasted bells and whistles. And I thought Fox wasn't broadcasting the Division Series. Hawpe walks to begin the inning. spilborghs gets the next pitch hit right back to him and throws to Utley for the out at second, but Utley throws it away on the DP attempt. Spilborghs remains at first, though. Thank god this isn't cavernous Oakland, or Spilborghs would have been at third.

3:24 p.m., End 1st, Rockies 2, Phillies 1: Howard swings and misses on a high, 96 mph fastball, and it's up to Rowand. In case you were wondering, Burrell no threat to steal. TBS isn't even showing their confusing baserunner's lead graphic. Rowand hits a groundball to Tulowitzki who steps on second to end the inning. The Phillies do what they needed to in this frame.

3:22 p.m., Bottom 1st, Rockies 2, Phillies 1: I know he's been resurgent, I know he homered yesterday, but it still worries me that Burrell is now the No. 3 hitter. He hits a loud foul to left and the count is now full. See, that's what you get with this guy ... a big tease. No homer. But here's ball four, and we have a walk.

3:20 p.m., Bottom 1st, Rockies 2, Phillies 1: This game is well on its way to the slugfest you might expect between the two best offenses in the NL facing two rookie pitchers in a hitter's park. Utley up, to restore the faith all single in the metropolitan area had in him ... ugh, he K's swinging. Somewhere in Cherry Hill, a girl makes a Tad Iguchi drawing in her diary.

3:17 p.m., Bottom 1st, Rockies 2, Phillies 1: "You figure anybody who comes to Philadelphia with the name Franklin probably ought to have a good game." -- Joe Simpson. Uh, no. Rollins sends it deep and gone to left. M-V-P! M-V-P!

3:15 p.m., Mid 1st, Rockies 2, Phillies 0: This could become challenging as this goes on ... I didn't rearrange my schedule just so I could record a minute-by-minute log of my team's demise. The Phils better get something done in this half inning or CBP is going to be a morgue until April.

3:14 p.m., Mid 1st, Rockies 2, Phillies 0: Bronx cheer goes up as strike one is delivered to Helton. The same thing happens when Ruiz catches a foul pop-up on the next pitch. This is precisely the opposite of the quick Philly start you might have expected with a rookie on the mound. Instead, that's what the Rockies get. Atkins lifts one to shallow center and Rowand is there. Damn. A quick first inning, but the damage is done.

3:12 p.m., Top 1st, Rockies 2, Phillies 0: Manuel out to argue the call, but quickly back to the dugout. Shit! Holliday sends one deep and gone to left field. And the boos are deafening.

3:11 p.m., Top 1st, Rockies 1, Phillies 0: Little roller to Utley and the throw beats a speedy Matsui for the first out. Tulowitzki takes a long fly ball to center field and it's gone ... no, it's a triple ... no, it's gone ... instant replay everybody? No matter, it would have proven it gone anyway. Damn.

3:08 p.m., Top 1st, Rockies 0, Phillies 0: Jim Reynolds behind the plate today, so put his name atop any and all threatening envelopes for fastest delivery. Someone tell him his watch is slow, as he's holding up the start of this one for no good reason. First pitch is just outside for ball one.

3:06 p.m., awaiting first pitch, Rockies 0, Phillies 0: So the Rockies are throwing the National League's fifth-youngest player out there on the hill today (Franklin Morales). Well, that is if you trust Venezuelan birth certificates. It's a very Venezuelan 83 degrees in Philly right now, by the way. Hooray for global warming. First pitch in moments.