Cubs on deck, another on the DL…

Today the Rockies should feel really good about themselves going into a four game series with the Cubs after yesterday’s massacre of the Brewers 19-4 to complete a sweep of the series. The stretch run as the Rockies marketing department is calling it, starts tonight with the Cubs who are still behind the Brewers in the NL Central. The Rox are now in 3rd place, 2 games behind San Diego for 2nd and 4 behind front runner Arizona. And if you’re looking at the wildcard (and we’re not) the Rockies are 2 back there as well. The reason I say we’re not looking at the wildcard is simply because we believe the Rockies can still win this division. The NL West is the tightest and best division in baseball. The AL East is the worst by far with three of the 5 teams in double digits in games behind the Red Sox. (Toronto 11 1/2, Baltimore 16, and Tampa 25 1/2) We will start looking at the wild card when it looks like the division cant be won, but at least the Rox are in a good position should it come down to a wildcard.

What we now have to pay attention to is the DL. Can this team stay upright with DL starting to fill up again as it did earlier in the season? Jason Hirsh is back on the DL with a broken leg his sustained Tuesday night, after coming off of the DL a little over a week ago. Rodrigo Lopez is on the DL also and recent call-up catcher Edwin Bellorin went on after Tuesday’s game with a hamstring injury. The only good news concerning the DL is Brian Fuentes is off.

Tonight’s starter Ubaldo Jimenez needs to be at least effective tonight for the Rox to win. Cubs fans will be out in force tonight and throughout the weekend, but I’m sure Rockies fans will be as well. It should be a playoff like atmosphere as both teams make moves in their respective divisions.