Rockies second baseman Clint Barmes confirmed what the camera of an eagle-eyed fan showed. He did not have possession of the ball throughout his ninth-inning play, which was ruled a catch. Barmes made the play on a soft Ryan Ludwick pop with runners at first and third in the ninth inning. Barmes then doubled Albert Pujols off first base, ending the Rockies' 4-3 victory.

Some thoughts on the play:

-- If you don't call it "the catch of the year," it's still the defensive play of the year. To hit the ground that hard and roll over, yet not have the ball squirt away is a feat in and of itself.

-- What's the big deal? The play isn't reviewable. And it's not like Barmes is going to stand up and say, "That ball landed." Even if he did, I don't think there's anything in the rule book to allow for that. (Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

-- It's good it wasn't a postseason game. The umpire down the right-field line would have been at roughly the same angle as the camera.

Barmes' quotes in an arranged media meeting on Tuesday weren't much different from when I talked to him on Sunday afternoon. I asked him then if the ball hit the ground, and he said he didn't know.

"I really don't know anything other than what I said on Sunday," Barmes said. "It all happened so fast and the ball ended up in my hand somehow and I wasn't sure if it was from off the ground or before it hit the ground. All I know is whenever I rolled and popped up, the ball was in my hand perfectly like I'd reached down and grabbed it."

Right-hander Jose Contreras, who joined the Rockies in an Aug. 31 trade to help the starting rotation, has looked good enough in two relief appearances to get manager Jim Tracy thinking.

Tracy used Contreras on Friday and Saturday against the Cardinals. Other than a Ryan Ludwick home run during Friday's 2-1 Rockies victory, Contreras has been stellar. His fastball is traveling at around 95 mph -- faster than when he starts.

Tracy has no intention of using him on Sunday, and he must have him available for possible multiple innings Thursday when Aaron Cook makes his second start since returning from a shoulder injury.

The use of Contreras must make sense. For example, Tracy is using him to start innings rather than having him jump into tight situations. But having an arm like that in the bullpen could be a boon to the Rockies in the postseason, provided they hold off the charging Braves.

Tracy said relief pitching could be a part of Contreras' future, if he is interested.

"He was throwing the ball as hard, maybe harder, last night as the night before," Tracy said. "This is a strong man. Can he handle doing something like that [beyond this season]? That's a conversation for down the road.

"But we're at a point of the season where you use your resources, whatever makes sense. What we've seen the last couple of nights makes sense. If that makes us as good as we can possibly be in the postseason, we'll entertain it.

"The next conversation is over the long haul, is he comfortable with something like that? Would he entertain an idea like that? Would he dismiss it and say, 'I want to start. I'm a starting pitcher.' You have to have a respect factor for a man of his stature. This is not his first or second year in professional baseball."

Rockies manager Jim Tracy emphasized Wednesday that left fielder Carlos Gonzalez's left hamstring is not strained or pulled. Gonzalez did leave Tuesday night's 11-10 victory over the Padres with tightness in the hamstring. But Tracy said that was for precautionary reasons.

Not putting him in the lineup on Wednesday was yet another precaution. It rained much of the day in Denver, and the temperature is likely not to be much higher than Tuesday's gametime temp of 48.

Seth Smith, who replaced Gonzalez on Tuesday, was in the lineup in left field and in the leadoff spot.

Tracy also announced that Rafael Betancourt, who suffered soreness in his right calf after pitching Saturday at Arizona, was to throw a touch-and-feel bullpen session, in hopes that he'll be available to return to game action soon.

This is the day that right-handed reliever Huston Street is supposed to return to action, but manager Jim Tracy said there's a good chance it won't happen.

Tracy doesn't want Street's first action to be in a close game. But with the Rockies starting righty Ubaldo Jimenez and the D-backs going with Dan Haren, it's likely to be a cloe, low-scoring game.

"I'd like to see the game be somewhat one-sided, one way or the other to try this out," Tracy said.

Tracy added that Street didn't look bad in Friday afternoon's simulated game, but he was not as sharp as he would need to be in a close game. How long will it take for him to regain the sharpness? Tracy said it may take as litle as one game.

But once Street is determined ready, expect him to be moved back into the closer role, with lefty Franklin Morales becoming a key setup man.

One question for Sunday was the availability of righty setup man Rafael Betancourt, who was dealing with soreness in his right calf. Tracy said he was relieved the problem wasn't with hit right groin. While with the Indians, before being traded to the Rockies in July, Betancourt missed six weeks with a groin strain.

Rockies first baseman Todd Helton survived. The beard and goatee that has been a part of him for recent years, however, is gone.

Helton was in the dugout when Carlos Gonzalez's line drive smashed into his left shin during the ninth inning of Friday night's 7-5 loss to the D-backs. Amazingly, Helton ws feeling no ill effects on Saturday and was back in the lineup. The pain had numbed his leg from his calf to his foot.

When Helton showed up at Chase Field on Saturday, Rockies manager Jim Tracy did a double-take, and not just because Helton was pain-free.

"He came into my office today and said he was my new first baseman," Tracy said, joking about the new look. "I said, 'Welcome to the team.'"

Tracy said the foul ball was frightening for everyone in the dugout.

"Somebody was looking out for us, I'll tell you that right now," Tracy said. "If that ball had hit him in the chest or in the face, there would have been serious, serious problems. We don't have our first baseman here. He's done."

Helton is batting third in a left-handed lineup against D-backs right-hander Max Scherzer. five of the first seven hitters swing from the left.

Saturday is a big game for the Rockies. The Dodgers blasted the Giants, 12-1, earlier Saturday, which means the Rockies have a chance to pump their lead in the National League Wild Card race to 3 1/2 games.

Rockies reliever Huston Street's simulated game at Chase Field on Friday went well, and he expects to be available for Sunday's finale of the three-game set with the D-backs.

"I threw betweern 25 and 27 pitches, plus another 22 in the bullpen before -- it was like a game, but a really long inning," Street said. "It was basically the longest inning I've thrown in a long time, which was good. My stuff was there. The ball was coming out nicely. It was definitely a good thing."

The Rockies are expected to return Street to the closer role but not until letting him re-acclimate himself to game action. Expect left-hander Franklin Morales to handle save situations until that time.

In meeting with the media Thursday morning, manager Jim Tracy reported that closer Huston Street had experienced some improvement in his sore right biceps tendon. That means he's on the uphill swing of his comeback. But the trajectory of that swing is anyone's guess.

"I'm not going to even begin to get excited until I begin to get off the mound," said Street, who has been playing catch on flat ground. "Really, the only thing keeping me happy is we keep winning."

Right-hander Aaron Cook is set to throw a bullpen on Friday. Manager Jim Tracy said Cook, who is hoping to return to the rotation before the regular season ends, could either throw a simulated game against his teammates or pitch in the fall instructional program before returning to action.

Left-hander Jeff Francis, who had shoulder surgery during Spring Training, also threw on Wednesday. Tracy said his goal is to have Francis pitch in the instructional program to have some comeptition under his belt, then he can prepare for 2010.

Tracy also said shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who missed the last two games with back tightness, was going to hit in the cage and could be available to pinch-hit. But third baseman Ian Stewart, who also has missed two games with back issues, was not well enogh to be considered to participate.

Eric Young Jr.'s first Major League home run Wednesday night conjured some memories. Young's father led off the Rockies' first home game, against the Expos in 1993 at Mile High Stadium, with a homer. Both of those home runs were the opposite way, to left field.

Anyhow, it sparked a question. How often had fathers and sons homered for the same franchise previously?

David Vincent of the Society for American Baseball Research provides the answer.

Expos: Felipe Alou /Moises Alou        

Giants: Felipe Alou/Moises Alou

Phillies: Ruben Amaro/Ruben Amaro        

Indians: Earl Averill/Earl Averill       

Indians: Jim Bagby/Jim Bagby          

Reds: Gus Bell/Buddy Bell         

Yankees: Yogi Berra/Dale Berra         

Giants: Bobby Bonds/Barry Bonds        

Orioles: Don Buford/Damon Buford       

Indians: Cam Carreon/Mark Carreon       

Cubs: Jimmy Cooney/Jimmy Cooney       

Indians: Tito Francona/Terry Francona     

Mariners: Ken Griffey/Ken Griffey        

Reds: Ken Griffey/Ken Griffey        

Cubs: Randy Hundley/Todd Hundley       

Orioles: Bob Kennedy/Terry Kennedy      

Indians: Dave May/Derrick May        

Orioles: Dave May/Derrick May        

Royals: Hal McRae/Brian McRae        

Reds: Tony Perez/Eduardo Perez      

White Sox: Billy Sullivan/Billy Sullivan     

Indians: Buddy Bell/David Bell         

Cubs: Gary Matthews/Gary Matthews      

Reds: Buddy Bell/Mike Bell          

Red Sox: Haywood Sullivan/Marc Sullivan      

Cardinals: Ed Spiezio/Scott Spiezio      

First baseman Todd Helton is more or less a father figure around the Rockies' clubhouse, but that's only what happens at work. In a much bigger move, he became a father in real life for the second time. His wife, Christy, gave birth to the couple's second child, Gentry Grace Helton, on Wednesday. She weighed in at 7 pounds, 3 ounces. The couple have another daughter, Tireney Faith Helton, who turns 7 on Sept. 24.

Helton was in the lineup for Wednesday night's game against the Reds.

It appears outfielder Matt Murton finally gets what he deserves -- a chance to stay in the Majors. All Murton has done is hit .324 with 27 doubles, 12 home runs and 79 RBIs at Triple-A Colorado Springs. At one point he set a Sky Sox record with a 29-game hit streak. But all that got him before now was two brief trips to the Majors.

Such is life when a team has a stacked outfield, the way the Rockies do. When the Rockies acquired him from the Athletics for infielder Cory Wimberly during the offseason, they figured part of Murton's value was he had a Minor League option and could be sent up and down for roster purposes. That's exactly what happened, even though Murton did well in Colorado Springs and decently in 22 games with the Rockies (.267, one home run, five doubles, six RBIs). But on Tuesday, Murton was one of four players from Colorado Springs to be called up for the final 24 games.

It's not as if the Rockies are calling up Murton, infielder Mike McCoy and pitchers Matt Belisle and Jhoulys Chacin as rewards for a job well done. All could come into play in the final days. Murton had several big moments as a part-time player with the Cubs over the last several years. McCoy is valuable since starting shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is suffering from back spasms. With an expanded roster, having a couple of extra pitchers like Chacin -- the team's top prospect -- and Bellisle around can't hurt.

To keep the Major League roster below the 40-man limit, the Rockies made a couple of paperwork moves. By calling designating right-handed pitcher Adam Eaton for assignment and calling up infielder Chris Nelson but putting him on the 60-day disabled list, the club cleared the necessary spots so they could purchase the contracts of Belisle and McCoy.

For those interested, Murton (No. 14) and Chacin (45) will keep the same jersey numbers as they had in their earlier callups. McCoy will wear 18. Belisle returns wearing No. 34 after a trade with fellow righty reliever Matt Herges, who will wear 32. 

Sunday was a disappointing day for fans at Double-A Tulsa. The Drillers fell to Northwest Arkansas, 6-3, and were eliminated from playoff competition. They'll play their season finale today. And it should be the finale of center fielder Dexter Fowler's rehab assignment for a bruised right knee.

Fowler went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk on Sunday. The plan is for the Rockies to re-evaluate Fowler on Tuesday, and possibly activate him Wednesday. Fowler is 0-for-5 with three srikeouts and two walks in two games with the Drillers.

Rockies center fielder Dexter Fowler will begin his injury rehab assignment on Saturday, but he'll do it at Double-A Tulsa instead of Triple-A Colorado Springs. The Rockies originally announced Fowler, who is on the disabled list with a bruised right knee, would rehab with Triple-A Colorado Springs, but that club is in Tacoma, Wash., and rain is expected.

Right-hander Aaron Cook is playing catch at 100 feet and still hopes to make his return from a sore right shoulder before the regular season ends. Lefty reliever Alan Embree is getting close to being able to throw a bullpen session, which means he has hope of making an improbable return from the fractured left fibula that he suffered on July 10. Righty reliever Manuel Corpas has begun throwing, but it's unlikely he'll return from the surgery to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow and the subsequent surgery for an infection in the forearm not long after the surgery. Lefty Jeff Francis, who underwent shoulder surger in February, continues to throw bullpen sessions with an eye toward pitching in instructional ball in Tucson, Ariz.

Center fielder Dexter Fowler looked to have a smooth stride while running on the outfield grass at Coors Field on Thursday. He is eligible to come off the disabled list on Wednesday. Head athletic trainer Keith Dugger said Fowler will increase his baseball activities on Friday.

Right-hander Aaron Cook played catch the last two days and took Thursday off. Dugger said there's still a distance to go before Cook can throw a bullpen session and accelerate what he hopes is a return to the rotation before the end of the regular season.

Rockies left-handed reliever Randy Flores went 0-0 with a 5.63 ERA in 16 games with the Rockies from May 16 to July 4, before the club sent him down to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Flores, remember, ended last season with shoulder surgery while with the Cardinals. But he said he had no idea how far he was from top form when he was.

"I don't know how everyone else is wired, but each day that I was throwing, I was telling myself that I was ready, and I'd work and do the best I can that day," Flores said. "In hindsight, you could see the steps and the gradual progress. It's been a bunch of baby steps that have allowed me to progress to where I am now."

Flores posted a 2.35 ERA after being sent down. By August, he was back to top form.

"Part of it is the muscle memory of removing bad habits leading up to injury, and afterward," he said. "There was progress made over this last month."

Now he's a needed piece of the Rockies' puzzle.

Flores has pitched big games before. He appeared in the postseason with the Cardinals in 2005 and 2006, and posted a 1.00 ERA in 12 relief outings. With Franklin Morales being the only other lefty in the bullpen, it figures that Flores will be called upon at crucial times.

"I do have some history of pitching in some of those situations, and I look forward to getting one out or pitching four innings, whatever this club needs," Flores said.

-- Third baseman Ian Stewart missed Tuesday night's 8-3 victory over the Mets to be with his wife, Susan, for the birth of the couple's first child, a girl, Ellsi Gray Stewart. She was born Tuesday at 4:25 p.m. and measured 7.5 pounds and 20 inches. Stewart was back in teh Rockies' lineup Wednesday.

The Rockies touted their veteran reinforcements on Tuesday, the beginning of what promises to be a mad dash that they hope will end in a playoff berth.

Left-handed swinging pinch-hitter Jason Giambi, who was released by the Athletics last month, joined the Rockies after a few days at Triple-A Colorado Springs to regain his swing. He hit home runs in his last two games with the Sky Sox.

"There is no small role when you're in a pennant race," Giambi said.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy also announced that right-hander Jose Contreras, who was acquired from the White Sox for Minor League right-hander Brandon Hynick on Monday night, will start Saturday against the D-backs and is in line to pitch against the Reds when the next turn in the rotation comes. Contreras is filling in for Aaron Cook (sore right shoulder), who played catch on Tuesday with no problems.

Also being promoted from Colorado Springs are left-handed reliever Randy Flores, righty reliever Joel Peralta and catcher Paul Phillips. All had their moments with the Rockies earlier this season.

Other possibilities for the Rockies this month are right-handers Russ Ortiz and Jhoulys Chacin, both of whom are helping Colorado Springs in its attempt to earn a playoff berth.