The Rockies hold an option on 34-year old righty reliever Rafael Betancourt worth $5.4 million bucks for the 2010 season. The question is: Will they exercise it? He pitched very well after coming over in a trade with the Indians as he pitched in 32 games (0 starts) for the Rockies and he was 3-1 with 1 save, a 1.78 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP. Overall in 2009, Betancourt pitched in 61 games (0 starts) for the Indians & Rockies in which he was 4-3 with 2 saves, a 2.73 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Betancourt has now pitched in 403 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 26-23 with 18 saves, a 3.16 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. I think the Rockies should pick up Betancourt’s option so that he can set up Huston Street in 2010 giving the Rockies’ a very formidable 8th and 9th inning tandem late in ball games.

UPDATE: The Rockies have declined Rafael Betancourt’s option for the 2010 season.

What a incredible baseball game last night at Coors Field. Cliff Lee pitched an excellent game again yesterday but he wasn’t the winning pitcher. Ryan Madson followed Lee in the game and that’s when everything turned sour. He gave up a single to Jason Giambi which drove in the game tying run. Then Yorvit Torrealba came to the plate and hit a 2-run double to give the Rockies a 4-2 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th innings. With Rockies’ closer Huston Street on the mound the Phillies rallied to take the lead. Ryan Howard came up with 2 runners on base and 2 outs when he ripped a double into the right field corner driving in Shane Victorino and Chase Utley to tie the game. Jayson Werth then followed Howard to the plate and he got a single to knock him in with the lead run. That wasn’t the end of the game though as lefty Scott Eyre got two outs in the 9th inning but he left two runners on for Brad Lidge. Lidge then came on and struck out Troy Tulowitzki to win the game.

The Rockies played hard in this game and they had some hitters that really stepped up in this game.  Jason Giambi came up big time in this game as a pinch hitter as he singled in his only at bat driving in the game tying run.  He also scored on Yorvit Torrealba’s double.  Mr. October for the Rockies (Yorvit Torrealba) came up big as usual in this game as he was 2 for 4 with a double and 2 RBIs which gave the Rockies the lead in the bottom of the 8th inning.  Carlos Gonzalez had another solid game as he was 2 for 4.  Todd Helton was only 1 for 4 in this game but he did score 2 runs and he knocked in 1 run. 

Ubaldo Jimenez was very solid in this game working the first 7 innings in which he allowed 6 hits and 2 earned runs while whiffing 7 batters.  But, Huston Street blew the game pitching 2/3 of an inning in which he allowed 3 hits and 3 earned runs.  He was the losing pitcher.

The Rockies lose this series 3 games to 1 to the Phillies.  So maybe the Rockies will do better next year but 2009 was a good year for them regardless of the outcome of this series.

This is a rematch of Game #1 which was won by the Phillies as Cliff Lee pitched a complete game against the Rockies. The Rockies were said to have problems against lefty pitchers this season but they have smashed every lefty not named Lee of the Phillies. Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ and Scott Eyre are a combined 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP in this series. It will be interesting to see if this hot hitting carries over today against the Phillies and Lee. Ubaldo Jimenez will be starting this game for the Rockies who will probably have a quick hook with him if he gets into trouble in this game. He was the losing pitcher in game #1 working the first five innings and allowing 9 hits and 5 earned runs. The Rockies need this game or they won’t play again until March in Arizona.

Dexter Fowler and Todd Helton appeared to wake up with the bat last night but the Rockies need that to continue. Fowler is 2 for 10 with 2 RBIs in this series while Helton is 2 for 12 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs. But starting 2B Clint Barmes has been truly awful so far in this series as he is 0 for 10. The Rockies need all hands on the deck as they face elimination tonight so these three guys need to step up.

The Rockies lost a heartbreaker last night at home as Ryan Howard knocked in Jimmy Rollins in the 9th inning to break a 5-5 tie and then Phillies’ closer Brad Lidge worked a scoreless 9th inning to finish off the Rockies. Jason Hammel got pummeled by the Phillies in this game working the first 3 2/3 innings in which he allowed 4 hits, walked 3 batters and gave up 4 earned runs. But the bullpen kept the Rockies close until the 9th inning when the Phillies got to closer Huston Street. Street pitched the 9th inning and he allowed 2 hits, walked 1 batter and he allowed 1 earned run. He was the losing pitcher. The Rockies had quite a few batters swinging a good stick last night. It all starts with Carlos Gonzalez who was a beast in the leadoff spot for the Rockies. He was 3 for 4 with a double, homer, stolen base, 3 runs scored and 1 RBI. Dexter Fowler followed him in the lineup and he was 2 for 4. Todd Helton had a solid game also as he was 1 for 3 with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. Despite his bad year Garrett Atkins continues to swing a solid stick as he was 2 for 4 with a double and 2 RBIs. The Rockies are now down 2-1 in this series with Game #4 later today.