Both 30-year-olds, Brad Hawpe and Jason Marquis, have been selected for their first All-Star appearances in their respective careers.
Hawpe, having the best year of his career, is hitting .331 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI. He leads the league in doubles with 26. His career best for doubles in a season is 33.
While Hawpe was nowhere near getting voted in by the fans, he was selected by the players who vote for eight players of their own.
Marquis struggled in Spring Training, but made it clear he was working on some mechanical tweaks that would help him perform better in the season. He was doubted by fans and media alike, but has done nothing but prove himself right.
The right-hander leads the National League with 10 wins and boasts a 3.87 ERA. The fact that Marquis is an All-Star is a huge feather in the cap of general manager Dan O'Dowd. Marquis was acquired in the offseason because O'Dowd was looking for starting pitching depth, just in case Jeff Francis was not ready to go. He was thought of as an innings-eater kind of pitcher who projected to be a fifth starter.
O'Dowd traded reliever Luis Vizcaino, a complete mistake in the previous offseason, to the Cubs for Marquis. The Cubs even agreed to pay some of Marquis' salary in '09.
Without Marquis, the Rockies' season would be over and they wouldn't be in the hunt for the Wild Card or National League West race.
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