Morales' performance in the 5-0 loss was no surprise. An appearance against the San Diego Padres in late September was so grim that I wrote, "Note: From this point on, Franklin Morales' pitch count should be one. If his first throw isn't the most astonishing strike ever hurled, his ass should be re-introduced to the bench until his contract expires." The Post points out that Morales has been deadly (in a good way) against the Phillies. But if he's included on the Rockies' post-season roster -- the decision must be finalized early Wednesday morning -- Tracy needs to keep him on so short a leash that he'll have to stand on the mound beside him.
If any major national baseball commentator has picked Colorado to beat the Phils, I haven't seen it. Still, the Rockies have defied the odds time and again throughout the year, and given the return of Aaron Cook, Huston Street and the Rockies' timely hitting, a series win wouldn't even be an upset in my view -- just more proof that the team remains under the radar of the East Coast-dominated press despite what happened in 2007. But relying on Morales for middle relief these days is like expecting a ninety-degree day in early October. If you guess right, then wearing those swim trunks was a great idea. If you don't, it's gonna get mighty uncomfortable mighty fast.
