I was terribly off-base in my projections for the homestand games against Boston. Even so, I think the Rockies discovered a potential within themselves at the end of this season with their amazing performance. Tucson’s spring training should definitely be telling, and next season’s opening day should be a packed house at Coors Field.

Pictures from last night are viewable HERE:

The tow truck delivered me back home in time for the final two innings. I got home just in time to be embarrassed for Matt Holliday who was caught leaning the wrong direction by Jonathan Papelbon. Dang was that just ugly.

Other than that, here’s what I’ve seen transpire in these two games at Fenway:

• The Rockies are awake. It was a rude awakening from an 8-day slumber, but they are definitely awake and not a moment too soon. Hopefully it’s not too late, either.
• The Red Sox pitching is astounding. From Beckett to Papelbon, and the boys from Japan…man. These guys hurl as good or better than anyone else.
• Youklis is a MENACE. I’m starting to think that if he gets to first base, you might as well color in the diamond on the scorecard because he most likely will stomp the plate.
• The Rockies pitching needs to gain corporate confidence. Herges is the only one I’ve seen throwing with authority. Fuentes is getting there, but closer and the starters need to amp it up. Take risks, throw MORE heat, and quit walking and hitting batters!
• Coors Field, no DH, and another game that revs the RPM’s for Hurdle’s Heroes, it should tip the scales to a ridiculous degree in favor of the Team From Blake Street. The Sox are going to be out of sorts in Denver and the commentators just might poop their pants when the table turns.

There. I said it. The next three games belong to the Rox. And when we return to Fenway for 6 & 7, the Sox will be so tired from the beating they’ll gladly hand us their chowder.

Go Rox.

Eric, out.

Holy cow. I can NOT believe she was able to get tickets. I’m sitting in the Left Field Pavilion area, section 154. If you haven’t been following the news about this, it’s been quite controversial, and to even get these tickets has been an absolute shock to me. I’ve been quite the Rockies fan this season, and this is simply too much to absorb.

So here’s what’s going to happen:

• Games 1 & 2 are being played at Fenway on Wed/Thurs. Then Sat/Sun/Mon are for Games 3/4/5, before returning to Fenway if necessary.
• The Rockies beat the Red Sox in regular season inter-league play 2 out of 3 games. Of course everybody and their goldfish know that the Rockies are on a TEAR winning 21 of their last 22. For the record, once again, I was at the ONLY loss of that streak, as well as seeing their final regular season win, both against the D-Backs who the Rockies recently swept to clinch the NLCS Pennant.
• But the Red Sox have gotten on their horse in the ALCS and put the Indians to shame, climbing back from a 3-1 deficit and shutting them down with 3 wins in a row, and winning the American League Pennant.
• While they did that, the Rox were on an 8 day baseball hiatus after 8 games of postseason play and 163 games of regular season competition dating back to April. It’s the longest break you could possibly have between games in the continuous regular-to-post season calendar.
• The Rockies payroll tops out at $55M and the Redsox nearly triple that at $143M. But in spite of that, our starters, our bullpen, our defense–man…they are playing at a level that borders on insanity. It’s ridiculous.
• Nobody outside of Denver knows the Rockies. And EVERYBODY knows the Red Sox. Beyond that…Denver’s such a transient city that a good number of folks who are residents here are from back East and therefore could have the gall to show up wearing Red Sox garb.

The stats, variables, mojo, luck, and x-factors go on and on. No one knows how this match-up will play out. And if you dig out that 3 week old Sports Illustrated or revisit the blogs of the baseball gurus, you’ll see that they had NO IDEA that Colorado would do what they’ve done.

They’re the underdog. They’re the anomaly. They’re my team.

Go Rockies!

Tonight, the Rox SWEPT the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-4 in an historic accomplishment in Major League Baseball, being the first team since the 1995 institution of the Wild Card to ever sweep both the first and second rounds of competition, and only the second team since my beloved 1976 Big Red Machine to go undefeated at this point of the post-season. They are 7-0 with no signs of stopping.

In fact, why don’t we play BOTH of the American League contenders! I seriously think we can handle BOTH, the Red Sox AND the Indians.

Not two weeks ago, I sat with my friend Chris Laurent at Coors Field, and we witnessed the ONLY loss the Rockies have suffered in 22 games. And now, they’re permanently on the map. This is sports history at the highest level, and if you can’t tell yet, yes, I am smitten with this team. I am addicted to the Rockies, and I’m thrilled to be living in Denver where it’s all going down!

Go Rockies!

The Rox have had the SLIMMEST chance to snag the wildcard position for the NL pennant race, and with ALL the things that had to fall in place to make this happen, by golly, the Blake Street Bombers put it to the Diamondbacks and now, they’re going to a RARE tie-breaker tomorrow with San Diego since the Pad’s lost to Milwaukee.

On top of that, as you can see in this picture, I caught my first ever baseball at an MLB game. The kid is a total stranger. His name is Mitch. The Coors Field Photographer assumed we were together, but honestly, the only interest we had in each other was a deal to try and get each other a ball.

During batting practice, there’s all sorts of opportunities to get a free horsehide and kids have a better chance. So I promised Mitch I would yell and sell to the players shaggin’ flies near the warning track to get Mitch TWO balls, one of which would be mine. Not 10 minutes later, a humdinger aimed right at me came down and thudded off my right hand and landed close enough between the bleachers for me to dive headfirst and swallow it up before another fan got to it.

You want me to tell you that I graciously gave the ball to Mitch. But I decided what was worth to this wee lad was how I modeled the virtue of sacrificing personal dignity and a little skin to accomplish a lifelong dream. Mitch, bro, you’re young and you have more time than I do. Hence why I kept it. Unfortunately my salesmanship with the D-Backs didn’t net you the second ball of our deal. Tough Noogies. But, vaya con Dios, little hombre, and someday when you’re in your thirties and still trying to check off stuff your “childhood dreams” list, you’ll remember how unashamed I was in flinging my body to the cement to snag this glorious souvenir.

‘Twas a good day. And Go Rockies!!!