More Or Less, Morales Has the Tools

The Colorado Rockies have made the playoffs for the first time since 1995. Matt Holliday, Todd Helton, and Jeff Francis are some of the veterans that have helped them get there. But they have a lot of young soon-to-be superstars on that club as well. One of them his 21-year old lefty Franklin Morales.

According to baseballreference.com, Morales made his major league debut against the Dodgers on August 18, and impressed. He threw six innings, allowing only one earned run on five hits, while striking out four and walking zero. His debut was a sign of things to come, but also came as no surprise.

Morales finished the 2007 season with a 3-2 record and a nifty 3.43 ERA in eight starts. But his minor league track record says this kid will only get better. In four seasons in the minors, Morales struck out 462 batters, including 179 in 2006. And remember, he's only 21! This kid is a stud!
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2007 Season in Review:

This season was certainly a memorable one. There was an incredible amount of milestones reached in 2007. In this edition of 2007 in Review, we will look back on some of the historic moments that happened this season.

• On June 20, Texas Rangers DH Sammy Sosa clubbed his 600th career home run. He became the fifth player in history to hit 600, and first since some guy named Barry did a few years ago. Sosa, who sat out the entire 2006 season, is the oldest player to ever hit 600 home runs. Ironically, he hit the home run against the Chicago Cubs - the team which he played 13 for. Even more ironic, the homer came off of Cubs starter Jason Marquis, who wears number 21 - the number Sosa wore during his years as a Cub. Gotta love this game!


• About a week later, on June 28, the career for Frank Thomas of the Toronto Blue Jays came full circle. The Big Hurt smacked his 500th career home run, in an 8-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins. Thomas hit his first career home run in the very same Metrodome against the very same team. He became the 21st player in history to hit 500 home runs - but the first of three in 2007.


• About eight hours later, Craig Biggio recorded his 3000th career hit, against the Rockies. The lifelong Houston Astro most likely has solidified his name in Cooperstown, as he became the 27th player in history to reach 3000. Biggio was so anxious, he actually got thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double! But he finished the night with 3002 career hits. This was Biggio's last season, as he plans on retiring after 2007. He played 20 terrific seasons, all with the 'Stros.