On our return trip from a friend’s baseball-saturated bachelor party in New York, Scott and I got stuck in some traditional East Coast freeway traffic.  So we’re late getting the next episode recorded.  Hopefully we’ll have it posted right about first pitch time for tonight’s game in Mannywood.

In the meantime, check out this other Ian Stewart who did some awesome things unrelated to baseball.  The man has a pretty interesting life story.  And anyone who can be the object of constant mancrush from the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin while leading a decidedly non-rock n’ roll lifestyle must be pretty cool.

This all makes me wonder if Scott jumped the gun on applying the Disco Stu nickname to the Rockies’ third baseman. It’s a great nickname, but would Boogie Woogie Stu be a better fit? If anyone talks to Ian Stewart in the near future, could you ask which type of music he prefers?

 vs  =

 Ok, so maybe I’m being a little over-dramatic, but I think you get what I’m trying say.  It’s going to be a little tough hoping to see Matthew Thomas lose, but as much as I love Mr. Holliday, I wouldn’t mind seeing an 0-12 performance out of him in order to get a shiny, new three-game winning streak going.  To all of Matty’s friends still on the Rox, say hi, beat him up (not literally), and hand him a broom on your way out.  It’s business time.

Who knows what tomorrow brings

In a game, few streaks survive
All I know, is the way I feel
Seems surreal, Todd keeps it alive

The season’s long
There are Dodgers in our way
But now it seems we win every day

Todd lift us up where we belong
Made the Pirates cry

On a mountain high

Todd lift us up where we belong

With Bradley and Tulo

Lets take down the Halos

The 31-35 Pirates bring their 14-23 road record to Coors Field Friday night.  Since the Rockies and Pirates last met in that ill-fated series in May, both teams have been playing winning baseball.  Since that time, the Pirates have put up a 15-14 record, while the Rox have gone 19-11, including 13-1 in their last 14 (in case you haven’t been paying attention).  We’ve seen the Pirates not that long ago so I won’t go into too much detail about things you already know.  Here are your pitching match-ups:

Jason Marquis (8-4, 3.77) vs Ross Ohlendorf (6-5, 4.56)

Jason Hammel (4-3, 4.10) vs Charlie Morton (0-0,0.00)

Jorge De La Rosa (2-7, 5.81) vs Paul Maholm (4-3, 4.23)

- Rockies win – Rox record improves to 33-33, hitting the .500 mark for the first time since being 4-4.

- Rockies win – Jim Tracy’s career managerial record evens up at 577-577.

- W for Ubaldo – brings his mark up to 6-6, the first time his record would hit .500 this season.

- W for Ubaldo – evens up his career mark at 22-22.  Appearing in 3 seasons prior to this one, Ubaldo has never finished a season with a winning or losing record. (0-0 in 2006, 4-4 in 2007, 12-12 in 2008)

- 4 total bases in 4 at-bats for Ian Stewart – brings his slugging % to .500.

- 7 total bases in 5 at-bats for BARMESSSSS! - brings his slugging % to .500.

- If Ubaldo can go deep into this game, pitching 129 innings while striking out 188 hitters, he’ll hit 500 career IP and K’s.

- Ubaldo goes the distance – Huston Street doesn’t have to come in to save the game, thus ensuring his record stays at 1-1.