Back in the Lead

Wild game last night to take the Wild Card Lead...

1. First of all, that was a weak cycle for Tulo last night. I'm glad he got it, but in all other cases the triple would have been a 2b and an error on Soriano's juggling the ball alone, but with the bad throw on top of it, there's no way that was a triple. A good throw on the 2b would have also gotten him too. Even if he was thrown out on those two plays, it was still a 5 for 5 night with 7 RBI's both Career highs. And possibly the first player ever with an Unassisted Triple Play AND a cycle in their career.

2. Is there anything Dexter Fowler won't do? The guy goes to the wall to make a catch and punishes his body on a ball in the 9th inning, with an 8 run lead (at the time). Hopefully, the injury isn't too bad and he can back out there.

3. Did anybody--including any of the umpires actually see the ball on Tulo's grand slam foul ball last night? I don't have HD, but in all the shots of it I still can't see it coming down and have no idea where it landed. I'm against instant replay in sports, the human factor sometimes helps you like it did on the DP on Sunday, and sometimes it goes against you. My general solution to the Home Run problem is to improve the sight lines for the umpires for the fences, or add the two OF umpires to the regular season games, like they do in the playoffs.

4. De La Rosa loads the bases in the first two innings on 3 hits and 3 walks, and gives up a grand total of 0 runs. Still makes it to the 8th inning and only gives up 1 run. There was a time not too long ago, when he would have blown up early and be gone by the end of the 2nd inning.

5. It was only 4 games, and maybe not representative, but how can people believe the Cubs are legitimate contenders for the Central title? I think we dodged a bullet by not facing Zambrano or Harden, but the fielding looked like the Nationals. 6 errors in 4 games with at least one error in each game, and as noted above probably had a couple of more that weren't scored that way. (The Gorzelany injury play was another questionable play where he should have had Torrealba easily, but you really can't rule that an error) It doesn't get much easier for them either, as they go home for 6 against the Phillies and Pirates, followed by another trip out west against the Padres and Dodgers. They also don't have an off day until August 24th. I look for them to fade over the next few weeks, unless they find a way to patch their pitching holes.

NOTES: It's hard to know which way to root on the Giants/Dodgers, but I think Dodger losses maximizes the Rockies chances for the playoffs. My preference would be to go in as a Division winner over the Wild Card, so I'm pulling for the Giants.