Finally. After a winter of (mostly) discomfort and discontent, Baseball is Back! The Dodgers have already played three games, sweeping the two game opening series in Sydney, Australia, and losing to the Padres in beautiful Petco Park in San Diego last night. The winter here in Colorado has been long and painful, since that horrific Sunday in February, when Seattle showed Denver what a complete football team could accomplish. The Denver Nuggets usually provide some entertainment for us until Spring Training begins and the grind of meaningless baseball games in Florida and Arizona presages the real season. This year, not so much, as the Nuggies struggle through a non-playoff season under rookie coach Brian Shaw's direction. The Colorado Avalanche, on the other hand, have energized the Rocky Mountain Region again under fiery rookie coach, Patrick Roy. GM Joe Sakic has this version of the Avs poised to make waves on the frozen surface at the Pepsi Center as they battle the defending Stanley Cup Champions, Chicago Blackhawks for home-ice in the upcoming playoff season. The Avalanche received bad news as their young superstar, Matt Duchene, has been declared out for at least four weeks with a knee injury, thus effectively missing at least the first round of the playoffs. The NHL chase for Lord Stanley's Cup is the best and hardest championship tournament in sports. Apologies to the NCAA bracket bonanza, MLB's World Series process, the NFL where they play once a week with as many as three weekends off in the quest for the Lombardi Trophy and the World Cup (which I don't understand, besides it's soccer, who cares?). It takes 16 playoff wins in four best-of-7 series to claim the Stanley Cup. What those guys do with sticks on skates is phenomenal.
But, as all real sports fans know, Baseball is the true American Pastime. Those that don't agree, are closer to Neanderthal than wrestling fans. No other activity encompasses mind, body and spirit more completely than baseball. And true fans, even casual followers, appreciate the fine points of pitcher-batter mind games, the toughness and athleticism to perform for 162 games with only 10 scheduled days off during the season. If you haven't tried to hit a round ball with a round bat when it is traveling at 110 feet per second, then you cannot appreciate that failing 7 out of 10 times over the course of a career defines a superstar. Baseball can also be dissected by jocks, eggheads and nerds alike. Where else are such terms so defining? Acronyms such as: ERA, WHIP, OPS, GDP, RBI, DH, HR, DP, HBP, LHP, RHP. A baseball fan knows that BB means a walk and K means a strikeout, with a backward K on the scorecard denoting that a batter struck out while not swinging the bat (just looking). That earned runs are runs scored against a pitcher that are not the result of a mitigating error or misplay. That a pitcher's ERA (earned run average) is computed by multiplying the number of earned runs by 9, and dividing by the number of official innings pitched. That a pitcher can be charged with runs even after he leaves the game. That a walk, hit by pitcher or sacrifice do not count against a hitter's batting average, but count as a plate appearance. That a slugging percentage is calculated by the total of bases gained on hits divided by official at-bats, and defines how much power a hitter possesses. That OBP (on base percentage) is found by adding all safe arrivals at first and dividing by all plate appearances.
The complete box score and line score of a game can recreate the game a hundred years after the game has been played. It also can tell you how many people were at the game, the names of the umpires and how long the game took to complete. No sport or activity is chronicled by so many statistics as baseball. The bases are, have always been, 90 feet apart. The pitching rubber is exactly 60 feet, 6 inches from the front of home plate. Beyond those constant dimensions, each ballpark has its own unique characteristics, since the cookie-cutter concrete, artificial grass parks of the 70's have been torn down or remodeled. The Green Monster and Pesky Pole in Fenway. Monument Park and the iconic White Façade at Yankee Stadium. The cozy confines and the ivy-covered outfield walls of Wrigley Field on the Northside of Chicago and the neighboring Wrigleyville neighborhood. That the area around Coors Field in Denver used to be the slums. McCovey Cove at AT & T Park in San Francisco where there have been 90 official splash homers. The warehouse beyond the right field concourse in Baltimore's Oriole Park at Camden yards where Boog's Barbecue resides on Eutaw Street. Who can forget the banner with the number 2,131 unfurling from the walls of the B & O Warehouse as Cal Ripken, Jr. completed the fifth inning of that game on September 6, 1995?
As I finish this edition, the Rockies are getting blown out by the Florida Marlins. The first time in history an opening game was contested by starting pitchers from Cuba and Mexico. Tonight's pitching effort by our pet Rox was dismal. So, after one game Colorado's pitching has an ERA of 11.25 and the batting average is .188 with one walk earned while striking out 10 times. Slugging percentage is .273, OBP .212, for an OPS of .485. The good news? It'll just have to get better. It's just one game, 161 to go. The real opening day is tomorrow, when the Yankees open up Derek Jeter's final season at Houston. Difficult to get used to the Astros being in the American League. So, I pass on the sentiment sent to me by my daughter Alison: "Here's to leisurely sitting on the sofa watching the 2014 baseball season, just like A-Rod."
Monday, March 31, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
It's That Time Of The Year
Spring Training is almost at an end, unless you are the Los Angeles Dodgers, or the Arizona Diamondbacks. For some reason, Major League Baseball decided to move up the traditional start of the regular season by having the Dodgers and D-Backs play a two-game opening schedule in Sydney, Australia on March 22 and 23. With all the brouhaha over the NCAA Men's Basketball Brackets and Warren Buffett's $Billion, the series between the two National League West rivals hardly caused a ripple in the overall sporting pond. The Dodgers swept the two game series, and thus are alone atop the National League West. The good news for Rockies fans is that the D-Backs are a full game behind our loveable Pet Rox, and reliever Wilton Lopez has yet to blow a game. The Donnie Baseball-led Dodgers will resume their regular season with their North American debut at Petco Park in San Diego on March 30. It would have been a blessing for LA if Clayton Kershaw could start again against the Padres, and I'm sure that's what they would have preferred, but he's got a sore back, so he'll miss the series against San Diego.
Manager Don Mattingly set a modern-day Major League record the other day, for the earliest closed-door team meeting with his team following their return from Down Under. It seems that second-year phenom, Yasiel Puig, was the subject of the meeting, as coaches and players alike voiced their concern that the young, talented Cuban outfielder wasn't 'maturing' properly in the big leagues. Too much money and fame too fast? As a Cuban defector who sought asylum in Mexico, the Dodgers signed the 21-year-old to a 7-year, $42 million contract on June 28, 2012. He immediately went to the Arizona Rookie league where he played in only nine games. He hit .400 with 4 homers and 11 RsBI (that'll be the last time I use the 'correct' syntax to abbreviate Runs Batted In, from now on I'll go with the more accepted RBIs form). Puig was elevated to Advanced Class A ball in Rancho Cucamonga where he played in 14 games, batting .327 for the Quakes of Cucamonga. After winter ball in Puerto Rico and a torrid Spring Training in the 2013 Dodger camp, batting a ridiculous .526, he began the season in the AA Southern League for the Chattanooga Lookouts. In 40 games, Puig hit for a .313 average with 8 home runs and 37 RBIs. On June 2, 2013, the Dodger brass summoned him to Chavez Ravine to make his Major League debut against the San Diego Padres at hallowed Dodger Stadium, in front of Magic Johnson and a national TV audience. His first at-bat produced a single off Eric Stults, and he finished the day 2 for 4 at the dish. More impressive, was his game-ending running catch on OF Kyle Blanks' fly to short right and amazing throw to double up OF Chris Denorfia who had walked and represented the tying run for the Padres. In his second game, Yasiel clubbed two homers and a double to drive in 5 runs. In his fourth game he hit a grand slam, and PuigMania was on. Even Fernando Valenzuela was seen in the crowd celebrating.
The following day, Puig hit another homer to become only the 2nd player in the modern era (Mike Jacobs in 2005 was the other) to hit four home runs in his first five games and his 10 RBI tied the Major League record for most RBI in the first five games of a career (with Danny Espinosa (2010) and Jack Merson (1951)). Puig was named the National League Player of the Week for the week of June 3–9. He had 27 hits in his first 15 games, tied with Joe DiMaggio (1936) and Terry Pendleton (1984) for second most all-time behind Irv Waldron (1901) and Bo Hart (2003) with 28. He also became the first player in major league history to record at least 34 hits and seven home runs in his first 20 games and set Dodger records for most hits through 20 games (one more than Gibby Brack in 1937) and total bases through 20 games (58, four more than Del Bissonette in 1928). Puig finished the month of June with 44 hits, breaking Steve Sax's 1983 team record for most hits by a rookie in one month. That total was also second all-time for rookies in their first month, behind only DiMaggio who had 48. In 26 games in June, Puig hit .436 with a .467 on-base percentage and a .713 slugging percentage, an OPS of 1.180! He won both the National League Rookie of the Month Award and the National League Player of the Month Award, the first time someone had won both in their first month in the Majors. He lost out to Atlanta's 1B Freddie Freeman for the final spot on the 2013 National League All-Star Team.
Puig finished 2013 with a .319 average in 104 games, with 19 homers and 42 RBIs. He claimed second place in Rookie of the Year balloting, behind fellow Cuban, P Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins. His lack of maturity, as exhibited by speeding infractions in Chattanooga (97 in a 50) and in Naples, FL (110 in a 70), and on-field showboating, prompted Mattingly and other veteran Dodgers to conduct their closed session, to rein him in and emphasize to him his responsibilities as a Major Leaguer and, more importantly, as a budding Dodger superstar.
The LA Moneybags remain the odds-on favorite to dominate the NL West, and even to advance to the World Series. That's a lot of pressure on a team and franchise that is frankly unproven when it comes to living up to expectations. The Padres and Rockies look to be fighting for the cellar, unless our hapless Pet Rox can remain miraculously healthy (Tulo and CarGo and Cuddy), and the pitching holds up beyond historical expectations. A repeat Rocktober up in the new Party Deck sounds like a fine way to spend the first three weeks in October.
We can dream, can't we? It's Spring Time, Hope Springs Eternal, and everybody but the Diamondbacks is undefeated. I've run out of breath, so Rockies and Yankees blogs will follow. I'll end with a quote from legendary Pulitzer Prize winning political writer, George F. Will:
"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona."
Manager Don Mattingly set a modern-day Major League record the other day, for the earliest closed-door team meeting with his team following their return from Down Under. It seems that second-year phenom, Yasiel Puig, was the subject of the meeting, as coaches and players alike voiced their concern that the young, talented Cuban outfielder wasn't 'maturing' properly in the big leagues. Too much money and fame too fast? As a Cuban defector who sought asylum in Mexico, the Dodgers signed the 21-year-old to a 7-year, $42 million contract on June 28, 2012. He immediately went to the Arizona Rookie league where he played in only nine games. He hit .400 with 4 homers and 11 RsBI (that'll be the last time I use the 'correct' syntax to abbreviate Runs Batted In, from now on I'll go with the more accepted RBIs form). Puig was elevated to Advanced Class A ball in Rancho Cucamonga where he played in 14 games, batting .327 for the Quakes of Cucamonga. After winter ball in Puerto Rico and a torrid Spring Training in the 2013 Dodger camp, batting a ridiculous .526, he began the season in the AA Southern League for the Chattanooga Lookouts. In 40 games, Puig hit for a .313 average with 8 home runs and 37 RBIs. On June 2, 2013, the Dodger brass summoned him to Chavez Ravine to make his Major League debut against the San Diego Padres at hallowed Dodger Stadium, in front of Magic Johnson and a national TV audience. His first at-bat produced a single off Eric Stults, and he finished the day 2 for 4 at the dish. More impressive, was his game-ending running catch on OF Kyle Blanks' fly to short right and amazing throw to double up OF Chris Denorfia who had walked and represented the tying run for the Padres. In his second game, Yasiel clubbed two homers and a double to drive in 5 runs. In his fourth game he hit a grand slam, and PuigMania was on. Even Fernando Valenzuela was seen in the crowd celebrating.
The following day, Puig hit another homer to become only the 2nd player in the modern era (Mike Jacobs in 2005 was the other) to hit four home runs in his first five games and his 10 RBI tied the Major League record for most RBI in the first five games of a career (with Danny Espinosa (2010) and Jack Merson (1951)). Puig was named the National League Player of the Week for the week of June 3–9. He had 27 hits in his first 15 games, tied with Joe DiMaggio (1936) and Terry Pendleton (1984) for second most all-time behind Irv Waldron (1901) and Bo Hart (2003) with 28. He also became the first player in major league history to record at least 34 hits and seven home runs in his first 20 games and set Dodger records for most hits through 20 games (one more than Gibby Brack in 1937) and total bases through 20 games (58, four more than Del Bissonette in 1928). Puig finished the month of June with 44 hits, breaking Steve Sax's 1983 team record for most hits by a rookie in one month. That total was also second all-time for rookies in their first month, behind only DiMaggio who had 48. In 26 games in June, Puig hit .436 with a .467 on-base percentage and a .713 slugging percentage, an OPS of 1.180! He won both the National League Rookie of the Month Award and the National League Player of the Month Award, the first time someone had won both in their first month in the Majors. He lost out to Atlanta's 1B Freddie Freeman for the final spot on the 2013 National League All-Star Team.
Puig finished 2013 with a .319 average in 104 games, with 19 homers and 42 RBIs. He claimed second place in Rookie of the Year balloting, behind fellow Cuban, P Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins. His lack of maturity, as exhibited by speeding infractions in Chattanooga (97 in a 50) and in Naples, FL (110 in a 70), and on-field showboating, prompted Mattingly and other veteran Dodgers to conduct their closed session, to rein him in and emphasize to him his responsibilities as a Major Leaguer and, more importantly, as a budding Dodger superstar.
The LA Moneybags remain the odds-on favorite to dominate the NL West, and even to advance to the World Series. That's a lot of pressure on a team and franchise that is frankly unproven when it comes to living up to expectations. The Padres and Rockies look to be fighting for the cellar, unless our hapless Pet Rox can remain miraculously healthy (Tulo and CarGo and Cuddy), and the pitching holds up beyond historical expectations. A repeat Rocktober up in the new Party Deck sounds like a fine way to spend the first three weeks in October.
We can dream, can't we? It's Spring Time, Hope Springs Eternal, and everybody but the Diamondbacks is undefeated. I've run out of breath, so Rockies and Yankees blogs will follow. I'll end with a quote from legendary Pulitzer Prize winning political writer, George F. Will:
"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona."
Saturday, October 1, 2011
2011 ALDS, Game 1, Conclusion
Ivan Nova, rookie right hander from the Dominican Republic, gave the Yankees a quality 6-1/3 innings of relief tonight. A relief appearance because he began the resumed game that was started by CC Sabathia last night before the rains came and delayed the game until tonight. As he left the game to a hearty ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd in the bottom of the ninth, the score was 9-1 with the bases loaded and one out. Manager Joe Girardi brought in Luis Ayala, right-handed reliever from Mexico. Ayala allowed an RBI fielder's choice grounder to Alex Avila, an RBI single to Detroit 2B Ryan Raburn and a single to SS Jhonny Peralta to reload the bases. Gerardi said enough is enough. Cue "Enter Sandman", signal the bullpen, summon the best closer in MLB history, Mariano Rivera. Pity Tiger 3B Wilson Betemit. Cut fastball at 91 mph, called strike one. Cut fastball at 90, up and in, swing and miss, strike two. Cut fastball at 91, swing and miss, game over, cue Frank Sinatra. Not a save situation, but that's called closing out a game before it gets too sticky.
The Yankees broke the game open in the sixth, when they scored 6 runs, highlighted by 2B Robinson Cano's grand slam into the second deck in right field to make the score 8-1. The Yankees take a 1-0 series lead on the fiftieth anniversary of Roger Maris' 61st home run into the right field stands at the old Yankee Stadium, a record that, to many, is still the standard for a season not adulterated by steroidal assholes who falsley claim records that were forged at the business end of a syringe.
Tomorrow's game pits Detroit right-hander Max Scherzer (15-9, 4.43 ERA) against Yankee righty Freddy Garcia (12-8, 3.62). Scherzer has faced the Yankees twice this year and is 2-0, with 8 innings of shutout baseball on May 4 in Detroit against, Freddy Garcia. He gave up 6 runs in a 5-inning stint on April 3rd in Yankee Stadium, as his mates scored 10 runs to beat the Yankees and Phil Hughes.
The Yankees broke the game open in the sixth, when they scored 6 runs, highlighted by 2B Robinson Cano's grand slam into the second deck in right field to make the score 8-1. The Yankees take a 1-0 series lead on the fiftieth anniversary of Roger Maris' 61st home run into the right field stands at the old Yankee Stadium, a record that, to many, is still the standard for a season not adulterated by steroidal assholes who falsley claim records that were forged at the business end of a syringe.
Tomorrow's game pits Detroit right-hander Max Scherzer (15-9, 4.43 ERA) against Yankee righty Freddy Garcia (12-8, 3.62). Scherzer has faced the Yankees twice this year and is 2-0, with 8 innings of shutout baseball on May 4 in Detroit against, Freddy Garcia. He gave up 6 runs in a 5-inning stint on April 3rd in Yankee Stadium, as his mates scored 10 runs to beat the Yankees and Phil Hughes.
Game 1, part 3
After watching portions of the Diamondbacks-Brewers game 1, the Cardinals-Phillies game 1 and the Rays-Rangers game 2, I am struck by two things. 1) How much fun playoffs are, and 2) how much the Rockies truly lack in order to reach the playoffs. The atmosphere surrounding a team, its fans and the ballpark when the World Series elimination process begins is electric. I remember the first time the Rockies made it into the post season. It was the very first year of Coors Field, after the strike in 1994-95 wiped out the entire season after August 12th. No playoffs, no World Series, no spring training and no real games until April 25th, with the regular season shortened to 144 games. The Rockies, fueled by record attendance and the Blake Street Bombers, finished the season with a 77-67 record and won the very first National League Wild Card spot in history as the best second-place divisional finisher. The New York Yankees won the AL Wild Card that season. The Atlanta Braves beat the Rockies 3-1 in the NLDS and went on to win the World Series over the Cleveland Indians 4-2.
After a 24-hour and 18-minute rain delay, the Tigers-Yankees game resumes with Jorge Posada leading off the bottom of the 2nd with a single. Russell Martin doubles to left, and the Yankees threaten, first and third, no outs. The Rangers just scored to take a 4-3 lead over the Rays in the 4th inning. Brett Gardner grounds out to third baseman Brandon Inge as Jorge blunders into an out as he wandered too far off third. Balk is called on Tiger pitcher Doug Fister, so back to second and third, one out. Jeter strikes out. Texas now leads Tampa Bay 5-3 after 4 innings. Curtis Granderson up. Strike out, Detroit survives the inning without surrendering a run. The Yankees are very Colorado Rockie-like so far, oh-for-six with runners in scoring position in two innings.
Back to the second reason why the Rockies are watching, instead of playing, in the playoffs. They are too pampered and soft, and display no joy at being at the ballpark. Watch Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun and Derek Jeter and Josh Hamilton and Nick Swisher and Nyjer Morgan and others. Rockies players behave as though being at the ballpark and in the dugout like it's a job that they're afraid to mess up at. And with good reason. Except for Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton's salary, nobody has ingrained themselves into a set job with the team. We all thought Ubaldo Jimenez was an untouchable. Not so in Dan O'Dowd's world. The dugout during games is usually somber, some would say business-like, but I see a dour, negative vibe in the Rockies dugout, except when they're winning by 9 runs. Dexter Fowler tries, but he's always worried about job security after being sent down to AAA when he didn't burn up the stat sheet. Eric Young, Jr, seems to want to be a spark plug, but nobody seems to like the guy. They all look to Tulo, but he's maybe too intense. CarGo seems to be the best bet to inspire, but he's hurt alot and seems to content to trail in Tulo's shadow as a leader. All in all, I blame manager Jim Tracy for the dugout atmosphere and his leadership for the lack of fire. I blame Dan O'Dowd and his staff for misfiring on personnel decisions, especially drafting the last 10 years. I applaud the Latin American talent evaluators and developmental staff. If not for the Venezuelans (Carlos Gonzalez, Rafael Betancourt, Jhoulys Chacin, Jonathan Herrera and Edgmer Escalona), Dominicans (Esmil Rogers, Juan Nicasio, Wilin Rosario and Hector Gomez), Mexican Jorge De La Rosa and Puerto Ricans (JC Romero and Jose Morales), the Rockies would be stuck with a preponderance of laid-back Californians. Tulo, Stewart, Spilborghs, Wigginton, Kouzmanoff, Giambi and Reynolds. Yes, our Greg Reynolds, first round draft pick, second pick overall, in the 2006 MLB draft. Picked by Dan O'Dowd and his staff before the likes of: Evan Longoria, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum, Max Scherzer, Drew Stubbs, Ian Kennedy and Daniel Bard. How about the 2007 draft: first-rounder Casey Weathers drafted before Madison Bumgardner, Jason Heyward, JP Arencibia and Rick Porcello. I could go on through all the drafts and pick on O'Dowd's picks, hindsight is much better than foresight, but isn't that a general manager's biggest job? Foresight. Lacking. Fire and chutzpah in the dugout. Lacking. Future hope? Lacking.
Oh, it's good to be a Yankee fan, regardless of the barbs of jealous rivals. It's good to be a baseball fan, period, and I truly hope Jim Tracy and his under-performing coaching staff and players rebound next year and make me eat my words. I hope Dealin' Dan O'Dowd can bolster the lineup, get a bona fide third baseman, a right handed bat and something for Huston Street. I hope Juan Nicasio comes back, fully recovered and with no lost velocity. What a story and inspiration that would be. I hope Tulo and CarGo and Charlie Blackmon can remain free of injury next year. That would be great, because despite all my negativity, I am a Rockies fan, and I really do want them to be good, great even. It is so much more fun to root for a winner, I'm not like those that root root root for the home team, even when they suck. I pull for them to get better, but I'd rather not encourage and support a loser.
Yankees now lead 2-1 in the 6th. Texas leads Tampa 7-6 in the 7th. Milwaukee beat the D-Backs 4-1 and the Phillies hammered the Cardinals 11-6.
I'll followup later. All this talk about the Rockies was starting to depress me. Back to watching real baseball. Later.........
After a 24-hour and 18-minute rain delay, the Tigers-Yankees game resumes with Jorge Posada leading off the bottom of the 2nd with a single. Russell Martin doubles to left, and the Yankees threaten, first and third, no outs. The Rangers just scored to take a 4-3 lead over the Rays in the 4th inning. Brett Gardner grounds out to third baseman Brandon Inge as Jorge blunders into an out as he wandered too far off third. Balk is called on Tiger pitcher Doug Fister, so back to second and third, one out. Jeter strikes out. Texas now leads Tampa Bay 5-3 after 4 innings. Curtis Granderson up. Strike out, Detroit survives the inning without surrendering a run. The Yankees are very Colorado Rockie-like so far, oh-for-six with runners in scoring position in two innings.
Back to the second reason why the Rockies are watching, instead of playing, in the playoffs. They are too pampered and soft, and display no joy at being at the ballpark. Watch Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun and Derek Jeter and Josh Hamilton and Nick Swisher and Nyjer Morgan and others. Rockies players behave as though being at the ballpark and in the dugout like it's a job that they're afraid to mess up at. And with good reason. Except for Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton's salary, nobody has ingrained themselves into a set job with the team. We all thought Ubaldo Jimenez was an untouchable. Not so in Dan O'Dowd's world. The dugout during games is usually somber, some would say business-like, but I see a dour, negative vibe in the Rockies dugout, except when they're winning by 9 runs. Dexter Fowler tries, but he's always worried about job security after being sent down to AAA when he didn't burn up the stat sheet. Eric Young, Jr, seems to want to be a spark plug, but nobody seems to like the guy. They all look to Tulo, but he's maybe too intense. CarGo seems to be the best bet to inspire, but he's hurt alot and seems to content to trail in Tulo's shadow as a leader. All in all, I blame manager Jim Tracy for the dugout atmosphere and his leadership for the lack of fire. I blame Dan O'Dowd and his staff for misfiring on personnel decisions, especially drafting the last 10 years. I applaud the Latin American talent evaluators and developmental staff. If not for the Venezuelans (Carlos Gonzalez, Rafael Betancourt, Jhoulys Chacin, Jonathan Herrera and Edgmer Escalona), Dominicans (Esmil Rogers, Juan Nicasio, Wilin Rosario and Hector Gomez), Mexican Jorge De La Rosa and Puerto Ricans (JC Romero and Jose Morales), the Rockies would be stuck with a preponderance of laid-back Californians. Tulo, Stewart, Spilborghs, Wigginton, Kouzmanoff, Giambi and Reynolds. Yes, our Greg Reynolds, first round draft pick, second pick overall, in the 2006 MLB draft. Picked by Dan O'Dowd and his staff before the likes of: Evan Longoria, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum, Max Scherzer, Drew Stubbs, Ian Kennedy and Daniel Bard. How about the 2007 draft: first-rounder Casey Weathers drafted before Madison Bumgardner, Jason Heyward, JP Arencibia and Rick Porcello. I could go on through all the drafts and pick on O'Dowd's picks, hindsight is much better than foresight, but isn't that a general manager's biggest job? Foresight. Lacking. Fire and chutzpah in the dugout. Lacking. Future hope? Lacking.
Oh, it's good to be a Yankee fan, regardless of the barbs of jealous rivals. It's good to be a baseball fan, period, and I truly hope Jim Tracy and his under-performing coaching staff and players rebound next year and make me eat my words. I hope Dealin' Dan O'Dowd can bolster the lineup, get a bona fide third baseman, a right handed bat and something for Huston Street. I hope Juan Nicasio comes back, fully recovered and with no lost velocity. What a story and inspiration that would be. I hope Tulo and CarGo and Charlie Blackmon can remain free of injury next year. That would be great, because despite all my negativity, I am a Rockies fan, and I really do want them to be good, great even. It is so much more fun to root for a winner, I'm not like those that root root root for the home team, even when they suck. I pull for them to get better, but I'd rather not encourage and support a loser.
Yankees now lead 2-1 in the 6th. Texas leads Tampa 7-6 in the 7th. Milwaukee beat the D-Backs 4-1 and the Phillies hammered the Cardinals 11-6.
I'll followup later. All this talk about the Rockies was starting to depress me. Back to watching real baseball. Later.........
Game 1, part two
Well, after officials from Major League Baseball and the two ballclubs met during the Friday night rainstorm, it was decided that the game would resume, exactly where it was interrupted, 1-1/2 innings in the books, the Yankees coming to bat in the bottom of the 2nd inning. The game will resume at 6:30 tonight, with two different pitchers on the mound. Rookie right-hander Ivan Nova (16-4, 3.70 ERA) will resume the game for the Yankees. Six-foot-eight righty Doug Fister will be on the hill for the Tigers. Fister came to the Tigers in a trade from the Seattle Mariners at the deadline this year. He had crafted a 3-12 record in 21 starts with the hapless Mariners, with a respectable ERA of 3.33. Since his arrival in Detroit, he has an 8-1 record in 11 starts, with an ERA of 1.80. A good pitcher can become a great pitcher when the players around him are better. Go figure.
The rain-delayed series now means that enigmatic Yankee righty AJ Burnett becomes a very key player. The Yankees were scheduled to go with a 3-man rotation, with Sabathia scheduled to start game 4. Now, the rotation might go Nova today, right-hander Freddy Garcia (12-8, 3.62) on Sunday (3:00 start), and AJ Burnett (11-11, 5.15) Tuesday in Detroit. It's highly possible that Sabathia may start Sunday, pushing Garcia back to Tuesday, and leaving Burnett out of the picture, to come out of the bullpen, in a potential long relief role. Manager Joe Girardi said this morning that he is not inclined to let Sabathia start Sunday, but it makes the most sense, to have the big lefty pitch in Yankee Stadium, where the right-handed batters historically have always had a tougher time. Plus the afternoon shadows around the batters box, as the game progresses from the 3:00 start time, will further enhance Sabathia's effectiveness. I think, too, that Burnett would be a better fit either Tuesday or Wednesday, away from Yankee Stadium.
The weather interruption actually helps the Yankees overall. Now, Tiger ace Justin Verlander (24-5, 2.40 ERA, 250 strikeouts) will only pitch once more in the series, according to manager Jim Leyland. Since Sabathia, a lefty, started game one last night, Leyland fielded a lineup stacked with right-handed batters. Now, with righty Nova pitching the resumed game tonight, the Yankees now have more usually favorable righty-righty matchups. Will Leyland mix up the lineup tonight to compensate? Not likely, since the game has already started, and any juggling of the lineup eliminates players from re-entering the game.
Stay tuned................
The rain-delayed series now means that enigmatic Yankee righty AJ Burnett becomes a very key player. The Yankees were scheduled to go with a 3-man rotation, with Sabathia scheduled to start game 4. Now, the rotation might go Nova today, right-hander Freddy Garcia (12-8, 3.62) on Sunday (3:00 start), and AJ Burnett (11-11, 5.15) Tuesday in Detroit. It's highly possible that Sabathia may start Sunday, pushing Garcia back to Tuesday, and leaving Burnett out of the picture, to come out of the bullpen, in a potential long relief role. Manager Joe Girardi said this morning that he is not inclined to let Sabathia start Sunday, but it makes the most sense, to have the big lefty pitch in Yankee Stadium, where the right-handed batters historically have always had a tougher time. Plus the afternoon shadows around the batters box, as the game progresses from the 3:00 start time, will further enhance Sabathia's effectiveness. I think, too, that Burnett would be a better fit either Tuesday or Wednesday, away from Yankee Stadium.
The weather interruption actually helps the Yankees overall. Now, Tiger ace Justin Verlander (24-5, 2.40 ERA, 250 strikeouts) will only pitch once more in the series, according to manager Jim Leyland. Since Sabathia, a lefty, started game one last night, Leyland fielded a lineup stacked with right-handed batters. Now, with righty Nova pitching the resumed game tonight, the Yankees now have more usually favorable righty-righty matchups. Will Leyland mix up the lineup tonight to compensate? Not likely, since the game has already started, and any juggling of the lineup eliminates players from re-entering the game.
Stay tuned................
Friday, September 30, 2011
Game One, part 1
It's time. Game One of the American League Division Playoff Series between the Detroit Tigers, champions of the AL Central with a 95-67 record, winning 30 of their last 39 games of the regular season, and the 27-time World Series Champion New York Yankees, who won the AL East with a 97-65 record, best in the American League. Tonight's and tomorrow night's games are at the new Yankee Stadium, with the teams taking Sunday off to travel to Detroit, and Monday off so as not to clash with Monday Night Football. Games three and four (if necessary) will be played at Comerica Park in Motor City. This is a best-of-five series, so if a fifth game is needed, they'll play Thursday at Yankee Stadium. The best record in the AL ensures that the Yankees will have home field advantage for the American League Championship Series as well. The National League won this year's All Star game, so they will have the advantage in the World Series.
CC Sabathia looks good, two Ks against the the first two Tiger batters on 7 pitches, with the fastball reaching mid 90s. Ouch, Delmon Young homers to right field on a low 93 mph fastball right down the middle of the plate, Tigers strike first. Miguel Cabrera grounds out to Jeter, Yankees coming to bat.
Let's see if we can't get to Verlander early. The Tiger ace was 24-5 this year, and the shoo-in for the Cy Young Award, the most dominant pitcher in baseball, even more so than the Yankees' CC Sabathia, Roy Halladay (Phillies), Ian Kennedy (Diamondbacks) and Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) the only other 19-or-more-game winners in baseball this year. Cliff Lee (Phillies) had 6 shutouts this year, James Shields (Tampa Bay) had 11 complete games and Jose Valverde (Tigers) had 49 saves.
Verlander's fastball at 92-93 mph, Jeter works the count, strikes out on a nasty breaking ball that gets away from catcher Avila and Derek Jeter hustles down to first. Safe! Three and oh to Curtis Granderson, who had 41 HRs this season for the Yankees, second in the Major Leagues to Toronto Blue Jay, Jose Bautista. Grandy walks on the three-two pitch. Robinson Cano grounds out to first, Cabrera fails to get the throw to second, takes the out at first, Jeter to third, Granderson to second, one out. Alex Rodriguez taps out to third, Jeter running on contact, scores, as Brandon Inge throws to first to retire A-Rod, two outs, Granderson to third. Mark Teixeira walks, as it starts to rain. Nick Swisher hits the first pitch, a weak ground ball to second base. End of one, score tied, one to one, Yankees score without a hit.
Victor Martinez grounds out to third, A-Rod's throw pulls Teixeira off the bag, but he makes the tag on the lead-legged Martinez. It's raining harder. Strike three to catcher Alex Avila, two down, the third K for Sabathia. Up comes Tiger 2B Ryan Raburn, as it rains even harder. Strike three, inning over, Yankees coming to bat. I hope the rain subsides, CC is in a groove. Crap, tarp is on the field, rain delay, the 24th one this year at Yankee Stadium. 7:10 PM.
So far, Sabathia 27 pitches, 20 for strikes. Verlander 25 pitches. only 14 for strikes. Due up for the Yankees in the third, DH Jorge Posada, C Russell Martin and LF Brett Gardner, one of the fastest white guys in baseball.
Stay tuned for part two.........
CC Sabathia looks good, two Ks against the the first two Tiger batters on 7 pitches, with the fastball reaching mid 90s. Ouch, Delmon Young homers to right field on a low 93 mph fastball right down the middle of the plate, Tigers strike first. Miguel Cabrera grounds out to Jeter, Yankees coming to bat.
Let's see if we can't get to Verlander early. The Tiger ace was 24-5 this year, and the shoo-in for the Cy Young Award, the most dominant pitcher in baseball, even more so than the Yankees' CC Sabathia, Roy Halladay (Phillies), Ian Kennedy (Diamondbacks) and Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) the only other 19-or-more-game winners in baseball this year. Cliff Lee (Phillies) had 6 shutouts this year, James Shields (Tampa Bay) had 11 complete games and Jose Valverde (Tigers) had 49 saves.
Verlander's fastball at 92-93 mph, Jeter works the count, strikes out on a nasty breaking ball that gets away from catcher Avila and Derek Jeter hustles down to first. Safe! Three and oh to Curtis Granderson, who had 41 HRs this season for the Yankees, second in the Major Leagues to Toronto Blue Jay, Jose Bautista. Grandy walks on the three-two pitch. Robinson Cano grounds out to first, Cabrera fails to get the throw to second, takes the out at first, Jeter to third, Granderson to second, one out. Alex Rodriguez taps out to third, Jeter running on contact, scores, as Brandon Inge throws to first to retire A-Rod, two outs, Granderson to third. Mark Teixeira walks, as it starts to rain. Nick Swisher hits the first pitch, a weak ground ball to second base. End of one, score tied, one to one, Yankees score without a hit.
Victor Martinez grounds out to third, A-Rod's throw pulls Teixeira off the bag, but he makes the tag on the lead-legged Martinez. It's raining harder. Strike three to catcher Alex Avila, two down, the third K for Sabathia. Up comes Tiger 2B Ryan Raburn, as it rains even harder. Strike three, inning over, Yankees coming to bat. I hope the rain subsides, CC is in a groove. Crap, tarp is on the field, rain delay, the 24th one this year at Yankee Stadium. 7:10 PM.
So far, Sabathia 27 pitches, 20 for strikes. Verlander 25 pitches. only 14 for strikes. Due up for the Yankees in the third, DH Jorge Posada, C Russell Martin and LF Brett Gardner, one of the fastest white guys in baseball.
Stay tuned for part two.........
Monday, September 19, 2011
Winding Down, Petering Out....
Yeah, it's been a disappointing season if you are anybody but a Yankee, Ranger, Tiger, Diamondback, Phillie or Brewer fan. For Rockies fans, what started out with hopeful optimism in April, disintegrated into hopeless frustration as May, June, July and August rolled by. The team became a testing ground for Rockies' farmhands. I have seen the future, and it is bleak. Beyond the unsatisfied yearning for a winning ballclub, is a distaste for the manner in which this Rocky Mountain franchise conducts business. The results from drafts gone by, and the progress of both prospects and suspects in the organization, lead me to surmise that we have become acclimated to mediocrity and duped into thinking that the brains behind the Colorado Rockies have a clear vision about future success. Success to the Rockies, is 3 million butts in the seats and seeking ways to maintain a mid-market payroll, thus ensuring a profit for the owners. Harsh? Go ahead, argue. The Arizona Diamondbacks, the Florida Marlins, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Colorado Rockies. What do these franchises have in common? They have all entered the Major Leagues since 1993, as expansion teams. Which team has never won a single World Series game?
Yes, injuries to Jorge DeLa Rosa, Juan Nicasio, Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki impacted the potential of the Rockies. To a lesser extent, injuries to Charlie Blackmon, Jonathan Herrera, Matt Daley and Ryan Spilborghs plus Todd Helton's balky back tested the quality of the team's reserves. Inconsistent and sub-par performances from Ian Stewart, Aaron Cook, Huston Street, Ty Wigginton and Jason Hammel prevented the club from any sort of surge, except in a negative way. Many of the AAA and AA promotions are works in progress, but it seems to me that the overall quality of the Rockies' prospects is suspect, at best. Wilin Rosario? I think he has a ways to go to get to be as good as Chris Iannetta, who, I thought, had a decent year, a Gold Glove caliber year behind the plate. On a good team, Iannetta is a good catcher, much like Joe Girardi was a good catcher on the World Series Champion Yankees back in 1996, 1998 and 1999. Eric Young, JR.? Inadequate as an outfielder, best position is second base, but Chris Nelson is a better fit there. EY, Jr's speed is an alluring quality, and I see why manager Jim Tracy likes to get him in the lineup at the top of the batting order, but his OBP (.328) and power (only five extra-base hits, no homers, in 177 plate appearances) are detrimental for a lead-off batter. He does have 23 stolen bases with only three caught stealing, too bad he can't steal first. Chris Nelson has played a lot of third base, but I see him as an excellent candidate for the everyday job at second. Mark Ellis? Thanks for playing, but go back to the American League. Jonathan Herrera deserves a spot on the roster, as a versatile infielder and CarGo's best friend. Tommy Field? I know it's common to draft shortstops, as they are usually the best player on their high school or college team, and with Tulo and Herrera hurt, the Rox need a fill-in shortstop, but he's the best in the Rockie system?
And the pitching evaluators........... From 1999 to 2009, the Rockies drafted a pitcher with their first pick every year except in 2003 (Ian Stewart), 2004 (Chris Nelson) and 2005 (Troy Tulowitzki). Jason Jennings (16th overall pick out of Baylor in 1999), Rookie of The Year 2002, panned out well. Jeff Francis (9th overall in 2002 out of British Columbia) has had a serviceable career. The rest, well, undistinguished. 2000 first round pick, Matt Harrington, 7th overall, never signed, never played in organized baseball. Greg Reynolds, 2nd overall pick in 2006 out of Stanford, has battled injuries, but is currently a spot starter and long man out of the Rockies bullpen. Chaz Roe, supplemental first round pick in 2005, was traded in the off-season for Seattle's Jose Lopez, and they're both out of the majors currently. Casey Weathers, number 8 overall in 2007? Tommy John surgery in 2008, struggling to get up to the AA-AAA level again. Rockies best pitching potentiates? A returning Jorge DeLa Rosa, a (hopefully) healthy Juan Nicasio, Drew Pomeranz (better be as good as the current Ubaldo), Jhoulys Chacin and Esmil Rogers (with a new pitching coach next year, I hope) and Rex Brothers, the probable closer in 2012. Good-bye Huston Street, I hope. Good-bye Aaron Cook, unless he re-signs for under $2-million. Kevin Millwood deserves a shot next spring, if he wants to come back. Matt Belisle, Rafael Betancourt, Matt Reynolds, Matt Daley and Matt Lindstrom should be back.
Jim Leyland's success with Detroit this year and Kirk Gibson's success at Arizona lead me to believe that there is a manager out there that can get somrthing out of this Colorado team that Tracy cannot. But, alas, Dan O'Dowd and Tracy remain, and so probably will pitching coach Bob Apodaca and batting coach Carney Lansford. Expect more of the same next year, folks.
Go Yankees!
Yes, injuries to Jorge DeLa Rosa, Juan Nicasio, Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki impacted the potential of the Rockies. To a lesser extent, injuries to Charlie Blackmon, Jonathan Herrera, Matt Daley and Ryan Spilborghs plus Todd Helton's balky back tested the quality of the team's reserves. Inconsistent and sub-par performances from Ian Stewart, Aaron Cook, Huston Street, Ty Wigginton and Jason Hammel prevented the club from any sort of surge, except in a negative way. Many of the AAA and AA promotions are works in progress, but it seems to me that the overall quality of the Rockies' prospects is suspect, at best. Wilin Rosario? I think he has a ways to go to get to be as good as Chris Iannetta, who, I thought, had a decent year, a Gold Glove caliber year behind the plate. On a good team, Iannetta is a good catcher, much like Joe Girardi was a good catcher on the World Series Champion Yankees back in 1996, 1998 and 1999. Eric Young, JR.? Inadequate as an outfielder, best position is second base, but Chris Nelson is a better fit there. EY, Jr's speed is an alluring quality, and I see why manager Jim Tracy likes to get him in the lineup at the top of the batting order, but his OBP (.328) and power (only five extra-base hits, no homers, in 177 plate appearances) are detrimental for a lead-off batter. He does have 23 stolen bases with only three caught stealing, too bad he can't steal first. Chris Nelson has played a lot of third base, but I see him as an excellent candidate for the everyday job at second. Mark Ellis? Thanks for playing, but go back to the American League. Jonathan Herrera deserves a spot on the roster, as a versatile infielder and CarGo's best friend. Tommy Field? I know it's common to draft shortstops, as they are usually the best player on their high school or college team, and with Tulo and Herrera hurt, the Rox need a fill-in shortstop, but he's the best in the Rockie system?
And the pitching evaluators........... From 1999 to 2009, the Rockies drafted a pitcher with their first pick every year except in 2003 (Ian Stewart), 2004 (Chris Nelson) and 2005 (Troy Tulowitzki). Jason Jennings (16th overall pick out of Baylor in 1999), Rookie of The Year 2002, panned out well. Jeff Francis (9th overall in 2002 out of British Columbia) has had a serviceable career. The rest, well, undistinguished. 2000 first round pick, Matt Harrington, 7th overall, never signed, never played in organized baseball. Greg Reynolds, 2nd overall pick in 2006 out of Stanford, has battled injuries, but is currently a spot starter and long man out of the Rockies bullpen. Chaz Roe, supplemental first round pick in 2005, was traded in the off-season for Seattle's Jose Lopez, and they're both out of the majors currently. Casey Weathers, number 8 overall in 2007? Tommy John surgery in 2008, struggling to get up to the AA-AAA level again. Rockies best pitching potentiates? A returning Jorge DeLa Rosa, a (hopefully) healthy Juan Nicasio, Drew Pomeranz (better be as good as the current Ubaldo), Jhoulys Chacin and Esmil Rogers (with a new pitching coach next year, I hope) and Rex Brothers, the probable closer in 2012. Good-bye Huston Street, I hope. Good-bye Aaron Cook, unless he re-signs for under $2-million. Kevin Millwood deserves a shot next spring, if he wants to come back. Matt Belisle, Rafael Betancourt, Matt Reynolds, Matt Daley and Matt Lindstrom should be back.
Jim Leyland's success with Detroit this year and Kirk Gibson's success at Arizona lead me to believe that there is a manager out there that can get somrthing out of this Colorado team that Tracy cannot. But, alas, Dan O'Dowd and Tracy remain, and so probably will pitching coach Bob Apodaca and batting coach Carney Lansford. Expect more of the same next year, folks.
Go Yankees!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Juan Gone, but Not Forgotten
After viewing the horrific line drive off the bat of the Washington Nationals' Ian Desmond that struck Juan Nicasio, I was left to marvel at how lucky, and unlucky, Nicasio was in that same instant. For 15 interminable and hands-wringing minutes, he lay nearly motionless on the dirt mound of Coors Field. Rockies trainers and medical personnel tended to the aid of the rookie pitcher from the Dominican Republic, as coaches and players watched, along with millions of TV viewers. When he was carefully strapped to an immobilization board and onto the cart and as the cart moved slowly toward the waiting ambulance in the left field equipment concourse, you could literally feel the palpable concern for the likeable pitcher's welfare. Though he is out of immediate danger, after surgery to repair a fractured C-1 vertebrae, he has a long road to return to "normal pitching activity". His youth and fitness are in his favor, and I'd give anything to see him return to Coors Field in the purple pinstripes. Such a promising future, such a good young man, I wish him well.
That the Rockies lost the game, 5-3 to the Nationals, even though they displayed grit by making it close, I think that the white flag has been waved. The Rockies brain trust (more on that later), has determined that the development of certain young players is more relevant than the experience of certain veterans. Plus, the hopeful showcasing of Eric Young, Jr., Chris Nelson, Mark Ellis, Ian Stewart and Chris Iannetta could lead to teams in contention down the stretch reaching out and offering the Rockies young players to stock the depleted farm system. After yesterday's loss, 3-2 to the Nationals, to cap another losing homestand, I continue to wonder about many decisions that the coaching staff institutes during the course of a series, and in the games themselves. Chris Iannetta had been hitting .500 on the current homestand, with two home runs, 4 RBI and 5 runs scored in 5 games. Backup catcher, Eliezer Alfonzo, had caught and played the Wednesday day game after the night game against Philadelphia, when the Rockies lost 8-6 to Roy Halladay, so it's not as though Iannetta "needed rest". Sure, Alfonzo had three hits yesterday against the Nats, but why do you sit a player who is wielding a hot bat at home, and is listed as your "starting catcher"? In a game lost, again, by one run, the deciding run was allowed when left-non-fielder Eric Young, Jr. misjudged a line drive off the bat of 2B Danny Espinosa into a lead-off double, who then scored the winning run on Jayson Werth's RBI single with two outs. Earlier, in the bottom of the 4th inning, Troy Tulowitzki singled to lead off the frame. Ty Wigginton walked, first and second, no outs. Chris Nelson, one-for-26-batting since July 31st, Chris Nelson, was NOT ordered to bunt. He flied out (Tulo should have tagged and gone to third, but misread the fly), then Alfonzo singled to load the bases (Tulo would have easily scored from third with the Rockies' first run). Mark Ellis weakly flied to left, too shallow for Tulo to tag up and score, which brought up pitcher Aaron Cook, who grounded softly to short, another promising rally dead with a thud.
Pretty typical, opportunities squandered, rallies that happen too late and too little, sloppy play allowing the opposition to score cheap runs, lead-off walks that come around to score for the other side, too many runners left on base in close games. EY is not a major league caliber outfielder nor infielder, yet. Isn't that what the minor leagues is for? Manager Jim Tracy seems to be hell-bent to force the issue that EY deserves to start and lead off, with Dexter Fowler batting behind him, and the returning Carlos Gonzalez batting third. No matter that the Rockies were clicking fine with CarGo leading off, and playing left, with Ellis at second (or Jonny Herrera), and Nelson or Stewart at third. Catalyst? EY as a catalyst? Maybe, but if there were a plus-minus stat, he's be costing more runs than accounting for. Stewart is starting to hit a little, let him play! Keep Iannetta in the eight-hole, lead off with CarGo, keep Helton in the three-hole! Herrera or Ellis or Nelson at second, Fowler batting second. CarGo in left, Seth Smith in right. Wigginton or Stewart at third, depending upon an opposing lefty or righty starter.
Or, just keep shuffling along. The San Francisco Giants just went through a rough patch, losing 8 games in a row. If only the Rockies had been within reach, they could have made up some ground. But while the Giants have gone 2-8 in their last ten games, the Rockies went 4-6, including a 3-4, seven game homestand, so they could only get as close as 9 games to the stumbling Giants. Except for the two teams behind the Rockies in the NL West, the Dodgers and the Padres, there are only two teams in the National League and three teams in the American League with a worse record that our Rox. Not quite what expectations were on April 30 this year, when the Rockies were in first, having finished their best April in team history, going 17-8. The inconsistent Rockies have gone 36-54 since. There were signs, to me, early on that the Rox were a brick short of a full load. They finished that astounding April only 6-5 at Coors Field, where they have historically won close to 60% of their games over the last ten seasons. They are now 28-31 at home thus far. Here's another astonishing fact: the last Colorado Sunday victory for the Rockies came on April 17, against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field, 9-5 when the Rockies scored 4 runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure a victory on the first anniversary of Ubaldo Jimenez' no-hitter in Atlanta the year before. Sixteen consecutive Sundays, sixteen successive losses. This, from a team and franchise that has been accused of being overly God-squad-ish. Also, when the Rockies have had a chance to sweep a series this year, they have failed seven consecutive times when they have won the first two games of a series. The last time they swept a three game series? April 11, 13 and 14 against the Mets at CitiField, though it was supposed to be a 4-game series, the second game was rained out. Can't close the deal. Oh, don't get me started on Huston Street. Talk about can't close the deal.
It's been a very frustrating year, why even Mariano Rivera has blown 5 saves. But, really, whom would you rather have striding to the mound in the ninth inning? The New York Yankees have hung on to remain only one game behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East, and firmly in the Wild Card seat, at 7 games ahead of the closest pursuer, the California Angels. Like I said before, I am grateful for the MLB Network and the YES (Yankees Entertainment and Sports) Network. ROOT Sports is fine, but there's nothing like John Sterling saying at the end of a game, "Inning over, game over, thuhhhhhhh Yankees win!"
That the Rockies lost the game, 5-3 to the Nationals, even though they displayed grit by making it close, I think that the white flag has been waved. The Rockies brain trust (more on that later), has determined that the development of certain young players is more relevant than the experience of certain veterans. Plus, the hopeful showcasing of Eric Young, Jr., Chris Nelson, Mark Ellis, Ian Stewart and Chris Iannetta could lead to teams in contention down the stretch reaching out and offering the Rockies young players to stock the depleted farm system. After yesterday's loss, 3-2 to the Nationals, to cap another losing homestand, I continue to wonder about many decisions that the coaching staff institutes during the course of a series, and in the games themselves. Chris Iannetta had been hitting .500 on the current homestand, with two home runs, 4 RBI and 5 runs scored in 5 games. Backup catcher, Eliezer Alfonzo, had caught and played the Wednesday day game after the night game against Philadelphia, when the Rockies lost 8-6 to Roy Halladay, so it's not as though Iannetta "needed rest". Sure, Alfonzo had three hits yesterday against the Nats, but why do you sit a player who is wielding a hot bat at home, and is listed as your "starting catcher"? In a game lost, again, by one run, the deciding run was allowed when left-non-fielder Eric Young, Jr. misjudged a line drive off the bat of 2B Danny Espinosa into a lead-off double, who then scored the winning run on Jayson Werth's RBI single with two outs. Earlier, in the bottom of the 4th inning, Troy Tulowitzki singled to lead off the frame. Ty Wigginton walked, first and second, no outs. Chris Nelson, one-for-26-batting since July 31st, Chris Nelson, was NOT ordered to bunt. He flied out (Tulo should have tagged and gone to third, but misread the fly), then Alfonzo singled to load the bases (Tulo would have easily scored from third with the Rockies' first run). Mark Ellis weakly flied to left, too shallow for Tulo to tag up and score, which brought up pitcher Aaron Cook, who grounded softly to short, another promising rally dead with a thud.
Pretty typical, opportunities squandered, rallies that happen too late and too little, sloppy play allowing the opposition to score cheap runs, lead-off walks that come around to score for the other side, too many runners left on base in close games. EY is not a major league caliber outfielder nor infielder, yet. Isn't that what the minor leagues is for? Manager Jim Tracy seems to be hell-bent to force the issue that EY deserves to start and lead off, with Dexter Fowler batting behind him, and the returning Carlos Gonzalez batting third. No matter that the Rockies were clicking fine with CarGo leading off, and playing left, with Ellis at second (or Jonny Herrera), and Nelson or Stewart at third. Catalyst? EY as a catalyst? Maybe, but if there were a plus-minus stat, he's be costing more runs than accounting for. Stewart is starting to hit a little, let him play! Keep Iannetta in the eight-hole, lead off with CarGo, keep Helton in the three-hole! Herrera or Ellis or Nelson at second, Fowler batting second. CarGo in left, Seth Smith in right. Wigginton or Stewart at third, depending upon an opposing lefty or righty starter.
Or, just keep shuffling along. The San Francisco Giants just went through a rough patch, losing 8 games in a row. If only the Rockies had been within reach, they could have made up some ground. But while the Giants have gone 2-8 in their last ten games, the Rockies went 4-6, including a 3-4, seven game homestand, so they could only get as close as 9 games to the stumbling Giants. Except for the two teams behind the Rockies in the NL West, the Dodgers and the Padres, there are only two teams in the National League and three teams in the American League with a worse record that our Rox. Not quite what expectations were on April 30 this year, when the Rockies were in first, having finished their best April in team history, going 17-8. The inconsistent Rockies have gone 36-54 since. There were signs, to me, early on that the Rox were a brick short of a full load. They finished that astounding April only 6-5 at Coors Field, where they have historically won close to 60% of their games over the last ten seasons. They are now 28-31 at home thus far. Here's another astonishing fact: the last Colorado Sunday victory for the Rockies came on April 17, against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field, 9-5 when the Rockies scored 4 runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure a victory on the first anniversary of Ubaldo Jimenez' no-hitter in Atlanta the year before. Sixteen consecutive Sundays, sixteen successive losses. This, from a team and franchise that has been accused of being overly God-squad-ish. Also, when the Rockies have had a chance to sweep a series this year, they have failed seven consecutive times when they have won the first two games of a series. The last time they swept a three game series? April 11, 13 and 14 against the Mets at CitiField, though it was supposed to be a 4-game series, the second game was rained out. Can't close the deal. Oh, don't get me started on Huston Street. Talk about can't close the deal.
It's been a very frustrating year, why even Mariano Rivera has blown 5 saves. But, really, whom would you rather have striding to the mound in the ninth inning? The New York Yankees have hung on to remain only one game behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East, and firmly in the Wild Card seat, at 7 games ahead of the closest pursuer, the California Angels. Like I said before, I am grateful for the MLB Network and the YES (Yankees Entertainment and Sports) Network. ROOT Sports is fine, but there's nothing like John Sterling saying at the end of a game, "Inning over, game over, thuhhhhhhh Yankees win!"
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
MLB Network
I do not know exactly what it's like to be a Cubs fan, but I'm beginning to empathize. The Colorado Rockies' futility doesn't begin to approach the Cubbies', but only because the Blake Street Bumblers have only been around since 1993. Both home ballparks are fantastic venues for taking in a game. Coors Field smells better. But, at least at Wrigley Field, most of the fans in the stands are Cubs fans, with Cubs gear. Look at the crowd when the Phillies or Red Sox or Yankees or Cubs come to Denver. Though there was next to nothing to cheer for at Tuesday night's game, if you are a Rockies fan, there was plenty of cheering going on because Phillies starter, and winner, Kyle Kendrick held the Rox to 4 hits in eight strong innings while the Phillies scored 5 runs on eight hits. Philadelphia 1B Ryan Howard continued to show off his power stroke with two home runs and the Rockies failed to advance a runner past second base as they were shut out at home in a game that felt a lot like the Rockies have quit on the 2011 season. Colorado starter, Aaron Cook left the game after 4 innings with a stiff neck, perhaps explaining why he was ineffective, again, in a very disappointing 2011 campaign.
Up and down the lineup, Rockies batters are displaying a consistent series of befuddled and inept at-bats. Seven strikeouts, four with bats on shoulders, the Rockies are a tired and confused bunch, with slow bats and bad plate discipline. I don't think it's Carney Lansford's fault. These guys just don't listen, as former hitting coach, Don Baylor, discovered. I listened to a brief interview with general manager Dan O'Dowd during Sunday's game, after the Jimenez trade was less than 24 hours old. He was very frank about one subject that I first brought up in May. The Rockies are a soft team, with no edge, nobody on the team that gets visibly upset when things don't go their way. He said that, at first, when he let it be known that Ubaldo was maybe available in a trade, that it was more a motivational ploy. Perhaps it was an attempt to kick-start a mediocre ace, or perhaps a wake-up call to the rest of the team that if they don't start winning, the team would be disassembled. In any case, as offers started to formulate from interested teams that were still in contention, O'Dowd had to listen to the real possibilities that the best pitcher in Rockie history could be a tool to rebuild a weak roster of future major league arms. O'Dowd even acknowledged that the scouting and developmental history of the Rockies had been sub-par, especially in the pitching talent and position player evaluation. Let's see.......pitching and position players, what else is there? The Rockies' scouting and drafting has been successful in exactly what area? Most of the home-grown pitching prospects seem to be coming from the Latin America developmental organization, not the draft. Jhoulys Chacin, the departed Ubaldo Jimenez, Juan Nicasio, Edgmer Escalona, Esmil Rogers. The Rockies have pretty much whiffed on drafted pitchers. Which is the biggest reason why O'Dowd had to trade Jimenez. To restock the organization with three arms to compensate for bad decisions on recent drafts. The Jimenez trade bought O'Dowd and manager Jim Tracy and pitching coach Bob Apodaca another two years, probably. And that's too bad.
I am grateful that I have Direct TV and the Major League Baseball Network, and the YES Network. At least every night I can watch Yankee games and highlights of really good baseball being played throughout the Major Leagues each and every day. A typical Rockies game takes up about 3% of the space on my DVR's hard drive. Now there's more room to save Entourage, Breaking Bad and Curb Your Enthusiasm episodes, and all those Japanese Iron Chef shows. It has been too painful to watch most of the games in totality. I am a diehard baseball fan, but I am a dying Rockie fan. Wednesday's game against the Phillies features Roy Halladay, as the Rockies try to avoid a sweep against the best pitcher in the National League. This Saturday, my Mom has wrangled six Monfort box seats next to the dugout for the game against Washington. With the Coors Clubhouse premium buffet. Sweet.
The season is lost, all's left is to see how the pitchers that we got for Ubaldo pan out. CarGo should be back in the Rockies lineup next week, Chris Iannetta still may become a Pirate, Ian Stewart might be designated soon, banished to the Garrett Atkins rubbish heap, we shall get a look at Wilin Rosario, the next great hope at catcher. So, there are still some things to watch for. The Rockies are closer to last place in the West than first, as the Diamondbacks have tied the slumping Giants, and the Dodgers are only a half-game behind our Rox. We watch the race as we ponder why it isn't our Rockies contending this year. No need to wonder. As long as the franchise on Blake Street continues to draw 2.5 million fans year after year, and O'Dowd and Tracy and Apodaca remain, we are destined for mediocrity. Go Broncos. When's Nugget camp open?
Up and down the lineup, Rockies batters are displaying a consistent series of befuddled and inept at-bats. Seven strikeouts, four with bats on shoulders, the Rockies are a tired and confused bunch, with slow bats and bad plate discipline. I don't think it's Carney Lansford's fault. These guys just don't listen, as former hitting coach, Don Baylor, discovered. I listened to a brief interview with general manager Dan O'Dowd during Sunday's game, after the Jimenez trade was less than 24 hours old. He was very frank about one subject that I first brought up in May. The Rockies are a soft team, with no edge, nobody on the team that gets visibly upset when things don't go their way. He said that, at first, when he let it be known that Ubaldo was maybe available in a trade, that it was more a motivational ploy. Perhaps it was an attempt to kick-start a mediocre ace, or perhaps a wake-up call to the rest of the team that if they don't start winning, the team would be disassembled. In any case, as offers started to formulate from interested teams that were still in contention, O'Dowd had to listen to the real possibilities that the best pitcher in Rockie history could be a tool to rebuild a weak roster of future major league arms. O'Dowd even acknowledged that the scouting and developmental history of the Rockies had been sub-par, especially in the pitching talent and position player evaluation. Let's see.......pitching and position players, what else is there? The Rockies' scouting and drafting has been successful in exactly what area? Most of the home-grown pitching prospects seem to be coming from the Latin America developmental organization, not the draft. Jhoulys Chacin, the departed Ubaldo Jimenez, Juan Nicasio, Edgmer Escalona, Esmil Rogers. The Rockies have pretty much whiffed on drafted pitchers. Which is the biggest reason why O'Dowd had to trade Jimenez. To restock the organization with three arms to compensate for bad decisions on recent drafts. The Jimenez trade bought O'Dowd and manager Jim Tracy and pitching coach Bob Apodaca another two years, probably. And that's too bad.
I am grateful that I have Direct TV and the Major League Baseball Network, and the YES Network. At least every night I can watch Yankee games and highlights of really good baseball being played throughout the Major Leagues each and every day. A typical Rockies game takes up about 3% of the space on my DVR's hard drive. Now there's more room to save Entourage, Breaking Bad and Curb Your Enthusiasm episodes, and all those Japanese Iron Chef shows. It has been too painful to watch most of the games in totality. I am a diehard baseball fan, but I am a dying Rockie fan. Wednesday's game against the Phillies features Roy Halladay, as the Rockies try to avoid a sweep against the best pitcher in the National League. This Saturday, my Mom has wrangled six Monfort box seats next to the dugout for the game against Washington. With the Coors Clubhouse premium buffet. Sweet.
The season is lost, all's left is to see how the pitchers that we got for Ubaldo pan out. CarGo should be back in the Rockies lineup next week, Chris Iannetta still may become a Pirate, Ian Stewart might be designated soon, banished to the Garrett Atkins rubbish heap, we shall get a look at Wilin Rosario, the next great hope at catcher. So, there are still some things to watch for. The Rockies are closer to last place in the West than first, as the Diamondbacks have tied the slumping Giants, and the Dodgers are only a half-game behind our Rox. We watch the race as we ponder why it isn't our Rockies contending this year. No need to wonder. As long as the franchise on Blake Street continues to draw 2.5 million fans year after year, and O'Dowd and Tracy and Apodaca remain, we are destined for mediocrity. Go Broncos. When's Nugget camp open?
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Summer Vacation Is Over
Okay, it's been three weeks sinced I've spewed out any pearls, and alot has happened. The last I wrote, the Colorado Rockies were 6-1/2 games behind the San Francisco Giants in the National League West Division, Ubaldo Jimenez had just pitched a gem for his 4th win of the season for the Rockies against the Washington Nationals, Derek Jeter had just joined the 3,000 hit club, NFL players and owners were threatening to curtail the 2011 football season, the U.S. Women's soccer team was on its way to the 2011 World Cup title and I was still the reigning Third Flight Longmont City Golf Champ.
I choked in the City Golf Championship by spraying seven drives out of bounds in three days, accounting for fourteen penalty strokes in a contest that I lost by nine strokes. I was 24 strokes worse than last year in the three rounds, proving that success in golf is illusory and totally temporary. Still, the game is addictive and I may never be as good as I can be, but my fear is that I'll never be as good as I was yesterday. But there's always today and tomorrow.
The Rockies today are 10 games out of first, 5 games below .500 and Ubaldo Jimenez, the best pitcher in the 19-year history of the Colorado Rockies, is now a Cleveland Indian. Inevitably, regretably and sadly, we say good-bye to an individual whose personality and charisma was a bright light on the Denver sports scene for the better part of 6 seasons. Signed by the Rockies in 2001 as a 17-year-old out of the Dominican Republic, his bright smile, polite demeanor and the lightning in his right arm quickly developed him into the ace of the Colorado pitching staff. Jimenez owns the only no-hitter in franchise history, was the starting pitcher for the National League in the 2010 All-Star Game and dominates the franchise record book for pitching statistics. Beyond his stats, he is a genuinely beloved sports personality in the Rocky Mountain time zone, and will be missed.
The Rox are on a three-game winning streak after beating the San Diego Padres 10-6 last night. It was a win of a game that Ubaldo made a cameo appearance, starting and pitching in a situation where he was basically traded before the game, but started because the trade was not consummated until just after the national anthem. To say that he was distracted and struggled is an accurate appraisal. It was strange, to see him smiling and hugging all his teammates in the dugout after he was informed by manager Jim Tracy that he was a Cleveland Indian. Even weirder that he was interviewed, live, in the seventh inning, in his street clothes, bags packed, and on his way to the airport, bound for Cleveland, before the game was over. Will Iannetta be traded today? Wigginton? Belisle? Betancourt? EY? Spilborghs? Who would take Ian Stewart off our hands? The face of the Rockies is changing, and we shall see.
Oh, NFL action is hot and heavy, the owners and players kissed and made up, training camps start today, free agents and draft picks signing and trades happening. Tebow or Orton or, gasp, Brady Quinn? Will the Broncos start Tebow all year, thereby guaranteeing a terrible season and put themselves in a position to draft Andrew Luck out of Stanford? Can they gracefully pull off a 3-13 season, enabling them to lock down the first overall draft pick? Or will they wallow in mediocrity year after year, like our vanilla Rockies?
And the Japanese Women beat the favored USA Women's soccer team for the World Cup, and left their shirts on.
I choked in the City Golf Championship by spraying seven drives out of bounds in three days, accounting for fourteen penalty strokes in a contest that I lost by nine strokes. I was 24 strokes worse than last year in the three rounds, proving that success in golf is illusory and totally temporary. Still, the game is addictive and I may never be as good as I can be, but my fear is that I'll never be as good as I was yesterday. But there's always today and tomorrow.
The Rockies today are 10 games out of first, 5 games below .500 and Ubaldo Jimenez, the best pitcher in the 19-year history of the Colorado Rockies, is now a Cleveland Indian. Inevitably, regretably and sadly, we say good-bye to an individual whose personality and charisma was a bright light on the Denver sports scene for the better part of 6 seasons. Signed by the Rockies in 2001 as a 17-year-old out of the Dominican Republic, his bright smile, polite demeanor and the lightning in his right arm quickly developed him into the ace of the Colorado pitching staff. Jimenez owns the only no-hitter in franchise history, was the starting pitcher for the National League in the 2010 All-Star Game and dominates the franchise record book for pitching statistics. Beyond his stats, he is a genuinely beloved sports personality in the Rocky Mountain time zone, and will be missed.
The Rockies received four minor league players from Cleveland in exchange for Ubaldo. Three pitchers and a catcher coverted to an outfielder-first baseman. It points out the true deficiency in the Rockies' overall talent-evaluation and player-development skills. The cupboard in the minor league system is close to being bare of quality prospects, since most of the nearly-ready-for-prime-time prospects in the minor league system have already been forced into action this year to try and avoid where they are anyway: mediocre and under-performing. Juan Nicasio? Keeper, needs to improve slider and changeup command. Rex Brothers? Great stuff, future closer, keeper. Charlie Blackmon before the broken leg? Marginal, another Ryan Spilborghs, backup outfielder. Eric Young, Jr.? Fast, but not proficient at any particular position, including hitter. Chris Nelson? Probable career utility backup infielder. Clayton Mortensen? Please, his fault CarGo crashed into the wall. Esmil Rogers? Possible third or fourth rotation starter. Jonathan Herrera? CarGo's best friend, good enough as a backup and a switch hitter. Matt Reynolds? Keeper, tough lefty with good stuff. Jhoulys Chacin? Definite keeper, might have to be Rockies ace with Ubaldo's departure. Dexter Fowler? In a proficient batting order, a plus, in the Rockies' batting order, a liability, but has promise, if he can cut down on strikeouts. Great outfielder with a plus arm, a great complement to a healthy Carlos Gonzalez. Keeper. Jim Tracy, manager? Exactly one game over .500 since opening day 2010.
The Rox are on a three-game winning streak after beating the San Diego Padres 10-6 last night. It was a win of a game that Ubaldo made a cameo appearance, starting and pitching in a situation where he was basically traded before the game, but started because the trade was not consummated until just after the national anthem. To say that he was distracted and struggled is an accurate appraisal. It was strange, to see him smiling and hugging all his teammates in the dugout after he was informed by manager Jim Tracy that he was a Cleveland Indian. Even weirder that he was interviewed, live, in the seventh inning, in his street clothes, bags packed, and on his way to the airport, bound for Cleveland, before the game was over. Will Iannetta be traded today? Wigginton? Belisle? Betancourt? EY? Spilborghs? Who would take Ian Stewart off our hands? The face of the Rockies is changing, and we shall see.
Oh, NFL action is hot and heavy, the owners and players kissed and made up, training camps start today, free agents and draft picks signing and trades happening. Tebow or Orton or, gasp, Brady Quinn? Will the Broncos start Tebow all year, thereby guaranteeing a terrible season and put themselves in a position to draft Andrew Luck out of Stanford? Can they gracefully pull off a 3-13 season, enabling them to lock down the first overall draft pick? Or will they wallow in mediocrity year after year, like our vanilla Rockies?
And the Japanese Women beat the favored USA Women's soccer team for the World Cup, and left their shirts on.
Monday, July 11, 2011
All Star Break
The only two days that there are absolutely zero scheduled major sports contests? The day before, and the day after the annual Mid-Summer Classic. This year's 82nd All Star Game will be played in Phoenix, Arizona at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. This is not the 82nd annual All Star Game. The first All Star Game was played at Comiskey Park in Chicago, as part of the 1933 World's Fair. It was originally intended to be a one-time event, but its immense popularity prompted Major League Baseball to make it an annual event. The first contest was the idea of Chicago Tribune sports editor, Arch Ward. In recognition of his contributions to sports in general, and Major League Baseball in particular, the game's Most Valuable Player is awarded the Arch Ward trophy each year.
The reason that there have been 81 previous All Star games before this year's, is that there were two games played each year from 1959 to 1961, and the game scheduled for Fenway Park in Boston in 1945 was cancelled. (Insert your Red Sox joke here.) There was an all-star roster chosen, but the game was postponed due to World War II wartime travel restrictions. The series resumed in 1946, at Fenway. Yankee Stadium and Cleveland Municipal Stadium are the only two venues to have hosted four mid-summer classic games. Until this year, only three franchises had not hosted an All Star Game: the Diamondbacks, the Florida Marlins and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Marlins were initially awarded the 2000 game, but NL President, Len Coleman, took it away and awarded it to Atlanta and the Braves, saying that the league wanted the game to be played in "newer ballparks." The 2012 game is scheduled to be hosted by the Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium, known as "The K", which opened in 1973 and underwent an extensive remodeling, which was finished in 2009.
Originally, managers and fans selected the players, at least for the first two contests, in 1933 and 1934. Then, managers alone chose the players, from 1935 to 1946. From 1947 to 1957, the fans voted who started, and managers chose pitchers and backups. From 1958 to 1969, players, managers and coaches selected all players. From 1970 to the present day, fans select starters and the manager and his advisors select the rest of the roster. The managers for each league is traditionally the managers that faced each other in the previous World Series. Jim Leyland and Tony LaRussa have managed both sides during their careers.
The All Star Game record book is dominated by Willie Mays. Twenty-four games (tied with Stan Musial), 75 at-bats, 8 extra-base hits (also tied with Musial), 23 total hits, 20 runs scored, 6 stolen bases, 3 triples and 40 total bases (amazingly, also tied with Musial). Stan "The Man" Musial also holds the records for home runs (6) and pinch hits (3). Mickey Mantle struck out 17 times in 16 All Star games. There has been only one inside-the-park home run in 81 games, off the bat of Ichiro Suzuki in 2007, at AT&T Park in San Francisco. The only grand slam in All Star Game history was struck by Boston's Fred Lynn in 1983 at Comiskey Park in Chicago, courtesy of Atlee Hammaker of the Giants.
Pitching records are less distinctive in ASG history. Vernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez, Yankees ace from 1930 to 1942, won three times. Seven different pitchers have been saddled with two losses: Mort Cooper, Whitey Ford, Dwight Gooden, Catfish Hunter, Claude Passeau, John Smoltz and Luis Tiant. Vida Blue and Hunter gave up the most home runs (4). Goose Gossage finished the most games (6), but Mariano Rivera has the most saves (4). Roger Clemens made the most appearances (10 All Star, three Congressional Sub-Commitees). Don Drysdale had the most innings logged at 19-2/3 and the most strikeouts at 19.
The Home Run Derby has been a part of the All Star festivities since 1985. From 1985 to 1990, the National League and American League put up anywhere from two to six players each and the players each had two innings, represented by 5 outs per inning. In 1991, the number of participants was increased to 8 or 10, and the rounds were increased to three, with 10 outs per round. In 25 years of competition, the American League hit more homers in 15 contests, the National League in 10. The only player to have won the Home Run Derby more than once, is Ken Griffey, Jr., who won in 1994 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, 1998 at Coors Field in Denver, and 1999 at Fenway Park in Boston. The greatest home run show, ever, in a non-winning performance: Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers in 2008 in the final season at the old Yankee Stadium. Who can forget? He chose his old (70+ years old) American Legion coach Clay Counsil to pitch to him in the Derby. Counsil's previous and only other visit to Yankee Stadium was on October 8, 1956. Remember that day? Don Larsen, perfect game, World Series. Josh Hamilton, back in the big leagues after a much-publicized battle with substance abuse and a feel-good story of second chances with the Texas Rangers, blasted 28 homers into the night in a frenzied Yankee Stadium atmosphere, in the first round. That he finished second to Justin Morneau in the final round, will never be remembered.
This year, at the annual All Star break, my Yankees are 1 game behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East, with Alex Rodriguez now on the shelf for at least 6 weeks. (Ian Stewart in a Yankee uniform?) The Rockies are 8-1/2 games behind the San Francisco Giants, and truth be told, will probably finish the year farther back than that. The Rockies, due to a variety of factors, are not much more than a glorified Triple A squad, with the exception of Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez (when healthy), Ubaldo Jimenez, Seth Smith and Jhoulys Chacin. The relief pitching, a supposed strength coming out of spring training, has faltered, at inopportune times. The starters beyond the current Jimenez and Chacin, have been woefully inconsistent, rarely getting past the 5th inning, thereby putting more strain on an inadequate bullpen. Except for Todd Helton and Seth Smith, the Rockies hitters have been underachieving. And, to me, the worst part of the Rockies disappointing season, is manager Jim Tracy and his coaching staff. Absolutely no fire and toughness. Too soft, too little accountability up and down the staff and roster. The success of Kirk Gibson in Arizona and Clint Hurdle in Pittsburgh showcase what this Colorado Rockie club lacks. Heart, and balls.
I predict that the Red Sox, Rangers and Tigers will win their divisions in the AL, with the Yankees claiming the Wild Card. In the National League, I predict the Phillies, Giants and Brewers will win their divisions, and the Braves will claim the Wild Card. A healthy Yankee squad will prevail in the American League and the Phillies will cruise to the National League pennant. Then, with the American League winning this year's All Star game, the Yankees will enjoy home-field advantage in the Series, and they will prevail, 4 games to three, to put the frosting on their 28th World Championship.
The reason that there have been 81 previous All Star games before this year's, is that there were two games played each year from 1959 to 1961, and the game scheduled for Fenway Park in Boston in 1945 was cancelled. (Insert your Red Sox joke here.) There was an all-star roster chosen, but the game was postponed due to World War II wartime travel restrictions. The series resumed in 1946, at Fenway. Yankee Stadium and Cleveland Municipal Stadium are the only two venues to have hosted four mid-summer classic games. Until this year, only three franchises had not hosted an All Star Game: the Diamondbacks, the Florida Marlins and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Marlins were initially awarded the 2000 game, but NL President, Len Coleman, took it away and awarded it to Atlanta and the Braves, saying that the league wanted the game to be played in "newer ballparks." The 2012 game is scheduled to be hosted by the Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium, known as "The K", which opened in 1973 and underwent an extensive remodeling, which was finished in 2009.
Originally, managers and fans selected the players, at least for the first two contests, in 1933 and 1934. Then, managers alone chose the players, from 1935 to 1946. From 1947 to 1957, the fans voted who started, and managers chose pitchers and backups. From 1958 to 1969, players, managers and coaches selected all players. From 1970 to the present day, fans select starters and the manager and his advisors select the rest of the roster. The managers for each league is traditionally the managers that faced each other in the previous World Series. Jim Leyland and Tony LaRussa have managed both sides during their careers.
The All Star Game record book is dominated by Willie Mays. Twenty-four games (tied with Stan Musial), 75 at-bats, 8 extra-base hits (also tied with Musial), 23 total hits, 20 runs scored, 6 stolen bases, 3 triples and 40 total bases (amazingly, also tied with Musial). Stan "The Man" Musial also holds the records for home runs (6) and pinch hits (3). Mickey Mantle struck out 17 times in 16 All Star games. There has been only one inside-the-park home run in 81 games, off the bat of Ichiro Suzuki in 2007, at AT&T Park in San Francisco. The only grand slam in All Star Game history was struck by Boston's Fred Lynn in 1983 at Comiskey Park in Chicago, courtesy of Atlee Hammaker of the Giants.
Pitching records are less distinctive in ASG history. Vernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez, Yankees ace from 1930 to 1942, won three times. Seven different pitchers have been saddled with two losses: Mort Cooper, Whitey Ford, Dwight Gooden, Catfish Hunter, Claude Passeau, John Smoltz and Luis Tiant. Vida Blue and Hunter gave up the most home runs (4). Goose Gossage finished the most games (6), but Mariano Rivera has the most saves (4). Roger Clemens made the most appearances (10 All Star, three Congressional Sub-Commitees). Don Drysdale had the most innings logged at 19-2/3 and the most strikeouts at 19.
The Home Run Derby has been a part of the All Star festivities since 1985. From 1985 to 1990, the National League and American League put up anywhere from two to six players each and the players each had two innings, represented by 5 outs per inning. In 1991, the number of participants was increased to 8 or 10, and the rounds were increased to three, with 10 outs per round. In 25 years of competition, the American League hit more homers in 15 contests, the National League in 10. The only player to have won the Home Run Derby more than once, is Ken Griffey, Jr., who won in 1994 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, 1998 at Coors Field in Denver, and 1999 at Fenway Park in Boston. The greatest home run show, ever, in a non-winning performance: Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers in 2008 in the final season at the old Yankee Stadium. Who can forget? He chose his old (70+ years old) American Legion coach Clay Counsil to pitch to him in the Derby. Counsil's previous and only other visit to Yankee Stadium was on October 8, 1956. Remember that day? Don Larsen, perfect game, World Series. Josh Hamilton, back in the big leagues after a much-publicized battle with substance abuse and a feel-good story of second chances with the Texas Rangers, blasted 28 homers into the night in a frenzied Yankee Stadium atmosphere, in the first round. That he finished second to Justin Morneau in the final round, will never be remembered.
This year, at the annual All Star break, my Yankees are 1 game behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East, with Alex Rodriguez now on the shelf for at least 6 weeks. (Ian Stewart in a Yankee uniform?) The Rockies are 8-1/2 games behind the San Francisco Giants, and truth be told, will probably finish the year farther back than that. The Rockies, due to a variety of factors, are not much more than a glorified Triple A squad, with the exception of Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez (when healthy), Ubaldo Jimenez, Seth Smith and Jhoulys Chacin. The relief pitching, a supposed strength coming out of spring training, has faltered, at inopportune times. The starters beyond the current Jimenez and Chacin, have been woefully inconsistent, rarely getting past the 5th inning, thereby putting more strain on an inadequate bullpen. Except for Todd Helton and Seth Smith, the Rockies hitters have been underachieving. And, to me, the worst part of the Rockies disappointing season, is manager Jim Tracy and his coaching staff. Absolutely no fire and toughness. Too soft, too little accountability up and down the staff and roster. The success of Kirk Gibson in Arizona and Clint Hurdle in Pittsburgh showcase what this Colorado Rockie club lacks. Heart, and balls.
I predict that the Red Sox, Rangers and Tigers will win their divisions in the AL, with the Yankees claiming the Wild Card. In the National League, I predict the Phillies, Giants and Brewers will win their divisions, and the Braves will claim the Wild Card. A healthy Yankee squad will prevail in the American League and the Phillies will cruise to the National League pennant. Then, with the American League winning this year's All Star game, the Yankees will enjoy home-field advantage in the Series, and they will prevail, 4 games to three, to put the frosting on their 28th World Championship.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
3,000......Hail Derek Jeter
The Colorado Rockies won yesterday 2-1, on the road, in a one run game, with Ubaldo Jimenez throwing eight strong innings. Huston Street allowed runners to 1st and 3rd with only one out in the ninth inning. Nothing new there. Jayson Werth, the Washington National $126-million man, grounded into a game-ending double play. It was the 96th double play accomplished by the Rockies, leading the National League, topped only by the Rangers and Royals in MLB. Jimenez threw 112 pitches in his eight innings, struck out eight, walked only one and allowed only one run, in an outing that reminded me of last year's All-Star Game starter. His record improved to 4-8, and he is 3-1 in his last 5 starts, with a 3.06 ERA, 33 Ks, 10 walks, 27 hits in 33-1/3 innings. Since he surrendered 3 home runs in one game, June 12 to the Dodgers at Coors Field, only one ball has left the yard in these most recent 5 starts. All-Star-snubbed Todd Helton drove in both Colorado runs with his 10th homer in the 4th and a ground-out in the 5th. Helton now has 41 RBIs and is hitting .318, on pace to equal or best his superb 2009 season, when he batted .325 with 15 HRs, 86 RBIs and an OPS of .904. Todd's OPS is now at .893.
OPS is the combined aggregate of on-base-percentage and slugging. On-base is figured by adding hits, walks, hit-by-pitch, fielder's choice and reached-on-error, and divided by plate appearances. When calculating a batter's batting average, walks, hit-by-pitch and sacrifices do not count as an official at-bat, but as a plate appearance. A slugging percentage is calculated by adding the total bases credited from hits, divided by official at-bats. So, a home run in one at-bat gives you a slugging percentage of 4.000. A single in 4 at-bats makes it .250. A high on-base statistic indicates a good batting eye with great strike zone discipline and/or a slap hitter who walks a lot (Juan Pierre). Rockies' best on-base batter? Todd Helton at .399. Rockies' best slugger? New addition, pitcher Eric Stults, 2 at-bats, one double, slugging 1.000. Among the regulars, Mark Ellis is slugging at .639, but Jason Giambi is the real leader at .635, with more at-bats and 9 home runs with 22 RBIs in only 85 at-bats.
The Nationals scored their only run in the home half of the 6th when lead-off hitter Roger Bernadina led off with a triple and scored on pinch-hitter Rich Ankiel's ground ball to second baseman, Mark Ellis, with the Rockies' infield playing back. That was the final tally in the game, and now the Rockies have a two-game winning streak, hoping to sweep the Nationals today, giving them some much-needed momentum going in to the All Star break. At best, the Rockies will still be 6-1/2 games behind the Giants, 3 games under .500, with only 71 games remaining in the season. Tall order, slim chance.
Nothing can detract from Derek Jeter's accomplishments in his unparalleled career. Yes, I am a die-hard Yankee fan, and, yes, I am a proud to point to the Yankee pinstripes and to the conjoined N-Y on my hat. No organization in sports history has represented as much class as the Yankees. Argue with me that they "spend so much money", that they "buy pennants", that they represent all that you hate about baseball. Go ahead, argue. Then, go watch your NASCAR or your heavyweight boxing, or the latest Angelina Jolie movie, or Three and A Half Men episode. You cannot be a true baseball fan if you are just a Yankee hater. You probably are not a true baseball fan if you can't appreciate greatness in all its forms, ensconced in any uniform. Only 28 men have reached 3,000 hits in a Major League uniform. Derek Jeter has gotten every one of his hits in a Yankee uniform. His is a very storied and already legendary career. And without a hint of controversy, without a single blemish on his resume. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Reggie Jackson, Ron Guidry, Roger Maris, Billy Martin, Elston Howard, Goose Gossage. Name after name evoking memory after memory in a history rich in character and accomplishment.
Hail To Derek Jeter! Not only reaching 3,000........ but doing it with a home run! Not just getting to 3,000........ but getting 5 hits in 5 at-bats, with the fifth hit driving in the winning run? Come on, dramatic moments seem to follow #2 in the pinstripes, his whole career. First hit, May 30, 1995 in a season that saw him make appearances in only 15 games getting 15 hits that first year. He was the Opening Day shortstop in 1996, when he hit his first Major League home run, also Joe Torre's first game as Yankee manager. The Jeffrey Maier interference over Oriole right fielder Tony Tarasco's waiting glove in the 1996 ALCS on Jeter's fly ball that was ruled a tying home run. The dive into the third base seats after catching a foul fly against Boston. The first Major League home run ever hit in the Month of November, 2001 World Series delayed by the 9/11 atrocities, with the tattered World Trade Center American flag proudly flying over Yankee Stadium. The backhand, underhand flip of the ball to Jorge Posada to nip Jeremy Giambi at home plate in the ALDS in 2001. Saturday Night Live in drag, also in 2001. On and on, Google "Derek Jeter Wiki" and check out his resume.
And finally, best wishes to Zach and Nicole Davis, married yesterday. Daughter of my good friends, Dave and Kris Adair. I met Dave on the night that Nicole was born, then discovered that he grew up in the same town as my wife, Kathy. Then connected that Kathy's father and Dave's father were partners in a two-man medical practice back in Michigan. We've been fast friends ever since, and I hope for all the best as Zach and Nicole embark on their lives together. Godspeed.
OPS is the combined aggregate of on-base-percentage and slugging. On-base is figured by adding hits, walks, hit-by-pitch, fielder's choice and reached-on-error, and divided by plate appearances. When calculating a batter's batting average, walks, hit-by-pitch and sacrifices do not count as an official at-bat, but as a plate appearance. A slugging percentage is calculated by adding the total bases credited from hits, divided by official at-bats. So, a home run in one at-bat gives you a slugging percentage of 4.000. A single in 4 at-bats makes it .250. A high on-base statistic indicates a good batting eye with great strike zone discipline and/or a slap hitter who walks a lot (Juan Pierre). Rockies' best on-base batter? Todd Helton at .399. Rockies' best slugger? New addition, pitcher Eric Stults, 2 at-bats, one double, slugging 1.000. Among the regulars, Mark Ellis is slugging at .639, but Jason Giambi is the real leader at .635, with more at-bats and 9 home runs with 22 RBIs in only 85 at-bats.
The Nationals scored their only run in the home half of the 6th when lead-off hitter Roger Bernadina led off with a triple and scored on pinch-hitter Rich Ankiel's ground ball to second baseman, Mark Ellis, with the Rockies' infield playing back. That was the final tally in the game, and now the Rockies have a two-game winning streak, hoping to sweep the Nationals today, giving them some much-needed momentum going in to the All Star break. At best, the Rockies will still be 6-1/2 games behind the Giants, 3 games under .500, with only 71 games remaining in the season. Tall order, slim chance.
Nothing can detract from Derek Jeter's accomplishments in his unparalleled career. Yes, I am a die-hard Yankee fan, and, yes, I am a proud to point to the Yankee pinstripes and to the conjoined N-Y on my hat. No organization in sports history has represented as much class as the Yankees. Argue with me that they "spend so much money", that they "buy pennants", that they represent all that you hate about baseball. Go ahead, argue. Then, go watch your NASCAR or your heavyweight boxing, or the latest Angelina Jolie movie, or Three and A Half Men episode. You cannot be a true baseball fan if you are just a Yankee hater. You probably are not a true baseball fan if you can't appreciate greatness in all its forms, ensconced in any uniform. Only 28 men have reached 3,000 hits in a Major League uniform. Derek Jeter has gotten every one of his hits in a Yankee uniform. His is a very storied and already legendary career. And without a hint of controversy, without a single blemish on his resume. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Reggie Jackson, Ron Guidry, Roger Maris, Billy Martin, Elston Howard, Goose Gossage. Name after name evoking memory after memory in a history rich in character and accomplishment.
Hail To Derek Jeter! Not only reaching 3,000........ but doing it with a home run! Not just getting to 3,000........ but getting 5 hits in 5 at-bats, with the fifth hit driving in the winning run? Come on, dramatic moments seem to follow #2 in the pinstripes, his whole career. First hit, May 30, 1995 in a season that saw him make appearances in only 15 games getting 15 hits that first year. He was the Opening Day shortstop in 1996, when he hit his first Major League home run, also Joe Torre's first game as Yankee manager. The Jeffrey Maier interference over Oriole right fielder Tony Tarasco's waiting glove in the 1996 ALCS on Jeter's fly ball that was ruled a tying home run. The dive into the third base seats after catching a foul fly against Boston. The first Major League home run ever hit in the Month of November, 2001 World Series delayed by the 9/11 atrocities, with the tattered World Trade Center American flag proudly flying over Yankee Stadium. The backhand, underhand flip of the ball to Jorge Posada to nip Jeremy Giambi at home plate in the ALDS in 2001. Saturday Night Live in drag, also in 2001. On and on, Google "Derek Jeter Wiki" and check out his resume.
And finally, best wishes to Zach and Nicole Davis, married yesterday. Daughter of my good friends, Dave and Kris Adair. I met Dave on the night that Nicole was born, then discovered that he grew up in the same town as my wife, Kathy. Then connected that Kathy's father and Dave's father were partners in a two-man medical practice back in Michigan. We've been fast friends ever since, and I hope for all the best as Zach and Nicole embark on their lives together. Godspeed.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Fading Hope
The biggest problem with following a team like this year's edition of the Colorado Rockies, is that the more you watch, the less hope you have that this team has what it takes to compete for the ultimate prize, a World Series Championship, or at least a playoff spot. The recent injuries to Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki notwithstanding, this roster does not, and has not, fired on all cylinders yet this year. Oh, for sure, there have been flashes of hope, the rare game when a starting pitcher effectively neutralizes the opposing batting lineup, the Rockies hitters produce timely hits driving in runs, Rafael Betancourt pitches a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Huston Street comes in and wraps up an uneventful ninth inning for a save. How many times has that happened this year? Obviously, not nearly enough.
Tonight's 5-3 loss at Turner Field to the Atlanta Braves was just another log in the fire. The Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Milwaukee Brewers tonight, and the San Francisco Giants are ahead of the San Diego Padres, which means that the Rockies may well be 7-1/2 games out of first and definitely 5-1/2 games behind the second-place D-Backs in the National League West Division. Put into perspective, the Rockies with their disappointing 41-45 record, have to go 52-24 the rest of this season to get to 93 wins. That's a .684 winning percentage. 93 wins will probably win the NL West. Without another miraculous finish like they pulled off in 2007, this team is destined to finish below .500 and out of the post-season. By the way, in 2009, after he took over the reins, when the Rockies started out the season 18-28, manager Jim Tracy's record after the May 29th sacking of Clint Hurdle, was 74-42, a .638 winning percentage. Coincidentally, Hurdle's Pittsburgh Pirates are currently 45-41 and in second place, just 1-1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central Division.
One statistic encapsulates the stamp of frustration that defines this team: 16 runners left on base. Throw in the 11 strikeouts and the general lack-of-energy feel to the game, this team is dead, stick a fork in 'em. The sad thing is, is that the pieces that Dan O'Dowd and his staff have assembled all seem to be just not quite ready-for-prime-time.
As the end of July approaches, and therefore the trade deadline, the Rockies seem poised to be in a position to be sellers, instead of buyers. What this means, is that teams in possible contention for late-season playoff aspirations will be poring over rosters of teams that are out of contention to try and make deals for players that could help fill holes in their lineups or pitching staffs. Teams that are on the outside looking in, can take advantage of this opportunity (yes, being out of contention can be an opportunity) to stock up their farm system by trading veteran players (and their often higher salaries) for prospects or lesser-experienced, cheaper players with potential. The problem I see with these Rockies, and the player-development staff, is that what we are seeing is a problem of either under-performance by players and coaches, or over-valuing player potential by O'Dowd, manager Jim Tracy and their staffs. Or both. Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki are signed for the next 7 and 10 years, respectively, so it is vital to Rockie future success that the surrounding roster complement the superstars' skill sets to ensure ongoing effectiveness as a team, in Tracy's words, "going forward."
Jim Tracy joined this organization as a bench coach on Clint Hurdle's staff in the off-season after the 2008 season, when the Rockies finished the season in third place in the West behind the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. He had spent many years in several organizations managing in the minor leagues. He returned to the Major Leagues as a bench coach, first under Felipe Alou (Montreal Expos), then with the Dodgers, under Davey Johnson. The Dodgers suffered through two difficult seasons in 1999 and 2000, Johnson was fired and replaced by Tracy, who managed the Dodgers for 5 seasons, from 2001 through 2005, compiling a 427-383 (.527) record, winning a West Division title in 2004. The Dodgers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 playoffs, 3 games to 1. Tracy's team suffered through a 71-91 record in 2005 and was fired on October 3 immediately after the end of the season. On October 11, he was named as the skipper of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates, as usual, stunk, so Tracy compiled a 135-189 (.417) record in two years at the helm of the Pirates. He was fired at the end of the 2007 season. So far with the Rockies, Tracy's regular season record is 198-166 (.544), with a 1-3 playoff record after being defeated by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2009 Disivision Series.
Have the Rockies reached a dead-end with their current roster? That question will be answered by the end of July, maybe sooner. Even with a healthy Tulo and a 100% CarGo, the Rockies need Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Hammel, Jhoulys Chacin, Rafael Betancourt and Huston Street to pick up their games, substantially. They need Todd Helton to remain healthy and relevant and productive, even IF (and probably not) he gets voted into this year's All-Star Game. We need to see major improvement in the consistency of Ty Wigginton's at-bats and defense. It's crucial that Chris Iannetta elevate his offensive and defensive profile. It'd be really great if newcomer Mark Ellis could ignore his lifetime American League career batting average of .265 (1,056 games over 9 seasons) and maintain his National League average of .444 (4 games). You see where we're heading?
Hope is fading.
(Update: the Padres rallied to beat the Giants, 5-3. Rox are only 6-1/2 games out!)
Tonight's 5-3 loss at Turner Field to the Atlanta Braves was just another log in the fire. The Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Milwaukee Brewers tonight, and the San Francisco Giants are ahead of the San Diego Padres, which means that the Rockies may well be 7-1/2 games out of first and definitely 5-1/2 games behind the second-place D-Backs in the National League West Division. Put into perspective, the Rockies with their disappointing 41-45 record, have to go 52-24 the rest of this season to get to 93 wins. That's a .684 winning percentage. 93 wins will probably win the NL West. Without another miraculous finish like they pulled off in 2007, this team is destined to finish below .500 and out of the post-season. By the way, in 2009, after he took over the reins, when the Rockies started out the season 18-28, manager Jim Tracy's record after the May 29th sacking of Clint Hurdle, was 74-42, a .638 winning percentage. Coincidentally, Hurdle's Pittsburgh Pirates are currently 45-41 and in second place, just 1-1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central Division.
One statistic encapsulates the stamp of frustration that defines this team: 16 runners left on base. Throw in the 11 strikeouts and the general lack-of-energy feel to the game, this team is dead, stick a fork in 'em. The sad thing is, is that the pieces that Dan O'Dowd and his staff have assembled all seem to be just not quite ready-for-prime-time.
As the end of July approaches, and therefore the trade deadline, the Rockies seem poised to be in a position to be sellers, instead of buyers. What this means, is that teams in possible contention for late-season playoff aspirations will be poring over rosters of teams that are out of contention to try and make deals for players that could help fill holes in their lineups or pitching staffs. Teams that are on the outside looking in, can take advantage of this opportunity (yes, being out of contention can be an opportunity) to stock up their farm system by trading veteran players (and their often higher salaries) for prospects or lesser-experienced, cheaper players with potential. The problem I see with these Rockies, and the player-development staff, is that what we are seeing is a problem of either under-performance by players and coaches, or over-valuing player potential by O'Dowd, manager Jim Tracy and their staffs. Or both. Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki are signed for the next 7 and 10 years, respectively, so it is vital to Rockie future success that the surrounding roster complement the superstars' skill sets to ensure ongoing effectiveness as a team, in Tracy's words, "going forward."
Jim Tracy joined this organization as a bench coach on Clint Hurdle's staff in the off-season after the 2008 season, when the Rockies finished the season in third place in the West behind the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. He had spent many years in several organizations managing in the minor leagues. He returned to the Major Leagues as a bench coach, first under Felipe Alou (Montreal Expos), then with the Dodgers, under Davey Johnson. The Dodgers suffered through two difficult seasons in 1999 and 2000, Johnson was fired and replaced by Tracy, who managed the Dodgers for 5 seasons, from 2001 through 2005, compiling a 427-383 (.527) record, winning a West Division title in 2004. The Dodgers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 playoffs, 3 games to 1. Tracy's team suffered through a 71-91 record in 2005 and was fired on October 3 immediately after the end of the season. On October 11, he was named as the skipper of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates, as usual, stunk, so Tracy compiled a 135-189 (.417) record in two years at the helm of the Pirates. He was fired at the end of the 2007 season. So far with the Rockies, Tracy's regular season record is 198-166 (.544), with a 1-3 playoff record after being defeated by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2009 Disivision Series.
Have the Rockies reached a dead-end with their current roster? That question will be answered by the end of July, maybe sooner. Even with a healthy Tulo and a 100% CarGo, the Rockies need Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Hammel, Jhoulys Chacin, Rafael Betancourt and Huston Street to pick up their games, substantially. They need Todd Helton to remain healthy and relevant and productive, even IF (and probably not) he gets voted into this year's All-Star Game. We need to see major improvement in the consistency of Ty Wigginton's at-bats and defense. It's crucial that Chris Iannetta elevate his offensive and defensive profile. It'd be really great if newcomer Mark Ellis could ignore his lifetime American League career batting average of .265 (1,056 games over 9 seasons) and maintain his National League average of .444 (4 games). You see where we're heading?
Hope is fading.
(Update: the Padres rallied to beat the Giants, 5-3. Rox are only 6-1/2 games out!)
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Mark Ellis For Resident !
Okay, it's been a couple of days since I have vented and postulated about baseball. I have watched the games from a distance, listened to them with one ear. I have read articles and accounts of the post mortems. When faced with the choice of playing golf, or watching the Rockies, I have opted for the golf, lately. This is not because I have abandoned hope, or lost interest. I would rather be frustrated chasing that little white Titleist around Sunset than resisting the urge to throw a shoe at my TV whilst watching the Rockies blow another lead, or waste another opportunity to creep closer to the San Francisco Giants in the standings.
That being said, in the two games since a certain Mark Ellis has joined the ranks of the Colorado Rockies, the local ballteam has seemed to find a spark. The fact that this spark coincides with the annual fireworks celebrations at Coors Field, is just the type of positive irony that may well serve to propel the Rockies on an upward spiral as we pass the half-way point in the 2011 baseball season. Don't get me wrong, I am still skeptical about the Rockies' chances of catching, or passing, the Giants. It's just that the shaking up of the roster by adding one player has infused a needed ingredient missing this season: true grit.
Lost in all the celebration and satisfaction in the Rockies' two-game winning streak is one glaring statistic. Thirty-four runners left on base. I know, nit-picking to be sure, as the Rocks won both games, handily, and not every base runner can score in any Major League baseball game. Only in tee-ball can that happen. But, as the undefeated-in-July-so-far Rockies go forward, they must win close games, when there is less traffic on the bases. That is one area where they have failed consistently and confoundingly this season. So far this season, the Rockies are 9-32 when scoring three runs or less (5-14 at home, 4-18 on the road). They are 32-10 when scoring four runs or more (17-6 and 15-4). Much has been made of the Rockies and their losing record in games decided by one run, but a more telling trend is how important that fourth run is, in games that are close. Watch the rest of the year when the Rockies score over three runs, they'll continue to have a winning record.
Mark Ellis can help, as a two-hole hitter that is experienced and comfortable at producing professional at-bats, taking pitches when Carlos Gonzalez is on base and Todd Helton is in the on-deck circle. Hitting or bunting as the case may be, he can succeed where Jonathan Herrera (6 for 44 in June, all singles), Chris Nelson (2 for 26, .077 since June 19th), Dexter Fowler (working on cutting down his strike outs in Colorado Springs) and Jose Lopez (.208 with the Rockies, released, picked up by the Marlins, .103, released) all failed. Granted, it's only two games into the Mark Ellis Era here in Denver, so I shall strive to be realistic in my optimism. The next 8 games will tell whether or not my sense of encouragement is well-founded, or unjustified. Six for ten with 5 extra-base hits (4 doubles, 1 HR), four runs scored, five runs batted in, slugging percentage of 1.200 and OPS of 1.800 is what I'd characterize as a very good start in the purple pinstripes. Especially in front of two sellout, enthusiastic crowds of over 49,000 appreciative fans. Mark Ellis has great expectations to fill and satisfy. Let's see if he can produce, where Lopez and Nelson and Herrera and Young and Fowler have failed.
Lost in the euphoria of Ellis' monster start and the Rockies offense awakening, were two pitching performances that were well-received. No, I am not referring to Huston Street's one-pitch save last night (about his safe-limit). More on that in another column. No, I'm talking about rookie Juan Nicasio's stellar 8-inning, three-hit shutout effort Friday night. Sporting a fastball that reached 95 mph consistently, with enough curves, sliders and changeups to confound Kansas City hitters, Nicasio took advantage of an early lead to cruise to his third victory of his young career, against just one loss. Then, on Saturday night, Greg Reynolds, who was called up from Colorado Springs as an emergency starter for sore-armed Jhoulys Chacin (who's scheduled to start Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves), also took advantage of early-offense from the Rockies, lasting 5 innings and surrendering 5 runs to get the win. A 7-0 lead after two innings allows a pitcher to throw strikes and eat up innings and that's what Reynolds accomplished. He has spot-started 4 games for the Rockies this season, and the team has won all four. His reward? Back to the Springs after the game Saturday.
The Rockies are riding a two-game winning streak, only the fourth time since April 27th that they have won successive contests. They are one game under .500 at 41-42, six and a half games behind the San Francisco Giants. After today's game with Kansas City, which concludes this year's inter-league schedule, the Rockies have 16 games on the road and only 8 at home for the rest of July. With the All-Star break about a week away, the 8 games before the break, and the next two weeks will determine whether or not the Rockies can contend for a playoff spot. The National League Wild Card will probably be coming from the competitive Central Division, so the Rockies have to win the West. They do not meet the Giants until September 15th, so they have to catch 'em the old fashioned way: keep winning and hope they lose. Note: the two hottest teams in all of baseball? San Francisco Giants (8-2 last ten games), and the New York Yankees, also 8-2 with a 7-game winning streak, ahead of the Red Sox by 2-1/2 games. The Braves and Padres are also 8-2 in the last ten. Our Rockies? 4-6. That will not cut it.
Today's starter, Jason Hammel, and the Rockies' revival on offense, need to extend the streak to three wins as they proceed to Atlanta and Washington, DC before the All-Star break. Congratulations to Troy Tulowitzki, who is narrowly leading the Mets' Jose Reyes in the voting for the starting National League shortstop in this year's fann balloting. Right-hander Jhoulys Chacin should also be selected for this year's festivities. (Update: Tulo lost out to Reyes. A real black-eye for Rockies fans, it's fan votes that determine starters, and Rockies voters got schooled by NY Mets voters. Shame on us.)
The Kansas City Royals are in town at a very opportune time. Now the Rockies have to the work, sweep the Royals and win at least 4 out of 7 in Atlanta and Wash, DC.
That being said, in the two games since a certain Mark Ellis has joined the ranks of the Colorado Rockies, the local ballteam has seemed to find a spark. The fact that this spark coincides with the annual fireworks celebrations at Coors Field, is just the type of positive irony that may well serve to propel the Rockies on an upward spiral as we pass the half-way point in the 2011 baseball season. Don't get me wrong, I am still skeptical about the Rockies' chances of catching, or passing, the Giants. It's just that the shaking up of the roster by adding one player has infused a needed ingredient missing this season: true grit.
Lost in all the celebration and satisfaction in the Rockies' two-game winning streak is one glaring statistic. Thirty-four runners left on base. I know, nit-picking to be sure, as the Rocks won both games, handily, and not every base runner can score in any Major League baseball game. Only in tee-ball can that happen. But, as the undefeated-in-July-so-far Rockies go forward, they must win close games, when there is less traffic on the bases. That is one area where they have failed consistently and confoundingly this season. So far this season, the Rockies are 9-32 when scoring three runs or less (5-14 at home, 4-18 on the road). They are 32-10 when scoring four runs or more (17-6 and 15-4). Much has been made of the Rockies and their losing record in games decided by one run, but a more telling trend is how important that fourth run is, in games that are close. Watch the rest of the year when the Rockies score over three runs, they'll continue to have a winning record.
Mark Ellis can help, as a two-hole hitter that is experienced and comfortable at producing professional at-bats, taking pitches when Carlos Gonzalez is on base and Todd Helton is in the on-deck circle. Hitting or bunting as the case may be, he can succeed where Jonathan Herrera (6 for 44 in June, all singles), Chris Nelson (2 for 26, .077 since June 19th), Dexter Fowler (working on cutting down his strike outs in Colorado Springs) and Jose Lopez (.208 with the Rockies, released, picked up by the Marlins, .103, released) all failed. Granted, it's only two games into the Mark Ellis Era here in Denver, so I shall strive to be realistic in my optimism. The next 8 games will tell whether or not my sense of encouragement is well-founded, or unjustified. Six for ten with 5 extra-base hits (4 doubles, 1 HR), four runs scored, five runs batted in, slugging percentage of 1.200 and OPS of 1.800 is what I'd characterize as a very good start in the purple pinstripes. Especially in front of two sellout, enthusiastic crowds of over 49,000 appreciative fans. Mark Ellis has great expectations to fill and satisfy. Let's see if he can produce, where Lopez and Nelson and Herrera and Young and Fowler have failed.
Lost in the euphoria of Ellis' monster start and the Rockies offense awakening, were two pitching performances that were well-received. No, I am not referring to Huston Street's one-pitch save last night (about his safe-limit). More on that in another column. No, I'm talking about rookie Juan Nicasio's stellar 8-inning, three-hit shutout effort Friday night. Sporting a fastball that reached 95 mph consistently, with enough curves, sliders and changeups to confound Kansas City hitters, Nicasio took advantage of an early lead to cruise to his third victory of his young career, against just one loss. Then, on Saturday night, Greg Reynolds, who was called up from Colorado Springs as an emergency starter for sore-armed Jhoulys Chacin (who's scheduled to start Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves), also took advantage of early-offense from the Rockies, lasting 5 innings and surrendering 5 runs to get the win. A 7-0 lead after two innings allows a pitcher to throw strikes and eat up innings and that's what Reynolds accomplished. He has spot-started 4 games for the Rockies this season, and the team has won all four. His reward? Back to the Springs after the game Saturday.
The Rockies are riding a two-game winning streak, only the fourth time since April 27th that they have won successive contests. They are one game under .500 at 41-42, six and a half games behind the San Francisco Giants. After today's game with Kansas City, which concludes this year's inter-league schedule, the Rockies have 16 games on the road and only 8 at home for the rest of July. With the All-Star break about a week away, the 8 games before the break, and the next two weeks will determine whether or not the Rockies can contend for a playoff spot. The National League Wild Card will probably be coming from the competitive Central Division, so the Rockies have to win the West. They do not meet the Giants until September 15th, so they have to catch 'em the old fashioned way: keep winning and hope they lose. Note: the two hottest teams in all of baseball? San Francisco Giants (8-2 last ten games), and the New York Yankees, also 8-2 with a 7-game winning streak, ahead of the Red Sox by 2-1/2 games. The Braves and Padres are also 8-2 in the last ten. Our Rockies? 4-6. That will not cut it.
Today's starter, Jason Hammel, and the Rockies' revival on offense, need to extend the streak to three wins as they proceed to Atlanta and Washington, DC before the All-Star break. Congratulations to Troy Tulowitzki, who is narrowly leading the Mets' Jose Reyes in the voting for the starting National League shortstop in this year's fann balloting. Right-hander Jhoulys Chacin should also be selected for this year's festivities. (Update: Tulo lost out to Reyes. A real black-eye for Rockies fans, it's fan votes that determine starters, and Rockies voters got schooled by NY Mets voters. Shame on us.)
The Kansas City Royals are in town at a very opportune time. Now the Rockies have to the work, sweep the Royals and win at least 4 out of 7 in Atlanta and Wash, DC.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
A Perfect Day
Rockies win, in extra innings, to break a three game losing streak. Yankees drub the Brewers. Red Sox shut out by Philadelphia. I birdie the eighth at Sunset.
With a little bit of LoDo Magic, the struggling Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Southsiders 3-2 in the bottom of the 13th inning on Ty Wigginton's bloop single that plated Troy Tulowitzki all the way from first base. I fell asleep after the 12th and had to wake up this morning to find out. The Tuesday night contest had some drama, but I guess, not enough to keep me totally engaged. Both teams left 14 runners on base, as the two teams combined to produce 9 different half-innings of three up, three down. Rookie lefty Rex Brothers (1-0) recorded his first Major League victory with a 1-2-3 top of the 13th. Righty, Will Ohman (0-1), the fifth White Sox hurler in the game, took the loss. Todd Helton appeared in his 1,999th game as a Rockie. We have been very very fortunate to have been witness to one of Colorado's finest professional athletes ever. Put him up there with John Elway, Dan Issel and Joe Sakic.
The White Sox opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd, when SS Alexei Ramirez slammed a one-out home run, his seventh, into the left field pavilion off Rockies starter, Jason Hammel, the first of seven pitchers marched out by manager Jim Tracy. The Rox tied the score in their half of the 4th when, with two outs, Todd Helton, with former college teammate, Peyton Manning watching from a Coors Field club suite, blooped a single to left. Tulo drew a walk and Seth Smith drove home Helton with a single to left center off White Sox starter Gavin Floyd. Helton and third base coach, Rich Dauer, took advantage of White Sox left fielder, Juan Pierre's notoriously weak throwing arm to score on the shallow hit by the Rockies right fielder. The RBI was Smith's 34th of the season.
The Pale Hose took the lead right back in the top of the 5th on former Rockie Pierre's RBI double to the wall in right, scoring 2B Gordon Beckham, who had singled with one out, and pushing Floyd, who had walked, to third. 3B Brent Morel walked to load the bases, with one out. Hammel then got RF Carlos Quentin to ground into a double play to end the threat, not just for that inning, but also for the game, as the anemic White Sox did not advance a runner to second base for the rest of the game.
Smith tied the score in the 6th with his 35th RBI on a sacrifice fly to drive in 2B Chris Nelson, who had opened the inning with a single to right. Helton walked to push Nelson to second. Tulo then hit a double-play-grounder but hustled to beat the throw to first, pushing Nelson to third. Smith then drove a pitch to deep center, plenty deep to allow Nelson to scamper home. The Rockies are 9-4 when Nelson gets a hit, 8-1 when he scores a run. Too bad his on-base percentage is only .253, otherwise he'd have more impact in a Rockies lineup that is not firing on all cylinders. The walk-off, extra-inning win was the first of each for the Blake Street club, in their 79th game. The Rockies were the last team in the Major Leagues without an extra-innings victory all season, until Tuesday night. The Rockies had not had a walk-off win at home, until Tuesday. Not much LoDo magic this year, mostly LoDoze.
The Giants and Diamondbacks both won, so the Rockies are 6.5 games behind San Francisco and 4 back of surprising Arizona in the NL West Division. With 83 games remaining, the Rockies are one game below .500 and need to win more than 60% of their remaining contests to top 90 wins. Only one team in Major League Baseball has a .600 winning percentage so far this season, the Philadelphia Phillies, at .625. Currently, ten teams in the National League have a better record than the Rockies, so the Wild Card is a very improbable goal. Colorado needs to win the division to get into the playoffs. Can the Rockies do it? We hope so, but I don't see enough magic, or pitching, or timely hitting. or managerial strategy to warrant much hope. Prove me wrong Ubaldo and Tulo and CarGo and TracoDaca.
Meanwhile, the second-best record in the Major Leagues, the best in the AL, Yankees, lead the Red Sox by 1.5 games in the AL East. Oh, the Rockies wore their home pinstripes last night. Maybe they should remove player names from the backs of their jerseys and settle on the pinstripes at home, you know, like the most successful team in all of sports history. Just sayin'.
And for the record, 273 yard drive to left side of the fairway on #8, 65 yards from the center of the green. White pin, no wind, 64 degree wedge 6 feet from the flag, slightly downhill, right-hand breaker, nothing but the bottom of the cup.
Like I said, a perfect day.
With a little bit of LoDo Magic, the struggling Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Southsiders 3-2 in the bottom of the 13th inning on Ty Wigginton's bloop single that plated Troy Tulowitzki all the way from first base. I fell asleep after the 12th and had to wake up this morning to find out. The Tuesday night contest had some drama, but I guess, not enough to keep me totally engaged. Both teams left 14 runners on base, as the two teams combined to produce 9 different half-innings of three up, three down. Rookie lefty Rex Brothers (1-0) recorded his first Major League victory with a 1-2-3 top of the 13th. Righty, Will Ohman (0-1), the fifth White Sox hurler in the game, took the loss. Todd Helton appeared in his 1,999th game as a Rockie. We have been very very fortunate to have been witness to one of Colorado's finest professional athletes ever. Put him up there with John Elway, Dan Issel and Joe Sakic.
The White Sox opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd, when SS Alexei Ramirez slammed a one-out home run, his seventh, into the left field pavilion off Rockies starter, Jason Hammel, the first of seven pitchers marched out by manager Jim Tracy. The Rox tied the score in their half of the 4th when, with two outs, Todd Helton, with former college teammate, Peyton Manning watching from a Coors Field club suite, blooped a single to left. Tulo drew a walk and Seth Smith drove home Helton with a single to left center off White Sox starter Gavin Floyd. Helton and third base coach, Rich Dauer, took advantage of White Sox left fielder, Juan Pierre's notoriously weak throwing arm to score on the shallow hit by the Rockies right fielder. The RBI was Smith's 34th of the season.
The Pale Hose took the lead right back in the top of the 5th on former Rockie Pierre's RBI double to the wall in right, scoring 2B Gordon Beckham, who had singled with one out, and pushing Floyd, who had walked, to third. 3B Brent Morel walked to load the bases, with one out. Hammel then got RF Carlos Quentin to ground into a double play to end the threat, not just for that inning, but also for the game, as the anemic White Sox did not advance a runner to second base for the rest of the game.
Smith tied the score in the 6th with his 35th RBI on a sacrifice fly to drive in 2B Chris Nelson, who had opened the inning with a single to right. Helton walked to push Nelson to second. Tulo then hit a double-play-grounder but hustled to beat the throw to first, pushing Nelson to third. Smith then drove a pitch to deep center, plenty deep to allow Nelson to scamper home. The Rockies are 9-4 when Nelson gets a hit, 8-1 when he scores a run. Too bad his on-base percentage is only .253, otherwise he'd have more impact in a Rockies lineup that is not firing on all cylinders. The walk-off, extra-inning win was the first of each for the Blake Street club, in their 79th game. The Rockies were the last team in the Major Leagues without an extra-innings victory all season, until Tuesday night. The Rockies had not had a walk-off win at home, until Tuesday. Not much LoDo magic this year, mostly LoDoze.
The Giants and Diamondbacks both won, so the Rockies are 6.5 games behind San Francisco and 4 back of surprising Arizona in the NL West Division. With 83 games remaining, the Rockies are one game below .500 and need to win more than 60% of their remaining contests to top 90 wins. Only one team in Major League Baseball has a .600 winning percentage so far this season, the Philadelphia Phillies, at .625. Currently, ten teams in the National League have a better record than the Rockies, so the Wild Card is a very improbable goal. Colorado needs to win the division to get into the playoffs. Can the Rockies do it? We hope so, but I don't see enough magic, or pitching, or timely hitting. or managerial strategy to warrant much hope. Prove me wrong Ubaldo and Tulo and CarGo and TracoDaca.
Meanwhile, the second-best record in the Major Leagues, the best in the AL, Yankees, lead the Red Sox by 1.5 games in the AL East. Oh, the Rockies wore their home pinstripes last night. Maybe they should remove player names from the backs of their jerseys and settle on the pinstripes at home, you know, like the most successful team in all of sports history. Just sayin'.
And for the record, 273 yard drive to left side of the fairway on #8, 65 yards from the center of the green. White pin, no wind, 64 degree wedge 6 feet from the flag, slightly downhill, right-hand breaker, nothing but the bottom of the cup.
Like I said, a perfect day.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Tracy, Tulowitzki, Apodaca
Question: What are three good reasons why the Rockies are mediocre?
In Little League, High School and even American Legion Baseball, a good, hard thrower can navigate through an opposing batting order fairly well. Note to Tracy and Apodaca: the Yankees are better than a good Legion squad. Okay, rookie right-hander Juan Nicasio mowed down the first 13 Yankee batters by throwing his 94-97 mph fastball exclusively. Then, in an instant, the Nicasio fastball became batting practice. Robinson Cano breaks up the no-hitter with one out in the fifth inning with a solid single to left-center on, a 95 mph fastball. Nick Swisher watched three fastballs out of the strike zone for a 3-0 count, fouled off a 94 mph fastball, then parked a 95 mph fastball over the right field fence. Nicasio then attempted a couple of sliders to Jorge Posada, out of the strike zone, then a 94 mph fastball, you guessed it, home run over the centerfield fence at Yankee Stadium, v2.
That the Rockies had built a 3-0 lead on the strength of the first of two Ty Wigginton home runs (solo), a home run by Chris Iannetta (solo) and a sacrifice fly from Todd Helton, raised the hopes of Rockie rooters. After the Yankees tied the score in the fifth, Wigginton stroked his second tater of the game to give the Rox a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth. Not enough. Over-worked Rockie reliever, Matt Belisle relieved Nicasio after the rookie from the Dominican Republic allowed the first two batters to reach in the sixth. After a near-double play, the Yankees had runners on first and third, one out. Alex Rodriguez stroked a single to left to drive in Brett Gardner with the tying run. A double play from Tulo and Helton stopped the bleeding, but just for a little while.
In the Rockie seventh, Iannetta led off with a single, and Carlos Gonzalez, not bunting, struck out. Chris Iannetta stole second and made it to third when Yankee catcher Russell Martin's throw went into centerfield. Neither Herrera nor Helton could drive in Iannetta, and that was all she wrote. The Yanks scratched out a run in the seventh off Belisle, now 5-3 after the blown save and loss. Matt Reynolds surrendered a home run to Mark Teixeira in the eighth to increase New York's lead to two runs, more than enough for Mariano Rivera, who struck out the side in the ninth, for his 20th save of the season, and the 579th of his career.
The Yankees illustrate to the Rockies what they aspire to be, a perrenial contender, with pieces in place and the ability to overcome injuries and roster uncertainties. Tentative in the pinch, clutch hitting absent when sorely needed, pitchers not able to hold leads. Those are the things that are defining the Rockies currently. With the San Francisco Giants on the verge of beating Cleveland, the Rockies go into Chicago 5-1/2 games behind, and hope fading. I know, I know, true blue die-hard Rockies fans see the rest of the season through purple colored sunglasses, but the fact remains: Jim Tracy, Troy Tulowitzki and Bob Apodaca need to elevate their gamesmanship, or the Giants will be too far away to catch, even for another Miracle Rocktober Dream.
In Little League, High School and even American Legion Baseball, a good, hard thrower can navigate through an opposing batting order fairly well. Note to Tracy and Apodaca: the Yankees are better than a good Legion squad. Okay, rookie right-hander Juan Nicasio mowed down the first 13 Yankee batters by throwing his 94-97 mph fastball exclusively. Then, in an instant, the Nicasio fastball became batting practice. Robinson Cano breaks up the no-hitter with one out in the fifth inning with a solid single to left-center on, a 95 mph fastball. Nick Swisher watched three fastballs out of the strike zone for a 3-0 count, fouled off a 94 mph fastball, then parked a 95 mph fastball over the right field fence. Nicasio then attempted a couple of sliders to Jorge Posada, out of the strike zone, then a 94 mph fastball, you guessed it, home run over the centerfield fence at Yankee Stadium, v2.
That the Rockies had built a 3-0 lead on the strength of the first of two Ty Wigginton home runs (solo), a home run by Chris Iannetta (solo) and a sacrifice fly from Todd Helton, raised the hopes of Rockie rooters. After the Yankees tied the score in the fifth, Wigginton stroked his second tater of the game to give the Rox a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth. Not enough. Over-worked Rockie reliever, Matt Belisle relieved Nicasio after the rookie from the Dominican Republic allowed the first two batters to reach in the sixth. After a near-double play, the Yankees had runners on first and third, one out. Alex Rodriguez stroked a single to left to drive in Brett Gardner with the tying run. A double play from Tulo and Helton stopped the bleeding, but just for a little while.
In the Rockie seventh, Iannetta led off with a single, and Carlos Gonzalez, not bunting, struck out. Chris Iannetta stole second and made it to third when Yankee catcher Russell Martin's throw went into centerfield. Neither Herrera nor Helton could drive in Iannetta, and that was all she wrote. The Yanks scratched out a run in the seventh off Belisle, now 5-3 after the blown save and loss. Matt Reynolds surrendered a home run to Mark Teixeira in the eighth to increase New York's lead to two runs, more than enough for Mariano Rivera, who struck out the side in the ninth, for his 20th save of the season, and the 579th of his career.
The Yankees illustrate to the Rockies what they aspire to be, a perrenial contender, with pieces in place and the ability to overcome injuries and roster uncertainties. Tentative in the pinch, clutch hitting absent when sorely needed, pitchers not able to hold leads. Those are the things that are defining the Rockies currently. With the San Francisco Giants on the verge of beating Cleveland, the Rockies go into Chicago 5-1/2 games behind, and hope fading. I know, I know, true blue die-hard Rockies fans see the rest of the season through purple colored sunglasses, but the fact remains: Jim Tracy, Troy Tulowitzki and Bob Apodaca need to elevate their gamesmanship, or the Giants will be too far away to catch, even for another Miracle Rocktober Dream.
Steeped In Tradition
Okay, the Rockies beat the Yankees, 4-2 on Friday. Okay, the Yankees pounded the Rockies 8-3 on Saturday. More on that, later. What I've just seen on TV is a true portrait of why I am a Yankees fan. The New York Yankees today are celebrating the 65th Annual Yankees Old-Timers' Day celebration and game at the new Yankee Stadium. The introductions of each and every Old-Timer brought with them a resume of their accomplishments while wearing the Yankee pinstripes. Oh, what memories. Four of the six living Yankee Hall-Of-Famers are there: Lawrence Peter (Yogi) Berra, Edward Charles (Whitey) Ford, Reginald Martinez (Reggie) Jackson and Colorado's own Richard Michael (Goose) Gossage. Missing are Wade Boggs and Dave Winfield.
No other professional sports team treats their legacy as seriously and celebrates their history as well as do the New York Yankees. And they have a lot to celebrate. Forty times, the American League Champion and twenty-seven times, the World Series Champions. Listening to the litany of records and milestones of my favorite Yankee ballplayers brought tears to my eyes as I remembered back to the days of ditching class to watch daytime World Series games, sneaking the old Sylvania transistor radio hidden in the hollowed-out hard-bound Moby Dick into fourth grade to listen to the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago White Sox in the 1959 World Series, four games to two. The big news that year, was that the Yankees were not in the fall classic. I was born in 1950. The Yankees were in the World Series in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964, when that version of the Yankee Dynasty ended. It wouldn't be until the 1976 season, that the Yankees would return as the American League Champions to the World Series, where they were swept in four games by The Big Red Machine, the Johnny Bench-led Cincinnati Reds. The Bronx Bombers returned in 1977 and 1978 to win the Series both years against Tommy Lasorda's Los Angeles Dodgers. The Yankees missed the 1979 pennant when the George Brett Kansas City Royals finally prevailed three games to none in the American League Championship Series. The Yankees had prevailed over the Royals in both 1977 and 1978 ALCS, so the breakthrough 1979 appearance in the World Series was sweet for the KC franchise. The Yankees made it back to the series in 1981, getting swept by the Lasorda-led Dodgers where Ron Cey, Steve Yeager and Pedro Guerrero shared the World Series MVP Award. It wouldn't be until 1996 that the New York Yankees would make their next appearance in the Fall Classic.
Until the 1969 season, the World Series was played by the winners of the National League pennant and the American League champions. In 1969, each league split into two divisions, Western and Eastern. The top teams in each division then played a best-of-five series to determine the League Champions and berths in the Fall Classic. In 1985, the League Championship Series were changed to a best-of-seven format. In 1993, the Major Leagues expanded, again, to include the Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins. It was then, that league officials and team owners decided to split each league into three divisions each and introduce a "wild card" team, the best second-place division finisher, for the 1994 season. Except, oops, the 1994 Major League baseball season was interrupted by a strike, and there were no playoffs, World Series or any games, for that matter, played after August 11. At the time of the strike, the division leaders were the Yankees (AL East), Chicago White Sox (AL Central), Texas Rangers (AL West), Montreal Expos (NL East), Cincinnati Reds (NL Central) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West). The Felipe Alou-managed Expos were running away with the NL, sporting a 74-40 record, when the strike ended everything. For the record, the Rockies were 53-64, in third place in the NL West, 6.5 games behind the Dodgers, and 3 games behind the Giants, but 6 games ahead of the last place Padres. Arizona did not enter the league until 1998.
After the strike was settled, the regular 1995 season was resumed on April 25, and the teams played a shortened 144-game regular season. 1995 was also the inaugural year for fabulous Coors Field in lower downtown Denver (LoDo). The Rockies drew 4,483,350 fans to the ballpark at Mile High Stadium in their initial season, a record for season attendance that will probably never be equalled. At the time of the 1994 baseball strike, the Rockies, as I previously mentioned, were in third place in the NL West, but had drawn 3,281,511 paid attendance in their first 57 home games and were on pace to shatter the 1993 attendance mark. That means that the Colorado Rockies were averaging a mind-boggling 56,267 fans for every game that they played in Denver. In their initial year at Coors Field, abbreviated as it was, the Rockies led the Major Leagues in attendance again, with paid attendance of 3,390,037 for an average of over 47,000 fans per every home game. Then, to top it off, the Blake Street Bombers qualified for the very first National League Wild Card playoff spot, by one game over the Houston Astros. The Rocks were dispatched by the Atlanta Braves in the playoffs 3 games to 1 in the first ever National League Division Series. I'll never forgive manager Don Baylor for making so many needless moves in the first game, that he ended up with pitcher Lance Painter pinch-hitting in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, two outs and behind by one run. Of course Painter struck out, but Baylor had burned Ellis Burks, Vinny Castilla, John VanderWal, Joe Girardi, Trinidad Hubbard and Jason Bates earlier in the game. I was screaming from the left-field pavilion that Baylor should be awarded the Over-Manager Of The Year Award for his boneheaded strategies. I think that the Rockies should have won this game and would have given the Braves a run for the right to play for the National League pennant against the Cincinnati Reds, whom the Braves swept in the NLCS. Oh, and the Braves beat the Cleveland Indians 4 games to 2 in the World Series. Just dreamin'.
Aw, the memories that baseball invokes. The third game of the Yankee-Rockie series is starting, so I won't review the first two games. Reminiscing about baseball is as good as it gets, and the Yankees' history and tradition is matched by no other organization in sports. Hate 'em if you must, you cannot find a better sporting franchise in history, so F-you Red Sox nation, how many effin' rings you got??? Oh, seven, one for every functioning brain cell in the average Red Sox fan's dome.
Go Rockies, beat the Yankees, while the Pirates sweep the Red Sux...................later.
No other professional sports team treats their legacy as seriously and celebrates their history as well as do the New York Yankees. And they have a lot to celebrate. Forty times, the American League Champion and twenty-seven times, the World Series Champions. Listening to the litany of records and milestones of my favorite Yankee ballplayers brought tears to my eyes as I remembered back to the days of ditching class to watch daytime World Series games, sneaking the old Sylvania transistor radio hidden in the hollowed-out hard-bound Moby Dick into fourth grade to listen to the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago White Sox in the 1959 World Series, four games to two. The big news that year, was that the Yankees were not in the fall classic. I was born in 1950. The Yankees were in the World Series in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964, when that version of the Yankee Dynasty ended. It wouldn't be until the 1976 season, that the Yankees would return as the American League Champions to the World Series, where they were swept in four games by The Big Red Machine, the Johnny Bench-led Cincinnati Reds. The Bronx Bombers returned in 1977 and 1978 to win the Series both years against Tommy Lasorda's Los Angeles Dodgers. The Yankees missed the 1979 pennant when the George Brett Kansas City Royals finally prevailed three games to none in the American League Championship Series. The Yankees had prevailed over the Royals in both 1977 and 1978 ALCS, so the breakthrough 1979 appearance in the World Series was sweet for the KC franchise. The Yankees made it back to the series in 1981, getting swept by the Lasorda-led Dodgers where Ron Cey, Steve Yeager and Pedro Guerrero shared the World Series MVP Award. It wouldn't be until 1996 that the New York Yankees would make their next appearance in the Fall Classic.
Until the 1969 season, the World Series was played by the winners of the National League pennant and the American League champions. In 1969, each league split into two divisions, Western and Eastern. The top teams in each division then played a best-of-five series to determine the League Champions and berths in the Fall Classic. In 1985, the League Championship Series were changed to a best-of-seven format. In 1993, the Major Leagues expanded, again, to include the Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins. It was then, that league officials and team owners decided to split each league into three divisions each and introduce a "wild card" team, the best second-place division finisher, for the 1994 season. Except, oops, the 1994 Major League baseball season was interrupted by a strike, and there were no playoffs, World Series or any games, for that matter, played after August 11. At the time of the strike, the division leaders were the Yankees (AL East), Chicago White Sox (AL Central), Texas Rangers (AL West), Montreal Expos (NL East), Cincinnati Reds (NL Central) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West). The Felipe Alou-managed Expos were running away with the NL, sporting a 74-40 record, when the strike ended everything. For the record, the Rockies were 53-64, in third place in the NL West, 6.5 games behind the Dodgers, and 3 games behind the Giants, but 6 games ahead of the last place Padres. Arizona did not enter the league until 1998.
After the strike was settled, the regular 1995 season was resumed on April 25, and the teams played a shortened 144-game regular season. 1995 was also the inaugural year for fabulous Coors Field in lower downtown Denver (LoDo). The Rockies drew 4,483,350 fans to the ballpark at Mile High Stadium in their initial season, a record for season attendance that will probably never be equalled. At the time of the 1994 baseball strike, the Rockies, as I previously mentioned, were in third place in the NL West, but had drawn 3,281,511 paid attendance in their first 57 home games and were on pace to shatter the 1993 attendance mark. That means that the Colorado Rockies were averaging a mind-boggling 56,267 fans for every game that they played in Denver. In their initial year at Coors Field, abbreviated as it was, the Rockies led the Major Leagues in attendance again, with paid attendance of 3,390,037 for an average of over 47,000 fans per every home game. Then, to top it off, the Blake Street Bombers qualified for the very first National League Wild Card playoff spot, by one game over the Houston Astros. The Rocks were dispatched by the Atlanta Braves in the playoffs 3 games to 1 in the first ever National League Division Series. I'll never forgive manager Don Baylor for making so many needless moves in the first game, that he ended up with pitcher Lance Painter pinch-hitting in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, two outs and behind by one run. Of course Painter struck out, but Baylor had burned Ellis Burks, Vinny Castilla, John VanderWal, Joe Girardi, Trinidad Hubbard and Jason Bates earlier in the game. I was screaming from the left-field pavilion that Baylor should be awarded the Over-Manager Of The Year Award for his boneheaded strategies. I think that the Rockies should have won this game and would have given the Braves a run for the right to play for the National League pennant against the Cincinnati Reds, whom the Braves swept in the NLCS. Oh, and the Braves beat the Cleveland Indians 4 games to 2 in the World Series. Just dreamin'.
Aw, the memories that baseball invokes. The third game of the Yankee-Rockie series is starting, so I won't review the first two games. Reminiscing about baseball is as good as it gets, and the Yankees' history and tradition is matched by no other organization in sports. Hate 'em if you must, you cannot find a better sporting franchise in history, so F-you Red Sox nation, how many effin' rings you got??? Oh, seven, one for every functioning brain cell in the average Red Sox fan's dome.
Go Rockies, beat the Yankees, while the Pirates sweep the Red Sux...................later.
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