They say baseball brings out the child in them.

Even as we grow older, however, some of our childhood pastimes don't fade out of the spotlight.

I grew up spending every summer hour from dawn to dusk in my backyard.

My best friend and I would play "fake games," which consisted of imaginary wiffleball games where the two of us played both teams and all 18 players. We tossed the ball up to ourselves and let our creativity unfold the rest.

I'd step up to the plate, pretending I was the actual player.

When Andres Galarraga stepped to the plate, my stance was open. When it was Dante Bichette's turn in the lineup I would remove my hat from my head, run my fingers through my imaginary long hair and clinch both hands on the ends of the bat and circle it over my head like he used to do.

We had a magic erase board for the scoreboard and my dog's pen for the dugout.

One summer when my next door neighbor was getting his house painted, the painters stayed late so they could listen to the excitement in our voices as we called the game.

Perhaps that was the game that concluded when Larry Walker hit a walk-off home run, clanking off the neighbor's house, still fresh with wet paint.

When my friend wasn't around, the baseball didn't stop.

I used my pitch-back to, again, throw my imaginary games. This time I was the actual player on the roster, playing for a big league team.

I gave myself four seconds to field the ball, throw it to the net and have it bounce back into my glove in order to record an out. For every four seconds it took to do that, it was another base.

I even kept track of stats and recorded them into a document on the computer. After the game I would conduct my own postgame interviews, where I, both the analyst and the manager, would discuss the game and box score.

Now, a decade later, I'm a 20-year-old grown man and my imagination still runs wild.

There is no greater summer evening activity than getting friends together for a game of wiffleball.

My friend has an ideal wiffleball yard, full of fenced off home run areas, a short porch in right field and the giant pine tree, ruled as an automatic ground rule double.

Two floodlights make up the lighting so the games can stretch well into the evening while a home-made block of wood marks the strike zone.

We'll even cut the grass into a baseball diamond and chalk the base paths with flour.

It's now my turn to bat. Two pitches go by, the latter banking off the wooden strike zone. On the third pitch I take a swing and watch it soar.

"That one's hit deep," I shout out. "Back, to the track, you can kiss it goodbye."

This article is also featured on Bleacher Report.

July 23. It's a simple date, but today marks the 13-year anniversary of my first trip to Coors Field.

Who knew it would transform my life and who knew the game would be so historical?

To be honest, I don't remember much about the game.

I know the Rockies played the New York Mets.

I also recall my grandma, who took me to the game, teaching me that the home team wore white while the visitors were in gray.

Besides that, the last thing I remember about the game is joining the crowd with boos after the Rockies let up a home run. My grandma told me booing players was not polite.

Looking back at the game, it turns out we were booing a six-run sixth inning for the Mets, who tied the game that inning after the Rockies once led 7-0.

Upon looking back at the box scores, it turns out my first game at Coors Field was one heck of a game. It's a shame I can't remember anything from it, but that game was the first of an endless amount to come. Who couldn't be turned on to the sport of baseball seeing 21 runs, 31 hits and a game-winning, walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth?

I saw Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla hit home runs while Andres Gallaraga hit a pair. Did I mention they were back to back to back home runs in front of a home crowd of 48,000-plus?

Eric Young, my all-time favorite Rockie, had a ninth inning infield single with the bases loaded, scoring Jayhawk Owens for the win.

The reason I remember the date of this event was my grandma later bought a personalized brick.

Back in Coors Field's first few seasons of existence, the Rockies organization allowed fans to purchase bricks that could be engraved with a message, and then cemented into the ground leading up to the stadium near left field.

In quadrant 11, row three, seven bricks from the left,

"Nicholas A. Hallisey

Game 07 23 1996"

is engraved.

During my last visit to "the greatest place on Earth," I took a stroll down Wynkoop Walk, the area containing the few thousand bricks.

Some people wrote personal messages, some were to loved ones. Others had famous quotes or were signed from the Rockies No. 1 fans.

"Baseball is life," "Another Rockies fan born," "Kiss it goodbye," and "Thanks for the future memories" are just a few.

It's a neat part of the stadium that not many people know about.

On the certificate that was given to me with my brick, it states that my brick will be forever etched in stone at Coors Field.

Thanks to that July game 13 years ago, my love for baseball has also been etched in stone.

This article is also featured on Bleacher Report.

With an improbable June and a stellar July so far, the Colorado Rockies are showing naysayers they are here to contend.

With Monday's 10-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, along with the San Francisco Giants being pounded by the Atlanta Braves, the Rockies can say that if the regular season ended today, they would become the National League wild card winners for the second time in the past three years.

Problem is, there are still 68 games to play.

But with a record of 33-15 since May 29 when manager Jim Tracy took over, the Rockies look like they can compete to the end.

With the trade deadline approaching in T-9 days, what the Rockies desperately need is a strong middle reliever.

The club's bullpen looks nothing like its opening day roster. With the exception of Huston Street, who also lost his role as closer once, the bullpen has been shuffled around and mix and matched in its entirety.

Matt Daley, Josh Fogg, Juan Rincon and Ryan Speier were not on the club's opening day roster. Franklin Morales was, but not as a reliever. The club traded Jason Grilli while sending down players like Joel Peralta and Matt Belisle.

The team also lost a quality arm in Taylor Buchholz to Tommy John surgery and a veteran leader in Alan Embree to a broken leg. They recently added veteran Matt Herges to a minor-league deal and is reporting interest in free agent Mike Timlin.

Sure, signing a guy with the name Roy Halladay would bring excitement to Blake Street, but for what, two months? And Matt Holliday had a great stay in purple pinstripes, but a reunion tour is not what needs to be done to make an October push.

What the Rockies need is a reliable setup man.

Not some has-been or could-be. Not multiple washed up pitchers like in years past.

The organization has minor league depth in nearly every position. I'm not suggesting throwing away the farm, but package a couple prospects for a guy that can bridge the gap between the starting rotation and closer Huston Street. Or even better, if O'Dowd can find a club that will unload Garrett Atkins or Yorvit Torrealba, take it.

Chad Qualls is, perhaps, the biggest availability.

With 18 saves for a dismal Diamondback team, Qualls is paving his best year in the majors. He sports a lifetime 3.31 ERA, but one of his more impressive stats is just three home runs allowed this season. This would help in the thin air of Colorado.

Other possible names on the market: Boston's Takashi Saito, Baltimore's lefthander George Sherrill and Cleveland's Rafael Bentancourt.

Colorado has a good team, no doubt. But with its bullpen ranked 14^th out of the 16-team National League, it is apparent that a strong setup man is needed.

Perhaps the biggest evidence, however, is the last two nights. On Monday night the Rockies held a 10-1 lead leading up to the seventh inning, when the relievers surrendered five runs, causing our closer to get warmed up in the ninth inning.

In Tuesday's loss to the Diamondbacks, the Rockies blew a 4-0 lead, with the relievers allowing the final runs for the loss.

In less than two months, the Rockies have jumped from 10 under to eight over. I believe it's time the Rockies become buyers at the deadline and purchase a durable arm.

It sure is a shame that college baseball doesn't attract more attention.

Most would consider March Madness more entertaining than the NBA Finals, and fans plan their holidays around each year's college football bowl games.

But the College World Series comes and passes with only the diehard baseball fans taking notice.

As the CWS comes to a close tonight, I am saddened by its passing. See, the student-athletes competing at Rosenblatt Stadium isn't an everyday-site.

They show enthusiasm. They play with passion. They play with heart.

The defense is ready with each pitch and each batter hustles to each base.

In the dugout, players hang over the railing, eye black smeared and jerseys dirty, engaged with each pitch.

Late in the innings, superstitions arise with rally caps in every shape and the entire team sitting in similar formation.

They play the game like it's their last. And for some, tonight will be.

It all takes place at a 60-year-old raggedy stadium, falling apart and facing its final days before destruction after next year's World Series.

Rosenblatt stands in the middle of nowhere, but the players and fans treat it like it's a magical place.

The fans are just as excited as the players. Hours before the game, baseball-junkies line up outside the outfield gates to reserve their general admission seats.

In 2001 they renovated The Blatt to add an additional 10,000 seats because the place would continuously sellout game after game.

The entire community of Omaha takes part of the two-week event.

It may be Nebraska, but during these weeks in June, the town is seen as a baseball Mecca.

On ESPN's telecast of Game One, an emotional video tribute was shown.

The narrator told the story of Omaha.

"This place, this place is just inspiring. Rich with history and tradition. A shrine. The shining light and ultimate destination of so many... and so few. You see, Omaha's not just another stop, not just another spot on the map. It's a link to our past, and a clear path ahead. As time ticks away on this magnificent little place. It's not a time for sadness, but a time for reflection. Because no matter at what location or on what hill, it's Omaha that makes the College World Series special.

2009 has been full of memories. From Arizona State dusting off a four-run early hole to eliminate North Carolina, to Arkansas, one strike from elimination, taking Virginia into extra innings with a two run game-tying home run before beating the Cavs.

Arizona State nearly knocked off No. 1 seed Texas in the next game with a go-ahead triple in the ninth inning before the Longhorns hit two home runs in three batters, etching its name in the championship slot.

All that sets up tonight's winner-take-all Game 3, featuring two of college baseball's most historic teams, Texas and LSU.

"Who could have asked for a better script?," LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. "It's one game to one. It's one game for the national championship."

History could be in the making tonight in Omaha.

It's too bad the rest of the country won't be watching.

Baseball truly is something special.

It's more than a simple sport or even a game.

Baseball involves feelings and emotions, and in result, can create a special bond between a father and a son.

My dad didn't introduce me to the beloved game. He didn't pass down his trading cards or retell memories of players he saw while growing up.

No, my story is unique.

You see, my dad didn't grow up loving the game that I do. He played little league, faked breaking his finger and didn't pick up a glove until more than two decades later.

The reason my story is so special is how my dad became a fan of baseball.

I grew up playing recreational baseball, moving my way up into competitive and travel leagues.

My dad would spend endless hours in the backyard with me. He would wake up early or stay up late in order to help me become a better ballplayer. With each ball he soft-tossed to me, he pushed me to become a better player. As we played catch, he would instruct me to follow through with each throw.

One time I failed to listen to his advice and my throw sailed over his head and through the next door neighbor's window, a memory that is humorous now, but wasn't so funny when it happened. I was mad that my dad didn't jump higher to catch my errant throw.

My dad took would take time off work to drive across the state and country to see me play. He went with me to every tournament and rarely missed a game. His free time turned into time watching me play baseball.

My mom recently told me that my dad would read books about baseball, learning the game so that it would give us something to talk about.

He gave up his life for the game that I loved.

I have the good fortune of having an April birthday, always falling right around Opening Day. Each Rockies' home opener, my dad and I would play hooky from work and school to go to the game. A couple times, the game fell on my actual birthday, and once, we even saw Albert Pujols make his Major League debut.

We would get down to the game before the gates opened, early enough for batting practice and autographs, and he allowed me to stay after the game to savor the final sights, sounds and smells of the ballpark.

It was our time together.

There is no worldly thing that is more special to me than baseball.

When I think of baseball, however, it's more than a game.

It's an emotional attachment. It's memories full of my dad and me spending hours together in the backyard, on the diamond or at the ballpark.

Baseball is for fathers and sons.

It's for me and my dad.

This article is also featured on Bleacher Report.

Pinch me, I must be dreaming.

Everything seems to be working out perfectly for the Rockies. It's like all of a sudden, something clicked and the light turned on.

Nine straight winning performances by the starting rotation, solid relief from the bullpen, timely, clutch hitting and games without mental lapses. For the first time, all aspects seem to be playing well, at the same time.

The storm clouds that formed across the Denver skyline cleared up at game time, creating a nice evening at the park. Rain, hail and tornado warnings across Colorado all week finally settled down for the 2 hour, 28 minute contest. Directly after, the clouds let loose and the streets were flooded with rain showers.

Nine consecutive wins ties for second all time in Rockies history--and they're still going.

Unlike the first eight, though, the ninth came in front of an energetic home crowd. When a double play would be turned, the crowd would roar in cheers. When a close call went the other way, the fans would rain boos.

And let's not forget the suicide squeeze bunt in the 6th inning when Ian Stewart barely slid safely on Dexter Fowler's bunt. Or when Ubaldo Jimenez executed a perfect fake-bunt slap hit past a charging infield to score another run.

Ubaldo pitched a 127-pitch complete game. It was a gritty performance as he surrendered four runs just one out into the fourth inning.

My friend turned to me at that point and asked, "When would you take him out?"

I told him to give him a chance and keep in there for a little longer. Jimenez ended up going another 4 2/3, throwing just his second complete game of his career.

The crowd cheered when manager Jim Tracy left Jimenez in to bat in the 8^th inning after his pitch total was well into triple-digits and then erupted again when Tracy walked back to the dugout with two outs in the 9^th inning and the tying run at the plate. The manager went out to talk to Jimenez. Most feared he was taking him out just one out before the complete game.

And it was even a special night, not for the Rockies, but for myself getting to see Ken Griffey, Jr. play. I took off work and bought my tickets well before the streak began hoping to see him play.

I grew up idolizing Jr. and wanted to get one last chance to see him play. I saw him about a decade ago when he was still The Kid with the M's and saw him a few years later on Opening Day with the Reds, but I was hoping, that he would take the field for a rare outfield spot in the lineup to see him play once more. I was disappointed when he didn't start, but when I saw the pitchers spot was due up in the 9^th, it gave me hope. In fact, Griffey did come to the plate, drawing a walk.

It was the never give up mentality that gave the Rockies their ninth consecutive win. The fought, battled, and came from behind to beat the Mariners 6-4 in the series opener.

Don't wake me, I'm enjoying the ride.

This article is also featured on Bleacher Report.

My youth baseball coach used to tell my team there were no girls allowed in baseball. The opposite sex wasn't allowed on the field, in the dugout, or anywhere else that could potentially take our focus away from the game being played.

The guideline may still hold true, but they are allowed in the stands.

I started playing baseball during my early childhood and didn't relinquish my passion for playing the game until more than a decade later. At the beginning of my playing career, I'd be surprised if my mom knew what the difference between a home run and a double play was.

Over the years, however, she began to learn the game that I had fallen in love with.

To be honest, I don't know if she had much of a choice. That's how she spent each of her weekends between March and October. She travelled all over the state of Colorado and even to nearby states through the Midwest. She graciously sat through heat, hail and freezing temperatures to watch me play.

My team created shirts that my mom proudly wore that read, "I have no life. My son plays competitive baseball."

She began to understand and even started to enjoy the game. She volunteered herself to chart pitches to keep track of balls, strikes and what type of pitch was thrown during my games.

My mom was a baseball mom.

During the summers we would go to Rockies games together.

We would eat sunflower seeds in the car as she kindly made the trek to the stadium in the late morning so I could see batting practice and gather by the home dugout to get autographs. After the games, she would stay late to let me savor each moment of being at the stadium.

I witnessed my first playoff game with her in 2007 and got to be with her for her first Opening Day last season. Perhaps my favorite memory with my mom, not just involving sports, but in general, was when she picked me up from a morning pitching lesson and told me we had to run a few errands before going home.

Being a child, I was disappointed that I was going to miss my favorite cartoons to instead go shopping. After several miles of driving south down I-25, I grumpily asked my mom, "What mall are we going to?"

She pulled out my glove and Rockies jersey from the backseat and started singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

We were going to the Rockies game that afternoon.

Despite the excessive amount of games I've been to in my 20 years of living, I have never caught a foul ball. I've gotten balls during batting practice or tossed to me during warm-ups, but never during a game.

My mom, on the other hand, has.

In an afternoon ballgame, a foul ball hit by Neifi Perez sliced down right field and into the seats one section away. As I quickly popped out of my seat to run near the ball, the ball bounced several feet in front of me and well over my head.

When I got back to my seat, my mom held the ball up to me with a smile. The ball had bounced straight into our row where she picked the ball up off of the ground. She explained how a guy tried grabbing the ball from her, but she wrapped her fingers around it tightly and yelled, "It's mine, I've got it."

In another game with my mom, I was ecstatic when I saw my first live balk called as Chan Ho Park of the Dodgers double-stepped while on the mound. I looked at my mom with excitement and asked, "Did you see that?" I proceeded to explain to her what Park illegally did and what a balk was.

Earlier this season, while watching a Sunday night telecast with my mom, she rewound the DVR on our TV as she said, "Look, that's a balk!"

I've turned my mom into a sports nut. She has given her life to baseball and now will turn on the TV to watch a game, even if I'm not home with her.

I'm now in college and have final exams next week. Unfortunately, I won't be able to do much for my mom for her special day today. However, when the Rockies return from their road trip and play at Coors Field again later this month, I'll be taking her to a game.

She's almost as big of a baseball fan as I am now, and I know she wouldn't want to spend her day any other way.

This article is also featured on Bleacher Report.

I do not like Manny Ramirez.

I think he's lazy. I don't like his persona while playing the game. He's greedy in my opinion. And now, he's a cheater.

Two weeks ago, Manny and the Dodgers came to Coors Field to take on the Rockies. I had the privilege of sitting in the left field bleachers, directly behind Manny's defensive position. I enjoyed nine innings of heckling the slugger and cheered thoroughly after each of his three strikeouts.

Ramirez is a great hitter. He is the quintessential slugger, but he is far from what a baseball player should be.

Despite my dissatisfaction with Ramirez, I was not one of the hundreds, probably thousands of gleeful anti-Manny baseball fans Thursday morning.

In February, during the wake of the A-Roid incident, I wrote a piece in which I hoped for baseball innocence. I said it's the only way for baseball to get over the infamous "steroid era."

I'm getting pretty tired of the "I didn't know what I was putting in my body" excuses. We know you're stupid, Manny, but are you really that naïve?

Although I don't believe Manny, nor any other suspected users (Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, etc.), is innocent, it's sad that all of the top players are ruining the great game of baseball--our nation's pastime.

These players are tarnishing the game and hurting the reputation of all other players. When players perform well, they will no longer be innocent until proven guilty, but instead guilty until proven innocent.

Despite my stance against Manny, I was not excited to hear the breaking news Thursday morning.

Indeed, today is a sad day for baseball.

This article is also featured on Bleacher Report.

There is no question in any fan's mind that the Rockies desperately need to turn things around.

Yes, it's early in the season, but this isn't exactly the quick start we all were looking for.

The biggest issue, without a doubt, is the pitching. But, for a moment, I'm going to push that aside and focus on the offense.

I believe the club has one of the most solid lineups one through eight as any other team. I wrote during Spring Training that they have power and great hitters both in the starting lineup and coming off the bench, and I still stand by that.

The offense showed up the first four games and then caved in. I won't go into detail. We all know that we're not getting hits with runners on, we're not getting runs across the plate, and we're striking out at an alarming rate. The Rockies scored 30 runs in their first four games but have combined for just 27 in the last eight.

I'm no expert with handling lineups, and that is why I am a fan sitting at home rather than actually managing the team, but here is a thought: Put the best players in the lineup each day.

Seems obvious, right? Isn't that the intention of every team?

Todd Helton was crushing the ball in Spring Training, but since the regular season has begun, he's hitting .231.

Chris Iannetta earned his starting role last season but has just three hits in 27 at-bats in 2009.

Even Garrett Atkins, who went on a spurt where he tore the cover off the ball, is now hitting .191.

The point is, these are all players who are considered "starters." They are on the team to lead them. But right now, they aren't doing it.

Because of their status and the capabilities they have shown in the past, they continue to be in the lineup despite their struggles.

Most readers probably think it would be crazy to take Atkins out of the lineup. And, yes, I do believe that he will bounce back and recover from his slump. But, for the time being, put the best players in.

Ryan Spilborghs started out strong but has since struggled. Take him out and give Dexter Fowler and others time to prove themselves.

Give Ian Stewart a chance at third base, his primary position, while Atkins and Helton are struggling. Stewart leads the team with a .375 batting average, .467 on-base percentage, and a .792 slugging percentage to lead the team. He has six runs scored (tied for second) and seven RBI (second on team) despite just 24 at-bats. He is tied with or ahead of Atkins in every offensive category despite half the at-bats.

I do agree that these struggling players aren't going to get better riding the pine, but there is too much depth on this roster to let talent sit while starters are struggling.

Give some of the starters a few days off to clear their minds while others get a chance.

If someone isn't getting it done, let someone else prove their worth, despite their status.

This article is also featured on Bleacher Report.

Series Recap: Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks

April 8, 2009

Last year it took seven games before the Rockies got their second win of the season. It took three tries before the team won its first series.

2009 is a new story.

Using a tough early schedule as motivation, the team got off to a good start in the opening series.

Series Recap: The Rockies never trailed Wednesday afternoon, soundly defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-2 at Chase Field and taking the opening series two games to one.

What I liked: As a team, the offense was solid, putting up 20 runs on 25 hits in three games.

In games one and three, the team scored eight and nine runs, respectively. During Tuesday evening's game, the team was in the middle of a pitcher's duel between Ubaldo Jimenez and Dan Haren. Even then, however, the Rockies were able to get productive hits and bring runners around when they needed to.

The key hits were something that did not come easy in 2008.

Offensive power from the lineup was seen from top to bottom. Even the team's arguably least powerful hitter, rookie Dexter Fowler, hit the first pitch he saw in game three over the left field wall. In all, seven home runs were hit in the series, including back to back home runs, twice.

What was more impressive, however, was the pitching.

Jimenez was phenomenal, allowing just four hits and zero runs in seven innings, striking out eight. As a big surprise, No. 5 starter, Franklin Morales pitched six solid innings in Wednesday's game, not letting a run past the second batter of the game. Stephen Drew's home run was the only runner to reach scoring position off of Morales.

Morales, who was told prior to the start of the season that this was his only chance to prove himself, did everything he could to keep his spot in the rotation. With several off days, Morales will pitch in Triple-A for next two weeks. His next possible start would be April 21. He is competing with newly acquired Jason Hammel and Matt Belisle for the last spot in the rotation.

The bullpen struggled a little bit in the first game, allowing three runs in 5.66 innings, but has since been nearly perfect, allowing just two hits and one run in five innings of relief.

The team was also perfect in the field, committing zero errors in the three-game series.

What needs improvement: Even in the loss, I was impressed with the product on the field. There's not much to complain about.

Aaron Cook, who pitched in the opener, got the hook just seven outs into the game after giving up six runs. This was not the type of start expected from the club's ace. However, the pitcher has revisited film and knows what he needs to do in order to perform like an ace for the remainder of the season.

The base running wasn't how I had hoped it would be. Although I do agree with manager Clint Hurdle's plan of being more aggressive, it didn't work in the series, which included players like Brad Hawpe and Chris Iannetta being thrown out while trying to steal and pitcher Franklin Morales picked off at first base.

However, I hope that the early struggles don't hesitate Hurdle's aggressive decisions.

Overall: The Rockies were 3-15 against the Diamondbacks in 2008. They knew that in order to compete this year, they would have to beat the teams picked ahead of them in the division.

It's still early, but I liked what I saw in the opening series.

Series Preview: The road for the Rockies doesn't get any easier as they open up their home schedule in a weekend series against the defending World Series champion, Philadelphia Phillies.

After trailing 10-3, the Phillies scored eight runs in the seventh inning Wednesday afternoon, becoming victorious for the first time since clinching the title last October. The Phillies had dropped their first two games to the Atlanta Braves earlier in the week.

The Rockies were 0-6 against the Phillies in 2008, and haven't beat them since sweeping them in the 2007 NLDS.

Probable starters:

Friday:

Phillies' Cole Hamels (14- 10, 3.09) vs. Rockies' Jason Marquis (11-9, 4.53), 2:10 p.m. MT

Saturday:

Phillies' Brett Myers (0-1, 6.00*) vs. Rockies' Jorge De La Rosa (10-8, 4.92), 6:10 p.m. MT

Sunday:

Phillies' Chan Ho Park (4-4, 3.40) vs. Rockies' Aaron Cook (0-0, 23.14*), 1:10 p.m. MT

                *2009 stats

 This article is also featured on Bleacher Report.