NEWS » e will give weather experts every chance to be on the m

DENVER -- The St. Louis Cardinals will send rookie Luke Weaver to the mound as they try to sweep their three-game series Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies.Weaver, 23, is 1/3 with a 3.21 ERA in seven starts, the last on Friday at San Francisco, where he gave up five hits and six unearned runs in 2 2/3 innings and lost 8-2.Weaver, who made his major league debut Aug. 13, will be pitching for the first time at Coors Field. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny emphatically said he would not talk to Weaver about the mile-high altitude, the spacious outfield or anything that might be lurking at hitter-friendly Coors Field.Im not going to fill his mind, and Im going to discourage anybody else from doing the same thing, Matheny said. Just go do your thing, and well make adjustments as we need to and well try to keep an eye (out for) when something doesnt look right. But to kind of pre-set in his mind that hes going to have to do something different, I think, is a bad strategy.The Cardinals have won four straight games and are tied with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants in the race for the two National League wild-card spots. The Cardinals spurt has made the scoreboard watching more riveting and, at Coors Field, more unavoidable.From where my angle is (in the dugout) and where the pitchers head is, right behind it is the scoreboard, Matheny said, referring to the out-of-town scoreboard in right field. I mean directly behind it, so you cant help but watch and to see whats going on with the other teams.That said, after Tuesday nights 10-5 win over the Rockies, Matheny repeated the Cardinals mantra when it comes to scoreboard watching.Its not something we run from. Its just not something we put too much focus on, Matheny said. Control what we can control. Same boring stuff, but it keeps it very simple what our job description is.Like the Cardinals, the Rockies are also starting a rookie in German Marquez, 21. He made his major league debut Sept. 8 and will be making his first major league start after three relief appearances. Hes 0-3 with a 5.06 ERA in those three games, the last two scoreless for a combined three innings.Im very excited Im going to be a starter. Thats unbelievable, Marquez said. I want to help my team, too. Thats why Im here. Im going to do it.The Rockies acquired Marquez from Tampa Bay along with reliever Jake McGee in the Jan. 28 trade that sent outfielder Corey Dickerson and minor league third baseman Kevin Padlo to the Rays. Marquez said he was surprised to be traded, since the Rays had placed him on their 40-man roster for the first time two months before the deal.Marquez was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year after going 9-6 with a 2.85 ERA, 33 walks and 126 strikeouts in 135 2/3 innings for Double-A Hartford. He then went 2-0 with a 4.35 ERA in five starts for Triple-A Albuquerque before being recalled by the Rockies.Marquezs repertoire includes a fastball, curveball and changeup. The first two pitches are above average and the third will be. Marquezs changeup was a point of emphasis this season, specifically to not slow his arm speed and keep it the same as his fastball while throwing his changeup.The thing that jumps out at you is its easy velocity -- upper 90s, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. Theres not a lot of effort. Hes got great finish (on the fastball). Hes got a good breaking ball. The changeup is a work in progress right now, but its coming. But for a 21-year-old kid -- very, very impressive.In addition to his stuff, Marquez has impressed the Rockies with his mound presence.We saw that right away in spring training, unaffected by the major league atmosphere, Weiss said. Always looked like he belonged. It says something for a kid his age, (coming to) a new organization, too. Thats not easy.The few outings hes had here the last few weeks, same thing. Very composed. Very poised. Tony Romo Youth Jersey . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. Charles Haley Cowboys Jersey . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. https://www.cowboyssportsgoods.com/Womens-Terrell-Owens-Inverted-Jersey/ . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. Robert Newhouse Womens Jersey . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. Michael Irvin Youth Jersey . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night. Gary Portelli will wait to see what an improving Sydney weather forecast brings before giving up the chance to win a restricted race worth as much as some Group Ones.Until Friday, Portelli thought he was in the box seat to train the Inglis Nursery winner with impressive filly She Will Reign the shortest-priced Villiers day runner at Randwick on Saturday.She Will Reign is odds-on to claim the $500,000 for graduates from this years round of Inglis yearling sales.But Randwick was downgraded to the heavy range on Friday morning, a rating that puts She Will Reign in extreme doubt to back up from her eight-and-a-half length win at Kembla Grange last week.Portelli is adamant he wont risk She Will Reign in the mud, but he will give weather experts every chance to be on the money with their forecast for clearing skies.Id hate to scratch prematurely then see the day turn out to be a drying track and get up into the sloow range, he said.ddddddddddddThats why Portelli is preparing himself for a sleepless night as prepares to wait until close to Saturdays scratching deadline before making a call.If (the race) wasnt worth so much money there wouldnt be any decision to be made, Portelli said.But its worth two hundred and eighty thousand (dollars) to the winner. Its like winning a Group One so its a very serious decision to make.Weve got to leave it to the death.Portelli said She Will Reign had thrived in the week since her Kembla Grange win, a victory that took her to the top of Golden Slipper betting charts.I know it sounds silly because she has won by eight (lengths), but she looked a bit soft, he said.She looked like she would improve with the run and that would have her spot-on for the weekend. ' ' '