The Rockies began their 10-day, 9-game road trip in Los Angeles by pounding out 14 hits, with a leadoff batter reaching base in 7 out of 9 innings. Good, right? Well, 13 of the hits were singles, not one bunt was attempted, the Rockies were 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position, and the one hit they did get ended up getting the runner (Carlos Gonzalez) thrown out at home. Just when I thought the Rockies couldn't get any worse, well, they are at least full of surprises. Surprising in the extent of their futility. Surprising that manager Jim Tracy is getting a pass from the media and fans. Surprising that our resident superstar, Troy Tulowitzki came to bat 4 times with runners in scoring position, and ended the inning 4 times. Surprised to see 18 base runners in a 9 inning game and only one crossing the plate? That was because he drove himself in! Ty Wigginton homered to account for all the Colorado scoring. Not that he was so special, he was replaced after striking out twice, looking at the third strikes, bat calmly resting on his broad shoulders.
The defense. normally a strong point, was shaky. CarGo and Dexter Fowler bumped into each other on a lazy fly to left-center by Matt Kemp in the Dodgers' 4-run third. The ball glanced off both outfielders' gloves and fell to the turf. No error was awarded on the play because Andre Ethier assumed the ball would be caught and got a late break to second base, and was called out on the relay by Dexter Fowler. In the first inning, Eric Young, Jr. fielded a routine ground ball by former Rockie Jamey Carroll, and threw a cotton ball that forced Todd Helton to utilize every bit of his 6-inch vertical to haul in the high throw. Unfortunately, Carroll reached first before Helton could land on the bag. E-4. In the 5th, Jamey Carroll lined a ball into the right field corner, and as Seth Smith corralled Carroll's carom, and relayed the ball to EY-J, EY turned and spiked the ball into the Dodger Stadium turf like he was bent on killing those pesky night crawlers. Luckily, Carroll was tired after hauling ass all the way to third base, and was apparently laughing too hard to run home as Helton fielded the EY relay, as it pathetically dribbled into the infield. After Young's adventures in centerfield the other night, and his obvious discomfort at second tonight, he will need to score at least three times per game to end up with a positive plus-minus. If only. If only we could cram Dexter's defense and EY's hitting and base running into one body. As it is, we are burdened with two quality AAA players sharing the bench.
I shall not include any more details about the game, too pissed. The final score was LA 7, Colorado 1. I will probably watch tomorrow night's game against the Dodgers. I hope against hope that tonight's debacle is as bad as it gets, and that this Colorado Rockies team can get up off the canvas and begin playing with some heart and balls. Or I shall begin the campaign to bring back Buddy Bell, at least he had some fire in his demeanor.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Unfriendly Confines
What began as a promising season on the brink, is fast-forwarding into an abyss that, even this early in the year, is deep, dark and bottomless. After losing 4-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, the Rockies finished their latest home stand 2-5 and sunk lower in the standings. They have lost 19 games in the month of May, they are 1-10 in one-run games, they have scored 4 or fewer runs in 17 out of 27 games and have won exactly one of those. With the season-ending injury to their best starter, Jorge De La Rosa, and ineffectiveness by Ian Stewart, Jose Lopez, Felipe Paulino, Franklin Morales and Dexter Fowler. the Rockies have shuffled their roster like Republican presidential candidates. More moves are on the way. Left-handed reliever Rex Brothers and outfielder Charlie Blackmon can't be too far away from being promoted. Aaron Cook has made what was described as his final minor league rehabilitation start, and a decision where to slot him into the rotation must be made soon. With all the shuffling, what remains constant is the Rockies' inabilities to produce key hits in close games. With nearly a third of the season in the books, I don't think that the Rockies have any walk-off wins this year. Do you remember any? I know that they have surrendered at least 5 walk-off losses. Well, anyway, the point is that nobody else but the men in that clubhouse can do anything about the sinking ship.
Jhoulis Chacin had his second consecutive ineffective outing, as he gave up 3 runs in the first inning. The inability to keep his pitches down in the strike zone, led to batting practice early on for the Cards. The Rockies scored single runs in the 3rd, 7th and 9th innings, but it was the deciding 7th inning that sunk their hopes. Steady, reliable Todd Helton led off the 7th with a double, Ty Wigginton singled him in, to make the score 4-2, no outs. Ryan Spilborghs singled and Cardinal starter Kyly Lohse was pulled in favor of reliever, Eduardo Sanchez. Chris Iannetta coaxed a walk from the Cardinal right-hander from Venezuela to load the bases, still no outs. Yesterday I scolded myself for predicting that the Rockies' usual modus operandi the last few weeks was to strike out and hit into a double play to effectively snuff out a rally. What happened yesterday was NOT a trend. Yesterday, Spillborghs drew a bases-loaded walk and Chris Iannetta followed with a two-run single, part of a six-run first inning. In the words of Chad & Jeremy in their 1964 hit, "That Was Yesterday, and Yesterday's Gone". Today's episode of Groundhog Day returned to regular channels, as Ty Wigginton struck out, and Eric Young, Jr. lined into an inning-ending, rally-killing, hope-snuffing double-play.
The slumping Rockies now depart on a 9-game, 10-day West Coast road trip. First stop Los Angeles for a three-game set with the Dodgers, a day off, three games in San Francisco against the suddenly shaky Giants, then three games in San Diego against the last-place Padres. To say that this road trip is crucial, is a gross understatement. This next 10 days could spell disaster, if the Rockies do not shake out of their collective doldrums, as these three West Division rivals must be salivating at the prospect of matching up with these anemic Rockies. The Rox need to make a statement by winning all three series. Nothing less will be acceptable. Manager Jim Tracy won't come right and say it, but it needs to be understood: win 6 games minimum on this trip, or mail it in. They're toast, trade bait before the All-Star break, hell, before Father's Day. Too critical you say? Well, have you watched all the games the last 5 weeks? I have, some of them two and three times, in an effort to be accurate in this blog. Painful. Turn back the clock to May 4, when the Rockies were 18-10, eight games over .500 and in first place by 4 games. 7 wins and 17 losses since then, 3-1/2 games behind the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks! (how strange and painful does that sound?)
On a somber note, my condolences to the family of 27-year-old Robert Seamans, who succumbed to his injuries suffered when he fell from a stair railing at Coors Field last Tuesday.
And finally, thanks and appreciation to all who have served and sacrificed for the American way of life, for the freedoms we enjoy, for the right to enjoy pasttimes such as baseball and barbecues. Memorial Day should mean so much more to all of us who enjoy such sublime pleasure and privilege without recognizing the efforts of those who made and make it possible. Thank You, and a Happy Memorial Day to you all!
Jhoulis Chacin had his second consecutive ineffective outing, as he gave up 3 runs in the first inning. The inability to keep his pitches down in the strike zone, led to batting practice early on for the Cards. The Rockies scored single runs in the 3rd, 7th and 9th innings, but it was the deciding 7th inning that sunk their hopes. Steady, reliable Todd Helton led off the 7th with a double, Ty Wigginton singled him in, to make the score 4-2, no outs. Ryan Spilborghs singled and Cardinal starter Kyly Lohse was pulled in favor of reliever, Eduardo Sanchez. Chris Iannetta coaxed a walk from the Cardinal right-hander from Venezuela to load the bases, still no outs. Yesterday I scolded myself for predicting that the Rockies' usual modus operandi the last few weeks was to strike out and hit into a double play to effectively snuff out a rally. What happened yesterday was NOT a trend. Yesterday, Spillborghs drew a bases-loaded walk and Chris Iannetta followed with a two-run single, part of a six-run first inning. In the words of Chad & Jeremy in their 1964 hit, "That Was Yesterday, and Yesterday's Gone". Today's episode of Groundhog Day returned to regular channels, as Ty Wigginton struck out, and Eric Young, Jr. lined into an inning-ending, rally-killing, hope-snuffing double-play.
The slumping Rockies now depart on a 9-game, 10-day West Coast road trip. First stop Los Angeles for a three-game set with the Dodgers, a day off, three games in San Francisco against the suddenly shaky Giants, then three games in San Diego against the last-place Padres. To say that this road trip is crucial, is a gross understatement. This next 10 days could spell disaster, if the Rockies do not shake out of their collective doldrums, as these three West Division rivals must be salivating at the prospect of matching up with these anemic Rockies. The Rox need to make a statement by winning all three series. Nothing less will be acceptable. Manager Jim Tracy won't come right and say it, but it needs to be understood: win 6 games minimum on this trip, or mail it in. They're toast, trade bait before the All-Star break, hell, before Father's Day. Too critical you say? Well, have you watched all the games the last 5 weeks? I have, some of them two and three times, in an effort to be accurate in this blog. Painful. Turn back the clock to May 4, when the Rockies were 18-10, eight games over .500 and in first place by 4 games. 7 wins and 17 losses since then, 3-1/2 games behind the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks! (how strange and painful does that sound?)
On a somber note, my condolences to the family of 27-year-old Robert Seamans, who succumbed to his injuries suffered when he fell from a stair railing at Coors Field last Tuesday.
And finally, thanks and appreciation to all who have served and sacrificed for the American way of life, for the freedoms we enjoy, for the right to enjoy pasttimes such as baseball and barbecues. Memorial Day should mean so much more to all of us who enjoy such sublime pleasure and privilege without recognizing the efforts of those who made and make it possible. Thank You, and a Happy Memorial Day to you all!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Juan Nicasio, Johnny Victory
NICASIO: from Greek, Spanish for "Victory". How sweet.
A breath of fresh air, Juan Nicasio made his Major League debut tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals. He surrendered 6 hits and one run (unearned), walking two and striking out two. He pitched effectively, keeping the Cardinal hitters off-balance with 97-MPH fastballs and decent command of his off-speed offerings. He had the luxury of pitching with a lead, a really big lead, as the slumbering lumber for the Colorado Rockies awoke to build a 12-0 lead after only four innings. Nicasio's big-league career began with a base hit by lead-off hitter SS Ryan Theriot on the game's first pitch. LF Jon Jay followed with a sharp grounder up the middle, as Nicasio managed to just get a finger of his glove on the ball, slowing it down enough for Rockies' SS Troy Tulowitzki to grab, step on second and fire to first baseman Todd Helton for the Rockies' 52nd double play of the season. The first inning continued, as Nicasio walked 1B Albert Pujols on four pitches, RF Lance Berkman continued his torrid hitting by singling to right. Last night's main Rockie tormentor, CF Colby Rasmus, flied out meekly to left field to end the inning, sigh of relief.
It did not take long for the Rockies to provide rookie Nicasio with a lead to work with. 2B Eric Young, Jr. bounced a high-hopper over the outstretched reach of P Jaime (hi-mee) Garcia and into the chest of Theriot just behind the mound. Theriot was charged with an error, and EY proceeded to steal second, the first successful stolen base for the Rockies since, well since Moby Dick was a fucking minnow. CF Dexter Fowler walked, LF Carlos Gonzalez singled, plating Young and sending Fowler to third. Gonzalez took second on the throw from the outfield. Tulo dribbled a slow roller to third that Dexter scored on, and forced CarGo to remain at second. Remarkable, as my daughter Alison pointed out, that a Rockies runner actually did not get thrown out at home on the contact play. The contact play is so named when the runner on third, with less than two outs and a force play not in effect, is directed to break for the plate if the batter makes contact. Frustrating as this play has been in the recent weeks, Dexter scored easily, as he got a great read on the slow tapper, and Tulowitzki barely beat the throw to first from 3B Daniel Descalso. 1B Todd Helton then muscled a single to shallow right that loaded the bases, with still nobody out. Now, this is where the Rockies of the last three weeks would have meekly found a way to waste a golden opportunity to widen a lead with a strikeout and a double play. Well, 3B Ty Wigginton struck out, and I said out loud, "uh oh, here we go." Well, take this Saki: RF Ryan Spilborghs gutted out a 9-pitch at-bat and drew a walk from the beleagered Jaime (hi you) Garcia. That drove in CarGo with the third run of the opening frame, still only one out. C Chris Iannetta stroked a single to center, chasing home Tulowitzki and a speedy (?) Todd Helton. Rookie Johnny Victory then did the smart thing, don't fuck up the rally by doing something stupid, like ground into a double play. Cheers to manager Jim Tracy! He signalled third base coach Rich Dauer to signal Nicasio to weakly attempt to bunt three times, and return to the dugout to rest up. Well Done! Two outs, and up comes EY-JR for the second time in the inning. Young raked a single through the hole at short, driving in Spilly with the sixth run of the game. Another rarity: the two-out RBI! No matter that Fowler ended the home-half of the first by grounding out, the Rockies were off and running. 5 singles, 2 walks, an error, six runs. Plenty enough for the Rockies to skate through the game, especially as Nicasio allowed only one harmless tally by the Cards through 7 innings.
The Rockies scored a single run in the second, then blew the game wide open in the fourth. They score 5 more, and were a single shy of the team cycle, as Carlos Gonzalez doubled, Ryan Spilborghs tripled and Chris Iannetta crushed the first of his two dingers on the night. 12-0 after the fourth, enough even for the Rockies bullpen to cruise. Righty Greg Reynolds took over in the eighth, and had a forgettable outing. He surrendered a lead-off walk and three hits that led to three runs for the Cardinals. Iannetta pounded his second homer of the contest in the bottom of the eighth to drive in Ty Wigginton ahead of him. 6 RBIs for Iannetta, a career high for one game. Finally, a 15-4 lead that Huston Street could protect. He pitched the ninth, giving up two hits, as the rain began to fall. I had absolutely, positively, all the faith in the world that Street would not blow this lead (Matt Reynolds was warming up in the 'pen, so Tracy did have a security blanket, just in case. Just sayin')
Great way to begin a career Juan. One start, seven quality innings, zero ERA, one and oh record. Alison and my sister Meri and my Mom (Mabel, G-Ma to you all) are very, very happy. They have gotten to know Nicasio over the last several spring trainings, and by all accounts, a very nice young man. Is he single, Alison?
A breath of fresh air, Juan Nicasio made his Major League debut tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals. He surrendered 6 hits and one run (unearned), walking two and striking out two. He pitched effectively, keeping the Cardinal hitters off-balance with 97-MPH fastballs and decent command of his off-speed offerings. He had the luxury of pitching with a lead, a really big lead, as the slumbering lumber for the Colorado Rockies awoke to build a 12-0 lead after only four innings. Nicasio's big-league career began with a base hit by lead-off hitter SS Ryan Theriot on the game's first pitch. LF Jon Jay followed with a sharp grounder up the middle, as Nicasio managed to just get a finger of his glove on the ball, slowing it down enough for Rockies' SS Troy Tulowitzki to grab, step on second and fire to first baseman Todd Helton for the Rockies' 52nd double play of the season. The first inning continued, as Nicasio walked 1B Albert Pujols on four pitches, RF Lance Berkman continued his torrid hitting by singling to right. Last night's main Rockie tormentor, CF Colby Rasmus, flied out meekly to left field to end the inning, sigh of relief.
It did not take long for the Rockies to provide rookie Nicasio with a lead to work with. 2B Eric Young, Jr. bounced a high-hopper over the outstretched reach of P Jaime (hi-mee) Garcia and into the chest of Theriot just behind the mound. Theriot was charged with an error, and EY proceeded to steal second, the first successful stolen base for the Rockies since, well since Moby Dick was a fucking minnow. CF Dexter Fowler walked, LF Carlos Gonzalez singled, plating Young and sending Fowler to third. Gonzalez took second on the throw from the outfield. Tulo dribbled a slow roller to third that Dexter scored on, and forced CarGo to remain at second. Remarkable, as my daughter Alison pointed out, that a Rockies runner actually did not get thrown out at home on the contact play. The contact play is so named when the runner on third, with less than two outs and a force play not in effect, is directed to break for the plate if the batter makes contact. Frustrating as this play has been in the recent weeks, Dexter scored easily, as he got a great read on the slow tapper, and Tulowitzki barely beat the throw to first from 3B Daniel Descalso. 1B Todd Helton then muscled a single to shallow right that loaded the bases, with still nobody out. Now, this is where the Rockies of the last three weeks would have meekly found a way to waste a golden opportunity to widen a lead with a strikeout and a double play. Well, 3B Ty Wigginton struck out, and I said out loud, "uh oh, here we go." Well, take this Saki: RF Ryan Spilborghs gutted out a 9-pitch at-bat and drew a walk from the beleagered Jaime (hi you) Garcia. That drove in CarGo with the third run of the opening frame, still only one out. C Chris Iannetta stroked a single to center, chasing home Tulowitzki and a speedy (?) Todd Helton. Rookie Johnny Victory then did the smart thing, don't fuck up the rally by doing something stupid, like ground into a double play. Cheers to manager Jim Tracy! He signalled third base coach Rich Dauer to signal Nicasio to weakly attempt to bunt three times, and return to the dugout to rest up. Well Done! Two outs, and up comes EY-JR for the second time in the inning. Young raked a single through the hole at short, driving in Spilly with the sixth run of the game. Another rarity: the two-out RBI! No matter that Fowler ended the home-half of the first by grounding out, the Rockies were off and running. 5 singles, 2 walks, an error, six runs. Plenty enough for the Rockies to skate through the game, especially as Nicasio allowed only one harmless tally by the Cards through 7 innings.
The Rockies scored a single run in the second, then blew the game wide open in the fourth. They score 5 more, and were a single shy of the team cycle, as Carlos Gonzalez doubled, Ryan Spilborghs tripled and Chris Iannetta crushed the first of his two dingers on the night. 12-0 after the fourth, enough even for the Rockies bullpen to cruise. Righty Greg Reynolds took over in the eighth, and had a forgettable outing. He surrendered a lead-off walk and three hits that led to three runs for the Cardinals. Iannetta pounded his second homer of the contest in the bottom of the eighth to drive in Ty Wigginton ahead of him. 6 RBIs for Iannetta, a career high for one game. Finally, a 15-4 lead that Huston Street could protect. He pitched the ninth, giving up two hits, as the rain began to fall. I had absolutely, positively, all the faith in the world that Street would not blow this lead (Matt Reynolds was warming up in the 'pen, so Tracy did have a security blanket, just in case. Just sayin')
Great way to begin a career Juan. One start, seven quality innings, zero ERA, one and oh record. Alison and my sister Meri and my Mom (Mabel, G-Ma to you all) are very, very happy. They have gotten to know Nicasio over the last several spring trainings, and by all accounts, a very nice young man. Is he single, Alison?
Friday, May 27, 2011
Snakebitten and Left For Dead
I'd say that last night's latest loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks was disappointing, but disappointment is not the word that really captures the mood of Rockies fans right now. Let's try to put this all in perspective. There are still 113 games left in the regular season, so it's not like the Rockies are out of contention. They are only 3 games behind the West Division leaders, the San Francisco Giants, who lost their best player, catcher Buster Posey to a broken leg Wednesday night. They are 1-1/2 games behind the second-place D-Backs, who, by most accounts, don't have the firepower to hang in there for a whole season. The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers are not really a threat to contend. So, it stands to reason that the Rockies should be able to right the ship and assume their deserved spot atop the National League West. Hold on. This team looks and plays like they expect to lose. Trying too hard?
Now that we are into the 9th inning of tonight's game with the Cardinals, and the home town baseballers are down 10-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals, I'd say that this team needs major counseling. Ubaldo Jimenez allowed 12 hits and 6 runs in 6 painful innings. Something's wrong with Ubaldo's arm, elbow or shoulder. And head. He's lost out there on the mound, and Major League batters are having their way with him. I don't care that coaches, trainers and Ubaldo himself insist that there's nothing wrong, healthwise. There is. Definitely.
After the 3rd inning, the Rockies go 1-2-3 out in the 5th, the 6th, the 7th, and only one baserunner each in the 8th and 9th, both reaching on HBP (hit by pitcher). Anemic, anemic, pathetic.
The Rockies cut loose of Jose Lopez, who was supposed to supplant traded Clint Barmes. They gave up on Felipe Paulino, whom they traded for from the Houston Astros, for, you guessed it, Clint Barmes. With Jorge De La Rosa out for the year, the Rockies called up Bruce Billings (who?) from Colorado Springs (2-2 record, 18 relief appearances, 5.06 ERA, 39 hits allowed, 14 walks and 27 strikeouts in 32 innings). Pedestrian numbers, and he's making his Major League debut right now, and he's getting hit pretty hard, 10 batters faced, 5 hits, one run in two innings. He'll be back in the Springs in a day or two. Thanks kid, enjoy your cup of coffee, leave the uniform in your locker before you go. Eric Young, Jr. was also called up to replace the departed Jose Lopez, and the Rox are hoping that his .363 batting average down on the farm translates into some success in the bigs. I thought the triple that Colby Rasmus hit in the 6th, Dexter would have caught. Rasmus even slowed up when he hit it, thinking it would be caught. EY took a bad route and had the ball go over his outstretched glove to the wall. Also, the Yadier Molina double in the 9th quite possibly would have been tracked down by Dex. But, none of this would have kept the Cardinals from winning. 19 hits, 10 runs off three Colorado pitchers. 3 runs on 5 hits for the Rockies, none after the starter, and winner, Jake Westbrook departed the game after 5 innings with a 6-3 lead. Oh, by the way, Westbrook was the Rockies' 1st round draft pick in the 1996 draft. Take that!
Just another ho-hum loss by the sinking Rockies. It makes me sad that devout and hopeful Rockies fans are really starting to doubt the direction of the team. By direction, I mean the directors of this sour orchestra. Why is nobody calling out manager Jim Tracy, pitching coach Bob Apodaca, hitting coach Carney Lansford, even Dan O'Dowd? It's time for the kid gloves to come off. The first closed-door meeting with coaches and players resulted in one measly 12-4 blow-out (of the Diamondbacks). A 7-18 record in May (so far) is reminiscent of the September collapse last season when they lost 10 out of the final 11 games of the season to fall completely out of playoff contention. The fall may happen sooner this year, at the present rate, and with the present manner of operation.
Now that we are into the 9th inning of tonight's game with the Cardinals, and the home town baseballers are down 10-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals, I'd say that this team needs major counseling. Ubaldo Jimenez allowed 12 hits and 6 runs in 6 painful innings. Something's wrong with Ubaldo's arm, elbow or shoulder. And head. He's lost out there on the mound, and Major League batters are having their way with him. I don't care that coaches, trainers and Ubaldo himself insist that there's nothing wrong, healthwise. There is. Definitely.
After the 3rd inning, the Rockies go 1-2-3 out in the 5th, the 6th, the 7th, and only one baserunner each in the 8th and 9th, both reaching on HBP (hit by pitcher). Anemic, anemic, pathetic.
The Rockies cut loose of Jose Lopez, who was supposed to supplant traded Clint Barmes. They gave up on Felipe Paulino, whom they traded for from the Houston Astros, for, you guessed it, Clint Barmes. With Jorge De La Rosa out for the year, the Rockies called up Bruce Billings (who?) from Colorado Springs (2-2 record, 18 relief appearances, 5.06 ERA, 39 hits allowed, 14 walks and 27 strikeouts in 32 innings). Pedestrian numbers, and he's making his Major League debut right now, and he's getting hit pretty hard, 10 batters faced, 5 hits, one run in two innings. He'll be back in the Springs in a day or two. Thanks kid, enjoy your cup of coffee, leave the uniform in your locker before you go. Eric Young, Jr. was also called up to replace the departed Jose Lopez, and the Rox are hoping that his .363 batting average down on the farm translates into some success in the bigs. I thought the triple that Colby Rasmus hit in the 6th, Dexter would have caught. Rasmus even slowed up when he hit it, thinking it would be caught. EY took a bad route and had the ball go over his outstretched glove to the wall. Also, the Yadier Molina double in the 9th quite possibly would have been tracked down by Dex. But, none of this would have kept the Cardinals from winning. 19 hits, 10 runs off three Colorado pitchers. 3 runs on 5 hits for the Rockies, none after the starter, and winner, Jake Westbrook departed the game after 5 innings with a 6-3 lead. Oh, by the way, Westbrook was the Rockies' 1st round draft pick in the 1996 draft. Take that!
Just another ho-hum loss by the sinking Rockies. It makes me sad that devout and hopeful Rockies fans are really starting to doubt the direction of the team. By direction, I mean the directors of this sour orchestra. Why is nobody calling out manager Jim Tracy, pitching coach Bob Apodaca, hitting coach Carney Lansford, even Dan O'Dowd? It's time for the kid gloves to come off. The first closed-door meeting with coaches and players resulted in one measly 12-4 blow-out (of the Diamondbacks). A 7-18 record in May (so far) is reminiscent of the September collapse last season when they lost 10 out of the final 11 games of the season to fall completely out of playoff contention. The fall may happen sooner this year, at the present rate, and with the present manner of operation.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Shootin' Blanks, Again
Ho hum, Groundhog Day at Coors Field. I'd start by saying that this is getting old, but it was old 3 fucking weeks ago. The difference between Bill Murray and Jim Tracy, is that Murray's character, Phil Connors, makes small adjustments to the daily routine, and gradually improves his outlook and attitude, and gets the girl in the end. It doesn't seem to matter what Tracy does, he keeps stepping into that same goddamn puddle, day after day after day.
Jason Hammel pitched well enough to win, as in zero earned runs, but Tracy's move to give SS Troy Tulowitzki a day off, came back to bite the Rockies right on their groundhog ass. D-Backs' 3B Ryan Roberts grounded a routine three-hopper to shortstop (where Tulo is mostly automatic), substitute SS Alfredo Amezaga fields it cleanly and throws a lollipop that Todd Helton could not bring down in time to tag out the sliding Roberts. Then, the Diamondbacks accomplished what the Rockies cannot seem to: key hits and productive at-bats to score two runs. First after Roberts reached on Amezaga's error, 2B Kelly Johnson doubles to right, giving Arizona runners at 2nd and 3rd, no outs. A ground ball by RF Justin Upton drives in Roberts, Johnson holds at 2nd. SS Stephen Drew flies out deep to left, Johnson tags and advances to 3rd, one out. CF Chris Young bloops a single to left and Johnson scores with the second run, enough, as it turns out, to beat the anemic Rockies.
Arizona pitcher, Ian Kennedy, has started three games vs the Rockies this season, and the D-Backs have won all three. Last season the Rox were 2-2 in games that Kennedy started. The Rockies, for what passes as their definition of aggressive, made 11 outs on first pitches in their languid at-bats. Only one first pitch hit, which means that they are anxious to produce, but they are over-anxious and undisciplined at the plate. Also thus far, three games into the four game series with the Diamondbacks, Arizona has 7 stolen bases (8 attempts), and the Rockies have zero!!
During Spring Training, Jim Tracy continually stressed that a major area of emphasis was the Rockies' 2010 record in games decided by one run. They were horrible, worst in the National League West. After beginning this season winning 5 out of 7 contests decided by a single run in April, the Rockies, in May, have lost 9 out of 10 one-run decisions. That, is the definition of a deep friggin' mud puddle.
The players and fans still spew optimism and hope: there's still alot of baseball yet to be played, every team goes through tough stretches, we're just a few breaks from running off a winning streak, we're still only 3 games out of first, the breaks will start going our way, we have to focus on one game at a time, blah blah fucking blah. The fact is, this team, not just Tulowitzki, needs to face up to the facts. The facts show, that this team is in 3rd place in the West, and sinking. When will the enormous promise and potential of this team begin showing up in the WIN column? Will these Rockies be buyers or sellers by the time that the July 31st trade deadline approaches? It's high time to start checking the ammunition, because the bullets they're using lately, are not potent enough to accomplish playing any meaningful games in September.
By the way, the Yankees are back in first. Mariano Rivera became the first pitcher in Major League history to appear in 1,000 games with just one team. Derek Jeter is at 2,975 hits. If the Rockies don't improve soon, this blog will be primarily a New York Yankee diary. It's less frustrating, less Groundhoggy.
Jason Hammel pitched well enough to win, as in zero earned runs, but Tracy's move to give SS Troy Tulowitzki a day off, came back to bite the Rockies right on their groundhog ass. D-Backs' 3B Ryan Roberts grounded a routine three-hopper to shortstop (where Tulo is mostly automatic), substitute SS Alfredo Amezaga fields it cleanly and throws a lollipop that Todd Helton could not bring down in time to tag out the sliding Roberts. Then, the Diamondbacks accomplished what the Rockies cannot seem to: key hits and productive at-bats to score two runs. First after Roberts reached on Amezaga's error, 2B Kelly Johnson doubles to right, giving Arizona runners at 2nd and 3rd, no outs. A ground ball by RF Justin Upton drives in Roberts, Johnson holds at 2nd. SS Stephen Drew flies out deep to left, Johnson tags and advances to 3rd, one out. CF Chris Young bloops a single to left and Johnson scores with the second run, enough, as it turns out, to beat the anemic Rockies.
Arizona pitcher, Ian Kennedy, has started three games vs the Rockies this season, and the D-Backs have won all three. Last season the Rox were 2-2 in games that Kennedy started. The Rockies, for what passes as their definition of aggressive, made 11 outs on first pitches in their languid at-bats. Only one first pitch hit, which means that they are anxious to produce, but they are over-anxious and undisciplined at the plate. Also thus far, three games into the four game series with the Diamondbacks, Arizona has 7 stolen bases (8 attempts), and the Rockies have zero!!
During Spring Training, Jim Tracy continually stressed that a major area of emphasis was the Rockies' 2010 record in games decided by one run. They were horrible, worst in the National League West. After beginning this season winning 5 out of 7 contests decided by a single run in April, the Rockies, in May, have lost 9 out of 10 one-run decisions. That, is the definition of a deep friggin' mud puddle.
The players and fans still spew optimism and hope: there's still alot of baseball yet to be played, every team goes through tough stretches, we're just a few breaks from running off a winning streak, we're still only 3 games out of first, the breaks will start going our way, we have to focus on one game at a time, blah blah fucking blah. The fact is, this team, not just Tulowitzki, needs to face up to the facts. The facts show, that this team is in 3rd place in the West, and sinking. When will the enormous promise and potential of this team begin showing up in the WIN column? Will these Rockies be buyers or sellers by the time that the July 31st trade deadline approaches? It's high time to start checking the ammunition, because the bullets they're using lately, are not potent enough to accomplish playing any meaningful games in September.
By the way, the Yankees are back in first. Mariano Rivera became the first pitcher in Major League history to appear in 1,000 games with just one team. Derek Jeter is at 2,975 hits. If the Rockies don't improve soon, this blog will be primarily a New York Yankee diary. It's less frustrating, less Groundhoggy.
Jorrible News For Jorge
Tuesday dawned dark and dreary, and it did not get any brighter. Sure, the Rockies' bats came alive in the afternoon end of the day-night double-header. Led by Carlos Gonzalez's two home runs and a 14-hit attack, the Rox pummeled the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-4 to temporarily crawl within 3 games of the first-place San Francisco Giants. Sure, the Rockies registered their 17th come-from-behind victory of the season after spotting the D-Backs a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Sure, Dexter Fowler seemed to benefit from his move to the 2-hole hitting behind Jonathan Herrera, as the 1-2-3-4-5 hitters in the Rockies' order combined for 8 hits, 8 runs and all 12 RBIs in the game. Sure, it was great to see the bullpen keep the snakes in check after the third inning.
But, the joy was muffled as it was discovered that Jorge De La Rosa's season is over. It was announced, after an MRI examination, that a ligament in his left elbow was torn, necessitating Tommy John surgery to repair the injury. Typically, recuperation and rehabilitation requires a minimum of a year, but the arm usually is as strong or, in some cases, stronger than pre-injury. De La Rosa was on his way to another strong season, and talk was that he was definitely headed toward his first All-Star roster selection. At best, he will return to action on the Major League level next summer. Now, we need Aaron Cook to step up and assume the role that he occupied in 2008, when he led the Rockies with 16 wins. Greg Reynolds gave a good account of himself Tuesday, as he came in to relieve DeLa when the lefty from Mexico could not continue with one out in the third. Clayton Mortensen has pitched well, Jhoulis Chacin was excellent before yesterday's loss in the second game of the twin-tilt. Jason Hammel needs to buck up and stay consistent in the strike zone. All in all, the staff has the potential to weather a full season, IF there are no further injuries, and IF the bullpen can muster the onions to hold the fort in the late innings. Not to mention, IF the Rockies can hit more like killers and less like kittens.
The second game of the double-header was more like the Rockies of May. Two home runs, both with nobody on base (Jason Giambi, his 6th of the year, 5th in a week and Ty Wigginton, his 3rd). The Rockies failed to have a lead-off batter reach base in all 9 innings. The Diamondbacks, on the other hand, were the recipients of two lead-off walks, the only two that Chacin allowed, and they both scored. The Rockies' batters went down 1-2-3 in order 5 times, and had more than one baserunner in only three innings. Dexter Fowler was thrown out at home in the third inning trying to score on a wild pitch, and manager Jim Tracy was thrown out of the game by home plate umpire Mark Wegner for arguing the call. Troy Tulowitzki misjudged a ball hit by Stephen Drew in the sixth that would have kept the score 3-1, but even though Drew was awarded a hit on the play, Tulo could have, and should have, fielded it.
The Rockies of May seem to hit in bunches, Hell's Bells in one game, then Meek Mice for the next few. They get good-enough pitching and can't score. The so-called-in-spring-training emphasis on "aggressive" base running has not materialized. They have run into more outs than runs created. Only 3 teams in the National League have fewer stolen bases than these no-go Rockies. Only 4 teams in the NL have a lower batting average. The Rockies are 4th in the NL in runs scored, but as I pointed out before, they have won only 4 games this season when scoring less than 4 runs. The Giants have won 12 games scoring less than 4, and they are 3 games ahead of these Rocks.
This is a flawed team, and the season, with 115 games remaining before the playoffs, MUST get tougher, meaner, more aggressive. Pitch inside with purpose, pound the strike zone, quit nibbling, shorten swings with two strikes, or when there are two outs. Quit playing like choir boys, and start playing like they hate to lose even one game. Act Hungry! The pieces that General Manager Dan O'Dowd has assembled, both in the Major and Minor Leagues, must put pressure on each other to produce or perish.
But, the joy was muffled as it was discovered that Jorge De La Rosa's season is over. It was announced, after an MRI examination, that a ligament in his left elbow was torn, necessitating Tommy John surgery to repair the injury. Typically, recuperation and rehabilitation requires a minimum of a year, but the arm usually is as strong or, in some cases, stronger than pre-injury. De La Rosa was on his way to another strong season, and talk was that he was definitely headed toward his first All-Star roster selection. At best, he will return to action on the Major League level next summer. Now, we need Aaron Cook to step up and assume the role that he occupied in 2008, when he led the Rockies with 16 wins. Greg Reynolds gave a good account of himself Tuesday, as he came in to relieve DeLa when the lefty from Mexico could not continue with one out in the third. Clayton Mortensen has pitched well, Jhoulis Chacin was excellent before yesterday's loss in the second game of the twin-tilt. Jason Hammel needs to buck up and stay consistent in the strike zone. All in all, the staff has the potential to weather a full season, IF there are no further injuries, and IF the bullpen can muster the onions to hold the fort in the late innings. Not to mention, IF the Rockies can hit more like killers and less like kittens.
The second game of the double-header was more like the Rockies of May. Two home runs, both with nobody on base (Jason Giambi, his 6th of the year, 5th in a week and Ty Wigginton, his 3rd). The Rockies failed to have a lead-off batter reach base in all 9 innings. The Diamondbacks, on the other hand, were the recipients of two lead-off walks, the only two that Chacin allowed, and they both scored. The Rockies' batters went down 1-2-3 in order 5 times, and had more than one baserunner in only three innings. Dexter Fowler was thrown out at home in the third inning trying to score on a wild pitch, and manager Jim Tracy was thrown out of the game by home plate umpire Mark Wegner for arguing the call. Troy Tulowitzki misjudged a ball hit by Stephen Drew in the sixth that would have kept the score 3-1, but even though Drew was awarded a hit on the play, Tulo could have, and should have, fielded it.
The Rockies of May seem to hit in bunches, Hell's Bells in one game, then Meek Mice for the next few. They get good-enough pitching and can't score. The so-called-in-spring-training emphasis on "aggressive" base running has not materialized. They have run into more outs than runs created. Only 3 teams in the National League have fewer stolen bases than these no-go Rockies. Only 4 teams in the NL have a lower batting average. The Rockies are 4th in the NL in runs scored, but as I pointed out before, they have won only 4 games this season when scoring less than 4 runs. The Giants have won 12 games scoring less than 4, and they are 3 games ahead of these Rocks.
This is a flawed team, and the season, with 115 games remaining before the playoffs, MUST get tougher, meaner, more aggressive. Pitch inside with purpose, pound the strike zone, quit nibbling, shorten swings with two strikes, or when there are two outs. Quit playing like choir boys, and start playing like they hate to lose even one game. Act Hungry! The pieces that General Manager Dan O'Dowd has assembled, both in the Major and Minor Leagues, must put pressure on each other to produce or perish.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Rocky Road
Monday, a much needed day off. The Colorado Rockies concluded a very 2006-like road trip. In 2006, current Rockies players, Troy Tulowitzki, Ubaldo Jimenez, Ryan Spilborghs and Chris Iannetta made their debuts with the team. In 2006, the Rockies finished the season in last place in the National League West Division with a 75-87 record, with a road record of 31-50.
I'm not saying that this 2011 Rockies team is a last-place type bunch, but they are not performing much like the squad that burst out of the gates this spring hot and in first place through most of the month of April. But, there has not been much to encourage the Rocky Mountain faithful these last few weeks. The most positive news lately has been for some pretty weak accomplishments. To wit: 1) today, Ubaldo Jimenez pitched his first complete game since last year on September 1, limiting the Milwaukee Brewers to two hits, and he lost! 2) relief pitcher Felipe Paulino was released from the roster as no trades could be consummated, and Rockies fans rejoice. 3) trying to think of a third item to cheer about, I'll have to get back to you on that one.
Sunday's game did make Rockies history. It marked the first time ever the club lost a game when giving up less than three hits. The last time Ubaldo finished a game he started, the Rockies lost 1-0, to San Francisco, when he gave up twice as many hits, 4. A big difference is that today, he walked 5 and hit a batter. And the Rox committed another error that cost them a run. Defense is one area that the team hangs its hat on, usually. Though they are near the top of the league in double plays (third, behind St. Louis and San Diego), above the league average in number of errors made, and second in the league in defensive efficiency, errors are more glaring and costly when your team's margin for success is so slim when you've only won 4 games all year when scoring less than 4 runs. Only 4 teams in the NL have surrendered more home runs. Of the 152 walks given up by the Rockies' pitchers, 74 have come around to score. Of the 13 batters Rockies' hurlers have plunked, 6 have scored. So, it's these stats that hurt, when you are struggling to score runs in close games.
The Rockies are 6-14 for the month of May, 23-22 for the season, 3-1/2 games behind the San Francisco Giants. The season is not lost, but it's slipping. True fans remain very optimistic, but real students of the game are generally pessimistic, because, let's face it - the game of baseball is a game won by teams that suck the least and fail less often. On general principle, I am not giving up, but mediocrity is something that I do not feel compelled to champion. I hope we don't have to suffer through another 2006.
I'm not saying that this 2011 Rockies team is a last-place type bunch, but they are not performing much like the squad that burst out of the gates this spring hot and in first place through most of the month of April. But, there has not been much to encourage the Rocky Mountain faithful these last few weeks. The most positive news lately has been for some pretty weak accomplishments. To wit: 1) today, Ubaldo Jimenez pitched his first complete game since last year on September 1, limiting the Milwaukee Brewers to two hits, and he lost! 2) relief pitcher Felipe Paulino was released from the roster as no trades could be consummated, and Rockies fans rejoice. 3) trying to think of a third item to cheer about, I'll have to get back to you on that one.
Sunday's game did make Rockies history. It marked the first time ever the club lost a game when giving up less than three hits. The last time Ubaldo finished a game he started, the Rockies lost 1-0, to San Francisco, when he gave up twice as many hits, 4. A big difference is that today, he walked 5 and hit a batter. And the Rox committed another error that cost them a run. Defense is one area that the team hangs its hat on, usually. Though they are near the top of the league in double plays (third, behind St. Louis and San Diego), above the league average in number of errors made, and second in the league in defensive efficiency, errors are more glaring and costly when your team's margin for success is so slim when you've only won 4 games all year when scoring less than 4 runs. Only 4 teams in the NL have surrendered more home runs. Of the 152 walks given up by the Rockies' pitchers, 74 have come around to score. Of the 13 batters Rockies' hurlers have plunked, 6 have scored. So, it's these stats that hurt, when you are struggling to score runs in close games.
The Rockies are 6-14 for the month of May, 23-22 for the season, 3-1/2 games behind the San Francisco Giants. The season is not lost, but it's slipping. True fans remain very optimistic, but real students of the game are generally pessimistic, because, let's face it - the game of baseball is a game won by teams that suck the least and fail less often. On general principle, I am not giving up, but mediocrity is something that I do not feel compelled to champion. I hope we don't have to suffer through another 2006.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
A Tragic Trifecta
I purposely waited until this morning, a full night's sleep, after last night's disappointing loss, to write this. I was too pissed to review the game right away. I have personally watched thousands of baseball games, and Friday evening's crushing crawl-off loss to the Milwaukee Brewers was like a black and white snapshot of this Colorado Rockies team.
Here's the tragedy in a nutshell:
Rockies' subs have to produce, as,
1) Todd Helton missed his second straight game with a stiff back, Jason Giambi fills in with another home run in the 6th inning to give the Rockies a 4-2 lead.
2) Carlos Gonzalez tweaked his groin in Philadelphia Thursday night, not seriously, but enough to rest on Friday. Ty Wigginton filled in admirably in left, going 3 for 6 with two doubles and 2 runs scored.
3) Troy Tulowitzki was ejected by home plate umpire Rob Drake in the eight inning for arguing Drake's apparent visual impairments. This led to personnel changes that required Jason Giambi to leave the game. Wigginton to first, Ryan Spilborghs to left. and Alfredo Amezaga to shortstop. Tulo is in a funk at the plate, 4 for his last 24 with numerous runners left on base when runs are at a premium for the Rockies. Seven one-run losses in May (so far) could keep them from playing into October.
4) Jose Lopez's defense at third almost makes me wish Ian Stewart were here. I mean the Ian Stewart of 2009, good bat, excellent glove. Lopez fields and throws like he hits - really good, or just terrible.
5) The relief staff needs to get schooled in the fine art of pitching inside, way inside. Get those hitters uncomfortable at the plate. Why waste a pitch that's way outside, when a pitch up and in would unsettle a hitter's timing? The Rockies lead the Major Leagues in wild pitches, by a large margin, and the wild ones are always outside bouncers, away from the batter, who is not even tempted to swing, while the runners merrily scamper into scoring position, or home with a gift-wrapped run. I'd just as soon see the pitching staff lead the league in hit-batters. At least teams would know ahead of time that they shouldn't get too comfortable at the plate, especially in late innings when they seem to know exactly what's coming, fat, juicy and down the middle.
The real culprit is the relief staff. Jason Hammel should have earned the win, well he pitched and hit well enough. Witness: 6-2/3rds innings, 2 earned runs and he blasted a two-run homer himself. The third run he gave up was because of Lopez's two-errors-on-one-play gaffe that Stewart would have gobbled up easily. But, then, Rafael Betancourt gives up a bomb to Casey McGehee in the eighth inning, his only fucking inning he's supposed to pitch in every fucking game. Betancourt has surrendered 11 hits in his last 6 appearances in the eighth innings of games that the Rockies either led or were tied. Throw in (literally) 3 balks, three bombs and three blown saves, and we wonder what he's got to do to maybe be demoted to the eighth inning in, let's say, TULSA!! Matt Reynolds, Matt Lindstrom, Matt Belisle and Matt Daley do excellent work to keep the Rockies poised to pull out the first extra-inning win of the year. (Wow, there's gotta be a nickname for a bullpen with 4 Matts that doesn't include floor matts, or door mats, just sayin'). The Rocks take the lead in the 13th with back-to-back two-out extra-base hits from Amezaga and Seth Smith. Our intrepid closer, Huston Street enters the game and promptly surrenders a home run to Yuniesky Betancourt (no relation to Rafael) who dug in against Street's assortment of 84 mph offerings and deposited one he liked deep into the cheap seats in left-center. Rockies scrambled to get a break by dodging a double play courtesy of Y. Betancourt's bobble of Chris Iannetta's easy grounder with Wigginton on first. Jhoulis Chacin pinch hits, to sacrifice bunt, only he sacrifices Wigginton at third with a very poor bunt attempt. Dexter Fowler comes through with a single to left that scores Iannetta with the winning run, right? Not so fast, Felipe Paulino, the literal last man in the bullpen, retires JJ Hardy, gives up a 4-pitch walk to Ryan Braun, and grooves a first-pitch 97 mph pitch right into Prince Fielder's wheelhouse, and he deposits the walk-off bomb deep into the night. Paulino's 4th loss of the year, opposing batters are hitting .383 against him.
Three Blown Saves and a Loss, in the same game, for the Rockies bullpen. Pathetic.
Here's the tragedy in a nutshell:
Rockies' subs have to produce, as,
1) Todd Helton missed his second straight game with a stiff back, Jason Giambi fills in with another home run in the 6th inning to give the Rockies a 4-2 lead.
2) Carlos Gonzalez tweaked his groin in Philadelphia Thursday night, not seriously, but enough to rest on Friday. Ty Wigginton filled in admirably in left, going 3 for 6 with two doubles and 2 runs scored.
3) Troy Tulowitzki was ejected by home plate umpire Rob Drake in the eight inning for arguing Drake's apparent visual impairments. This led to personnel changes that required Jason Giambi to leave the game. Wigginton to first, Ryan Spilborghs to left. and Alfredo Amezaga to shortstop. Tulo is in a funk at the plate, 4 for his last 24 with numerous runners left on base when runs are at a premium for the Rockies. Seven one-run losses in May (so far) could keep them from playing into October.
4) Jose Lopez's defense at third almost makes me wish Ian Stewart were here. I mean the Ian Stewart of 2009, good bat, excellent glove. Lopez fields and throws like he hits - really good, or just terrible.
5) The relief staff needs to get schooled in the fine art of pitching inside, way inside. Get those hitters uncomfortable at the plate. Why waste a pitch that's way outside, when a pitch up and in would unsettle a hitter's timing? The Rockies lead the Major Leagues in wild pitches, by a large margin, and the wild ones are always outside bouncers, away from the batter, who is not even tempted to swing, while the runners merrily scamper into scoring position, or home with a gift-wrapped run. I'd just as soon see the pitching staff lead the league in hit-batters. At least teams would know ahead of time that they shouldn't get too comfortable at the plate, especially in late innings when they seem to know exactly what's coming, fat, juicy and down the middle.
The real culprit is the relief staff. Jason Hammel should have earned the win, well he pitched and hit well enough. Witness: 6-2/3rds innings, 2 earned runs and he blasted a two-run homer himself. The third run he gave up was because of Lopez's two-errors-on-one-play gaffe that Stewart would have gobbled up easily. But, then, Rafael Betancourt gives up a bomb to Casey McGehee in the eighth inning, his only fucking inning he's supposed to pitch in every fucking game. Betancourt has surrendered 11 hits in his last 6 appearances in the eighth innings of games that the Rockies either led or were tied. Throw in (literally) 3 balks, three bombs and three blown saves, and we wonder what he's got to do to maybe be demoted to the eighth inning in, let's say, TULSA!! Matt Reynolds, Matt Lindstrom, Matt Belisle and Matt Daley do excellent work to keep the Rockies poised to pull out the first extra-inning win of the year. (Wow, there's gotta be a nickname for a bullpen with 4 Matts that doesn't include floor matts, or door mats, just sayin'). The Rocks take the lead in the 13th with back-to-back two-out extra-base hits from Amezaga and Seth Smith. Our intrepid closer, Huston Street enters the game and promptly surrenders a home run to Yuniesky Betancourt (no relation to Rafael) who dug in against Street's assortment of 84 mph offerings and deposited one he liked deep into the cheap seats in left-center. Rockies scrambled to get a break by dodging a double play courtesy of Y. Betancourt's bobble of Chris Iannetta's easy grounder with Wigginton on first. Jhoulis Chacin pinch hits, to sacrifice bunt, only he sacrifices Wigginton at third with a very poor bunt attempt. Dexter Fowler comes through with a single to left that scores Iannetta with the winning run, right? Not so fast, Felipe Paulino, the literal last man in the bullpen, retires JJ Hardy, gives up a 4-pitch walk to Ryan Braun, and grooves a first-pitch 97 mph pitch right into Prince Fielder's wheelhouse, and he deposits the walk-off bomb deep into the night. Paulino's 4th loss of the year, opposing batters are hitting .383 against him.
Three Blown Saves and a Loss, in the same game, for the Rockies bullpen. Pathetic.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Three Dongs and a Thong
The legend of the Golden Thong has been circulating for awhile. In 2008, an article appeared in The New York Daily News that confirmed the story:
The key to turning the Yankees season around could be under Jason Giambi's pinstriped pants.
The Yankee slugger revealed Friday he slips on a gold lame thong with a flame-line waistband when he's trying to get out of a hitting slump - and he's shared it with his teammates.
"It works every time," Giambi told the Daily News after his secret was outed on Portfolio.com.
Derek Jeter agreed that Giambi's thong works, although "it's so uncomfortable running around the bases."
There is no confirmation tonight that Giambi broke out the renowned undergarment to break out of his season-long slump, but it surely would make a good backstory to his three-home-run game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
The game began under threatening skies, and soon the rain started. Lightly at first, then more intensely as the Rockies built a 3-0 lead on Giambi's first home run, then a 5-0 bulge (another thong reference) on his second blast and finally, a 7-0 lead as Jason The Jockey Wearer bombed his third round-tripper. Giambi accounted for all 7 runs for the Rockies, as the only two things to question were whether the weather would wash out the game before the fifth inning was completed, and if the Giambino could pop his fourth home run of the contest. The rain subsided, the game went a full nine innings, and Giambi struck out in his fourth at-bat (on an obvious bad strike call), and struck out swinging in his final appearance in the ninth. It marked the first time that the muscular first baseman recorded three bombs in one game. The 40-year-old former American League MVP became the second oldest player to hit three in a game, Stan the Man Musial did it in 1962 at age 41. Giambi had recorded 2-homer games 38 times before in his 17-year career.
Jhoulis Chacin pitched a very efficient and dominant 7 innings, surrendering only one run on 4 hits and a walk with 9 strikeouts. He improved to 5-2 on the season and lowered his team-leading ERA to 2.70 while matching Jorge De La Rosa for the team lead in wins.
Jose Lopez stroked four hits, including two doubles, as he made good on manager Jim Tracy's prediction of a few days ago that Lopez was right on the verge of breaking out. Seth Smith went 3 for 4 to raise his season average to .301.
Giambi started at first base when Todd Helton was held out of the lineup as a precaution, with a slightly stiff back and the sloppy, wet weather. The biggest negative for the game, was that Carlos Gonzalez had to leave the game with tightness in his (thongless) groin after slipping in the wet outfield trying to accelerate to catch a bloop hit by C Carlos Ruiz leading off the Phillies half of the third inning. It was the first hit for the Philadelphia squad, which continues to struggle offensively.
A good win for the Rockies, as they split the brief (another one) two-game series with the Phills. On to Milwaukee, where at least they have a roof on Miller Park, in case it rains. Twenty-one rain-outs last year in the entire Major League season, already 31 posponements this year after only a fourth of the season gone.
News was delivered that LHP Franklin Morales was dealt to the Boston Red Sox for future considerations or cash. Might be good for my Yankees. Matt Daley will replace Morales on the Rockies' roster.
Perhaps Giambi's magic thong has some restorative groinal healing powers and he could lend them to CarGo. Hopefully the Rockies' left fielder's injury is a teeny weenie boo boo and he'll be ready to crack the lineup tomorrow.
The Yankee slugger revealed Friday he slips on a gold lame thong with a flame-line waistband when he's trying to get out of a hitting slump - and he's shared it with his teammates.
"It works every time," Giambi told the Daily News after his secret was outed on Portfolio.com.
Derek Jeter agreed that Giambi's thong works, although "it's so uncomfortable running around the bases."
There is no confirmation tonight that Giambi broke out the renowned undergarment to break out of his season-long slump, but it surely would make a good backstory to his three-home-run game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
The game began under threatening skies, and soon the rain started. Lightly at first, then more intensely as the Rockies built a 3-0 lead on Giambi's first home run, then a 5-0 bulge (another thong reference) on his second blast and finally, a 7-0 lead as Jason The Jockey Wearer bombed his third round-tripper. Giambi accounted for all 7 runs for the Rockies, as the only two things to question were whether the weather would wash out the game before the fifth inning was completed, and if the Giambino could pop his fourth home run of the contest. The rain subsided, the game went a full nine innings, and Giambi struck out in his fourth at-bat (on an obvious bad strike call), and struck out swinging in his final appearance in the ninth. It marked the first time that the muscular first baseman recorded three bombs in one game. The 40-year-old former American League MVP became the second oldest player to hit three in a game, Stan the Man Musial did it in 1962 at age 41. Giambi had recorded 2-homer games 38 times before in his 17-year career.
Jhoulis Chacin pitched a very efficient and dominant 7 innings, surrendering only one run on 4 hits and a walk with 9 strikeouts. He improved to 5-2 on the season and lowered his team-leading ERA to 2.70 while matching Jorge De La Rosa for the team lead in wins.
Jose Lopez stroked four hits, including two doubles, as he made good on manager Jim Tracy's prediction of a few days ago that Lopez was right on the verge of breaking out. Seth Smith went 3 for 4 to raise his season average to .301.
Giambi started at first base when Todd Helton was held out of the lineup as a precaution, with a slightly stiff back and the sloppy, wet weather. The biggest negative for the game, was that Carlos Gonzalez had to leave the game with tightness in his (thongless) groin after slipping in the wet outfield trying to accelerate to catch a bloop hit by C Carlos Ruiz leading off the Phillies half of the third inning. It was the first hit for the Philadelphia squad, which continues to struggle offensively.
A good win for the Rockies, as they split the brief (another one) two-game series with the Phills. On to Milwaukee, where at least they have a roof on Miller Park, in case it rains. Twenty-one rain-outs last year in the entire Major League season, already 31 posponements this year after only a fourth of the season gone.
News was delivered that LHP Franklin Morales was dealt to the Boston Red Sox for future considerations or cash. Might be good for my Yankees. Matt Daley will replace Morales on the Rockies' roster.
Perhaps Giambi's magic thong has some restorative groinal healing powers and he could lend them to CarGo. Hopefully the Rockies' left fielder's injury is a teeny weenie boo boo and he'll be ready to crack the lineup tomorrow.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
So Close!
Tonight's game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia was a very good pitching duel between Colorado's Jorge De La Rosa and the Phillies' Cole Hamels. The game, unfortunately, turned on a wild pitch from De La Rosa in the 8th inning that moved 2B Wilson Valdez to third base, where SS Jimmy Rollins drove him in with a sacrifice fly to right field. That drove in the final run in a 2-1 loss for the Rockies. Not much to share here, except that Jason Giambi has done very little, make that, he's done nothing this season to justify his spot on the roster. If he's so good in the clubhouse, make room for him as a coach, and bring up either Charlie Blackmon or Josh Fields from Colorado Springs. Somebody who can possibly provide a bat off the bench that can put the ball in play in crucial late-game situations.
I switched channels from the Rockies-Phillies game when it was over, to the Yankees game in progress against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yard, just in time to see Mariano Rivera blow a save in the 9th inning. He allowed two hits and a sacrifice fly, after Bartolo Colon threw eight innings of 3-hit, shutout ball at the O's.
The game is now going to the 12th inning, as the Orioles left the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th as Yankee reliever Boone Logan came into the game with the bases loaded and only one out. He struck out 1B Luke Scott and retired C Matt Wieters on a flyout to right.
Now, on to the 13th inning, score still tied at 1-1. Orioles left the bases loaded again in the 12th, as the Yankees keep dodging bullets. In the top of the 13th, Yankees get runners on first and third, no outs, and don't score. When you're scuffling, key hits don't happen. Orioles retired in the bottom of the inning. On to the 14th inning. A combined 26 runners left on base so far.
Both Yankees and Orioles fail to score in the 14th. On to the 6th inning of bonus baseball.
Robinson Cano drives in Mark Teixeira with a double to the right-centerfield gap and A-Rod scores as RF Nick Markakis bobbles the ball. The very next batter Dickerson is beaned by a 91 mph fastball from Oriole pitcher Mike Gonzalez. He cracked the forehead portion of the batting helmet, as Dickerson lay on the ground for a scary few minutes. He wanted to stay in the game, after he got new headgear, but manager Joe Girardi took him out as a safety precaution. The home plate umpire immediately ejected Gozalez, the last pitcher in the Orioles' bullpen. Tomorrow's starter, Jeremy Guthrie had to enter the game, and surrendered a sacrifice fly to Brett Gardner, making the score Yankees 4, Orioles 1. On to the bottom of the 15th. Let's see if rookie pitcher Hector Noesi can hold on for his first win in the major leagues.
Crap, Noesi is doing his best Rafael Betancourt impression, as he gives up a single to Markakis, walks Brandon Snyder, a line-drive out to Luke Scott, and a weird single by Matt Wieters. Wieters grounded a base-hit towards right field, but it clanked runner Snyder on the leg. The rule is, the runner is out on the interference rule, Wieters is granted a single, all other runners cannot advance. J.J. Hardy flies out to right field to end a wacky game. Yankees win, thuhhhhhh Yankees win!
Hopefully, the Rockies can salvage a split of the two-game series with the Phillies tomorrow. Jhoulis Chacin should out-duel Joe Blanton. Stay tuned.....
I switched channels from the Rockies-Phillies game when it was over, to the Yankees game in progress against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yard, just in time to see Mariano Rivera blow a save in the 9th inning. He allowed two hits and a sacrifice fly, after Bartolo Colon threw eight innings of 3-hit, shutout ball at the O's.
The game is now going to the 12th inning, as the Orioles left the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th as Yankee reliever Boone Logan came into the game with the bases loaded and only one out. He struck out 1B Luke Scott and retired C Matt Wieters on a flyout to right.
Now, on to the 13th inning, score still tied at 1-1. Orioles left the bases loaded again in the 12th, as the Yankees keep dodging bullets. In the top of the 13th, Yankees get runners on first and third, no outs, and don't score. When you're scuffling, key hits don't happen. Orioles retired in the bottom of the inning. On to the 14th inning. A combined 26 runners left on base so far.
Both Yankees and Orioles fail to score in the 14th. On to the 6th inning of bonus baseball.
Robinson Cano drives in Mark Teixeira with a double to the right-centerfield gap and A-Rod scores as RF Nick Markakis bobbles the ball. The very next batter Dickerson is beaned by a 91 mph fastball from Oriole pitcher Mike Gonzalez. He cracked the forehead portion of the batting helmet, as Dickerson lay on the ground for a scary few minutes. He wanted to stay in the game, after he got new headgear, but manager Joe Girardi took him out as a safety precaution. The home plate umpire immediately ejected Gozalez, the last pitcher in the Orioles' bullpen. Tomorrow's starter, Jeremy Guthrie had to enter the game, and surrendered a sacrifice fly to Brett Gardner, making the score Yankees 4, Orioles 1. On to the bottom of the 15th. Let's see if rookie pitcher Hector Noesi can hold on for his first win in the major leagues.
Crap, Noesi is doing his best Rafael Betancourt impression, as he gives up a single to Markakis, walks Brandon Snyder, a line-drive out to Luke Scott, and a weird single by Matt Wieters. Wieters grounded a base-hit towards right field, but it clanked runner Snyder on the leg. The rule is, the runner is out on the interference rule, Wieters is granted a single, all other runners cannot advance. J.J. Hardy flies out to right field to end a wacky game. Yankees win, thuhhhhhh Yankees win!
Hopefully, the Rockies can salvage a split of the two-game series with the Phillies tomorrow. Jhoulis Chacin should out-duel Joe Blanton. Stay tuned.....
Eternal Hope Begins With Temporary Promise
After watching today's come-from-behind victory of the Colorado Rockies over the San Francisco Giants, I was left with the stirrings of hope. Hope that the Rockies are on the verge of building up some momentum heading into the next quarter of the long season. Hope that Ubaldo Jimenez is beginning to find some answers to the curious ineffectiveness over his first 6 starts of this, so far, winless 2011 campaign. Hope that Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton can continue to produce results in a manner commensurate with our starstruck expectations. And, hope that Franklin Morales and Felipe Paulino can continue to be interested spectators as the Rockies move forward.
The funny thing about baseball is that the talent that major league ballplayers possess often makes us wonder why they cannot duplicate their successes on a more consistent basis. The casual, yet fervent, baseball fan is continually frustrated when major league hitters don't hit every time. They curse when pitchers are battered in crucial situations. They second-guess managers when certain decisions are made in relation to game situations. This frustration is what makes baseball so interesting. Every decision, every pitch, every situation, every substitution can be dissected and critcized. This is especially true when your team is losing, or under-performing. Baseball, at any level, is a very simple game, but to succeed at a high level consistently is very, very difficult. To succeed at the major league level is truly mercurial.
Ubaldo Jimenez began today's contest by throwing 7 consecutive fastballs, none over 93 mph (if you believe the Coors Field radar gun). We're used to seeing his pitches touch 95-98, at least last year, during his unbelievable first half-season last year. But, he got the Giants retired 1-2-3 in the first inning. He continued to throw fastballs almost exclusively in the second inning, when 1B Aubrey Huff lined a double to the left-centerfield gap and SS Miguel Tejada grounded a single between 2B Jonathan Herrera and 1B Ty Wigginton to drive in the game's first run. Both were good pitches, give the hitters credit for putting good wood on the offerings, but it was like C Chris Iannetta was specifically instructed to call nothing but heaters to get Ubaldo going. And, velocity on the pitches never exceeded 94 mph. The Rockies got out of the inning without further damage. Giants pitcher, Jonathan Sanchez, looked as though he was going to make this a very tough day for Rockies hitters. One mistake, he tried to sneak a low slider past SS Troy Tulowitzki in the bottom of the second, but Tulo smacked the not-too-low pitch over the left field wall to tie the score.
Jimenez got the first two outs in the 3rd, then gave up three straight hits and a walk as the Giants took a 3-1 lead. Innings 4 through 7 featured only a total of three harmless singles and a double by the Giants and a lonely single by the Rockies. Ubaldo departed after the 7th inning, with the Rockies trailing 3-1. Matt Belisle surrendered a harmless single by Huff and finished the 8th with the score unchanged.
Giants pitcher Sanchez, who owns a no-hitter (San Diego Padres on July 9, 2009), was cruising along with only 71 pitches through the first 7 innings. He didn't retire a single batter in the eighth. RF Ryan Spilborghs singled to left, Iannetta got an infield hit that Giants 3B Mark DeRosa couldn't handle. Pinch hitter, Alfredo Amezaga laid down a very nice sacrifice bunt between the third base line and pitcher's mound. Sanchez fielded it cleanly, and threw the ball past 2B Mike Fontenot covering first. The ball rolled down the right field line as Spilborghs scored and Iannetta moved to third. Amezega, inexplicably, remained at first, which could have been critical, as the next at-bat unfolded. CF Dexter Fowler faced left-handed Giants reliever Javier Lopez, and proceeded to grind out a spectactular 8-pitch at-bat, fouling off four consecutive offerings before blasting a deep gapper to right-center over a curiously drawn-in Giant outfield. Unfortunately, the ball landed on the warning track, and bounced over the fence, into the Giants' bullpen. Since Amezega had failed to advance to second base on Sanchez's throwing boo-boo, he had to stop at third on Fowler's ground-rule double. Iannetta scored from third on the play to tie the score at 3. Lopez remained in the game to face LF Carlos Gonzalez. Javier Lopez (former Rockie) is a side-winding lefty, who is especially tough on left-handed batters, but Gonzalez pulled a sharp ground ball that found the hole between Huff and Fontenot and scored Amezega and Fowler with the third and fourth runs of the inning, erasing Amezega's base-running gaffe. These are little things that didn't happen to bite the Rockies in the ass during their losing skid. This was the second consecutive game that CarGo drove in the winning runs to cap Colorado Comebacks against the defending World Champs. Huston Street gave up a one-out single to LF Cody Ross, but induced CF Andres Torres to ground into a game-ending double play to secure his 14th save, and reward Belisle with his 4th win (against two losses).
I sincerely hope that the Rockies can continue to do all the right things on their road trip through Philadelphia and Milwaukee. The Rockies regained first place in the National League West with the two-game sweep of the Giants. With the first one-fourth of the season now gone, the promise that the Rockies showed us in the first three weeks of is beginning to give us hope that this is just the new start to a championship season.
The funny thing about baseball is that the talent that major league ballplayers possess often makes us wonder why they cannot duplicate their successes on a more consistent basis. The casual, yet fervent, baseball fan is continually frustrated when major league hitters don't hit every time. They curse when pitchers are battered in crucial situations. They second-guess managers when certain decisions are made in relation to game situations. This frustration is what makes baseball so interesting. Every decision, every pitch, every situation, every substitution can be dissected and critcized. This is especially true when your team is losing, or under-performing. Baseball, at any level, is a very simple game, but to succeed at a high level consistently is very, very difficult. To succeed at the major league level is truly mercurial.
Ubaldo Jimenez began today's contest by throwing 7 consecutive fastballs, none over 93 mph (if you believe the Coors Field radar gun). We're used to seeing his pitches touch 95-98, at least last year, during his unbelievable first half-season last year. But, he got the Giants retired 1-2-3 in the first inning. He continued to throw fastballs almost exclusively in the second inning, when 1B Aubrey Huff lined a double to the left-centerfield gap and SS Miguel Tejada grounded a single between 2B Jonathan Herrera and 1B Ty Wigginton to drive in the game's first run. Both were good pitches, give the hitters credit for putting good wood on the offerings, but it was like C Chris Iannetta was specifically instructed to call nothing but heaters to get Ubaldo going. And, velocity on the pitches never exceeded 94 mph. The Rockies got out of the inning without further damage. Giants pitcher, Jonathan Sanchez, looked as though he was going to make this a very tough day for Rockies hitters. One mistake, he tried to sneak a low slider past SS Troy Tulowitzki in the bottom of the second, but Tulo smacked the not-too-low pitch over the left field wall to tie the score.
Jimenez got the first two outs in the 3rd, then gave up three straight hits and a walk as the Giants took a 3-1 lead. Innings 4 through 7 featured only a total of three harmless singles and a double by the Giants and a lonely single by the Rockies. Ubaldo departed after the 7th inning, with the Rockies trailing 3-1. Matt Belisle surrendered a harmless single by Huff and finished the 8th with the score unchanged.
Giants pitcher Sanchez, who owns a no-hitter (San Diego Padres on July 9, 2009), was cruising along with only 71 pitches through the first 7 innings. He didn't retire a single batter in the eighth. RF Ryan Spilborghs singled to left, Iannetta got an infield hit that Giants 3B Mark DeRosa couldn't handle. Pinch hitter, Alfredo Amezaga laid down a very nice sacrifice bunt between the third base line and pitcher's mound. Sanchez fielded it cleanly, and threw the ball past 2B Mike Fontenot covering first. The ball rolled down the right field line as Spilborghs scored and Iannetta moved to third. Amezega, inexplicably, remained at first, which could have been critical, as the next at-bat unfolded. CF Dexter Fowler faced left-handed Giants reliever Javier Lopez, and proceeded to grind out a spectactular 8-pitch at-bat, fouling off four consecutive offerings before blasting a deep gapper to right-center over a curiously drawn-in Giant outfield. Unfortunately, the ball landed on the warning track, and bounced over the fence, into the Giants' bullpen. Since Amezega had failed to advance to second base on Sanchez's throwing boo-boo, he had to stop at third on Fowler's ground-rule double. Iannetta scored from third on the play to tie the score at 3. Lopez remained in the game to face LF Carlos Gonzalez. Javier Lopez (former Rockie) is a side-winding lefty, who is especially tough on left-handed batters, but Gonzalez pulled a sharp ground ball that found the hole between Huff and Fontenot and scored Amezega and Fowler with the third and fourth runs of the inning, erasing Amezega's base-running gaffe. These are little things that didn't happen to bite the Rockies in the ass during their losing skid. This was the second consecutive game that CarGo drove in the winning runs to cap Colorado Comebacks against the defending World Champs. Huston Street gave up a one-out single to LF Cody Ross, but induced CF Andres Torres to ground into a game-ending double play to secure his 14th save, and reward Belisle with his 4th win (against two losses).
I sincerely hope that the Rockies can continue to do all the right things on their road trip through Philadelphia and Milwaukee. The Rockies regained first place in the National League West with the two-game sweep of the Giants. With the first one-fourth of the season now gone, the promise that the Rockies showed us in the first three weeks of is beginning to give us hope that this is just the new start to a championship season.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Thank You, temporary respite
Last night's Giants-Rockies game, much like yesterday's blog, hinged upon how the home team fared against Tim Lincecum. The results are in; The Freak left the stadium with his (pony)tail between his legs. Thanks to his shaky control (6 walks) the Rockies had traffic on the basepaths in every inning but the third.
The 6th inning proved to be the decisive frame. The Giants took a 4-2 lead in the top of the inning on home runs by CF Andres Torres (solo) and RF Nate Schierholtz (Aubrey Huff on board). The Rockies had taken a short-lived 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 5th on SS Troy Tulowitzki's two-run bases-loaded single. RF Seth Smith led off the home half of the 6th with a deep blast into the second deck in right field. 3B Jose Lopex singled to left. C Jose Morales bounced a one-hopper to Lincecum, who had to wait an instant for SS Miguel Tejada to reach second base to receive the throw. Tejada's momentum and Lincecum's wild toss could not connect, and the Rockies had runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Alfredo Amezaga pinch hit for eventual winning pitcher Clayton Mortensen and struck out. CF Dexter Fowler singled to shallow right-center, plating Lopez with the Rock's tying run. 2B Jonathan Herrera blooped a single to center field that Torres bobbled. Morales should have scored, but he had stopped when rounding third base, both he and 3rd base coach Rich Dauer assuming that the Giants' centerfielder would field the hit cleanly. Because Fowler was already nearly at third, Morales re-started toward home and was thrown out easily by 1B Aubrey Huff's relay to C Buster Posey. Opportunity missed, as many have been the last three weeks by the struggling Rockies. With first base open, and two outs, the Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti visited the mound to talk to Lincecum and the infielders to discuss strategy. I took it as a good sign that they were thinking about walking LF Carlos Gonzalez to load the bases. But, obviously, Tulo's bases-loaded single in the previous inning led them to decide to pitch to CarGo. In the 5th inning, same situation, except that there was only one out when Tulo came to bat, Lincecum threw four pitches to CarGo that proved that they were not going to give the left-handed Gonzalez anything to hit, walked him on four pitches, and Tulo's key hit ensued. So, this time, Lincecum tried to be tricky, left a hanging 81 mph change-up up where CarGo could pound it, into the trees behind the waterfalls, three-run bomb, winning margin.
It was the Rockies' first home run with anybody on base since C Chris Iannetta's two-run shot against Arizona on May 4th. Twelve consecutive solo home runs is a franchise record, and an indication that the Rockies have not hit very well with runners on base during their protracted slump in May. Rafael Betancourt struggled again in his customary 8th inning role as the set-up man to closer Huston Street. Matt Lindstrom came in with two Giants on base to strike out Pat Burrell to end the 8th. Street efficiently dispatched the Giants 1-2-3 on nine pitches, all strikes, for his 13th save.
Sigh of relief, temporary respite from a disappointing home stand, music back on in the locker room. Now, if the 2010 Ubaldo Jimenez can show up at 20th and Blake St this afternoon, life will look better as the Rockies can reclaim first place in the West Division as they take their show on the road to Philly tomorrow.
Oh, the Yankees lost their 6th consecutive game, and I don't want to talk about it.
The 6th inning proved to be the decisive frame. The Giants took a 4-2 lead in the top of the inning on home runs by CF Andres Torres (solo) and RF Nate Schierholtz (Aubrey Huff on board). The Rockies had taken a short-lived 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 5th on SS Troy Tulowitzki's two-run bases-loaded single. RF Seth Smith led off the home half of the 6th with a deep blast into the second deck in right field. 3B Jose Lopex singled to left. C Jose Morales bounced a one-hopper to Lincecum, who had to wait an instant for SS Miguel Tejada to reach second base to receive the throw. Tejada's momentum and Lincecum's wild toss could not connect, and the Rockies had runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Alfredo Amezaga pinch hit for eventual winning pitcher Clayton Mortensen and struck out. CF Dexter Fowler singled to shallow right-center, plating Lopez with the Rock's tying run. 2B Jonathan Herrera blooped a single to center field that Torres bobbled. Morales should have scored, but he had stopped when rounding third base, both he and 3rd base coach Rich Dauer assuming that the Giants' centerfielder would field the hit cleanly. Because Fowler was already nearly at third, Morales re-started toward home and was thrown out easily by 1B Aubrey Huff's relay to C Buster Posey. Opportunity missed, as many have been the last three weeks by the struggling Rockies. With first base open, and two outs, the Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti visited the mound to talk to Lincecum and the infielders to discuss strategy. I took it as a good sign that they were thinking about walking LF Carlos Gonzalez to load the bases. But, obviously, Tulo's bases-loaded single in the previous inning led them to decide to pitch to CarGo. In the 5th inning, same situation, except that there was only one out when Tulo came to bat, Lincecum threw four pitches to CarGo that proved that they were not going to give the left-handed Gonzalez anything to hit, walked him on four pitches, and Tulo's key hit ensued. So, this time, Lincecum tried to be tricky, left a hanging 81 mph change-up up where CarGo could pound it, into the trees behind the waterfalls, three-run bomb, winning margin.
It was the Rockies' first home run with anybody on base since C Chris Iannetta's two-run shot against Arizona on May 4th. Twelve consecutive solo home runs is a franchise record, and an indication that the Rockies have not hit very well with runners on base during their protracted slump in May. Rafael Betancourt struggled again in his customary 8th inning role as the set-up man to closer Huston Street. Matt Lindstrom came in with two Giants on base to strike out Pat Burrell to end the 8th. Street efficiently dispatched the Giants 1-2-3 on nine pitches, all strikes, for his 13th save.
Sigh of relief, temporary respite from a disappointing home stand, music back on in the locker room. Now, if the 2010 Ubaldo Jimenez can show up at 20th and Blake St this afternoon, life will look better as the Rockies can reclaim first place in the West Division as they take their show on the road to Philly tomorrow.
Oh, the Yankees lost their 6th consecutive game, and I don't want to talk about it.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Rockies on the rocks
Okay, the euphoria of the 2011 edition of the Colorado Rockies is long past. Was that really this year, that the Blake Street Bombers started 10 and 2, with the best record in the Major Leagues? It seems like sooooo long ago. The team has gone 10-16 since then, and there is no end in sight to the slide with tonight's game against the defending World Champs and two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum (even though the Freak hasn't pitched that well here in his career). In the last month of games, the Rockies have gone through periods of good pitching with no hitting, good starting pitching with terrible relief and unexplicable faith by manager Jim Tracy in players who are obviously struggling.
When the Rockies were playing well and winning, all facets of their squad were contributing. When the starter gave up a few runs, the offense scored just enough to pull out a win. When the opponent started mounting a threat, the relief staff slammed the door. When one player sat out with an injury, another filled in and produced. But, even then, when things were going well, there were certain signs that it was more smoke and mirrors than powerhouse contender. Ubaldo Jimenez has not been the same as last year's Cy Young contender and All-Star Game starter. Huston Street, even though he converted his first 10 save opportunities, was a purple heart attack waiting to happen. Ian Stewart has fallen off the grid, literally. Newcomers Felipe Paulino and Matt Lindstrom have been mostly ineffective, with Little Paul just plain horrible. Jose Lopez's two singles yesterday had Tracy gushing that Lopez is "right on the cusp of breaking out." Jason Giambi came back to the Mile High City this season specifically because this team was supposedly poised to do something really special. He's 3 for 25 with 4 walks (.120) while going 0 for 2011 as Jim Tracy's 'big-bat-off-the-bench-in-late-game-situations' pinch-hitter, no hits, one walk, no RBIs in 7 pinch-hit appearances (where's the Golden Thong?). Tracy may want to use him as a pinch-runner, so that he can get familiar with where the hell first base is. Carlos Gonzalez? If it weren't for his marvelous defense and 2010 statistics, Seth Smith should be our starting left fielder. Troy Tulowitzki has 10 homers and 24 RBIs, only 2 errors in 118 chances, but it just seems that he's struggling with CarGo scuffling in the 3 hole ahead of him.
There have a been few bright spots. Jonathan Herrera has been all you can ask for in a second baseman and two-hole hitter. I'll put Dexter Fowler in the positive column, even though he is among the league leaders in strikeouts, his on-base-percentage is still very good. He needs to utilize his speed and learn how to use that speed to steal and bunt more. His reading of pitchers' moves and awkward lead-and-first-step are terrible, and his bunting skills are below average. Willy Taveras got tons more infield hits, and he was strictly a right-handed batter. By the way, Willy's just 65 miles south of Coors Field down on the farm, but no real threat to join the big club anytime soon. Jorge De La Rosa has been good, Jhoulis Chacin has been excellent, Jason Hammel (until yesterday) was throwing well, tonight's starter, Clayton Mortensen will be making his second start for the Rockies, boasts a 0.55 ERA in 4 appearances this year (1 earned run in 16+ innings of work). But, he'll be hard-pressed to win tonight. This will be the second time in ten days that the Giants will have faced him, and as I mentioned earlier, Tim 'the Freak' Lincecum is on the hill for the Bay Area Bastards. Chris Iannetta has handled the catching duties well above expectations. He's thrown out 50% (10 of 20) attempting to steal, has no errors and no passed balls. He's got 5 homers and 14 RBIs and is batting .225. (Forget his OBP of .397, he's batted mostly 8th, so with the pitcher batting behind him, he's walked 25 times.)
The Rockies' best player this year, hands down, has been Todd Helton. This is his 15th year as a Colorado Rockie, and we have taken him for granted as he has been a soft-spoken and humble ballplayer throughout his entire Hall of Fame career. He has foiled countless hits and runners this year, as he has done consistently in his 4-Gold-Gloves career. He's batting at a .325 clip (career .324 avg), has hit a suprising 6 dingers, only one error in 296 chances (.997 fielding percentage, career .996).
All-in-all, it's fairly predictable to determine how well your team is doing if your best performer this season is a soon-to-be-38-year-old 15-year veteran. Much like the Baltimore Orioles when Cal Ripken, Jr. and a new ballpark (Oriole Park at Camden Yards) were the only reasons to go see a game in B-More. The good news is: there are 124 more games to go in the regular season. IF, just maybe, IF the Rockies can beat Lincecum and the Giants tonight, and IF Ubaldo can get on track tomorrow, and IF the offense and defense can get on the same page, and IF the Rockies would call up Matt Daley and Rex Brothers........then probably they won't fall out of contention before the end of May. After all, it's more fun to root root root for the home team, if they're not the current Rockies or Yankees.
When the Rockies were playing well and winning, all facets of their squad were contributing. When the starter gave up a few runs, the offense scored just enough to pull out a win. When the opponent started mounting a threat, the relief staff slammed the door. When one player sat out with an injury, another filled in and produced. But, even then, when things were going well, there were certain signs that it was more smoke and mirrors than powerhouse contender. Ubaldo Jimenez has not been the same as last year's Cy Young contender and All-Star Game starter. Huston Street, even though he converted his first 10 save opportunities, was a purple heart attack waiting to happen. Ian Stewart has fallen off the grid, literally. Newcomers Felipe Paulino and Matt Lindstrom have been mostly ineffective, with Little Paul just plain horrible. Jose Lopez's two singles yesterday had Tracy gushing that Lopez is "right on the cusp of breaking out." Jason Giambi came back to the Mile High City this season specifically because this team was supposedly poised to do something really special. He's 3 for 25 with 4 walks (.120) while going 0 for 2011 as Jim Tracy's 'big-bat-off-the-bench-in-late-game-situations' pinch-hitter, no hits, one walk, no RBIs in 7 pinch-hit appearances (where's the Golden Thong?). Tracy may want to use him as a pinch-runner, so that he can get familiar with where the hell first base is. Carlos Gonzalez? If it weren't for his marvelous defense and 2010 statistics, Seth Smith should be our starting left fielder. Troy Tulowitzki has 10 homers and 24 RBIs, only 2 errors in 118 chances, but it just seems that he's struggling with CarGo scuffling in the 3 hole ahead of him.
There have a been few bright spots. Jonathan Herrera has been all you can ask for in a second baseman and two-hole hitter. I'll put Dexter Fowler in the positive column, even though he is among the league leaders in strikeouts, his on-base-percentage is still very good. He needs to utilize his speed and learn how to use that speed to steal and bunt more. His reading of pitchers' moves and awkward lead-and-first-step are terrible, and his bunting skills are below average. Willy Taveras got tons more infield hits, and he was strictly a right-handed batter. By the way, Willy's just 65 miles south of Coors Field down on the farm, but no real threat to join the big club anytime soon. Jorge De La Rosa has been good, Jhoulis Chacin has been excellent, Jason Hammel (until yesterday) was throwing well, tonight's starter, Clayton Mortensen will be making his second start for the Rockies, boasts a 0.55 ERA in 4 appearances this year (1 earned run in 16+ innings of work). But, he'll be hard-pressed to win tonight. This will be the second time in ten days that the Giants will have faced him, and as I mentioned earlier, Tim 'the Freak' Lincecum is on the hill for the Bay Area Bastards. Chris Iannetta has handled the catching duties well above expectations. He's thrown out 50% (10 of 20) attempting to steal, has no errors and no passed balls. He's got 5 homers and 14 RBIs and is batting .225. (Forget his OBP of .397, he's batted mostly 8th, so with the pitcher batting behind him, he's walked 25 times.)
The Rockies' best player this year, hands down, has been Todd Helton. This is his 15th year as a Colorado Rockie, and we have taken him for granted as he has been a soft-spoken and humble ballplayer throughout his entire Hall of Fame career. He has foiled countless hits and runners this year, as he has done consistently in his 4-Gold-Gloves career. He's batting at a .325 clip (career .324 avg), has hit a suprising 6 dingers, only one error in 296 chances (.997 fielding percentage, career .996).
All-in-all, it's fairly predictable to determine how well your team is doing if your best performer this season is a soon-to-be-38-year-old 15-year veteran. Much like the Baltimore Orioles when Cal Ripken, Jr. and a new ballpark (Oriole Park at Camden Yards) were the only reasons to go see a game in B-More. The good news is: there are 124 more games to go in the regular season. IF, just maybe, IF the Rockies can beat Lincecum and the Giants tonight, and IF Ubaldo can get on track tomorrow, and IF the offense and defense can get on the same page, and IF the Rockies would call up Matt Daley and Rex Brothers........then probably they won't fall out of contention before the end of May. After all, it's more fun to root root root for the home team, if they're not the current Rockies or Yankees.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Blake Street Lumber
The San Diego Padres, and pitcher Dustin Moseley (1-5), were just what Dr. Lansford ordered. The Rockies pounded out season highs for hits (16) and runs (12) last night to give the crowd (over 40,000) something to shout about at Coors Field. Moseley faced 23 batters in four innings of work, and nearly half of them reached base (9 hits, 2 walks) as the Rockies built a 6-2 lead behind a not-so-sharp Jorge de La Rosa, who scraped his way to his 5th win of the season against just one loss.
Even with their best offensive output of the season, the game never really felt like it was a sure thing until the bottom of the 8th, when Dexter Fowler drove in Carlos Gonzalez with a bloop single, scored on a three-base error by Padres left fielder Ryan Ludwick when he dropped Ryan Spilborgh's deep fly ball to the track in left, and Padres pitcher Ernesto Frieri did the old statue of liberty play and dropped the ball during his delivery to the plate. The three-run inning produced the final score, as Huston Street finished the game with a 1-2-3 ninth.
The game was kept within reach for the Padres due, in large part, due to the efforts of young CF Cameron Maybin. Maybin, much like Carlos Gonzalez, is a talented young and athletic outfielder playing with his third team, and showing signs of a breakout year, much as CarGo had in 2010. The Pod's centerfielder bashed two opposite-field home runs to go along with his two singles and finished the night 4 for 4 with three runs scored and three RBI. Maybin was 4 for 6 in his previous game Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, so he may be a youngster that bears watching.
All in all, a good game for the Rockies hitters, after a succession of paltry offensive showings. Tulo homered, CarGo tripled, Helton doubled, and Ian Stewart just might have worn the Rockies uniform for the last time. He was optioned to Colorado Springs before the game, as Ty Wigginton returned from the DL and had a decent game (double, run scored, no errors). Helton left the game with tightness in his lower leg, so we'll probably see Jason Giambi at first Saturday.
A game to build upon, the Rox need to sweep the Padres and beat the Giants when they come to town on Monday. In the meantime, let's go get some Taco Bell today!
Even with their best offensive output of the season, the game never really felt like it was a sure thing until the bottom of the 8th, when Dexter Fowler drove in Carlos Gonzalez with a bloop single, scored on a three-base error by Padres left fielder Ryan Ludwick when he dropped Ryan Spilborgh's deep fly ball to the track in left, and Padres pitcher Ernesto Frieri did the old statue of liberty play and dropped the ball during his delivery to the plate. The three-run inning produced the final score, as Huston Street finished the game with a 1-2-3 ninth.
The game was kept within reach for the Padres due, in large part, due to the efforts of young CF Cameron Maybin. Maybin, much like Carlos Gonzalez, is a talented young and athletic outfielder playing with his third team, and showing signs of a breakout year, much as CarGo had in 2010. The Pod's centerfielder bashed two opposite-field home runs to go along with his two singles and finished the night 4 for 4 with three runs scored and three RBI. Maybin was 4 for 6 in his previous game Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, so he may be a youngster that bears watching.
All in all, a good game for the Rockies hitters, after a succession of paltry offensive showings. Tulo homered, CarGo tripled, Helton doubled, and Ian Stewart just might have worn the Rockies uniform for the last time. He was optioned to Colorado Springs before the game, as Ty Wigginton returned from the DL and had a decent game (double, run scored, no errors). Helton left the game with tightness in his lower leg, so we'll probably see Jason Giambi at first Saturday.
A game to build upon, the Rox need to sweep the Padres and beat the Giants when they come to town on Monday. In the meantime, let's go get some Taco Bell today!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Three Bombs, and a Bust
I fell asleep during the rain delay last night. Just as well. I resisted the urge to check online when I awoke, so that I could retain a slim hope that the game replay would reveal that the Rockies could come back and pull out a win in the last two+ innings against the Mets. No such luck.
Despite three home runs (all solo shots) from Troy Tulowitzki, Seth Smith and Carlos Gonzalez, the Mets carved out their first win in six attempts this season against the slumping Rockies. Jason Hammel pitched courageously (maybe too strong a word to describe his outing, but I'm grasping for some positives) after being bruised by a Ronny Paulino two-out line drive in the deciding 4th inning. After Hammel walked around for a couple minutes with the coaches and trainer, threw a couple warm-up pitches, it was determined that he was fit to continue with his bruised left (landing leg) calf. He promptly walked the 8-hole hitter, CF Jason Pridie, and served up a middle-of-the-plate get-ahead fastball to opposing pitcher Mike Pelfrey, who whacked it into right-center for a go-ahead two-run double, his first hit of the year.
The 4-2 lead held up just enough for the Mets, even though CarGo smacked an into-the-waterfalls home run in the 6th, for his first dinger of the season at Coors Field, where he recorded 26 during last year's breakout campaign. After the 7th inning rain delay, CF Dexter Fowler, who was at bat when play was interrupted with two outs and a 2-2 count, promptly Fowled a pitch off his left knee and couldn't continue. Ryan Spilborghs replaced Dex and drew a walk, but was stranded when Jonny Herrera struck out against Jason Isringhausen. The Rockies went down 1-2-3 in the eighth (CarGo, Tulo, Helton). Mets closer Frankie Rodriguez shut down the pressing Rox 1-2-3 in the 9th, with Jason Giambi pinch-hitting for a clueless Ian Stewart and grounding out to right field (the shift was on) for the final out.
The plate appearance by Giambi in the 9th means that he has one hit in his last 24 plate appearances (4 walks, 5 k's). He usually represents manager Jim Tracy's "last bullet" at game's end, when the Rockies need a power bat to pinch hit when they're tied or behind. Shootin' blanks, I'm afraid. Is it just me, or do you think that maybe, just maybe, a bunt to the left side of the diamond would produce better results at least 50% of the time for Giambi? Don't these guys take bunting seriously? Especially with Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez falling halfway toward first base when completing his delivery, at least try it, show it, make the Mets defense maybe move over a little, maybe opening up the right side of the infield a little bit. Couldn't that be one of the bullets?
Tuesday's game did set a new record for Coors Field, I think. Most players named Jason in a game: Pridie, Bay, Isringhausen, Hammel and Giambi.
On a happier note (for Sara and me, anyway), Derek Jeter is emerging out of a slump. His average is up to .283 after his recent 11 for 28 road trip and 7-game hitting streak. Alex Rodriguez broke out of a slump with his deciding bases-loaded two-run single in the 5th inning gave the Yankees the winning margin over the Kansas City Royals last night. I was really rooting for A-Rod to blast his 23rd career grand slam, which would tie Lou Gehrig for the most ever in Major League history. Mariano Rivera didn't appear as sharp as usual, giving up a hit and going to 3-ball counts to all three batters he faced, but got his 13th save anyway with an athletic spearing of a ground ball that started the 1-6-3 game-ending double play.
The Rockies and Yankees continue to lead their respective divisions, so life ain't real bad.
No Game Today, Wednesday Mets-Rockies game postponed.
Despite three home runs (all solo shots) from Troy Tulowitzki, Seth Smith and Carlos Gonzalez, the Mets carved out their first win in six attempts this season against the slumping Rockies. Jason Hammel pitched courageously (maybe too strong a word to describe his outing, but I'm grasping for some positives) after being bruised by a Ronny Paulino two-out line drive in the deciding 4th inning. After Hammel walked around for a couple minutes with the coaches and trainer, threw a couple warm-up pitches, it was determined that he was fit to continue with his bruised left (landing leg) calf. He promptly walked the 8-hole hitter, CF Jason Pridie, and served up a middle-of-the-plate get-ahead fastball to opposing pitcher Mike Pelfrey, who whacked it into right-center for a go-ahead two-run double, his first hit of the year.
The 4-2 lead held up just enough for the Mets, even though CarGo smacked an into-the-waterfalls home run in the 6th, for his first dinger of the season at Coors Field, where he recorded 26 during last year's breakout campaign. After the 7th inning rain delay, CF Dexter Fowler, who was at bat when play was interrupted with two outs and a 2-2 count, promptly Fowled a pitch off his left knee and couldn't continue. Ryan Spilborghs replaced Dex and drew a walk, but was stranded when Jonny Herrera struck out against Jason Isringhausen. The Rockies went down 1-2-3 in the eighth (CarGo, Tulo, Helton). Mets closer Frankie Rodriguez shut down the pressing Rox 1-2-3 in the 9th, with Jason Giambi pinch-hitting for a clueless Ian Stewart and grounding out to right field (the shift was on) for the final out.
The plate appearance by Giambi in the 9th means that he has one hit in his last 24 plate appearances (4 walks, 5 k's). He usually represents manager Jim Tracy's "last bullet" at game's end, when the Rockies need a power bat to pinch hit when they're tied or behind. Shootin' blanks, I'm afraid. Is it just me, or do you think that maybe, just maybe, a bunt to the left side of the diamond would produce better results at least 50% of the time for Giambi? Don't these guys take bunting seriously? Especially with Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez falling halfway toward first base when completing his delivery, at least try it, show it, make the Mets defense maybe move over a little, maybe opening up the right side of the infield a little bit. Couldn't that be one of the bullets?
Tuesday's game did set a new record for Coors Field, I think. Most players named Jason in a game: Pridie, Bay, Isringhausen, Hammel and Giambi.
On a happier note (for Sara and me, anyway), Derek Jeter is emerging out of a slump. His average is up to .283 after his recent 11 for 28 road trip and 7-game hitting streak. Alex Rodriguez broke out of a slump with his deciding bases-loaded two-run single in the 5th inning gave the Yankees the winning margin over the Kansas City Royals last night. I was really rooting for A-Rod to blast his 23rd career grand slam, which would tie Lou Gehrig for the most ever in Major League history. Mariano Rivera didn't appear as sharp as usual, giving up a hit and going to 3-ball counts to all three batters he faced, but got his 13th save anyway with an athletic spearing of a ground ball that started the 1-6-3 game-ending double play.
The Rockies and Yankees continue to lead their respective divisions, so life ain't real bad.
No Game Today, Wednesday Mets-Rockies game postponed.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Iannetta Powers Rockies
The 4-game losing streak of the Colorado Rockies is over. Thank you Chris Iannetta and the New York Mets! Three singles were all the line-up, other than Iannetta, could produce. The Rockies' catcher doubled in the 5th to lead off, and scored when Dexter Fowler grounded a two-out single through the hole between third and short. The Mets tied the score in the 6th when Carlos Beltran, one of the 6 walks issued by Rockies' starter Jhoulis Chacin, came around to score after a one-out single by Mets first-baseman Ike Davis pushed Beltran to third, and left-fielder Jason Bay chopped a bouncer to Rockies third sacker, Ian Stewart, who threw wide to first, allowing Bay to reach and Beltran to score. To be fair, the run would have scored even had Stewart made an accurate throw, but the play was indicative of Stewart's continuing struggles this season. Stewart is 3 for 41 this season (two singles and one double, one RBI), with 17 strikeouts. Patience has to be wearing thin for the 5th year player, and Manager Jim Tracy even said as much yesterday in San Francisco, that it's time to "fish, or cut bait." The next time Chris Iannetta came to bat, in the 7th, he crushed a Chris Capuano pitch on a line, barely clearing the left-field wall and two feet inside the foul pole. Matt Belisle got the win, as the pitcher who finished the 7th inning, Rafael Betancourt pitched a 1-2-3 eighth (with two really long fly-outs), and Huston Street picked up the save, giving up a single to pinch-hitter Willie Harris, who was then erased by a superb throw from that guy again, Chris Iannetta, attempting to steal second.
Another strong outing from a Rockies starter, continuing struggles from the middle of the batting order, this time a bullpen that held up in the end. Good to have the losing streak over. As bad as the team has performed offensively over the last 15 games (the last time we got Taco Bell was April 20), the Rocks have been in first place for all 39 days of the 2011 season, so cheer up Rockies fans, things could be worse (Lakers are on vacation).
The Rockies need to continue beating up on the Mets, and then the Padres this weekend. Then, an opportunity to make a statement with two games against the conquering Giants on Monday and Tuesday. It looks like the Rox may get lucky and miss Tim Lincecum, so maybe, just maybe, we can get some payback on Bumgarner and Vogelsong here at Coors Field. But, first things first........how about a two-game winning streak, for now.
Another strong outing from a Rockies starter, continuing struggles from the middle of the batting order, this time a bullpen that held up in the end. Good to have the losing streak over. As bad as the team has performed offensively over the last 15 games (the last time we got Taco Bell was April 20), the Rocks have been in first place for all 39 days of the 2011 season, so cheer up Rockies fans, things could be worse (Lakers are on vacation).
The Rockies need to continue beating up on the Mets, and then the Padres this weekend. Then, an opportunity to make a statement with two games against the conquering Giants on Monday and Tuesday. It looks like the Rox may get lucky and miss Tim Lincecum, so maybe, just maybe, we can get some payback on Bumgarner and Vogelsong here at Coors Field. But, first things first........how about a two-game winning streak, for now.
Baseball is my Vitamin
I take vitamins and supplements every day, along with aspirin and Aleve. Apparently, they help me face each day, faithful in the knowledge that my inner body is getting most of the vital chemical ingredients necessary to function at a relatively normal level. I say apparently, because I haven't NOT taken these pills and capsules for a very long time. What would happen if I quit? Maybe nothing much, except I'd save about a hundred bucks a month. Maybe I'd suddenly, or possible gradually, start getting un-healthy. Who knows, except that I'm probably going to continue, unwilling to risk the chance that the stuff is actually helping.
Sorry, what this verbal exercise is really going to be about, is Baseball, not my personal health regimen. Mostly Major League Baseball, and mainly my two favorite teams, the Rockies and the Yankees.
I've been a diehard Yankee fan since the early-mid 50's, growing up here in Colorado when the Denver Bears were a AAA farm team of the Yankees. The Golden Age of baseball. In 1953, there were 8 American League and 8 National League teams in the Major Leagues. That year, the Boston Braves had relocated to Milwaukee, which had been without a team since 1902, when one of the charter American League franchises, the original Milwaukee Brewers, moved to St. Louis to become the St. Louis Browns. The Browns floundered in St. Louis for over fifty years as the red-headed step-child to the dominant Cardinals, until the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954 to become the Orioles. The American League Champions of 1953 were the New York Yankees, while the Brooklyn Dodgers won the National League pennant. The Yankees won the 1953 World Series over the Dodgers, four games to two, for their unprecedented fifth consecutive World Championship, and sixteenth overall. Billy Martin was the World Series MVP with 12 hits in the Series, including the walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth of the sixth game. (When did we start calling them walk-offs? I think probably one of those things brought into our lexicon by ESPN.)
The American League also contained the Washington Senators, one of the original eight. The American League voted to expand for the 1961 season and awarded a franchise to the city of Minneapolis. The Griffith family, owners of the Senators, requested that the Senators be allowed to move to the Twin Cities, and let Washington, DC have the expansion team, which became the expansion Washington Senators. This team suffered through many years of mediocrity and lagging attendance, so they were granted their request to move to the Dallas - Ft. Worth area to become the Texas Rangers in 1972. The Philadelphia Athletics were also a charter member of the American League in 1901. Eventually, the Athletics moved to Kansas City in 1955, then owner Charley Finley moved the franchise to Oakland in 1968.
The National League was made up of: the aforementioned Brooklyn Dodgers (moved to Los Angeles in 1958), the Milwaukee Braves (moved to Atlanta in 1966), the Phillies, the Cardinals, the New York Giants (moved to San Francisco in 1958), the Cincinnati Reds, the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Expansion over the years has swelled the Major Leagues to 30 teams, fourteen in the American League and sixteen in the National League. The first spurt from the original 16 teams came in 1961 when the Angels of Los Angeles and the Senators of Washington, DC were added to the American League. In 1962, the Metropolitans of New York and the Colt 45's of Houston were enfranchised in the National League. In 1969, the Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres joined the NL, and the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Pilots were added to the AL. The Pilots lasted only one year, were bought by a car dealer named Bud Selig and moved to Milwaukee in 1970. In 1977 the American League expanded once again, adding the Seattle Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays. In 1993, the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins joined the National League. The most recent expansion wave took place in 1998, when the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays were added to the National and American Leagues, respectively. That should be 15 teams in each league, but in 1998, the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to switch to the National League so that the schedule-makers could keep an even number of teams in each league.
Sorry again. I meant to talk about actual baseball in this first blog, but I got carried away by my research, and if any of you know me or read my other blog, you know that I have a tendency to wander, meander, percolate, extravagate, ramble.........well you get the idea. It's been interesting to me to follow the growth of baseball in my lifetime. And now that the season is in full swing (unlike the Rockies' bats lately), I will be sharing more baseball insights and opinions in the weeks to come. And, if you're like me and my family, I need baseball more than I need my vitamins. Please stay tuned to more musings from the mind of a deteriorating lunatic.
Sorry, what this verbal exercise is really going to be about, is Baseball, not my personal health regimen. Mostly Major League Baseball, and mainly my two favorite teams, the Rockies and the Yankees.
I've been a diehard Yankee fan since the early-mid 50's, growing up here in Colorado when the Denver Bears were a AAA farm team of the Yankees. The Golden Age of baseball. In 1953, there were 8 American League and 8 National League teams in the Major Leagues. That year, the Boston Braves had relocated to Milwaukee, which had been without a team since 1902, when one of the charter American League franchises, the original Milwaukee Brewers, moved to St. Louis to become the St. Louis Browns. The Browns floundered in St. Louis for over fifty years as the red-headed step-child to the dominant Cardinals, until the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954 to become the Orioles. The American League Champions of 1953 were the New York Yankees, while the Brooklyn Dodgers won the National League pennant. The Yankees won the 1953 World Series over the Dodgers, four games to two, for their unprecedented fifth consecutive World Championship, and sixteenth overall. Billy Martin was the World Series MVP with 12 hits in the Series, including the walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth of the sixth game. (When did we start calling them walk-offs? I think probably one of those things brought into our lexicon by ESPN.)
The American League also contained the Washington Senators, one of the original eight. The American League voted to expand for the 1961 season and awarded a franchise to the city of Minneapolis. The Griffith family, owners of the Senators, requested that the Senators be allowed to move to the Twin Cities, and let Washington, DC have the expansion team, which became the expansion Washington Senators. This team suffered through many years of mediocrity and lagging attendance, so they were granted their request to move to the Dallas - Ft. Worth area to become the Texas Rangers in 1972. The Philadelphia Athletics were also a charter member of the American League in 1901. Eventually, the Athletics moved to Kansas City in 1955, then owner Charley Finley moved the franchise to Oakland in 1968.
The National League was made up of: the aforementioned Brooklyn Dodgers (moved to Los Angeles in 1958), the Milwaukee Braves (moved to Atlanta in 1966), the Phillies, the Cardinals, the New York Giants (moved to San Francisco in 1958), the Cincinnati Reds, the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Expansion over the years has swelled the Major Leagues to 30 teams, fourteen in the American League and sixteen in the National League. The first spurt from the original 16 teams came in 1961 when the Angels of Los Angeles and the Senators of Washington, DC were added to the American League. In 1962, the Metropolitans of New York and the Colt 45's of Houston were enfranchised in the National League. In 1969, the Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres joined the NL, and the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Pilots were added to the AL. The Pilots lasted only one year, were bought by a car dealer named Bud Selig and moved to Milwaukee in 1970. In 1977 the American League expanded once again, adding the Seattle Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays. In 1993, the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins joined the National League. The most recent expansion wave took place in 1998, when the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays were added to the National and American Leagues, respectively. That should be 15 teams in each league, but in 1998, the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to switch to the National League so that the schedule-makers could keep an even number of teams in each league.
Sorry again. I meant to talk about actual baseball in this first blog, but I got carried away by my research, and if any of you know me or read my other blog, you know that I have a tendency to wander, meander, percolate, extravagate, ramble.........well you get the idea. It's been interesting to me to follow the growth of baseball in my lifetime. And now that the season is in full swing (unlike the Rockies' bats lately), I will be sharing more baseball insights and opinions in the weeks to come. And, if you're like me and my family, I need baseball more than I need my vitamins. Please stay tuned to more musings from the mind of a deteriorating lunatic.
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