Franklin Morales News

Yorvit Torrealba After failing to come to an agreement on a two-year contract, the Rockies declined catcher Yorvit Torrealba's 2010 option Friday, making him a free agent.

With a passion for teaching still in his blood, former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle was introduced as the Texas Rangers' hitting coach Thursday.

Ryan Howard went 6-for-16 against the Rockies and delivered the biggest hit of the series, a two-out, two-run ninth-inning double that tied Game 4. But he faced only two lefties, relievers Franklin Morales and Joe Beimel , and went 0-for-4. He'll see more lefties from the Dodgers, who will try to neutralize the game's most feared slugger.

Coors Field during Game 4 of the National League division series between the Rockies and Phillies on Monday The red-haired waif was right.

Colorado manager Jim Tracy took the search for offense against left-handed pitching to an extreme last night, using catcher Yorvit Torrealba as the No.

Don't believe the box score. It says three different relievers worked the last two innings.

Most commentators discussing the Philadelphia Phillies' 5-1 dismantling of the Colorado Rockies yesterday came to the conclusion that the P-men simply outclass the Rocks on every level -- an easy conclusion to draw if you suffered through the last five innings.

The playoffs are about as sympathetic as a traffic ticket. Managers who make decisions with their hearts tend to get their guts ripped out.

This is what joy looks like. At precisely 4:34 p.m. Thursday, the Rockies surrounded manager Jim Tracy as "Boom, Boom, Pow" by the Black Eyed Peas shook the clubhouse.

The Dodgers ' magic number for clinching the NL West is down to zero - finally. After a season-worst five-game losing streak, they came through with one game left in the regular season and beat the stubborn Colorado Rockies 5-0 on Saturday night with a five-run seventh triggered by an RBI single from pinch-hitters Ronnie Belliard and an RBI double ...

The Rockies' playoff-clinching celebration started Thursday afternoon with a called third strike from Franklin Morales for the final out in a 9-2 victory over the Brewers, and continued as Colorado's players and coaches took a victory lap around the field before heading into a raucous clubhouse, drenching themselves under showers of champagne.

When the Rockies clinched a playoff berth with their win on Thursday, manager Jim Tracy couldn't help but be proud.

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Franklin Morales celebrates with catcher Chris Iannetta after striking out the last Milwaukee Brewers batter in the ninth inning at Coors Field in Denver on October 1, 2009.

Since mere words can hardly tell the story of the 2009 Rockies, let the numbers do it.

The Rockies clinch a postseason spot at home by clobbering Manny Parra and the Brewers, chasing the Milwaukee starter after only 2.2 innings.

Before Thursday's rubber match with the Padres, manager Jim Tracy talked about the way the 162-game schedule will "tax and test" a team.

As this season finishes, the Rockies already know who they would like closing games in the future.

With a hint of November in the air stirring thoughts of the Rockies extending their season deep into the fall, Colorado won a tantalizingly taut game that saw the lead slip back and forth four times holding on in an 11-10 victory over the Padres on Tuesday.

Clint Barmes added an inside-the-park homer for the Rockies, who increased their lead in the NL wild-card race to five games over San Francisco and Atlanta.

The end of a season and the pending postseason are perfect times for longshots to have an impact.