Belisle and Betancourt have off day and Rockies notes

Matt Belisle and Rafael Betancourt are rare trustworthy Rockies' relievers but on Sunday they looked like their bullpen mates, giving up five runs, six hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings to cost the Rockies a win late at San Francisco. Those two are allowed a little grace for their good works in 2012.

Colorado leading the game was a surprise as starter Alex White surrendered three runs in four innings. The question for White is who is he? This season, he's looked like a solid future middle-of-the-rotation piece at times while at other times he looks like a AAAA-pitcher. How much improvement is still in the tank?

Rockies Notes

Rookie shortstop Josh Rutledge doubled and drove home a run and now has 18 extra-base hits and 20 RBI in his first 26 MLB games. He has only three walks during that span. That, however, has been his M.O. since his days in the minors - aggressive at the plate. He will have to start drawing walks if he wants to hit for average long-term as pitchers will otherwise exploit his aggressive nature in 2013. What a great second-half debut though.

Rutledge also stole his fourth base of the season, one behind Jordan Pacheco, who stole his fifth and six behind Dexter Fowler, whom you expect to have many more.

Rockies' Prospects Success Story

Congrats, Will Harris

Will Harris was drafted out of LSU back in 2006. He was a ninth-round draft pick. He's been injured. He'll be 28 already by the end of August. And oh, by the way, he just got invited to the major leagues.

In 52 innings combined between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Colorado Springs, Harris threw 52 innings, allowed 35 hits, struck out 66 and walked 13. His ERA was 2.08.

In 2006 the Rockies took Stanford pitcher Greg Reynolds and Florida prep outfielder David Christensen in the first two rounds and both were busts. Reynolds was even the second overall pick in the draft.

If Harris succeeds he will be the best player from that class. His story could get even better.

Rockies' Prospects Spotlight

Triple-A is proving to be a monster of a challenge for reliever Coty Woods, who gave up four runs and six hits in an inning on Sunday. His ERA is now 7.62 after being 0.76 in Double-A.

High-A outfielder Kyle Parker, the organization's no. 1 pick in 2010, hit two homers (#14 and 15) and now has a batting average of .315 for Modesto.

2012 draftee Tom Murphy had two hits for Tri-City and the catcher is now hitting .324 in his pro debut season.

Tri-City relievers Ryan Arrowood and Seth Willoughby lowered their ERA's to 1.18 and 1.42 respectively.