Rockies send Baker to Cubs for prospect

Carnac alert!..."The butcher, the baker and the trouble maker.”

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 plans are for me yet, so I’m looking forward to getting there.”

Denver Post: Bullpen boost now becoming high priority

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,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said.

The problem is there are few upgrades available with so many teams still in the playoff chase. Arizona is willing to part with Chad Qualls, whom the Rockies have liked in the past. San Diego is expected to move Cla Meredith, though the Padres are not a common trade partner.

plus, Gold’s Gym Says No To Cankles

foxsports.com: Tracy thriving in third managerial stint

Jim Tracy tries to be diplomatic, but it isn’t easy.

He is managing the Colorado Rockies, having taken over when Clint Hurdle was fired a month ago, and Tracy admits his third time as a big-league manager has extra meaning.

And the fact the Rockies have been the hottest team in baseball since Tracy began filling out the lineup card only adds to the feeling of redemption for Tracy, particularly after what became a two-year nightmare in Pittsburgh.

“After Pittsburgh, I felt I had something to prove,” he admitted. “It was a personal thing. There never was a question about my ability to run a game. I relish having the opportunity to do it one more time and to have the weapons to work with where you know the program you put together is going to work.”

Things are certainly working well for Tracy so far in Colorado. The Rockies have won 22 of 29 games since he became manager, and fresh off a weekend sweep in Oakland, they arrive at Dodger Stadium on Monday night having won 20 of their last 23 games.

Having enjoyed a sweep of the Pirates at Coors Field the weekend of June 19-21, now Tracy gets to sit across the field from the other team he once managed, the Dodgers, and has every reason to feel the Rockies will be a much better team than one that lost eight of nine games against the Dodgers earlier this season.

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

The 161st Street to Bridge Song?

The Yankees may want to keep an eye turned toward the Rockies, because if 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 system, mining for possible trade targets.

Then, before a deal could get rolling, manager Clint Hurdle was fired.

SF Chronicle/Shea: Barry who? Rockies’ Tracy finds success

Does a manager make that much of a difference?

Seems to be the case with the Rockies, who last month replaced Clint Hurdle with bench coach Jim Tracy and then began winning like it’s 2007. Tracy, remembered in the Bay Area as the guy who ran the Dodgers early in the 2000s, finally has a managing gig in which he’s not haunted by Barry Bonds.

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Tracy’s previous two stops were Los Angeles and Pittsburgh, and excuse him if he wondered what it would be like to have his mind clear of Bonds.

Tracy’s first four years managing the Dodgers, Bonds won MVP awards. Tracy’s fear of the Giants’ left fielder seemed to grow annually - as did Bonds’ numbers against the Dodgers - peaking in 2004, when Tracy hardly pitched to the man.

Barry was just a hunka hunka burnin’ love…

Denver Post/Saunders: Rockies’ Marquis, Spilborghs are keepers

The New York Post’s Joel Sherman reported that before the Rockies started their insane hot streak, Jason Marquis and (Ryan)Spilborghs were almost traded to the Phillies. The two sides reportedly discussed a deal that would have sent Marquis and Spilborghs to the Phillies for left-hander J.A. Happ and prospects. When the Rockies moved into wild-card contention, the deal folded.

Still, rumors persist. I’m sure the last thing general manager Dan O’Dowd needs is my advice and opinions, but here goes:

• Under no circumstances should the Rockies trade Brad Hawpe — unless it yields Roy Halladay, and that isn’t happening. Hawpe is the best run producer the Rockies have, one of the best clutch hitters in the game and his contract is more than reasonable. He’s making $5.5 million this season and due to make $7.5 million in 2010.

• I have mixed emotions regarding Spilborghs. I would like to see him get more playing time, so a trade might be good for him. But he’s invaluable in the clubhouse. With Carlos Gonzalez struggling at the plate, I say the Rockies should keep Spilly, unless they are blown away be an offer.

FanGraphs: Cameron: Tulowitzki’s Revival

And my The Donutless Ron Lolich’s team thanks you!

As you’ve probably heard, the Colorado Rockies have gotten hot lately, surging to a 37-34 record after starting the year as one of the worst teams in baseball. New manager Jim Tracy has been given a significant amount of the credit, as the team started winning right after he took over from Clint Hurdle, but there’s one really obvious reason why the Rockies are winning that has nothing to do with Jim Tracy - Troy Tulowitzki has been the best hitter in baseball this month.

After some pedestrian performances in April and May on the heels of a 2008 season that was one long struggle, questions about TT’s ability to hit began to gain momentum. Was he just a product of Coors Field? A flash in the pan who peaked early? A good glove that can only hit mistake pitches?

No, no, and no. After hitting two more home runs last night, Tulowitzki is hitting .373/.466/.797 in June, and only Albert Pujols has hit more home runs this month. His .508 wOBA since the end of May is the best in baseball. When you’re getting this much offense from the shortstop position, it’s going to make it pretty easy to put runs on the board and win some ballgames.

ESPN: Rockies’ run might not end in playoffs, but could save manager’s job

It’s a wake-up call to the players, essentially saying to them: “Look at what happened! A man lost his job because you couldn’t play.” Everyone likes Jim Tracy. I’ve never been around anyone from when he was with the Dodgers or the Pirates that ever said anything bad about him. He’s a nice man; he’s a good baseball guy. He was there all year as the bench coach, and the players already knew him. The players don’t want another manager to lose his job. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind having Tracy there next year. Sometimes when you’re playing for someone to keep their job, you seem to play a little better and you focus and concentrate a little more.

Denver Post: O’Dowd puts Hawpe trade rumors to rest

Buyers or sellers? Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd said Saturday it’s too early to tell.

As for all of those national rumors that the Rockies would trade right fielder Brad Hawpe for the right price, O’Dowd dismissed them with a shake of his head.

“I don’t know where any of that came from,” O’Dowd said. “I don’t foresee us doing anything with him. That’s something you would only do strategically, for the big picture. That would be something for the offseason, if at all.”

Hawpe has been the Rockies’ best position player, entering Saturday’s play hitting .343, second in the National League. His .417 average with runners in scoring position ranked second in the NL.

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It’s no secret the Rockies need bullpen depth, especially after placing setup man Manuel Corpas on the 15-day disabled list Saturday because of a bone chip in his elbow.

To fill Corpas’ roster spot, the Rockies called up right-hander Juan Rincon from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Rincon is 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA in eight appearances for the Sky Sox and is 3-for-3 in save opportunities.

Post-Gazette: Tracy on Pirates’ long woes: ‘You need talent’

Jim Tracy is a manager once again, just as he was in Los Angeles and Pittsburgh.

He is winning once again, too, just as he did ... well, in Los Angeles.

And yet, even as he took to Coors Field yesterday for batting practice under golden skies and an even sunnier 15-5 record since taking over the Colorado Rockies May 29, smiling wide and exchanging hugs and handshakes with those he knew from the Pirates, he could not help but express regret at how his two-year tenure in Pittsburgh ended with his firing in October 2007.

“There is disappointment for me in not being able to go further with the situation than we did,” he said in an interview with the Post-Gazette. “But you know, there have been good people there, lots of them, and it hasn’t happened.”

He was asked why that is.

“I really believe it boils down to this: You need talent. You need talented players with an unselfish nature to get to where you want to go.”

There were some of those during Tracy’s time, as he acknowledged. But he also bemoaned the lack of depth at the time, in Pittsburgh and in the Pirates’ system.

“There were some good players for me, and there still are some good players over there. But you also need somewhere to turn when you have players get bumps or bruises. Where could we go? That’s a question that’s been asked there for a number of years, and there never was an answer. It was very difficult just to keep the seas calm until you get people healthy. That’s the biggest drawback there, and it has been for years.”

Denver Post: Atkins starting to look like the odd man out

Starting Monday, the math won’t add up. The Rockies will have five players for four infield spots. Somebody’s going to sit. It will likely be Garrett Atkins, who’s expected to spell first baseman Todd Helton today, if he doesn’t rev up his offense.

“It’s going to create a problem, one a manager likes to have,” Atkins said. “I feel better at the plate. Hopefully, I can keep swinging well and help the team.”

Playing time will become an issue with the return of Troy Tulowitzki. His left hand healed, he will start at shortstop today, moving Clint Barmes to second and Ian Stewart to third, Atkins’ regular spot. Asked if Atkins had to produce to stay in the lineup, manager Jim Tracy said, “absolutely.”

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The Rockies signed recently released Adam Eaton to a minor-league deal. He went 2-5 with an 8.56 ERA with the Orioles before his May 22 release.

Inside the Rockies: Ringolsby: CarGo Arrives in St. Louis Friday

Tracy Ringolsby reports that the Rockies have recalled Carlos Gonzalez and he will join the team in St. Louis:

The left-handed-hitting outfielder acquired as part of the package from Oakland for Matt Holliday will join the Rockies in St. Louis on Friday....

Gonzalez forced the issue. He is hitting .339 with 10 home runs, 12 doubles, seven triples and 59 RBI in 47 games at Colorado Springs…

Asked about the crowded outfield, Tracy said, `That will be what I have to figure out. I accept that challenge.”

CarGon’s other big improvement is his BB/SO ratio:  22:31.  Minorleaguesplits.com gives this slash line for his MLE for Coors Field:

.294 / .356 / .510

denverpost.com: Looking won’t cut it with Tracy at helm

HOUSTON — Less than a week into Jim Tracy’s tenure as Rockies manager, one of his major pet peeves has emerged.

He despises the “backward K.”

In other words, nothing ticks him off more than when hitters strike out looking. He made that abundantly clear Tuesday night when the Rockies watched strike three go by on six of their 12 strikeouts in a 3-2, 11-inning loss to the Astros.

He hammered the point home again before Wednesday night’s game against the Astros, saying the Rockies have to become more aggressive at the plate in order to turn their season around.

Kidnapped son of Rockies’ Torrealba rescued

Holy ####!

Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba’s nightmare is apparently over, his son safe and tension eased as he makes plans to fly his family to the United States after a kidnapping was resolved safely.

His 11-year-old son, Yorvit Eduardo, and two of the 11-year-old’s uncles, were kidnapped Tuesday morning in the Venezuelan city of Guarenas. The three were rescued Wednesday night in Araira, according to the Caracas newspaper De todo en diversiones.

Torrealba’s son, and his uncles, identified as Daniel Antonio Alvarez, 31, and Agrey Alexander Marquez, 27, were kidnapped, and their captors were identified in a lineup.

A source who has been in constant communication with Torrealba through this ordeal told The Denver Post today that the 11-year-old and uncles were intercepted as they drove the boy to school.
Torrealba flew from Houston, where he was with the Rockies, to Venezuela immediately upon hearing the news of the kidnapping. The kidnappers demanded a $1 million ransom. He was told to keep his presence in the country private, with authorities fearful that the kidnappers would demand more money and delay the return of the captives.

A dropoff location was established but Yorvit Eduardo and the brother-in-law were able to reach a safe house and telephone authorities before the ransom was paid, according to the source.

“Our organization is relieved that the situation was resolved with the safe return of Yorvit’s family members and we will continue to support Yorvit and his family through what has been an extremely emotional situation. Yorvit knows that he can take the time he needs and will rejoin the Club when the time is right,” said Rockies president Keli McGregor.

Torrealba plans to bring his family to the United States tomorrow and spend a few days with them before considering returning to the Rockies next week in Milwaukee.

Holy ####### ####!

Vin Scully Rips Denver Nuggets for all the Tattoos

“Did you see as many tattooed people outside of the circus with that Denver basketball team? They must not have a drop of ink in Colorado.”

Damn Vin, tell us how you really feel. Seriously, between Chris Andersen, J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin, Carmelo Anthony, and Anthony Carter, it’s hard not to look at the Nuggets and be immediately struck by the preponderance of body ink. Aside from the national TV ratings generated by the Lakers, the tats have to be another reason David Stern is counting his lucky stars the Lakers advanced. I’ll say this much: I had no idea Scully would even be watching any Western Conference playoff basketball. Guess he has some time on his hands during those road trips.

Woody Paige: Tracy rusty, but he could be next

Tracy must be rusty after not managing in more than a year.

One of the charges against Tracy in Pittsburgh was that he took too much credit when the team won and blamed the players too much when the Pirates lost.

After the game Sunday, Tracy blamed his starter Jorge De La Rosa for not pitching properly to Gonzalez when he had an 0-2 count, allowing the Padres slugger to homer.

Gonzalez wouldn’t have homered if he were standing on first base. Don’t give me that old manager’s lame excuse of lefty on lefty. Couldn’t the Rockies use Gonzalez?

Tracy then blamed his pinch-hitter Smith for not hitting properly when he had a 3-2 count. According to Tracy, the Rockies cannot “do any hitting with the bat on their shoulder.”

Well, the Rockies can’t extend the inning if the manager is sending runners when the team needs four runs, not one or two. In that situation, they need a big, not a little, inning.

The team bus, parked off 20th and Blake, taking the Rockies to their charter flight for 11 games on the road, could have been delayed. Tracy had thrown the players under it.

Unless Tracy wants to share the credit and the blame, he and the Rockies could lose seven of 11, or more, and he could lose the players, as Hurdle did.

Then, at season’s conclusion, everybody, including the Brothers Grim, will be saying — “Fire Tracy.”

Marquis limits Padres to make Tracy a winner in first game as Rockies manager

Tracy juggled the lineup, putting the slumping Garrett Atkins back into the cleanup spot and sliding Tulowitzki down to seventh. His intention is to keep the lineup pretty much in tact.

“I’d like to stabilize some things,” Tracy said. “I sat over on the other side of the field in this ballpark for a number of years and I watched Garrett Atkins drive in over 200 and some odd runs over the course of a couple of different seasons. If we’re going to turn some things around, he needs to be in the middle of our order.”

Atkins, who saw his average dip to .195 after an 0-for-3 night, put some good swings on the ball, just had nothing to show for it.

“He just needs to find some green grass,” Tracy said.

Late in the game, Tracy inserted Omar Quintanilla at third for defensive help. The slick-fielding infielder doesn’t play all that often.

Now, he may see more time.

“He can flat catch the ball,” Tracy said.

It begins.

Source: Hurdle to be fired

Clint Hurdle’s seven-year run as the Rockies’ manager will end today, according to a major-league source. With an off day to discuss the situation, the Rockies are poised to make a change given that their poor start has begun to affect attendance and fan interest....

ench coach Jim Tracy likely is Hurdle’s replacement. Hurdle has been the Rockies’ manager since 2002, when he took over for Buddy Bell three weeks into the season.

Report: Several Rockies think Hurdle might be fired today

Today, one week after general manager Dan O’Dowd gave Hurdle a quasi vote of confidence, that picture could change dramatically. Following another dismal showing Wednesday in an 8-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field, several Rockies players privately speculated that today’s off day could mark the end of Hurdle’s seven-plus-year tenure as manager.

“It’s a misnomer to say we are on a daily Clint watch. I am giving Clint the benefit of the doubt for now,” O’Dowd said a week ago. “But we need to play better.”

L.A. Times: Eric Milton earns first win as Dodger

DENVER—Eric Milton allowed one run in five innings for his first win in nearly three years and Casey Blake hit a three-run double in the fifth, leading the Dodgers to a 7-1 win over the Rockies on Tuesday night.

Milton (1-0) struck out three and walked none in helping the Dodgers to their seventh win in eight meetings with the Rockies. He hadn’t won since beating St. Louis on Aug. 8, 2006, for the Cincinnati Reds.

Juan Pierre had three more hits, including a triple and a two-run single to continue a torrid pace since stepping into the lineup earlier this month in place of the suspended Manny Ramirez. He has hit .410 (32 for 78) in 18 games since May 7.

Orlando Hudson pitched in by going 2 for 3 with an RBI and a pair of walks, extending his career-best hitting streak to 16 games for the Dodgers, now a season-high 17 games over .500 with the major league’s best record (32-15).

If you told a Dodgers fan that Casey Blake would bat .309/.377/.579, and Juan Pierre would bat .394/.463/.532, and that Eric Milton would be a starter in your rotation for the foreseeable future… well. Yeah.

Bruce Jenkins: Giants are NL West’s best hope

(05-19) 20:12 PDT —It’s up to San Francisco to save the National League West from the Dodgers, the Manny Ramirez scandal and the depressing notion of a division won much too easily. Not that it seems very likely, but the Giants are the only team even remotely equipped for the task.

Next to all this, the Giants seem positively golden with the likes of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Bengie Molina and Pablo Sandoval. Can they win this division? Total longshot. But they’re the only threat to Mannywood.

MLB.com: Helton records 2,000th hit with Rockies

Rockies first baseman Todd Helton left no doubt about his official 2,000th hit Tuesday night.

In the third inning at Turner Field, Helton executed a deft hit-and-run by lining a single on an 0-2 pitch from Braves starter Jair Jurrjens into the vacated shortstop hole.
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The clear hit meant a clear celebration for Helton, his teammates and some 15-20 family members who were in attendance.

After Monday’s call, Helton said the play should have been ruled a hit, but he didn’t want to push for a change before Tuesday’s game.

“Don’t get me wrong, you want every hit you can get,” Helton said. “There’s no such thing as a bad hit. But, that being said, I’m just focusing on going out and playing tonight.”

Denver Post: Helton’s 2,000th hit in limbo as Rox beat Braves

The win came with an unusual twist. Todd Helton was denied in his bid for his 2,000th hit, but it’s not official yet. Manager Clint Hurdle will speak with official scorer Jack Wilkinson before Tuesday’s game in attempt to have the call changed on Helton’s fourth at-bat. The first baseman hit a low line drive at Braves’ shortstop Yunel Escobar that took an in-between hop. Escobar didn’t touch it, but was charged with an error after a long pause.

“All I can do is hit it, but I have never seen that ball ruled an error. I should have hit it higher or somewhere else. I thought it was a hit, oh well,” Helton said.

So, too, did Hurdle. He asked Rockies spokesman Jay Alves to request a meeting with Wilkinson. According to Hurdle, Wilkinson acquiesced. Hurdle will argue that the ball should be a hit, regardless of sentimentality.

Japan Times: NPB commissioner wanted to ban foreign players 25 years ago

There are 66 foreign players currently registered in Japanese pro baseball, along with two foreign managers, a farm team manager and three coaches. But, 25 years ago this month, the commissioner of Japanese baseball wanted to ban non-Japanese from playing in the Central and Pacific Leagues.

Trouble began just three days into the 1984 season, when American outfielder Jim Tracy, then of the Yokohama Taiyo Whales, suddenly quit his team after going through spring training and preparing for his second season in Japan.

Yes, he’s the same Jim Tracy who served major league tenures as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates. The country-style Tracy had enjoyed a better-than-halfway-decent first year in Japan in 1983, hitting .303 with 19 home runs and 66 RBIs, good enough to earn him a second season in Yokohama.

At 29 years of age, Tracy could have been one of those long-term foreign players in Japan with a career extended over five or six seasons. He had played briefly in the majors with the Chicago Cubs in 1980-81 and appeared to be one who had found his niche playing in Japan.

However, on Sunday of opening weekend in 1984, he suddenly announced he was leaving the team and the country. He was upset about being taken out of that third game of the year after he walked in the ninth inning of a tie game and was removed for a pinch runner by Whales manager Junzo Sekine.

Tracy later said he could not agree with the decision. His thinking was that his bat might be needed should the game go into extra innings, whereas Sekine was obviously trying to win the game in the ninth. Over that seemingly trivial difference of opinion, the player took his pride and went home.

Paige: Rockies — It’s time to bail on Hurdle

Break out those People of Rock underpants! Woody’s latest is here.

Clint Hurdle can’t . . . any more . . . or any less.

In six full seasons, and parts of 2002 and 2009, under Hurdle, the Rockies, through Friday night, had compiled a 530-618 record.

One winning season.

The Rockies have finished fourth in the National League West four times, fifth once, third once and second once.

Hurdle bought some time with the Rockies’ miraculous run to the World Series in 2007, but time is up. No other franchise in Denver has accepted (and praised) such mediocrity, and no other team in baseball would stomach and stand such feebleness and foolishness.

The Monfort Bros. and Dealin’ Dan have saved Hurdle’s cowhide in Denver for years, and the players saved him two seasons ago.

The bailouts have been used up. Not another rescue, Hurdle out to fescue.

Dave Cameron: The NL West Race Is Over

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Dodgers for clinching the first playoff spot of the 2009 season.

Okay, fine, it’s only May 6th. The Dogers have another 134 games to play. Things could go wrong. The whole team might get the swine flu. Short of that, however, this division race is over.

Heading into the season, the Dodgers and Diamondbacks were the two leading contenders for the division, with the Giants kind of lurking as an interesting team if they can find a couple of hitters. The Rockies and Padres were also-rans. The Dodgers looked like a better team than Arizona, but injuries to guys like Hiroki Kuroda threatened to potentially leave the door open for the D’Backs if they could get some production from their young hitters and All-Star seasons from Webb/Haren/Scherzer.

MLB.com: Norton mourns tragedy 20 years later

When Greg Norton awoke on the morning of May 6, 1989, life’s next challenge seemingly stood solely in the form of the SAT exam that awaited him just a few hours later. This entrance exam provided another chance for him to allow his mother to realize the dream of seeing him gain a college education and then take his baseball talents to the Major Leagues.

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While waiting for a friend to pick him up, Norton walked upstairs to check on his mother. There he found Helen Norton bruised and motionless. Around her neck rested a tie that her husband, Jerry Norton, used as a murder weapon.

Rockies’ Fowler ties rookie mark with 5 steals

Dexter’s midnight runnings…

Taking advantage of good jumps and Chris Young’s methodical delivery, Dexter Fowler tied a modern-day rookie mark with five stolen bases as the Colorado Rockies ran their way to a 12-7 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night.

Fowler gave the Padres fits all night, becoming the first rookie to steal that many bases since Damian Jackson did it for San Diego on June 28, 1999.

Although he’s already encouraged to run, Fowler, who has nine steals for the season, received even more prodding before the game.

“I told him, ‘Run until they stop you,’’’ teammate Ryan Spilborghs said. “He did. I don’t think they ever stopped him. I think he’s still running if we go look for him right now.’’

High and Tight: Desi Relaford: Why So Soon?

A first Desilu-lu production by Relaford here.

“Hey Des, sit down.” Clint Hurdle spoke softly, which was odd and alarming because if you know Clint Hurdle, then you know that he has an amazingly loud voice. I braced for the worst.  “You know you’ve done a great job for us so far, but you also know you’ve struggled here for a couple of weeks. So we’ve decided to designate you…blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.”

The room seemed to grow bigger and bigger along with everything in it. Even the chair felt like a king’s throne. I don’t even think my feet could touch the ground.  I felt so small. At that exact moment, I felt worthless. After the “we’re going to designate you” part, I zoned out. That was literally the last thing I heard him say. To my surprise and chagrin, this was the beginning of the end.  I remember staring, almost sneering, at Clint’s outstretched hand as I walked out of his office with a turned shoulder as cold as the transaction that had just transpired. To this day that is the only act I regret in my baseball career. It was classless; something I still have never apologized for.

Since that day, my baseball career has been a mere shell of its former self. A major injury, a couple of injustices, a couple of minor league tours and big league cup of coffee later, the dream is apparently over. What a bitter, stinging reality to face for a lifelong player and fan of the game. What do you do when the phone stops ringing? What do you do when you’ve been labeled a “has been” by your potential suitors? How do you deal with being one the boys, in that elite class one minute and on the outside looking in the next? Could it be? Could it be time for… Don’t SAY IT! Reti.. DON’T SAY IT! Retirement! AAAAAAAAARRRRRGH!

L.A. Times: For Dodgers, it’s all about the wins and the grins

“We still have a chance to go 159-3,” Russell Martin said. “It’s a long season, though.”

Martin had a smile on his face, but who among the Dodgers did not?

The Dodgers got miles of smiles out of their 14-2 pummeling of the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. The Dodgers extended their winning streak to eight games, moving into sole possession of first place in the National League West for the first time this season.

Matt Kemp drove in five runs on a pair of home runs—one a grand slam—and Orlando Hudson and Andre Ethier drove in three runs apiece. The Dodgers are 10-3, a record bettered only by the Florida Marlins.

“It’s sort of a domino effect,” Manager Joe Torre said. “Everybody has contributed.”

The Dodgers have scored the most runs in the league (82) and given up the fewest (40). They could pad those numbers when they hit the road Tuesday, against the woeful Houston Astros.

In completing a 6-0 homestand, the Dodgers tied the Los Angeles record for consecutive home victories at the start of the season. The franchise record is nine, by the 1946 Brooklyn club. They outscored opponents 50-17 on the six-game homestand.