Troy Tulowitzki News

By now, Rockies manager Jim Tracy is used to the drill: Someone announces he's the National League's top manager for 2009, he thanks everyone, then he clears a spot for another trophy.

More than any other position, there are vast differences between yearly league owners and dynasty league owners when it comes to shortstops.

Several Rockies players watched the World Series with a keen eye. It is, in many ways, a signal of how everything has changed in Colorado.

Brad Lidge was called in from the bullpen to finish off the Colorado Rockies and send the Phillies into the National League Championship Series.

Rockies standout shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is considered a rare gem at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds.

Ita s been a week now, and Ia ll admit Ia m still not fully healed.A The cool air has a bit more bite, the leaves have a bit less crunch and all of the beautiful fall Boulder colors seem a bit more muted.A As I look out my window, I try to enjoy the natural beauty that comes every autumn, but over and over, one scene keeps playing in my head.

Brad Lidge was right in the middle of three celebrations this month, getting the last out when the Philadelphia Phillies clinched the division, advanced in the playoffs and won the pennant.

During the Colorado Rockies 2007 run, the franchise was robbed of an MVP trophy when the Philadelphia Phillies' Jimmy Rollins beat out Matt Holliday, and again when the Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun beat out Troy Tulowitzki for Rookie of the Year.

Just figured it would be the Rockies ' Troy Tulowitzki , not Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins .

Last year the Rockies were so hurt, so bad, they briefly played journeyman Doug Bernier at second base.

Scenes from a ballpark . . . Eleven-year-old Abriana White-Hulce from Children's Hospital, bundled up in her wheelchair on the field, receiving a pregame hug from Troy Tulowitzki.

Facing elimination from the National League playoffs, Colorado manager Jim Tracy considered the sagging state of his offense before last night's game.

It's October. It's the playoffs. And Brad Lidge is perfect again . Everyone knows the story of the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies bullpen.

Trailing by two runs and down to their final out of Game 4 of the National League Division Series , the scene seemed set for history to take place in Philadelphia tonight.

Fans will remember the Phillies ' elimination of the Rockies in the division series a little differently as years pass, but all will agree on the main point: Philadelphia plays hard, to the final strike.

9) Philly Fan shouldn't complain about Charlie Manuel and his hunches ever again, but will.

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, left, and first baseman Todd Helton will be back for more in 2010.

Troy Tulowitzki strikes out to end Game 4 and the Rockies' season Monday night. "Tulo" also made the last out in Sunday's Game 3. The Rockies' cleanup hitter went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position in Game 4 and had three RBIs in the NLDS The contrasting images will linger over the winter and into spring training.

All September, Brad Lidge spoke of the last two nights. Each time he coughed up a save, each time his slider slid too much or too little, or his fastball sat up there in the hitter's eyes, he would talk about how his "crappy season" wouldn't mean anything to him once the postseason began.

The Rockies figured they would be in Philadelphia tonight, finishing a dramatic division series.