36-year old righty starting pitcher Kevin Millwood has been up and down since returning to the majors with the Rockies. Millwood has started 3 games for the Rockies so far and he is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He has only given up 20 hits in his first 20 innings, but six of them have left the yard. He has been pretty pinpoint with his control though, walking on 3 batters while whiffing 13….which has limited the damage when he gives up a gopher ball.

The Rockies have designated 27-year old righty swinging infielder Ryan Rohlinger for assignment. Rohlinger played in 61 games in AAA-ball for the Rockies this year and he was 61 for 211 (.289 avg, .849 OPS) with 41 runs scored, 4 homers and 30 RBIs. He has played in 94 games overall in AAA-ball this year for the Giants & Rockies and he was 82 for 332 (.247 avg, .767 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 9 homers, 46 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. This is no loss for the Rockies.

The Rockies have acquired 30-year old righty swinging 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff from the A’s for either a player to be named later or cash. Kouzmanoff played in 46 games for the A’s this year and he was 30 for 136 (.221 avg, .615 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 4 homers and 17 RBIs. He will report to AAA for the Rockies for now but I think he will likely get called up when rosters expand on September 1st. Kouzmanoff has played in 61 games in AAA-ball this year too and he is 79 for 262 (.302 avg, .890 OPS) with 41 runs scored, 13 homers, 58 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Kouzmanoff has played in 645 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 608 for 2,380 (.255 avg, .721 OPS) with 254 runs scored, 82 homers, 345 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Kouzmanoff has always hit better in the N.L., so he could be a huge asset going forward for the Rockies.

25-year old lefty swinging outfielder Carlos Gonzalez set the expectations really high for himself in 2011 after the season he had in 2010. Gonzalez played in 145 games for the Rockies last year and he was 197 for 587 (.336 avg, .974 OPS) with 111 runs scored, 34 homers, 117 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. Gonzalez would have to get super hot the rest of the season to approach the kinds of numbers he put up last year. That being said, he’s still having a very solid 2011 season. Gonzalez has played in 107 games for the Rockies so far this year and he is 115 for 401 (.287 avg, .869 OPS) with 76 runs scored, 21 homers, 76 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. The Rockies hope he finishes this year strongly.

22-year old lefty starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz will miss the rest of the year due to an emergency appendectomy. He was the key player the Rockies got in return for Ubaldo Jimenez. Pomeranz started 1 game in AA-ball for the Rockies this year and he was the winning pitcher as he worked the first 7 innings allowing only 2 hits, walking no one, whiffing 4 batters and giving up no runs. Pomeranz has pitched in 19 games (all starts) in A+AA-ball this year and he was 4-3 with a 1.84 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He only gave up 68 hits while whiffing 116 batters in his first 98 innings of his minor league career. The Rockies will take it slowly with Pomeranz because his future is very bright.

UPDATE: (9/6/2011) - The Rockies have called up Drew Pomeranz as he recovered quickly from his surgery.

26-year old lefty reliever Matt Reynolds is proving that he belongs in the majors. He has pitched in 59 games (0 starts) for the Rockies so far this year and he is 0-2 with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He has only given up 34 hits in his first 42 1/3 innings this year while also whiffing 38 batters. He has not been dominating, but he has still been impressive. It looks like the Rockies have found themselves a nice lefty reliever for the future in Matt Reynolds.

30-year old lefty swinging 1B Mike Jacobs has been suspended for 50 games due to testing positive for HGH. The Rockies then released him as he was done for the 2011 season anyway due to the suspension. Jacobs played in 117 games in AAA-ball this year for the Rockies and he was 128 for 429 (.298 avg, .910 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 23 homers, 97 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He has played in 556 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 489 of 1,930 (.253 avg, .787 OPS) with 244 runs scored, 100 homers, 310 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. It seems as if Jacobs was willing to do whatever it took to get back to the majors. He was only caught because he was in the minors, which tests for HGH.

The Rockies have signed 35-year old lefty reliever J.C. Romero and he will be in the bullpen tonight. Romero pitched in 24 games (0 starts) earlier this year for the Phillies and he was 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. He has now pitched in 652 games (22 starts) in his first 13 years in the majors and he is 33-28 with 7 saves, a 4.07 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Romero will give the Rockies another decent lefty in the pen. To make room for Romero, the Rockies designated 28-year old righty Edgar Gonzalez for assignment. Gonzalez pitched in 1 game (0 starts) for the Rockies this year and he was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA and a 3.00 WHIP. The Rockies won’t miss Gonzalez going forward.

UPDATE: (8/20/2011) - Edgar Gonzalez has cleared waivers and he has accepted an outright assignment to AAA.

34-year old righty swinging 2B Mark Ellis has played well since coming to the Rockies from the A’s in a deal. Ellis has played in 36 games for the Rockies so far this year and he is 37 for 135 (.274 avg, .722 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 3 homers, 13 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He has now played in 98 games overall this year for the Rockies & A’s and he is 84 for 352 (.239 avg, .612 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 4 homers, 29 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. The Rockies hope to bring Ellis back over the winter as he will become a free agent after the World Series.

26-year old righty swinging shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is starting to carry the Rockies’ offense once again in 2011. In July and August, Tulowitzki is 51 for 139 (.367 avg) with 19 runs scored, 8 homers, 29 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He is trying to will his team to make a late playoff run just like he has done before. Tulowitzki has now played in 117 games overall this year and he is 135 of 449 (.301 avg, .900 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 23 homers, 82 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. The Rockies hope that the rest of the offense follows Tulowitzki’s lead.