Weiss acknowledges opportunity of homestand

DENVER -- First-year manager Walt Weiss has emphasized keeping the Rockies even-keeled, but it is hard not to look at the schedule and see the 10-game homestand that opened Friday night as an opportunity.

The series are against the Cubs, Marlins and Brewers -- teams toward the bottom of their divisions, and all considered "sellers" as the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline approaches. Weiss acknowledged the importance of the homestand, but more in the vein of his club -- which at 46-50 entering Friday's game against the Cubs is a contender mainly because no one has taken control of the National League West -- than the opponents' issues.

"It's important for the fact that we're at home, and we have to play well at home," said Weiss, whose club is 26-21 at Coors Field. "We did that well early. We need to get back to establishing some dominance at home, and it's an opportunity to do that right away.

"I don't want to get caught up in saying how many games we have to win on this homestand. You've got to be careful getting too far ahead or getting caught up with what's happened. But it's a nice opportunity we have here, opening up this 10-game homestand."