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.
No comments:
Post a Comment