Seth Smith News

Carlos Gonzalez , starting left fielder . Dexter Fowler , starting center fielder.

Brad Hawpe circles the bases after hitting a home run against the Dodgers last season.

In my opinion, I think that a priority for the Rox this offseason should be a middle-of-the-order type bat -- nothing against Troy Tulowitzki.

The Rockies' outfield is crowded with talent. The emergence of Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler and Seth Smith has made all-star Brad Hawpe expendable.

When Troy Tulowitzki struck out on that nasty slider from Brad Lidge, the Colorado Rockiesa TM offseason officially began.

It seemed easy, the notion of the Phillies lining up back-to-back-to-back left-handed starters in the first three games of their playoff series against the Rockies .

DENVER The Phillies had bases loaded in the third with one out and could not score.

He can also play. But where does he get off lecturing Red Sox [ team stats ] fans about which players they choose to boo? Following the Angels' Division Series-clinching, 7-6 victory against the Red Sox on Sunday at Fenway Park [ map ] , which included a three-run rally off closer Jonathan Papelbon [ stats ] in the top of the ninth inning, Hunter ...

Seth Smith With their season teetering on the edge of the cliff, manager Jim Tracy is tweaking his lineup today.s He will start Seth Smith in left field and hit him seventh, the latest evidence of how far Brad Hawpe has fallen on the depth chart.

Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ, right, was struck in the leg by a ball hit by the Rockies' Seth Smith, left, in Game 2 of the National League division series on Thursday.

Pedro Martinez is getting the ball and the call in another big game. Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel chose Martinez over J.A. Happ and Joe Blanton, who made cameo appearances out of the bullpen Thursday, to face the Colorado Rockies in game three of their NL playoff series tonight.

Phillies reliever J.A. Happ was knocked out of Game 2 of their division series against Colorado after he was struck in the knee by a line drive in the seventh inning.

Sure, Jason Giambi is the most recognizable name - and face - coming off the Colorado bench, but the Rockies had established their bench identity well before the former Yankees/Athletics slugger headed their way just over a month ago.

Those seeking both similarities and differences in the two teams that will meet in the 2009 National League division series, which begins today at Citizens Bank Park, don't need to look any further than left field.

Carlos Gonzalez has done as much as anyone to pace the Rockies during their pennant chase, but nobody could fault him Wednesday night if he found himself tired of running.

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.

Colorado Rockies' Garrett Atkins follows through on an RBI single as Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jason Kendall looks on in the sixth inning of the Rockies' 9-2 victory, to clinch a spot in the National League baseball playoffs in Denver on Thursday, Oct.

The Milwaukee Brewers talked a lot about sending guys into the fall and winter on good notes and feeling positive about how they finish this season.

On the top step of the visiting dugout in a steady rain, Padres manager Bud Black watched the final out of Tuesday's game, a line drive off the bat of Nick Hundley, land in the glove of Seth Smith, securing a Rockies victory.

Why did the Rockies begin playing better once Clint Hurdle was fired and Jim Tracy took over? That's a difficult question to answer.