RWO denizens are encouraged to gather today, to pay homage to our exalted leader, 4:00 pm at the Blake Street Tavern, Blake at 23rd in Lodo.  Confidential discussions are expected, as Jaredean gathers intelligence to use in his mission for Coors Field, where according to rumor he’ll be using Ed the Ump’s seats, in near proximity to the Center of Power.  What JD plans to do with this unprecedented access is unknown.

Nonetheless, in addition to the “talks,” food , drink and camaraderie will be in order, as we send the Top Fan in Utah home to the Beehive state, following a fitting visit to Colorado and Denver, where our Rockies have managed a single win on the current homestand in seven tries.  There will also be FREE, nostalgic Inside the Rockies ball caps, courtesy of Ed the Ump (four of them anyway), first-come, first serve.

Meanwhile, down the street at the (re-christened) Rocky Mountain Death March, Colorado will send Jeff Francis (3-3, 5.43) to the bump against San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner (11-6, 3.09) in a battle of left-handers.  Giants hitters are expected to be lethargic this evening after teeing off of Mike Ekstrom, Matt Reynolds and Carlos Torres for 13 in the last three on Friday.  Francis is coming off a sub-par appearance Tuesday against St Louis, when he gave up 5 runs in 4 innings of the Rockies’ 4-2 defeat that night. Bumgarner hasn’t won since July 13, but he’s striking-out a lot of guys, 26 in his last three appearances. He’s 2-2 with a 2.84 in four career starts at Coors Field.

The Giants are leading the National League West with a 57-49 record, 1/2 game in front of the Dodgers, who bulked-up a bit at the trade deadline, adding Shane Victorino from Philadelphia and Hanley Ramirez from the Marlins.  The Phillies are playing fair, however, with Hunter Pence moving to the Giants.  2 games back sit the defending Division champion Diamondbacks, in prime position to strike, as it looks like these three will duke it out in an entertaining race down the stretch to be best in the West.

A most-pleasant cool-front moved into the Denver area this morning and will hold through the evening, with sunny skies turning partly-cloudy around game time, which is 6:10 pm MDT.  80 degree first-pitch temperatures will drop moderately as play progresses with 35% relative humidity and east-southeast winds at 7 to 8 MPH.  TV’s on ROOT, and radio KOA 850 AM.

Matt McBride is listed in the Colorado lineup at 1st-base.  Further news of this transaction is not available as of 3:30 this afternoon, so the veracity of these lineups may be suspect:

IN GAME CHAT