Rockies win, in extra innings, to break a three game losing streak. Yankees drub the Brewers. Red Sox shut out by Philadelphia. I birdie the eighth at Sunset.
With a little bit of LoDo Magic, the struggling Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Southsiders 3-2 in the bottom of the 13th inning on Ty Wigginton's bloop single that plated Troy Tulowitzki all the way from first base. I fell asleep after the 12th and had to wake up this morning to find out. The Tuesday night contest had some drama, but I guess, not enough to keep me totally engaged. Both teams left 14 runners on base, as the two teams combined to produce 9 different half-innings of three up, three down. Rookie lefty Rex Brothers (1-0) recorded his first Major League victory with a 1-2-3 top of the 13th. Righty, Will Ohman (0-1), the fifth White Sox hurler in the game, took the loss. Todd Helton appeared in his 1,999th game as a Rockie. We have been very very fortunate to have been witness to one of Colorado's finest professional athletes ever. Put him up there with John Elway, Dan Issel and Joe Sakic.
The White Sox opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd, when SS Alexei Ramirez slammed a one-out home run, his seventh, into the left field pavilion off Rockies starter, Jason Hammel, the first of seven pitchers marched out by manager Jim Tracy. The Rox tied the score in their half of the 4th when, with two outs, Todd Helton, with former college teammate, Peyton Manning watching from a Coors Field club suite, blooped a single to left. Tulo drew a walk and Seth Smith drove home Helton with a single to left center off White Sox starter Gavin Floyd. Helton and third base coach, Rich Dauer, took advantage of White Sox left fielder, Juan Pierre's notoriously weak throwing arm to score on the shallow hit by the Rockies right fielder. The RBI was Smith's 34th of the season.
The Pale Hose took the lead right back in the top of the 5th on former Rockie Pierre's RBI double to the wall in right, scoring 2B Gordon Beckham, who had singled with one out, and pushing Floyd, who had walked, to third. 3B Brent Morel walked to load the bases, with one out. Hammel then got RF Carlos Quentin to ground into a double play to end the threat, not just for that inning, but also for the game, as the anemic White Sox did not advance a runner to second base for the rest of the game.
Smith tied the score in the 6th with his 35th RBI on a sacrifice fly to drive in 2B Chris Nelson, who had opened the inning with a single to right. Helton walked to push Nelson to second. Tulo then hit a double-play-grounder but hustled to beat the throw to first, pushing Nelson to third. Smith then drove a pitch to deep center, plenty deep to allow Nelson to scamper home. The Rockies are 9-4 when Nelson gets a hit, 8-1 when he scores a run. Too bad his on-base percentage is only .253, otherwise he'd have more impact in a Rockies lineup that is not firing on all cylinders. The walk-off, extra-inning win was the first of each for the Blake Street club, in their 79th game. The Rockies were the last team in the Major Leagues without an extra-innings victory all season, until Tuesday night. The Rockies had not had a walk-off win at home, until Tuesday. Not much LoDo magic this year, mostly LoDoze.
The Giants and Diamondbacks both won, so the Rockies are 6.5 games behind San Francisco and 4 back of surprising Arizona in the NL West Division. With 83 games remaining, the Rockies are one game below .500 and need to win more than 60% of their remaining contests to top 90 wins. Only one team in Major League Baseball has a .600 winning percentage so far this season, the Philadelphia Phillies, at .625. Currently, ten teams in the National League have a better record than the Rockies, so the Wild Card is a very improbable goal. Colorado needs to win the division to get into the playoffs. Can the Rockies do it? We hope so, but I don't see enough magic, or pitching, or timely hitting. or managerial strategy to warrant much hope. Prove me wrong Ubaldo and Tulo and CarGo and TracoDaca.
Meanwhile, the second-best record in the Major Leagues, the best in the AL, Yankees, lead the Red Sox by 1.5 games in the AL East. Oh, the Rockies wore their home pinstripes last night. Maybe they should remove player names from the backs of their jerseys and settle on the pinstripes at home, you know, like the most successful team in all of sports history. Just sayin'.
And for the record, 273 yard drive to left side of the fairway on #8, 65 yards from the center of the green. White pin, no wind, 64 degree wedge 6 feet from the flag, slightly downhill, right-hand breaker, nothing but the bottom of the cup.
Like I said, a perfect day.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Tracy, Tulowitzki, Apodaca
Question: What are three good reasons why the Rockies are mediocre?
In Little League, High School and even American Legion Baseball, a good, hard thrower can navigate through an opposing batting order fairly well. Note to Tracy and Apodaca: the Yankees are better than a good Legion squad. Okay, rookie right-hander Juan Nicasio mowed down the first 13 Yankee batters by throwing his 94-97 mph fastball exclusively. Then, in an instant, the Nicasio fastball became batting practice. Robinson Cano breaks up the no-hitter with one out in the fifth inning with a solid single to left-center on, a 95 mph fastball. Nick Swisher watched three fastballs out of the strike zone for a 3-0 count, fouled off a 94 mph fastball, then parked a 95 mph fastball over the right field fence. Nicasio then attempted a couple of sliders to Jorge Posada, out of the strike zone, then a 94 mph fastball, you guessed it, home run over the centerfield fence at Yankee Stadium, v2.
That the Rockies had built a 3-0 lead on the strength of the first of two Ty Wigginton home runs (solo), a home run by Chris Iannetta (solo) and a sacrifice fly from Todd Helton, raised the hopes of Rockie rooters. After the Yankees tied the score in the fifth, Wigginton stroked his second tater of the game to give the Rox a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth. Not enough. Over-worked Rockie reliever, Matt Belisle relieved Nicasio after the rookie from the Dominican Republic allowed the first two batters to reach in the sixth. After a near-double play, the Yankees had runners on first and third, one out. Alex Rodriguez stroked a single to left to drive in Brett Gardner with the tying run. A double play from Tulo and Helton stopped the bleeding, but just for a little while.
In the Rockie seventh, Iannetta led off with a single, and Carlos Gonzalez, not bunting, struck out. Chris Iannetta stole second and made it to third when Yankee catcher Russell Martin's throw went into centerfield. Neither Herrera nor Helton could drive in Iannetta, and that was all she wrote. The Yanks scratched out a run in the seventh off Belisle, now 5-3 after the blown save and loss. Matt Reynolds surrendered a home run to Mark Teixeira in the eighth to increase New York's lead to two runs, more than enough for Mariano Rivera, who struck out the side in the ninth, for his 20th save of the season, and the 579th of his career.
The Yankees illustrate to the Rockies what they aspire to be, a perrenial contender, with pieces in place and the ability to overcome injuries and roster uncertainties. Tentative in the pinch, clutch hitting absent when sorely needed, pitchers not able to hold leads. Those are the things that are defining the Rockies currently. With the San Francisco Giants on the verge of beating Cleveland, the Rockies go into Chicago 5-1/2 games behind, and hope fading. I know, I know, true blue die-hard Rockies fans see the rest of the season through purple colored sunglasses, but the fact remains: Jim Tracy, Troy Tulowitzki and Bob Apodaca need to elevate their gamesmanship, or the Giants will be too far away to catch, even for another Miracle Rocktober Dream.
In Little League, High School and even American Legion Baseball, a good, hard thrower can navigate through an opposing batting order fairly well. Note to Tracy and Apodaca: the Yankees are better than a good Legion squad. Okay, rookie right-hander Juan Nicasio mowed down the first 13 Yankee batters by throwing his 94-97 mph fastball exclusively. Then, in an instant, the Nicasio fastball became batting practice. Robinson Cano breaks up the no-hitter with one out in the fifth inning with a solid single to left-center on, a 95 mph fastball. Nick Swisher watched three fastballs out of the strike zone for a 3-0 count, fouled off a 94 mph fastball, then parked a 95 mph fastball over the right field fence. Nicasio then attempted a couple of sliders to Jorge Posada, out of the strike zone, then a 94 mph fastball, you guessed it, home run over the centerfield fence at Yankee Stadium, v2.
That the Rockies had built a 3-0 lead on the strength of the first of two Ty Wigginton home runs (solo), a home run by Chris Iannetta (solo) and a sacrifice fly from Todd Helton, raised the hopes of Rockie rooters. After the Yankees tied the score in the fifth, Wigginton stroked his second tater of the game to give the Rox a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth. Not enough. Over-worked Rockie reliever, Matt Belisle relieved Nicasio after the rookie from the Dominican Republic allowed the first two batters to reach in the sixth. After a near-double play, the Yankees had runners on first and third, one out. Alex Rodriguez stroked a single to left to drive in Brett Gardner with the tying run. A double play from Tulo and Helton stopped the bleeding, but just for a little while.
In the Rockie seventh, Iannetta led off with a single, and Carlos Gonzalez, not bunting, struck out. Chris Iannetta stole second and made it to third when Yankee catcher Russell Martin's throw went into centerfield. Neither Herrera nor Helton could drive in Iannetta, and that was all she wrote. The Yanks scratched out a run in the seventh off Belisle, now 5-3 after the blown save and loss. Matt Reynolds surrendered a home run to Mark Teixeira in the eighth to increase New York's lead to two runs, more than enough for Mariano Rivera, who struck out the side in the ninth, for his 20th save of the season, and the 579th of his career.
The Yankees illustrate to the Rockies what they aspire to be, a perrenial contender, with pieces in place and the ability to overcome injuries and roster uncertainties. Tentative in the pinch, clutch hitting absent when sorely needed, pitchers not able to hold leads. Those are the things that are defining the Rockies currently. With the San Francisco Giants on the verge of beating Cleveland, the Rockies go into Chicago 5-1/2 games behind, and hope fading. I know, I know, true blue die-hard Rockies fans see the rest of the season through purple colored sunglasses, but the fact remains: Jim Tracy, Troy Tulowitzki and Bob Apodaca need to elevate their gamesmanship, or the Giants will be too far away to catch, even for another Miracle Rocktober Dream.
Steeped In Tradition
Okay, the Rockies beat the Yankees, 4-2 on Friday. Okay, the Yankees pounded the Rockies 8-3 on Saturday. More on that, later. What I've just seen on TV is a true portrait of why I am a Yankees fan. The New York Yankees today are celebrating the 65th Annual Yankees Old-Timers' Day celebration and game at the new Yankee Stadium. The introductions of each and every Old-Timer brought with them a resume of their accomplishments while wearing the Yankee pinstripes. Oh, what memories. Four of the six living Yankee Hall-Of-Famers are there: Lawrence Peter (Yogi) Berra, Edward Charles (Whitey) Ford, Reginald Martinez (Reggie) Jackson and Colorado's own Richard Michael (Goose) Gossage. Missing are Wade Boggs and Dave Winfield.
No other professional sports team treats their legacy as seriously and celebrates their history as well as do the New York Yankees. And they have a lot to celebrate. Forty times, the American League Champion and twenty-seven times, the World Series Champions. Listening to the litany of records and milestones of my favorite Yankee ballplayers brought tears to my eyes as I remembered back to the days of ditching class to watch daytime World Series games, sneaking the old Sylvania transistor radio hidden in the hollowed-out hard-bound Moby Dick into fourth grade to listen to the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago White Sox in the 1959 World Series, four games to two. The big news that year, was that the Yankees were not in the fall classic. I was born in 1950. The Yankees were in the World Series in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964, when that version of the Yankee Dynasty ended. It wouldn't be until the 1976 season, that the Yankees would return as the American League Champions to the World Series, where they were swept in four games by The Big Red Machine, the Johnny Bench-led Cincinnati Reds. The Bronx Bombers returned in 1977 and 1978 to win the Series both years against Tommy Lasorda's Los Angeles Dodgers. The Yankees missed the 1979 pennant when the George Brett Kansas City Royals finally prevailed three games to none in the American League Championship Series. The Yankees had prevailed over the Royals in both 1977 and 1978 ALCS, so the breakthrough 1979 appearance in the World Series was sweet for the KC franchise. The Yankees made it back to the series in 1981, getting swept by the Lasorda-led Dodgers where Ron Cey, Steve Yeager and Pedro Guerrero shared the World Series MVP Award. It wouldn't be until 1996 that the New York Yankees would make their next appearance in the Fall Classic.
Until the 1969 season, the World Series was played by the winners of the National League pennant and the American League champions. In 1969, each league split into two divisions, Western and Eastern. The top teams in each division then played a best-of-five series to determine the League Champions and berths in the Fall Classic. In 1985, the League Championship Series were changed to a best-of-seven format. In 1993, the Major Leagues expanded, again, to include the Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins. It was then, that league officials and team owners decided to split each league into three divisions each and introduce a "wild card" team, the best second-place division finisher, for the 1994 season. Except, oops, the 1994 Major League baseball season was interrupted by a strike, and there were no playoffs, World Series or any games, for that matter, played after August 11. At the time of the strike, the division leaders were the Yankees (AL East), Chicago White Sox (AL Central), Texas Rangers (AL West), Montreal Expos (NL East), Cincinnati Reds (NL Central) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West). The Felipe Alou-managed Expos were running away with the NL, sporting a 74-40 record, when the strike ended everything. For the record, the Rockies were 53-64, in third place in the NL West, 6.5 games behind the Dodgers, and 3 games behind the Giants, but 6 games ahead of the last place Padres. Arizona did not enter the league until 1998.
After the strike was settled, the regular 1995 season was resumed on April 25, and the teams played a shortened 144-game regular season. 1995 was also the inaugural year for fabulous Coors Field in lower downtown Denver (LoDo). The Rockies drew 4,483,350 fans to the ballpark at Mile High Stadium in their initial season, a record for season attendance that will probably never be equalled. At the time of the 1994 baseball strike, the Rockies, as I previously mentioned, were in third place in the NL West, but had drawn 3,281,511 paid attendance in their first 57 home games and were on pace to shatter the 1993 attendance mark. That means that the Colorado Rockies were averaging a mind-boggling 56,267 fans for every game that they played in Denver. In their initial year at Coors Field, abbreviated as it was, the Rockies led the Major Leagues in attendance again, with paid attendance of 3,390,037 for an average of over 47,000 fans per every home game. Then, to top it off, the Blake Street Bombers qualified for the very first National League Wild Card playoff spot, by one game over the Houston Astros. The Rocks were dispatched by the Atlanta Braves in the playoffs 3 games to 1 in the first ever National League Division Series. I'll never forgive manager Don Baylor for making so many needless moves in the first game, that he ended up with pitcher Lance Painter pinch-hitting in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, two outs and behind by one run. Of course Painter struck out, but Baylor had burned Ellis Burks, Vinny Castilla, John VanderWal, Joe Girardi, Trinidad Hubbard and Jason Bates earlier in the game. I was screaming from the left-field pavilion that Baylor should be awarded the Over-Manager Of The Year Award for his boneheaded strategies. I think that the Rockies should have won this game and would have given the Braves a run for the right to play for the National League pennant against the Cincinnati Reds, whom the Braves swept in the NLCS. Oh, and the Braves beat the Cleveland Indians 4 games to 2 in the World Series. Just dreamin'.
Aw, the memories that baseball invokes. The third game of the Yankee-Rockie series is starting, so I won't review the first two games. Reminiscing about baseball is as good as it gets, and the Yankees' history and tradition is matched by no other organization in sports. Hate 'em if you must, you cannot find a better sporting franchise in history, so F-you Red Sox nation, how many effin' rings you got??? Oh, seven, one for every functioning brain cell in the average Red Sox fan's dome.
Go Rockies, beat the Yankees, while the Pirates sweep the Red Sux...................later.
No other professional sports team treats their legacy as seriously and celebrates their history as well as do the New York Yankees. And they have a lot to celebrate. Forty times, the American League Champion and twenty-seven times, the World Series Champions. Listening to the litany of records and milestones of my favorite Yankee ballplayers brought tears to my eyes as I remembered back to the days of ditching class to watch daytime World Series games, sneaking the old Sylvania transistor radio hidden in the hollowed-out hard-bound Moby Dick into fourth grade to listen to the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago White Sox in the 1959 World Series, four games to two. The big news that year, was that the Yankees were not in the fall classic. I was born in 1950. The Yankees were in the World Series in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964, when that version of the Yankee Dynasty ended. It wouldn't be until the 1976 season, that the Yankees would return as the American League Champions to the World Series, where they were swept in four games by The Big Red Machine, the Johnny Bench-led Cincinnati Reds. The Bronx Bombers returned in 1977 and 1978 to win the Series both years against Tommy Lasorda's Los Angeles Dodgers. The Yankees missed the 1979 pennant when the George Brett Kansas City Royals finally prevailed three games to none in the American League Championship Series. The Yankees had prevailed over the Royals in both 1977 and 1978 ALCS, so the breakthrough 1979 appearance in the World Series was sweet for the KC franchise. The Yankees made it back to the series in 1981, getting swept by the Lasorda-led Dodgers where Ron Cey, Steve Yeager and Pedro Guerrero shared the World Series MVP Award. It wouldn't be until 1996 that the New York Yankees would make their next appearance in the Fall Classic.
Until the 1969 season, the World Series was played by the winners of the National League pennant and the American League champions. In 1969, each league split into two divisions, Western and Eastern. The top teams in each division then played a best-of-five series to determine the League Champions and berths in the Fall Classic. In 1985, the League Championship Series were changed to a best-of-seven format. In 1993, the Major Leagues expanded, again, to include the Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins. It was then, that league officials and team owners decided to split each league into three divisions each and introduce a "wild card" team, the best second-place division finisher, for the 1994 season. Except, oops, the 1994 Major League baseball season was interrupted by a strike, and there were no playoffs, World Series or any games, for that matter, played after August 11. At the time of the strike, the division leaders were the Yankees (AL East), Chicago White Sox (AL Central), Texas Rangers (AL West), Montreal Expos (NL East), Cincinnati Reds (NL Central) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West). The Felipe Alou-managed Expos were running away with the NL, sporting a 74-40 record, when the strike ended everything. For the record, the Rockies were 53-64, in third place in the NL West, 6.5 games behind the Dodgers, and 3 games behind the Giants, but 6 games ahead of the last place Padres. Arizona did not enter the league until 1998.
After the strike was settled, the regular 1995 season was resumed on April 25, and the teams played a shortened 144-game regular season. 1995 was also the inaugural year for fabulous Coors Field in lower downtown Denver (LoDo). The Rockies drew 4,483,350 fans to the ballpark at Mile High Stadium in their initial season, a record for season attendance that will probably never be equalled. At the time of the 1994 baseball strike, the Rockies, as I previously mentioned, were in third place in the NL West, but had drawn 3,281,511 paid attendance in their first 57 home games and were on pace to shatter the 1993 attendance mark. That means that the Colorado Rockies were averaging a mind-boggling 56,267 fans for every game that they played in Denver. In their initial year at Coors Field, abbreviated as it was, the Rockies led the Major Leagues in attendance again, with paid attendance of 3,390,037 for an average of over 47,000 fans per every home game. Then, to top it off, the Blake Street Bombers qualified for the very first National League Wild Card playoff spot, by one game over the Houston Astros. The Rocks were dispatched by the Atlanta Braves in the playoffs 3 games to 1 in the first ever National League Division Series. I'll never forgive manager Don Baylor for making so many needless moves in the first game, that he ended up with pitcher Lance Painter pinch-hitting in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, two outs and behind by one run. Of course Painter struck out, but Baylor had burned Ellis Burks, Vinny Castilla, John VanderWal, Joe Girardi, Trinidad Hubbard and Jason Bates earlier in the game. I was screaming from the left-field pavilion that Baylor should be awarded the Over-Manager Of The Year Award for his boneheaded strategies. I think that the Rockies should have won this game and would have given the Braves a run for the right to play for the National League pennant against the Cincinnati Reds, whom the Braves swept in the NLCS. Oh, and the Braves beat the Cleveland Indians 4 games to 2 in the World Series. Just dreamin'.
Aw, the memories that baseball invokes. The third game of the Yankee-Rockie series is starting, so I won't review the first two games. Reminiscing about baseball is as good as it gets, and the Yankees' history and tradition is matched by no other organization in sports. Hate 'em if you must, you cannot find a better sporting franchise in history, so F-you Red Sox nation, how many effin' rings you got??? Oh, seven, one for every functioning brain cell in the average Red Sox fan's dome.
Go Rockies, beat the Yankees, while the Pirates sweep the Red Sux...................later.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Tum, TumTum, Tum
Another 4-Tums save for Huston Street. Gadzooks! With tonight's win 4-3 at Progressive Park over the Cleveland Injuns, the Colorado Rockies are now 5-1 in one-run games in June. A far cry from their futility in May, where they were 1-10 in contests decided by one run.
Colorado starter, Jhoulys Chacin, deserved a better fate than a no-decision. He had crafted a no-hit, no-run game through the first 5 innings, even though he had walked 6 Indians. The fifth walk, to Indian SS Asdrubal Cabrera, to lead off the 6th inning, bit him in the arse. He followed the walk to Cabrera with another to DH Travis Hafner. RF Sin Soo Choo broke up the no-no with a single to center that plated Cabrera, when the slow-footed Hafner unexplicably headed toward third base as Rockies centerfielder Carlos "The Cannon" Gonzalez fielded Choo's single and easily threw him out with an accurate bullet to 3B Ty Wigginton. It was CarGo's 6th outfield assist this year, and runners have to respect his strong and accurate left arm, or pay the price.
The Rockies had started the scoring in the fifth inning on the strength of a CarGo two-out double and an RBI single from Jonathan Herrera, who had gotten the start at second base. Jonny was erased as he attempted to steal as the Indians called a pitchout with Todd Helton at bat. The sixth inning featured another two-out double, this time from DH Jason Giambi, his second double of the game. RF Seth Smith fouled off a few pitches from Cleveland right handed starter, Mitch Talbot, then guessed a slider inside, and it found the fat part of Smith's bat, and KaBoom, into the right field stands for a two-run bomb, his 7th of the year. 3-0 Rockies, before the single run given up by Chacin in the aforementioned 6th inning.
Chacin got the first two outs in the 7th, then gave up a triple to C Lou Marson. Colorado manager, Jim Tracy, had seen enough, with Jhoulys having thrown 115 pitches. In came left-handed reliever, Matt Reynolds to face left-handed batter, and Indian leadoff batter, CF Michael Brantley. Reynolds retired Brantley on a harmless fly to left, inning over, Rox still up 3-2.
Now, Jim Tracy went to his usual 8th inning specialist, Rafael Betancourt, who had begun, and spent the first 7 years of his Major League career as a Cleveland Indian, making 371 appearances and pitching 410 innings. This was not his best night. Leadoff single to 2B Cord Phelps, single to Asdrubal Cabrera, single to Travis Hafner, scoring Phelps. Three batters, three hits, one run, no outs. Out went Betancourt, in came RHP Matt Belisle. Adam Everett came in to pinch run for Hafner (slow foot), which came back to haunt Indian manager Manny Acta later in the game, as Everett now became the designated hitter in Hafner's place. Belisle got Sin Soo Choo (isn't that a fun name to say out loud?) to line out to center, 1b Carlos Santana (on loan from the nearby Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame) scorched a liner that found the (gold) glove of Todd Helton for the second out. LF Travis Buck was up next, and as soon as the announcers (Drew Goodman and Jeff Huson) mentioned Buck's oh-for-24 slump, he singled to drive in Cabrera, to tie the game, and snuff out the win for Chacin. Belisle got 3B Jack Hannahan to line out to Carlos Gonzalez in center to end the 8th inning, tied at 3-3.
As I mentioned previously, the Rockies organization had invited the players' dads to accompany the team on this road trip and the ROOT TV broadcast duo of Goodman and Huson invited one of the fathers, Garry Smith, to join them for a couple of innings. He was very complimentary of the Rockies organization and we came away with a sense that the entire Rockie family is really that: close-knit, appreciative and genuinely glad to be part of the clan. (No, Tyrell, clan, not klan).
Anyway, it was quite propitious that Garry's son, Seth, came up in the top of the ninth inning and clobbered his second home run of the game to put the Rox up 4-3. Cleveland's closer, Chris Perez, had accummulated 17 saves and had not allowed a single home run all year, until Smith's 8th of the season. Maybe we should have a different father spend a couple innings in the broadcast booth the rest of this road trip. Just sayin'.
With the Rockies up by a run in the ninth, it was time for Huston Street to come in and, uh, shut the door. Sometimes he slams the door, sometimes he closes it on his fingers. Grady Sizemore (who almost homered off Street the night before) pinch hit for Lou Marson and grounded out. Michael Brantley flied out to fairly deep centerfield. Two outs, nobody on. Then, of course, it got interesting. Cord Phelps (what the fuck kind of a baseball name is that?) poked a shallow hit toward right, Seth Smith made an ill-advised dive for the ball and it skipped past his glove, toward the wall for a triple. Street walked Asdrubal Cabrera. Meeting on the mount, I mean mound, with the brain trust, pitching coach Bob Apodaca. Nobody warming up in the bullpen, CRAP! Due up, cleanup hitter Travis Hafner, wait, pinch runner and punch-and-judy hitter Adam Everett. Well, manager Acta calls on Austin Kearns to pinch hit. Kearns spent the first 7 weeks of the season on the DL, and had only 86 at-bats (none pinch hitting) with 31 strikeouts and a batting average of .209. It was a little tense as Cabrera stole second, so a single loses the game for Street and the Rockies. But, it wasn't to be. Street earned his 22nd save as Kearns struck out on a half-swing at a classic Huston power pitch: his changeup.
The Rockies escaped with the win, guaranteeing a series win, and going for the sweep tomorrow night. Cleveland closer Chris Perez (2-3) was saddled with the loss. Matt Belisle was charged with a blown save (his fourth), and gets the win to up his record to 5-2. The Rockies won another one-run game, collecting 11 hits, but leaving 14 runners on base. Luckily, Cleveland, beneficiary of 7 walks and 7 hits, also left 14 runners stranded.
Hey, the Giants are losing right now to Minnesota, 8-1 in the 8th, so the Rockies could very well be just 2 games back of the Diamondbacks and Giants. It's lookin' better than it did a couple weeks ago. That's what's great about baseball, the ebb and flow of the games, inning to inning, and the pennant chase, series to series, week to week. The symmetry and the unpredictability, the strategy and the second-guessing, and all those statistics. Gawd, I love baseball!
Colorado starter, Jhoulys Chacin, deserved a better fate than a no-decision. He had crafted a no-hit, no-run game through the first 5 innings, even though he had walked 6 Indians. The fifth walk, to Indian SS Asdrubal Cabrera, to lead off the 6th inning, bit him in the arse. He followed the walk to Cabrera with another to DH Travis Hafner. RF Sin Soo Choo broke up the no-no with a single to center that plated Cabrera, when the slow-footed Hafner unexplicably headed toward third base as Rockies centerfielder Carlos "The Cannon" Gonzalez fielded Choo's single and easily threw him out with an accurate bullet to 3B Ty Wigginton. It was CarGo's 6th outfield assist this year, and runners have to respect his strong and accurate left arm, or pay the price.
The Rockies had started the scoring in the fifth inning on the strength of a CarGo two-out double and an RBI single from Jonathan Herrera, who had gotten the start at second base. Jonny was erased as he attempted to steal as the Indians called a pitchout with Todd Helton at bat. The sixth inning featured another two-out double, this time from DH Jason Giambi, his second double of the game. RF Seth Smith fouled off a few pitches from Cleveland right handed starter, Mitch Talbot, then guessed a slider inside, and it found the fat part of Smith's bat, and KaBoom, into the right field stands for a two-run bomb, his 7th of the year. 3-0 Rockies, before the single run given up by Chacin in the aforementioned 6th inning.
Chacin got the first two outs in the 7th, then gave up a triple to C Lou Marson. Colorado manager, Jim Tracy, had seen enough, with Jhoulys having thrown 115 pitches. In came left-handed reliever, Matt Reynolds to face left-handed batter, and Indian leadoff batter, CF Michael Brantley. Reynolds retired Brantley on a harmless fly to left, inning over, Rox still up 3-2.
Now, Jim Tracy went to his usual 8th inning specialist, Rafael Betancourt, who had begun, and spent the first 7 years of his Major League career as a Cleveland Indian, making 371 appearances and pitching 410 innings. This was not his best night. Leadoff single to 2B Cord Phelps, single to Asdrubal Cabrera, single to Travis Hafner, scoring Phelps. Three batters, three hits, one run, no outs. Out went Betancourt, in came RHP Matt Belisle. Adam Everett came in to pinch run for Hafner (slow foot), which came back to haunt Indian manager Manny Acta later in the game, as Everett now became the designated hitter in Hafner's place. Belisle got Sin Soo Choo (isn't that a fun name to say out loud?) to line out to center, 1b Carlos Santana (on loan from the nearby Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame) scorched a liner that found the (gold) glove of Todd Helton for the second out. LF Travis Buck was up next, and as soon as the announcers (Drew Goodman and Jeff Huson) mentioned Buck's oh-for-24 slump, he singled to drive in Cabrera, to tie the game, and snuff out the win for Chacin. Belisle got 3B Jack Hannahan to line out to Carlos Gonzalez in center to end the 8th inning, tied at 3-3.
As I mentioned previously, the Rockies organization had invited the players' dads to accompany the team on this road trip and the ROOT TV broadcast duo of Goodman and Huson invited one of the fathers, Garry Smith, to join them for a couple of innings. He was very complimentary of the Rockies organization and we came away with a sense that the entire Rockie family is really that: close-knit, appreciative and genuinely glad to be part of the clan. (No, Tyrell, clan, not klan).
Anyway, it was quite propitious that Garry's son, Seth, came up in the top of the ninth inning and clobbered his second home run of the game to put the Rox up 4-3. Cleveland's closer, Chris Perez, had accummulated 17 saves and had not allowed a single home run all year, until Smith's 8th of the season. Maybe we should have a different father spend a couple innings in the broadcast booth the rest of this road trip. Just sayin'.
With the Rockies up by a run in the ninth, it was time for Huston Street to come in and, uh, shut the door. Sometimes he slams the door, sometimes he closes it on his fingers. Grady Sizemore (who almost homered off Street the night before) pinch hit for Lou Marson and grounded out. Michael Brantley flied out to fairly deep centerfield. Two outs, nobody on. Then, of course, it got interesting. Cord Phelps (what the fuck kind of a baseball name is that?) poked a shallow hit toward right, Seth Smith made an ill-advised dive for the ball and it skipped past his glove, toward the wall for a triple. Street walked Asdrubal Cabrera. Meeting on the mount, I mean mound, with the brain trust, pitching coach Bob Apodaca. Nobody warming up in the bullpen, CRAP! Due up, cleanup hitter Travis Hafner, wait, pinch runner and punch-and-judy hitter Adam Everett. Well, manager Acta calls on Austin Kearns to pinch hit. Kearns spent the first 7 weeks of the season on the DL, and had only 86 at-bats (none pinch hitting) with 31 strikeouts and a batting average of .209. It was a little tense as Cabrera stole second, so a single loses the game for Street and the Rockies. But, it wasn't to be. Street earned his 22nd save as Kearns struck out on a half-swing at a classic Huston power pitch: his changeup.
The Rockies escaped with the win, guaranteeing a series win, and going for the sweep tomorrow night. Cleveland closer Chris Perez (2-3) was saddled with the loss. Matt Belisle was charged with a blown save (his fourth), and gets the win to up his record to 5-2. The Rockies won another one-run game, collecting 11 hits, but leaving 14 runners on base. Luckily, Cleveland, beneficiary of 7 walks and 7 hits, also left 14 runners stranded.
Hey, the Giants are losing right now to Minnesota, 8-1 in the 8th, so the Rockies could very well be just 2 games back of the Diamondbacks and Giants. It's lookin' better than it did a couple weeks ago. That's what's great about baseball, the ebb and flow of the games, inning to inning, and the pennant chase, series to series, week to week. The symmetry and the unpredictability, the strategy and the second-guessing, and all those statistics. Gawd, I love baseball!
Road Gold
Just one day after a Father's Day beatdown at home, at the hands of the Detroit Tiger ace, Justin Verlander, the Colorado Rockies took out their frustrations with a one-run win over the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field Monday night. Justin F Verlander handcuffed the Rockies on four hits in a 9-1 complete game for his ninth victory of the season (against just three losses). The only offense of note for Colorado was a fifth inning solo home run by 3B Ty Wigginton. The Tigers avoided the series sweep by pounding starter Aaron Cook (0-2 on the season) for 8 hits and 4 runs in six innings of work. Left handed reliever Rex Brothers faced three batters, all three scored in the seventh, in a very forgettable experience for the rookie from Tennessee. Clayton Mortensen pitched the final 9 outs, giving up back-to-back solo shots to RF Brennan Boesch and 1B Miguel Cabrera in the ninth. The loss capped off a so-so 6-4 homestand as the Rockies headed out on a 7-game road trip that takes them to Cleveland, the Big Apple and Chicago.
The Rockies arrived in Cleveland Sunday night accompanied by numerous fathers of Rockies players and staff. An idea germinated by the late Keli McGregor and promoted by the Colorado Rockies organization, the team invited players-dads to join the team at Father's Day festivities at Coors Field, and onto the road trip. They all wore football jerseys of choice for the plane ride to Cleveland in a joyful celebration and tribute to Keli and Rockie dads.
Though it rained Monday, game time weather was a warm 76 degrees and humid. The humidity would factor into the one-run win in a big way 3 hours later. The Rockies picked up a half-game on the idle San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks with the 8-7 win over the Indians. This game featured numerous lucky breaks for Colorado, uncharacteristic of their fortunes in most of the 36 losses to date in the 2011 season.
The game began with a single and stolen base by CF Carlos Gonzalez. A bloop one-out single by 1B Todd Helton advanced Gonzalez to third. SS Troy Tulowitzki stroked a single to left that drove in CarGo with the Rockies' first run. A sparkling defensive play by Indians first baseman, Carlos Santana (on loan from the nearby Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame), off the bat of Rockies right fielder, Seth Smith, prevented a much bigger inning. But, the Indians responded in the bottom half of the first with three runs, on a three-run blast over the right field wall by DH Travis Hafner, his 6th of the year. Colorado's designated hitter, Jason Giambi, would answer in the Rockies' 6-run fifth inning with a 3-run blast of his own, as Colorado took a 7-4 lead after their 5th inning rally. The 6 runs all came after two outs were recorded by the Indian starter Fausto Carmona, like Ubaldo Jimenez, expected to be, after last season, to be the ace of the staff.
Wigginton and rookie LF Charlie Blackmon both grounded out to start the fifth. C Chris Iannetta coaxed a walk off Carmona, innocent enough. At home in Denver, the pitcher would be due up next, which is why Iannetta is amongst the league leaders in walks. Only three players in the National League have more walks than Iannetta's 42, Cincinnati's Joey Votto (56), Milwaukee's Prince Fielder (47) and Cubbie Carlos Pena (43). Cardinal comeback player-of-the-year candidate Lance Berkman also has 42 walks this season. Anyway, an innocent base on balls to the #9 in the lineup, followed by consecutive singles from Carlos Gonzalez and 2B Chris Nelson to load the bases. Todd Helton walked (1,225 times in his career) to drive in a run. Then, a lucky bounce, one that usually happens TO the Rockies. Tulowitzki tops a ground ball down the third base line that 3B Orlando Cabrera was about to gobble up and step on third to easily force out CarGo to end the inning. But, on its last bounce before reaching Cabrera's glove, it glanced off the side of the third base bag, caroming into foul territory down the left field line. Any batted ball that touches either the first or third base bag, is a fair ball, much as the "foul poles" in left and right are in fair territory. Tulo sheepishly, but happily, pulled into second base with a two-run double, tying the score at 4-4. Up came Giambi, who cranked a 3-1 fastball 440 feet into the Indians' bullpen for a 7-4 Colorado lead, his 7th of the season, 6th on the road, 3rd 3-run blast and 18th RBI.
The Indians scored two in the bottom of the 5th to keep it close at 7-6. In the eighth, the Rockies scored an unearned run as Indians C Lou Marson attempted to pick off Chris Iannetta at first base, his throw sailed into right field and Charlie Blackmon scored all the way from second with the crucial, fortunate 8th run. In the Indians' 8th, Carlos Santana strummed a one-out single to left, and Rafael Betancourt relieved reliever Matt Reynolds, who had relieved Matt Lindstrom (the eventual winner), who had replaced Rex Brothers, who had origally relieved starter Juan Nicasio, who had left with the bases loaded and two outs in the 5th inning. A starting pitcher must complete 5 innings to qualify for a winning decision, he doesn't have to even get one out to be saddled with a losing decision. Back to Betancourt, who then struck out Orlando Cabrera as Santana stole second. 2B Cord Phelps singled to center, driving in Santana, and as CarGo threw towards the plate, Phelps continued toward second. Tulo cut the throw and relayed to Nelson at second to attempt to cut down Phelps, who would have represented the tying run. Here's where the Rockies got lucky again. Second base umpire Sam Holbrook had been out toward center to observe CarGo's fielding of Phelp's single and was positioned to the centerfield side of second base when Tulo's relay to Nelson arrived at the same time Phelps came sliding headfirst into the bag. Video replays show that Phelps reached the base before Nelson's tag was applied to the sliding Indian, but from Holbrook's vantage point, Phelps was out, inning over. Bullet dodged.
In comes Colorado closer, Huston Street. open the bottle of Tums. Pinch hitter Travis Buck flied out to left on the first pitch, so far, so good. CF Grady Sizemore clocks a down-the-middle-of-plate hanging slider from Street into the humid night. It would have cleared the auxiliary scoreboard at Coors Field and Street himself was asked after the game if he thought the ball hit by Sizemore was a game-tying home run. "Absolutely," he replied, "A hundred percent." Two outs. Next up, LF Michael Brantley, who scorched an inside Street offering toward Todd Helton, luckily. He gloved the screaming one-hopper off the infield dirt and jogged to first base, unassisted for the last out. Twenty-first save out of twenty two opportunities for Street, leading the National League.
Luck has to play a big part in any 162-game season, and if Monday's game against the Indians is any indication, maybe, just maybe, these Rockies can reel in the Giants. Only three games back, their record back to .500 at 36-36, 19-19 at home, 17-17 on the road. Not exactly where they wanted to be on June 20th, but back in the hunt with a Posey-less San Francisco squad and an awakening Rockie lineup. Not to mention, Lady Luck smiling on our fair Rockies.
The Rockies arrived in Cleveland Sunday night accompanied by numerous fathers of Rockies players and staff. An idea germinated by the late Keli McGregor and promoted by the Colorado Rockies organization, the team invited players-dads to join the team at Father's Day festivities at Coors Field, and onto the road trip. They all wore football jerseys of choice for the plane ride to Cleveland in a joyful celebration and tribute to Keli and Rockie dads.
Though it rained Monday, game time weather was a warm 76 degrees and humid. The humidity would factor into the one-run win in a big way 3 hours later. The Rockies picked up a half-game on the idle San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks with the 8-7 win over the Indians. This game featured numerous lucky breaks for Colorado, uncharacteristic of their fortunes in most of the 36 losses to date in the 2011 season.
The game began with a single and stolen base by CF Carlos Gonzalez. A bloop one-out single by 1B Todd Helton advanced Gonzalez to third. SS Troy Tulowitzki stroked a single to left that drove in CarGo with the Rockies' first run. A sparkling defensive play by Indians first baseman, Carlos Santana (on loan from the nearby Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame), off the bat of Rockies right fielder, Seth Smith, prevented a much bigger inning. But, the Indians responded in the bottom half of the first with three runs, on a three-run blast over the right field wall by DH Travis Hafner, his 6th of the year. Colorado's designated hitter, Jason Giambi, would answer in the Rockies' 6-run fifth inning with a 3-run blast of his own, as Colorado took a 7-4 lead after their 5th inning rally. The 6 runs all came after two outs were recorded by the Indian starter Fausto Carmona, like Ubaldo Jimenez, expected to be, after last season, to be the ace of the staff.
Wigginton and rookie LF Charlie Blackmon both grounded out to start the fifth. C Chris Iannetta coaxed a walk off Carmona, innocent enough. At home in Denver, the pitcher would be due up next, which is why Iannetta is amongst the league leaders in walks. Only three players in the National League have more walks than Iannetta's 42, Cincinnati's Joey Votto (56), Milwaukee's Prince Fielder (47) and Cubbie Carlos Pena (43). Cardinal comeback player-of-the-year candidate Lance Berkman also has 42 walks this season. Anyway, an innocent base on balls to the #9 in the lineup, followed by consecutive singles from Carlos Gonzalez and 2B Chris Nelson to load the bases. Todd Helton walked (1,225 times in his career) to drive in a run. Then, a lucky bounce, one that usually happens TO the Rockies. Tulowitzki tops a ground ball down the third base line that 3B Orlando Cabrera was about to gobble up and step on third to easily force out CarGo to end the inning. But, on its last bounce before reaching Cabrera's glove, it glanced off the side of the third base bag, caroming into foul territory down the left field line. Any batted ball that touches either the first or third base bag, is a fair ball, much as the "foul poles" in left and right are in fair territory. Tulo sheepishly, but happily, pulled into second base with a two-run double, tying the score at 4-4. Up came Giambi, who cranked a 3-1 fastball 440 feet into the Indians' bullpen for a 7-4 Colorado lead, his 7th of the season, 6th on the road, 3rd 3-run blast and 18th RBI.
The Indians scored two in the bottom of the 5th to keep it close at 7-6. In the eighth, the Rockies scored an unearned run as Indians C Lou Marson attempted to pick off Chris Iannetta at first base, his throw sailed into right field and Charlie Blackmon scored all the way from second with the crucial, fortunate 8th run. In the Indians' 8th, Carlos Santana strummed a one-out single to left, and Rafael Betancourt relieved reliever Matt Reynolds, who had relieved Matt Lindstrom (the eventual winner), who had replaced Rex Brothers, who had origally relieved starter Juan Nicasio, who had left with the bases loaded and two outs in the 5th inning. A starting pitcher must complete 5 innings to qualify for a winning decision, he doesn't have to even get one out to be saddled with a losing decision. Back to Betancourt, who then struck out Orlando Cabrera as Santana stole second. 2B Cord Phelps singled to center, driving in Santana, and as CarGo threw towards the plate, Phelps continued toward second. Tulo cut the throw and relayed to Nelson at second to attempt to cut down Phelps, who would have represented the tying run. Here's where the Rockies got lucky again. Second base umpire Sam Holbrook had been out toward center to observe CarGo's fielding of Phelp's single and was positioned to the centerfield side of second base when Tulo's relay to Nelson arrived at the same time Phelps came sliding headfirst into the bag. Video replays show that Phelps reached the base before Nelson's tag was applied to the sliding Indian, but from Holbrook's vantage point, Phelps was out, inning over. Bullet dodged.
In comes Colorado closer, Huston Street. open the bottle of Tums. Pinch hitter Travis Buck flied out to left on the first pitch, so far, so good. CF Grady Sizemore clocks a down-the-middle-of-plate hanging slider from Street into the humid night. It would have cleared the auxiliary scoreboard at Coors Field and Street himself was asked after the game if he thought the ball hit by Sizemore was a game-tying home run. "Absolutely," he replied, "A hundred percent." Two outs. Next up, LF Michael Brantley, who scorched an inside Street offering toward Todd Helton, luckily. He gloved the screaming one-hopper off the infield dirt and jogged to first base, unassisted for the last out. Twenty-first save out of twenty two opportunities for Street, leading the National League.
Luck has to play a big part in any 162-game season, and if Monday's game against the Indians is any indication, maybe, just maybe, these Rockies can reel in the Giants. Only three games back, their record back to .500 at 36-36, 19-19 at home, 17-17 on the road. Not exactly where they wanted to be on June 20th, but back in the hunt with a Posey-less San Francisco squad and an awakening Rockie lineup. Not to mention, Lady Luck smiling on our fair Rockies.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Fore For Shore
The Colorado Rockies are poised to sweep the Detroit Tigers on Father's Day thanks to their fourth consecutive victory Saturday night at Coors Field. The four game winning streak has accomplished a couple of noteworthy deeds. One, they reached the .500 mark for the first time since May 25th. Two, they knocked the Tigers out of first place in the AL Central Division. The sweep will be difficult, as they face one of the very best hurlers in the big leagues, Justin Fucking Verlander. The righty is 8-3, 2.66 ERA, 3 complete games (two shutouts), American League strikeout leader (105) and possessor of a no-hitter already this year (May 7 vs the Toronto Blue Jays) and a near-no-no last Tuesday against the Cleveland Indians. He finished his most recent gem with a two-hit shoutout of the Indians that propelled the Tigers into temporary possession of first place, until today. I hold very low hope that the Rockies will beat Justin Fucking Verlander, but the way the Rockies are playing, it could happen.
One big key for a Colorado win, and the series sweep, will be if Rockie starter Aaron Cook can keep the Tiger batting order in check, because it's unlikely that there will be many runs scored against Verlander. He is 3-1 this year on the road with an ERA of 2.80 and rival batters have hit a measly .179 against this premier pitcher, who can dial up the heat to 100+ mph and bend you over with mind-boggling breaking stuff. He's a threat to toss a no-no every time he takes the mound. Jason Giambi is the only current Rockie who owns a home run vs J.F.Verlander, he has two, and a .308 average (4 for 13, 6 Ks) in his career against the Detroit fireballer. I'm guessing that Giambi will be in the lineup Sunday, as Todd Helton (0 for 2 vs JFV, 1 walk) will probably be resting his bones and body. Chris Iannetta (1 for 2, 1 K), Ryan Spilborghs (0 for 2, 1 BB), Troy Tulowitzki (1 for 2, double) and Ty Wigginton (2 for 9, double, 3 Ks) are the only current Rockies to have faced J.F. Verlander. Too bad Jose Morales broke his thumb, he's 4 for 8 in his career against the Tiger righty during his time in the American League with Minnesota.
The Rockies pounded the Tigers on Friday night, 13-6, when they shelled Detroit starter Rick Porcello (6-5) and reliever Adam Wilk for 14 hits and 13 runs in seven innings. Local Highlands Ranch High School graduate, Daniel Schlereth, son of former Denver Bronco and current ESPN sports personality, Mark Schlereth, mopped up the bottom of the eighth for the Tigers by striking out Helton, retiring Tulo and striking out Seth Smith. The Rockies hit parade included 2B Chris Nelson's first Major League home run, a three-run shot that capped off the Rockies' 6-run second inning. The Rockies only left 4 runners on base, their most efficient game of the season, by far.
Carlos Gonzalez also blasted his 10th homer, part of a 4-RBI night for the Rockies' new and thriving leadoff hitter and centerfielder. Since being inserted into the leadoff spot in the order on June 7th against the Padres, the Rockies are 7-4 and CarGo has batted .417 (20 for 48), with 2 HRs, 6 doubles, 9 RBIs, 8 runs scored. He has an 11-game hitting streak and has raised his batting average for the season to .280 from .250. At the same time, Troy Tulowitzki has been heating up, so it is no small wonder that the Colorado Rockies have had some success in the last 12 days. By putting Gonzalez in the leadoff spot, he has become more disciplined at the plate, swinging at strikes and controlling the strike zone like the 2010 National League batting champion. It is also readily apparent that Chris Nelson has clicked efficiently both at 2nd base and in the two-hole of the Rockies batting order. (I take back what I said about he being a lesser option to Jonathan Herrera). Helton is Helton and the only surprising thing about the future Hall of Famer, is that he attempted a stolen base tonight, unsuccessfully, but still very inspiring. The other major spark has been supplied by rookie LF Charlie Blackmon, who entered tonight's game with a .410 batting average after his first eleven games in the Major Leagues that began on, June 7th. He has shown rare poise, both in the batter's box and in the outfield, along with 5 stolen bases in 5 attempts. Ty Wigginton has provided a productive bat as the regular third baseman, since June 7th.
Hmmmm, perhaps we need to mark June 7, 2011 as the day the Colorado Rockies began their march to the National League West Division title on their way to the National League pennant en route to their first World Series title in franchise history. Okay, I'm getting a little ahead of myself, maybe, but let's take what we have right now: all the signs point to the Rockies going on a sustained victory run. A productive lineup with good-to-great pitching, a manager who has resisted tinkering with a winning combination, Coors Field crowds of over 41,000 and only 3-1/2 games behind the first place San Francisco Giants. The Rockies were very efficient tonight, as Ubaldo Jimenez earned his second win of the season (first at Coors Field) and the Rox beat Detroit 5-4. Good (enough) pitching, timely hitting (Ubaldo's first hit since last September came with the bases loaded), great defense (two more Tiger runners cut down at home plate) and an enthusiastic crowd of 48,555 have the Rockies on a roll.
Now, if we could just get over that fucking Verlander hurdle tomorrow. Then, on to Cleveland, to return the favor to the Tigers by knocking the Indians out of first place, and then, Yankee Stadium to, well, let's just see how the next few days go.
Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there. My Dad never really followed, or liked sports that much, but he taught us kids alot of life lessons through fishing and the outdoors. His chapel was the Rocky Mountains and his campus was alongside a meandering North Platte, or Yampa, or Tarryall River. He was a humble yet proud man, wise and principled, and I miss him dearly, gone now 18 years. His birthday will be on Tuesday, it's always near or on Father's Day, and I shall go visit the cemetery, light some incense and play "Danny Boy" for him one more time as I tell him how his grandkids and great-grandsons are doing, how proud he'd be of them, how much they'd love to go fishing with him. Cheers.
One big key for a Colorado win, and the series sweep, will be if Rockie starter Aaron Cook can keep the Tiger batting order in check, because it's unlikely that there will be many runs scored against Verlander. He is 3-1 this year on the road with an ERA of 2.80 and rival batters have hit a measly .179 against this premier pitcher, who can dial up the heat to 100+ mph and bend you over with mind-boggling breaking stuff. He's a threat to toss a no-no every time he takes the mound. Jason Giambi is the only current Rockie who owns a home run vs J.F.Verlander, he has two, and a .308 average (4 for 13, 6 Ks) in his career against the Detroit fireballer. I'm guessing that Giambi will be in the lineup Sunday, as Todd Helton (0 for 2 vs JFV, 1 walk) will probably be resting his bones and body. Chris Iannetta (1 for 2, 1 K), Ryan Spilborghs (0 for 2, 1 BB), Troy Tulowitzki (1 for 2, double) and Ty Wigginton (2 for 9, double, 3 Ks) are the only current Rockies to have faced J.F. Verlander. Too bad Jose Morales broke his thumb, he's 4 for 8 in his career against the Tiger righty during his time in the American League with Minnesota.
The Rockies pounded the Tigers on Friday night, 13-6, when they shelled Detroit starter Rick Porcello (6-5) and reliever Adam Wilk for 14 hits and 13 runs in seven innings. Local Highlands Ranch High School graduate, Daniel Schlereth, son of former Denver Bronco and current ESPN sports personality, Mark Schlereth, mopped up the bottom of the eighth for the Tigers by striking out Helton, retiring Tulo and striking out Seth Smith. The Rockies hit parade included 2B Chris Nelson's first Major League home run, a three-run shot that capped off the Rockies' 6-run second inning. The Rockies only left 4 runners on base, their most efficient game of the season, by far.
Carlos Gonzalez also blasted his 10th homer, part of a 4-RBI night for the Rockies' new and thriving leadoff hitter and centerfielder. Since being inserted into the leadoff spot in the order on June 7th against the Padres, the Rockies are 7-4 and CarGo has batted .417 (20 for 48), with 2 HRs, 6 doubles, 9 RBIs, 8 runs scored. He has an 11-game hitting streak and has raised his batting average for the season to .280 from .250. At the same time, Troy Tulowitzki has been heating up, so it is no small wonder that the Colorado Rockies have had some success in the last 12 days. By putting Gonzalez in the leadoff spot, he has become more disciplined at the plate, swinging at strikes and controlling the strike zone like the 2010 National League batting champion. It is also readily apparent that Chris Nelson has clicked efficiently both at 2nd base and in the two-hole of the Rockies batting order. (I take back what I said about he being a lesser option to Jonathan Herrera). Helton is Helton and the only surprising thing about the future Hall of Famer, is that he attempted a stolen base tonight, unsuccessfully, but still very inspiring. The other major spark has been supplied by rookie LF Charlie Blackmon, who entered tonight's game with a .410 batting average after his first eleven games in the Major Leagues that began on, June 7th. He has shown rare poise, both in the batter's box and in the outfield, along with 5 stolen bases in 5 attempts. Ty Wigginton has provided a productive bat as the regular third baseman, since June 7th.
Hmmmm, perhaps we need to mark June 7, 2011 as the day the Colorado Rockies began their march to the National League West Division title on their way to the National League pennant en route to their first World Series title in franchise history. Okay, I'm getting a little ahead of myself, maybe, but let's take what we have right now: all the signs point to the Rockies going on a sustained victory run. A productive lineup with good-to-great pitching, a manager who has resisted tinkering with a winning combination, Coors Field crowds of over 41,000 and only 3-1/2 games behind the first place San Francisco Giants. The Rockies were very efficient tonight, as Ubaldo Jimenez earned his second win of the season (first at Coors Field) and the Rox beat Detroit 5-4. Good (enough) pitching, timely hitting (Ubaldo's first hit since last September came with the bases loaded), great defense (two more Tiger runners cut down at home plate) and an enthusiastic crowd of 48,555 have the Rockies on a roll.
Now, if we could just get over that fucking Verlander hurdle tomorrow. Then, on to Cleveland, to return the favor to the Tigers by knocking the Indians out of first place, and then, Yankee Stadium to, well, let's just see how the next few days go.
Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there. My Dad never really followed, or liked sports that much, but he taught us kids alot of life lessons through fishing and the outdoors. His chapel was the Rocky Mountains and his campus was alongside a meandering North Platte, or Yampa, or Tarryall River. He was a humble yet proud man, wise and principled, and I miss him dearly, gone now 18 years. His birthday will be on Tuesday, it's always near or on Father's Day, and I shall go visit the cemetery, light some incense and play "Danny Boy" for him one more time as I tell him how his grandkids and great-grandsons are doing, how proud he'd be of them, how much they'd love to go fishing with him. Cheers.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Chacin Cha-Ching
The 2011 Colorado Rockies have under-achieved so far this year. That much is not a matter for debate. What is very much up for debate is whether the Rockies' brain trust is prepared to pull strings, push buttons and make decisions that move this franchise forward. Past history says that this club will maintain a patient and forgiving course, trusting in the personnel and talent that the scouting and developmental evaluators have put into place throughout the organization. Recent moves have confirmed that general manager Dan O'Dowd and director of scouting and player development Bill Geivett believe in their staff's overall assessments of talent up and down the Rockies baseball organization. Free agent acquisitions and trades since the end of last season reveal a modest lean towards 'gambling', and a stern tendency to make 'safe' decisions. By 'safe', I mean 'not expensive'. Notice that I didn't say 'cheap'.
The Rockies spent a ton ($238 million) to lock up the services of Troy Tulowitzki ($158 million over ten years) and Carlos Gonzalez ($80 million over seven years). The club also inked left handed pitcher Jorge De La Rosa to a hefty contract that could be worth up to $43 million for four years. Closer Huston Street signed a contract in January that guarantees him three years and $22.5 million. And so forth. The Rockies are in the upper-middle of the salary scale of the Major Leagues. In the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies, with their envious pitching staff, leads with a 2011 salary level of $173 million. Next, in order, are: Chicago Cubs ($125m), New York Mets ($118.8m), San Francisco Giants ($118.2m), St. Louis Cardinals ($105.4m), Los Angeles Dodgers ($104.2m), then the Colorado Rockies at just over $88 million.
The average ticket price for Rockies games at Coors Field is right at $22.50 for 2011. If the Rockies get attendance at 33,000 per game, that begets about 2.7 million for the year. That means around $60 million in ticket sales and probably close to that amount from parking and concessions. With advertising, sponsorship deals, television and radio contracts and Major League cooperative shared income, the Rockies will generate an anticipated $188 million this year (source: Forbes.com). The Rockies drew close to 2.9 million last year, due to their playoff contention until late in the year. When I see a crowd that's announced at 41,000 and look around and see lots of empty seats, like I did at the end of last season, it usually means that tickets were purchased in advance, and patrons and fans lost interest. Season ticket holders, and fans who got caught up in the fever of the playoff chase, bought tickets that weren't used. That is why it is so important for an organization to field a team that is both competitive and fun to watch. Winning is more fun than losing (unless you're a diehard Cubs fan). If the Rockies get hot, close in on the division lead, and remain competitive through the end of the year, they will exceed 33,157 paid attendance per game, which is what they are averaging through the first 35 games at Coors Field this season. 3.2 million paid this year would be terrific.
At the current rate, not even at 50% in the win column, Colorado Rockies fans may elect to stay at home and maybe watch on TV. This is a very important time for Major League Baseball in general, and for many specific teams especially. With the National Football League at odds and no clear picture of if or when the 2011-2012 season will be played, the National Basketball Association also on the verge of their CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) expiring, MLB has the stage to themselves right now. Many teams are doing quite well in home attendance, and the Rockies are right in the middle, not bad, not great. The Phillies have drawn almost 1.8 million already, not even halfway through their home slate. They need to, their payroll demands that they succeed at the gate. Two teams, the Phillies and the Red Sox, actually average more fans per game than their stadiums' official capacity. Five teams average less than 20,000 per game: Cleveland Indians (until recently, in first place in the AL Central), Kansas City Royals (not a contender, but 21-20 at home), Oakland A's (last in the AL West), Tampa Bay Rays (third in the tough AL East) and the Florida Marlins (last in the NL East).
I am meandering, but my point is, that the Rockies brass needs to hope that their "kids" can come through, in the last two-thirds of this season. That would solve all the winning and revenue concerns. After taking two of three from the Padres with yesterday's 6-3 win, the Rockies are 17-18 at home and 16-17 on the road, 5-1/2 games behind the San Francisco Giants, and 1-1/2 games behind the surprising Arizona Diamondbacks. The American League Central Division leading Detroit Tigers check in tomorrow at Coors Field for a three game series that begins inter-league play. The Tigers are managed by Jim Leyland, who managed the Rockies to a 72-90 record in 1999, and last place in the West. It was such a sour experience for Leyland, that he stayed away from baseball for 7 years, until he returned to managerial duties with the Tigers in 2006, taking them all the way to the World Series, where they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in 5 games. The Rockies should have a carton of cigarettes and a bottle of scotch waiting in his office for him when he arrives for work tomorrow.
Jhoulys Chacin's eighth win yesterday (against 4 losses) and the Rockies' bats limbering up (13 hits), gave them a two-game winning streak for only the second time since May 18th. If the Rockies do not win at least 15 out of the 23 games between now and the All-Star break, they had better look to tweaking their rosters, up and down the organization, because 50-50 mediocrity is NOT something that can retain fan interest for long. The trade dealine is July 31, there could be a whole lot of shakin' up goin' on by then.
The Rockies spent a ton ($238 million) to lock up the services of Troy Tulowitzki ($158 million over ten years) and Carlos Gonzalez ($80 million over seven years). The club also inked left handed pitcher Jorge De La Rosa to a hefty contract that could be worth up to $43 million for four years. Closer Huston Street signed a contract in January that guarantees him three years and $22.5 million. And so forth. The Rockies are in the upper-middle of the salary scale of the Major Leagues. In the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies, with their envious pitching staff, leads with a 2011 salary level of $173 million. Next, in order, are: Chicago Cubs ($125m), New York Mets ($118.8m), San Francisco Giants ($118.2m), St. Louis Cardinals ($105.4m), Los Angeles Dodgers ($104.2m), then the Colorado Rockies at just over $88 million.
The average ticket price for Rockies games at Coors Field is right at $22.50 for 2011. If the Rockies get attendance at 33,000 per game, that begets about 2.7 million for the year. That means around $60 million in ticket sales and probably close to that amount from parking and concessions. With advertising, sponsorship deals, television and radio contracts and Major League cooperative shared income, the Rockies will generate an anticipated $188 million this year (source: Forbes.com). The Rockies drew close to 2.9 million last year, due to their playoff contention until late in the year. When I see a crowd that's announced at 41,000 and look around and see lots of empty seats, like I did at the end of last season, it usually means that tickets were purchased in advance, and patrons and fans lost interest. Season ticket holders, and fans who got caught up in the fever of the playoff chase, bought tickets that weren't used. That is why it is so important for an organization to field a team that is both competitive and fun to watch. Winning is more fun than losing (unless you're a diehard Cubs fan). If the Rockies get hot, close in on the division lead, and remain competitive through the end of the year, they will exceed 33,157 paid attendance per game, which is what they are averaging through the first 35 games at Coors Field this season. 3.2 million paid this year would be terrific.
At the current rate, not even at 50% in the win column, Colorado Rockies fans may elect to stay at home and maybe watch on TV. This is a very important time for Major League Baseball in general, and for many specific teams especially. With the National Football League at odds and no clear picture of if or when the 2011-2012 season will be played, the National Basketball Association also on the verge of their CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) expiring, MLB has the stage to themselves right now. Many teams are doing quite well in home attendance, and the Rockies are right in the middle, not bad, not great. The Phillies have drawn almost 1.8 million already, not even halfway through their home slate. They need to, their payroll demands that they succeed at the gate. Two teams, the Phillies and the Red Sox, actually average more fans per game than their stadiums' official capacity. Five teams average less than 20,000 per game: Cleveland Indians (until recently, in first place in the AL Central), Kansas City Royals (not a contender, but 21-20 at home), Oakland A's (last in the AL West), Tampa Bay Rays (third in the tough AL East) and the Florida Marlins (last in the NL East).
I am meandering, but my point is, that the Rockies brass needs to hope that their "kids" can come through, in the last two-thirds of this season. That would solve all the winning and revenue concerns. After taking two of three from the Padres with yesterday's 6-3 win, the Rockies are 17-18 at home and 16-17 on the road, 5-1/2 games behind the San Francisco Giants, and 1-1/2 games behind the surprising Arizona Diamondbacks. The American League Central Division leading Detroit Tigers check in tomorrow at Coors Field for a three game series that begins inter-league play. The Tigers are managed by Jim Leyland, who managed the Rockies to a 72-90 record in 1999, and last place in the West. It was such a sour experience for Leyland, that he stayed away from baseball for 7 years, until he returned to managerial duties with the Tigers in 2006, taking them all the way to the World Series, where they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in 5 games. The Rockies should have a carton of cigarettes and a bottle of scotch waiting in his office for him when he arrives for work tomorrow.
Jhoulys Chacin's eighth win yesterday (against 4 losses) and the Rockies' bats limbering up (13 hits), gave them a two-game winning streak for only the second time since May 18th. If the Rockies do not win at least 15 out of the 23 games between now and the All-Star break, they had better look to tweaking their rosters, up and down the organization, because 50-50 mediocrity is NOT something that can retain fan interest for long. The trade dealine is July 31, there could be a whole lot of shakin' up goin' on by then.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Juan In A Row
It's an interesting dynamic that manager Jim Tracy held a closed door meeting before Tuesday's game vs the San Diego Padres. It was the second time this season Tracy gathered the troops together to chew some ass. The interesting part to me is, since rookie pitcher, Juan Nicasio's English is not yet fluent, did he need translation during Tracy's probable tirade? I don't know, but he seemed to get the message. Nicasio went out 3 hours later and weathered a rough start by surrendering a leadoff home run to RF Chris Denorfia, plunking the #2 batter, SS Jason Bartlett and allowing him to steal second and third, then striking out the side. Nicasio, whose record improved to 2-1 after his 4th Major League start, pounded the strike zone as he notched 9 strikeouts in his six inning, 108-pitch (67 for strikes) effort. The Rockies are now 3-1 in Nicasio's starts. The key: 18 strikeouts, only 5 walks.
The Rockies' 6-3 win was a gratifying contest for Tracy, and Rockie fans, as the squad put together a complete game. The aforementioned leadoff home run, and the way that they were retired 1-2-3 in their half of the first inning, would have normally spelled out the recipe for another don't-get-up-off-the-canvas defeat for these 2011 Rockies. Left fielder Ryan Ludwick single-handedly fashioned a SportsCenter highlight reel by making three diving, sliding and hit-preventing catches off the bats of Carlos Gonzalez, Chris Nelson and Todd Helton, in the first inning! Luckily for the home team, Ludwick went on to strike out three times in the game, twice with runners at third and twice to end Padres innings. Matter of fact, the Padres struck out a total of 14 times in the game and left twenty runners on base. The Rox left sixteen runners on the base paths, so this game coulda, shoulda been higher scoring, given the traffic and scoring opportunities.
The Rockies overcame their early 2-0 deficit (the Padres scored a single run in the 4th), by scoring 3 in the bottom of the 4th. 2B Chris Nelson led off with a walk, stole second and rode home on Todd Helton's single. Troy Tulowitzki smacked a ground-rule double to left-center, saving Helton from having to slide at home, as he was forced to hold at third. 3B Ty Wigginton laced a sharp single to right as Helton jogged home (his 1,300th run scored) and Tulo held at third (wise move by third base coach Rich Dauer). LF Charlie Blackmon gritted out a classic at-bat before singling to center on a low changeup, driving in Tulowotzki with the third run of the inning. Five men up, five men on, three scoring. Bravo! Stringing hits together hasn't exactly been very commonplace for the Rockies lately, so this was a good sign.
The home half of the 6th inning provided the cushion that the Rockies' bullpen could rest upon. Wigginton led off with a double to the wall in left center. Would Blackmon sacrifice him to third? Well, sorta, he hit a grounder to the right side of the infield, which is usually as good as a sacrifice bunt, and something that all hitters are trained to do with a runner at second, with none or one out. Only this time, Padre manager Bud Black had the infield drawn in expecting that perhaps Blackmon would bunt, so 2B Alberto Gonzalez fielded the ball and threw to 3B Chase Headley (from Fountain, CO), to easily tag out Wigginton at third. Blackmon then stole his 4th base (in 4 attempts so far in his 8-game career, farewell Dexter Fowler). Blackmon at second, so instead of Wiggy being at third with one out, the Rockies now have a faster runner at second with one out. RF Ryan Spilborghs drew a walk and up came C Chris Iannetta. Padres reliever, Pat Neshek had entered the bottom of the 5th to relieve starter, and loser, lefty Wade LeBlanc with a runner on and Tulo up to bat. Neshek has one of those deliveries that takes getting used to, a side-winding, corkscrewing right-handed specialist, and he retired Tulo to end the 5th. But, with Iannetta, he hung an 86 mph slider on the outer half of the plate that the Rockies catcher muscled over the left field wall for Colorado's 11th three run homer of the season. (No grand slams yet this year, one of only three teams in MLB to be denied so far).
The 6-2 lead would be enough to keep the Padres at bay, as Matt Lindstrom, Rex Brothers and Huston Street mopped up, with Street surrendering the final Padres tally in the ninth, in a non-save situation.
The crowd of 35,045 went home happy, and the Rockies have a chance to take the series today with a 1:10 start as the Padres send righty Mat Latos (4-7) to the mound to face Rockies new ace, Jhoulys Chacin (7-4). This will be Latos' 4th career start against the Rockies, third at Coors Field, where he is 1-0, one no-decision. Chacin will be going after his 8th win in only his 2nd career start against the Padres (0-0, one no-decision).
Every one-game winning streak breeds new optimism, every series win brings hope, but we're still 6 games behind the Giants.
The Rockies' 6-3 win was a gratifying contest for Tracy, and Rockie fans, as the squad put together a complete game. The aforementioned leadoff home run, and the way that they were retired 1-2-3 in their half of the first inning, would have normally spelled out the recipe for another don't-get-up-off-the-canvas defeat for these 2011 Rockies. Left fielder Ryan Ludwick single-handedly fashioned a SportsCenter highlight reel by making three diving, sliding and hit-preventing catches off the bats of Carlos Gonzalez, Chris Nelson and Todd Helton, in the first inning! Luckily for the home team, Ludwick went on to strike out three times in the game, twice with runners at third and twice to end Padres innings. Matter of fact, the Padres struck out a total of 14 times in the game and left twenty runners on base. The Rox left sixteen runners on the base paths, so this game coulda, shoulda been higher scoring, given the traffic and scoring opportunities.
The Rockies overcame their early 2-0 deficit (the Padres scored a single run in the 4th), by scoring 3 in the bottom of the 4th. 2B Chris Nelson led off with a walk, stole second and rode home on Todd Helton's single. Troy Tulowitzki smacked a ground-rule double to left-center, saving Helton from having to slide at home, as he was forced to hold at third. 3B Ty Wigginton laced a sharp single to right as Helton jogged home (his 1,300th run scored) and Tulo held at third (wise move by third base coach Rich Dauer). LF Charlie Blackmon gritted out a classic at-bat before singling to center on a low changeup, driving in Tulowotzki with the third run of the inning. Five men up, five men on, three scoring. Bravo! Stringing hits together hasn't exactly been very commonplace for the Rockies lately, so this was a good sign.
The home half of the 6th inning provided the cushion that the Rockies' bullpen could rest upon. Wigginton led off with a double to the wall in left center. Would Blackmon sacrifice him to third? Well, sorta, he hit a grounder to the right side of the infield, which is usually as good as a sacrifice bunt, and something that all hitters are trained to do with a runner at second, with none or one out. Only this time, Padre manager Bud Black had the infield drawn in expecting that perhaps Blackmon would bunt, so 2B Alberto Gonzalez fielded the ball and threw to 3B Chase Headley (from Fountain, CO), to easily tag out Wigginton at third. Blackmon then stole his 4th base (in 4 attempts so far in his 8-game career, farewell Dexter Fowler). Blackmon at second, so instead of Wiggy being at third with one out, the Rockies now have a faster runner at second with one out. RF Ryan Spilborghs drew a walk and up came C Chris Iannetta. Padres reliever, Pat Neshek had entered the bottom of the 5th to relieve starter, and loser, lefty Wade LeBlanc with a runner on and Tulo up to bat. Neshek has one of those deliveries that takes getting used to, a side-winding, corkscrewing right-handed specialist, and he retired Tulo to end the 5th. But, with Iannetta, he hung an 86 mph slider on the outer half of the plate that the Rockies catcher muscled over the left field wall for Colorado's 11th three run homer of the season. (No grand slams yet this year, one of only three teams in MLB to be denied so far).
The 6-2 lead would be enough to keep the Padres at bay, as Matt Lindstrom, Rex Brothers and Huston Street mopped up, with Street surrendering the final Padres tally in the ninth, in a non-save situation.
The crowd of 35,045 went home happy, and the Rockies have a chance to take the series today with a 1:10 start as the Padres send righty Mat Latos (4-7) to the mound to face Rockies new ace, Jhoulys Chacin (7-4). This will be Latos' 4th career start against the Rockies, third at Coors Field, where he is 1-0, one no-decision. Chacin will be going after his 8th win in only his 2nd career start against the Padres (0-0, one no-decision).
Every one-game winning streak breeds new optimism, every series win brings hope, but we're still 6 games behind the Giants.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Just Another Day In Punxsutawney
The one good thing about the Colorado Rockies right now, is that we are getting a glimpse of the future. No, it's not all bad. The failings of Dexter Fowler, Ian Stewart, Alfredo Amezaga, Jose Lopez and Felipe Paulino, coupled with injuries to Aaron Cook and Jorge De LaRosa, have necessitated the callups of Juan Nicasio, Chris Nelson, Rex Brothers and Charlie Blackmon. To a lesser extent, Clayton Mortensen and Eric Young, Jr. have also participated in the caravan up from Colorado Springs. I hate to say it, but the Dexter Fowler Experience is just about to fold up its tent.
Fowler was drafted in the 14th round of the 2004 draft by the Rockies out of Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. He started his professional career in rookie league with Rockies' affiliate Casper in 2005. He rose up through the farm system in 2006 (A/Asheville with the Tourists), 2007 with the A/Modesto Nuts and 2008 with the AA/Tulsa Drillers. In Tulsa is where he began to show the promise that the Rockies had their centerfielder of the future. He was batting .337 when he was selected to represent the United States in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics (bronze Medalist). Upon his return to Tulsa, his average stood at .335, when on September 2, he got the call from the Rockies to pack up and head to Denver. That day, the Rockies and Giants were in an extra-inning affair as it reached the 10th inning, tied 5-5. Brad Hawpe singled with one out, and Dexter Fowler made his Major League debut as a pinch runner. Willie Taveras then fouled out. With C Chris Iannetta at bat, poor Dex, took off for second on a poor read of the pitcher, got into a rundown, and was thrown out. It served as a cautionary omen, as Dexter, with all his boundless athleticism and raw speed, can't, to this day, figure out how to read pitchers and get a decent jump off first base. In his entire minor league career (parts of 6 seasons), he had 103 stolen bases, but was caught stealing 48 times. In his Major League career, spanning 4 seasons, he has only 42 stolen bases, while being thrown out 24 times! The other disturbingly portentious statistic, is that in those 6 minor league campaigns, in 364 games, he struck out 335 times. The Rockies centerfielders in 2008 were Scott Podsednik and Willie Taveras. Now, for some reason, the Rockies brass fell in love with Dexter, and by 2009 Podsednik and Taveras were gone. For the record, Taveras had 68 stolen bases in 2008 for the Rockies, and was thrown out only 7 times. But his on-base-percentage was only .308 and he struck out and flied out too much, so said the brains at 20th and Blake. Present day, the injury that has kept him sidelined and now on the DL, it seems his tenure with the Rockies may be soon over, as Charlie Blackmon could be Dan O'Dowd's and Jim Tracy's next new answer to the Rockies offensive dilemma.
The Rockies' loss Monday night, 3-1 to the last-place (not for long) San Diego Padres, showcased their season-long futility. When they hit, they can't catch. When they get get good starting pitching, the bats grow silent, or the bullpen implodes. Last night the Blake Street Bunglers left 15 men on base! Aaron Cook got out of a bases-loaded, nobody out jam in the first inning by inducing a ground ball double play, limiting the damage to a single run. Conversely, the Rox blew their first inning opportunity with two on, one out, as Tulo and Seth Smith came up empty. Colorado scored in the 4th, as Ty Wigginton, goat of the last two Rockies losses due to his granite glove, singled with two outs, stole second and rode home on Charlie Blackmon's single. Blackmon then stole second, which forced San Diego manager Bud Black to intentionally walk Chris Iannetta to face pitcher Aaron Cook. Cookie put the ball in play, but on the ground, in the infield, and Iannetta was easily retired at second on the force out.
In the 5th, leadoff singles to CarGo and Chris Nelson. Manager Jim Tracy eschewed the sacrifice bunt with Todd Helton at the plate, but it ended up the same anyway. Helton flew out to deep centerfield and both Gonzalez and Nelson moved up to third and second. Great. 2nd and 3rd, only one out, with our cleanup hitter, All-Star-vote-leading shortstop Troy Tulowitzki at the plate. Oh no, the dreaded contact play, again, and, again, a Rockie is thrown out at home, as CarGo started, then stopped, then calmly trotted into the arms of Padres catcher Nick Hundley for out #2. The Rox still had a chance, as Tulo stole second and Seth Smith walked to load the bases. Ty Wigginton grounded sharply into the hole between first and second. 2B Alberto Gonzalez made a diving stop on the outfield grass and threw out Wiggy at first, rally snuffed. That was critical because San Diego scored in the top of the 6th to take a 2-1 lead.
The Rockies were mowed down by the Padres bullpen in the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th as closer Heath Bell recorded his 18th save by striking out Carlos Gonzalez to end the game, on a pitch, in the dirt, where the Rockies hopes are residing.
The third-place Rockies are now six games behind the West Division leaders, San Francisco. Three games under .500 at home. It seems weird to say it, but there are only 96 games left in the regular season. IF the Giants only play .500 ball the rest of the way, the Rockies have to play at a .551 pace, or 12 games over .500 (54 wins, 42 losses).......JUST TO CATCH THE GIANTS!!! Wildcard? Forget it. There are 10 teams in the National League with better records than the Rockies.
Please, please, please invite Bill Murray to come thrown out a first pitch at Coors Field. At an 8:25 PM start-time night game, so that there are no shadows to contend with.
Fowler was drafted in the 14th round of the 2004 draft by the Rockies out of Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. He started his professional career in rookie league with Rockies' affiliate Casper in 2005. He rose up through the farm system in 2006 (A/Asheville with the Tourists), 2007 with the A/Modesto Nuts and 2008 with the AA/Tulsa Drillers. In Tulsa is where he began to show the promise that the Rockies had their centerfielder of the future. He was batting .337 when he was selected to represent the United States in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics (bronze Medalist). Upon his return to Tulsa, his average stood at .335, when on September 2, he got the call from the Rockies to pack up and head to Denver. That day, the Rockies and Giants were in an extra-inning affair as it reached the 10th inning, tied 5-5. Brad Hawpe singled with one out, and Dexter Fowler made his Major League debut as a pinch runner. Willie Taveras then fouled out. With C Chris Iannetta at bat, poor Dex, took off for second on a poor read of the pitcher, got into a rundown, and was thrown out. It served as a cautionary omen, as Dexter, with all his boundless athleticism and raw speed, can't, to this day, figure out how to read pitchers and get a decent jump off first base. In his entire minor league career (parts of 6 seasons), he had 103 stolen bases, but was caught stealing 48 times. In his Major League career, spanning 4 seasons, he has only 42 stolen bases, while being thrown out 24 times! The other disturbingly portentious statistic, is that in those 6 minor league campaigns, in 364 games, he struck out 335 times. The Rockies centerfielders in 2008 were Scott Podsednik and Willie Taveras. Now, for some reason, the Rockies brass fell in love with Dexter, and by 2009 Podsednik and Taveras were gone. For the record, Taveras had 68 stolen bases in 2008 for the Rockies, and was thrown out only 7 times. But his on-base-percentage was only .308 and he struck out and flied out too much, so said the brains at 20th and Blake. Present day, the injury that has kept him sidelined and now on the DL, it seems his tenure with the Rockies may be soon over, as Charlie Blackmon could be Dan O'Dowd's and Jim Tracy's next new answer to the Rockies offensive dilemma.
The Rockies' loss Monday night, 3-1 to the last-place (not for long) San Diego Padres, showcased their season-long futility. When they hit, they can't catch. When they get get good starting pitching, the bats grow silent, or the bullpen implodes. Last night the Blake Street Bunglers left 15 men on base! Aaron Cook got out of a bases-loaded, nobody out jam in the first inning by inducing a ground ball double play, limiting the damage to a single run. Conversely, the Rox blew their first inning opportunity with two on, one out, as Tulo and Seth Smith came up empty. Colorado scored in the 4th, as Ty Wigginton, goat of the last two Rockies losses due to his granite glove, singled with two outs, stole second and rode home on Charlie Blackmon's single. Blackmon then stole second, which forced San Diego manager Bud Black to intentionally walk Chris Iannetta to face pitcher Aaron Cook. Cookie put the ball in play, but on the ground, in the infield, and Iannetta was easily retired at second on the force out.
In the 5th, leadoff singles to CarGo and Chris Nelson. Manager Jim Tracy eschewed the sacrifice bunt with Todd Helton at the plate, but it ended up the same anyway. Helton flew out to deep centerfield and both Gonzalez and Nelson moved up to third and second. Great. 2nd and 3rd, only one out, with our cleanup hitter, All-Star-vote-leading shortstop Troy Tulowitzki at the plate. Oh no, the dreaded contact play, again, and, again, a Rockie is thrown out at home, as CarGo started, then stopped, then calmly trotted into the arms of Padres catcher Nick Hundley for out #2. The Rox still had a chance, as Tulo stole second and Seth Smith walked to load the bases. Ty Wigginton grounded sharply into the hole between first and second. 2B Alberto Gonzalez made a diving stop on the outfield grass and threw out Wiggy at first, rally snuffed. That was critical because San Diego scored in the top of the 6th to take a 2-1 lead.
The Rockies were mowed down by the Padres bullpen in the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th as closer Heath Bell recorded his 18th save by striking out Carlos Gonzalez to end the game, on a pitch, in the dirt, where the Rockies hopes are residing.
The third-place Rockies are now six games behind the West Division leaders, San Francisco. Three games under .500 at home. It seems weird to say it, but there are only 96 games left in the regular season. IF the Giants only play .500 ball the rest of the way, the Rockies have to play at a .551 pace, or 12 games over .500 (54 wins, 42 losses).......JUST TO CATCH THE GIANTS!!! Wildcard? Forget it. There are 10 teams in the National League with better records than the Rockies.
Please, please, please invite Bill Murray to come thrown out a first pitch at Coors Field. At an 8:25 PM start-time night game, so that there are no shadows to contend with.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Sad Times For Ubaldo
I do not think that it's necessary to wait until the end of this game to comment. As it has been throughout the second half of last season and the first 2-1/2 months of this campaign, there should be sincere concern as to the health of Ubaldo Jimenez. He says he's okay, he seems to be okay, manager Jim Tracy stands up for him. We are all rooting for him, he is a very likeable, affable young man. He's just not very good right now, and hasn't been for awhile. I suspect that the real reason, or reasons, will surface soon.
The game today against the Dodgers began well enough. Los Angeles went down in order, 1-2-3 in the first. As he has for the last week or so, Carlos Gonzalez led off the game, and hit it hard, a double to deep centerfield. Jonathan Herrera failed to execute a sacrifice bunt, popping it up to Dodger pitcher, Rubby De La Rosa. Todd Helton flied out, and Troy Tulowitzki walked. Seth Smith homered to the second deck in right, and the Rockies had staked Ubaldo to an early 3-run lead.
The Dodger third began with Jimenez giving up a single to his counterpart, pitcher De La Rosa. Leadoff batter, Jamey Carroll bounced a tailor-made double play ball to 3B Ty Wigginton. He booted it, runners on first and second, no outs, instead of bases empty and two outs. Aaron Miles forced De La Rosa out at third for the first out. Ubaldo pitched carefully to Matt Kemp, and walked the hottest batter in baseball in the month of June. Bases loaded, James Loney bombs a grand slam into the Dodger bullpen. Then three more singles and a stolen base plate another run for the Dodgers. All the runs were unearned, because of the error to begin the inning, but the 5 runs are probably enough to sink the heartless and dejected Rockies.
Two more home runs in the Dodger 5th account for the present score of 7-3. Jimenez is not pitching well, and his delivery is not fooling any Dodger hitters this time around, after shutting them down and shutting them out 11 days ago. The final line for Jimenez: 5-1/3 innings, 11 hits, 7 runs (only 2 earned), a walk and only 2 strikeouts. The three home runs surrendered were the most in one game ever for Ubaldo. The two strikeouts are the fewest. So, to me, it's evident, he's not 100%, and it's time that it's addressed.
If the Rockies come back to win this game, I'll write an addendum, and apologize for my harsh appraisal. Three errors committed, poor plate appearances, a generally poor display of baseball, all around. It seems that this franchise is turning the corner, and it's not in the right direction.
The game today against the Dodgers began well enough. Los Angeles went down in order, 1-2-3 in the first. As he has for the last week or so, Carlos Gonzalez led off the game, and hit it hard, a double to deep centerfield. Jonathan Herrera failed to execute a sacrifice bunt, popping it up to Dodger pitcher, Rubby De La Rosa. Todd Helton flied out, and Troy Tulowitzki walked. Seth Smith homered to the second deck in right, and the Rockies had staked Ubaldo to an early 3-run lead.
The Dodger third began with Jimenez giving up a single to his counterpart, pitcher De La Rosa. Leadoff batter, Jamey Carroll bounced a tailor-made double play ball to 3B Ty Wigginton. He booted it, runners on first and second, no outs, instead of bases empty and two outs. Aaron Miles forced De La Rosa out at third for the first out. Ubaldo pitched carefully to Matt Kemp, and walked the hottest batter in baseball in the month of June. Bases loaded, James Loney bombs a grand slam into the Dodger bullpen. Then three more singles and a stolen base plate another run for the Dodgers. All the runs were unearned, because of the error to begin the inning, but the 5 runs are probably enough to sink the heartless and dejected Rockies.
Two more home runs in the Dodger 5th account for the present score of 7-3. Jimenez is not pitching well, and his delivery is not fooling any Dodger hitters this time around, after shutting them down and shutting them out 11 days ago. The final line for Jimenez: 5-1/3 innings, 11 hits, 7 runs (only 2 earned), a walk and only 2 strikeouts. The three home runs surrendered were the most in one game ever for Ubaldo. The two strikeouts are the fewest. So, to me, it's evident, he's not 100%, and it's time that it's addressed.
If the Rockies come back to win this game, I'll write an addendum, and apologize for my harsh appraisal. Three errors committed, poor plate appearances, a generally poor display of baseball, all around. It seems that this franchise is turning the corner, and it's not in the right direction.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Half-Empty
With the San Francisco Giants having lost earlier today, 10-2 to the Cincinnati Reds, the Rockies had a chance to move to within 3-1/2 games of the first-place Giants. Colorado also had a chance to even their season record to .500 with a win over the Dodgers at Coors Field. Guess what happened. Typical of this disappointing season on the brink, the Rox threw another one away.
The score was 1-0 after 4 innings, in favor of the Rockies, based on 3B Ty Wigginton's 6th home run of 2011, leading off the second inning. The Dodgers tied it in the 5th as Matt Kemp drove in Andre Ethier with his 14th double and 55th RBI. Ethier should not have been on base. He should have been the tail end of a twin-killing, but neither 1B Jason Giambi nor P Jason Hammel covered first base, and SS Troy Tulowitzki's relay throw to first went awry, allowing Ethier to stay alive, reach second, and score on Kemp's double.
Dodger LHP Ted Lilly kept the Rockies at bay for 5 innings as the Dodgers built a 7-1 lead with three runs in the 6th and three more in the 7th. Hammel's back tightened up in the 6th, as he threw eight consecutive pitches out of the strike zone, walking Rod Barajas and Aaron Miles to open the inning. After a meeting on the mound with C Chris Iannetta, manager Jim Tracy and trainer Keith Dugger, Hammel left to seek treatment in the training room. Enter LHP Matt Reynolds. LF Tony Gwynn, Jr. attempted a sacrifice bunt, but reached first base to load the bases, no outs. Casey Blake came in to pinch hit for P Ted Lilly. Bases-clearing double, Dodgers lead 4-1. Rockies go down in order 1-2-3 in the 6th.
Recently demoted-to-the-bullpen RHP Clayton Mortensen came in to pitch the 7th. Disaster. Error by Wigginton, single, another successful sacrifice bunt (see that Tracy?), double, successful ground ball out to the right side of the infield (see that Rockies hitters?), another single, and the Dodgers lead 7-1 going to the seventh inning stretch. As the refrains of "Hey Baby" subside, the Rockies go down in order, 1-2-3.
Dodger reliever Scott Elbert enters in the bottom of the 8th. Double to CarGo, single to EY, walk to Giambi. Bases loaded, no outs, as Elbert is replaced by RHP Matt Guerrier. Tulo singles, driving in two runs. Wiggy flies out for the first out in the inning. Seth Smith pinch hits for the pitcher, singles to center and Matt Kemp lets the ball get by him for a two-base error as both Giambi and Tulowitzki score. Rookie LF Charlie Blackmon singles to drive in Smith for his first Major League RBI. Chris Iannetta and Jonathan Herrera kill the inning with a fielder's choice groundout and strikeout. Dodger rookie SS Dee Gordon made a spectacular play on Iannetta's grounder up the middle to turn it into a force-out at 2nd of Blackmon for the 2nd out. But, the Rockies rally for 5 and trail only 7-6, as the crowd of 34,290 was roaring their approval.
The crowd was quickly silenced by the Dodgers' bats and tactics. Rockies reliever, Matt Lindstrom, came in to pitch the top of the 9th. Single by 1b James Loney, double by C Rod Barajas, drives in Loney. 3B Aaron Miles singles, Barajas to third, still no outs. Tony Gwynn, Jr. bounces a routine ground ball to 2B Jonny Herrera at 2nd, he hesitates, considers tagging Miles as Miles proceeds toward second, which gives Barajas time to break for the plate. Herrera's throw home is late, Barajas scores, still nobody out. Trent Oeltgen pinch hits for pitcher, and successfully sacrifices (see that Tracy, it works again!), Miles to 3rd, Gwynn to 2nd, one out. Gordon grounds into a Miles-thrown-out-at-home play, as Lindstrom has a chance to slam the door with only two runs scoring. But, no, not so lucky. Speedy Dee Gordon takes second on another of those 'defensive indifference' situations, where there is no attempt to throw him out at second. Still, two outs, runners on 2nd and 3rd. You guessed it, former Rockie Jamey Carroll singles to drive in two more runs. What began as promise for the Rockies, they closed a 7-1 deficit to one run with a 5-run rally in the 8th, was slammed by Lindstrom surrendering 4 runs in the 9th to give the Dodgers a 5-run cushion.
The Rockies made it interesting. CarGo doubled to lead off, but Tracy did not order EY to bunt, and EY promptly lined out to the pitcher Javy Guerra, who then tossed out Gonzalez who was on his way to third, for a rally killing double play. Too bad, because three straight singles (Giambi, Tulowitzki and Wigginton) produced a run. Spilborghs, pinch hitting for Lindstrom walked to load the bases, and I thought, just for a split-second, maybe, just maybe. Charlie Blackmon sliced a liner to left that was destined to be a bases-clearing three-run double, but the speedy Tony Gwynn, Jr. made a diving, sliding head-first dive to spear the ball, and kill the Rockies hopes. Still can't hate Gwynn. He's the one who smacked a bases-clearing triple back on the last day of the 2007 regular season to defeat the San Diego Padres, which necessitated a one-game play-in game against the Rockies to decide who got into the playoffs, the one where Matt Holliday still doesn't remember touching the plate chin-first to score the winning run in the 13th inning to send the Rockies, eventually, all the way to the World Series.
I saw signs last night, as I have all season, that this Rockies squad almost expects to lose, and seems overly happy, almost surprised, when they win. The manager and coaching staff are kid-gloving this team to death. The regulars are watching a parade of young, potential replacements come up from the minor leagues to try out their wings to try and impress Tracy and general manager Dan O'Dowd. The lineups have changed more often than Barry Obama's teleprompter screen. Everybody in that clubhouse needs to turn it into a locker room, where some goddam furniture gets smashed, where heated words are exchanged between competitive teammates, tired of the soft nature of this team's makeup.
Or, we can all just hug each other, don't rock the Love Boat, and watch as the Rockies stumble to a so-so 83-79 season, finish in third place in the West, miss the playoffs and promise to do better next year. Todd Helton, and Rockies fans, deserve better. Come on Tracy, shake up this team, quit pussy-footing. Grow a pair.
Poor Quality Win
The Rockies hung on to win last night vs the Dodgers, but it was, by no means, a satisfying victory. Why? Because, with 17 hits and 2 walks against 3 Los Angeles pitchers, the un-opportunistic Colorado batters scored only 6 runs, leaving 16 runners on base, hitting into 3 double-plays and spoiling numerous rallies with empty at-bats with runners in scoring position with less than 2 outs.
The Rockies built a 6-run lead on SS Troy Tulowitzki's second inning 12th home run (his first since May 17th), and a 5-run fifth inning on 7 singles, two Dodger errors and a wild pitch. Rockies starter, Jhoulys Chacin, cruised through 8 innings of 3-hit, shutout ball, with 9 Ks and 3 walks. The Dodgers never got a runner past second base against Chacin, who improved his 2011 record to 7-4 and lower his ERA to 2.90. National League hitters are averaging only .199 against the 23-year-old right-hander, who has become the de facto ace of the Colorado staff.
The Rockies bullpen took over to close out the game, and that's when it got very interesting. The usually reliable (maybe over-worked?) Matt Belisle came in to work the ninth. Manager Jim Tracy made some defensive changes as well, removing 1B Todd Helton to rest his weary, tightening back, and give him some extra time off in advance of his scheduled day off on Saturday. Ryan Spilborghs replaced Seth Smith in right in the 8th inning after Smith fouled a pitch off his right foot in the bottom of the 7th. 2B Jonathan Herrera pinch hit for Chacin in the 8th and remained in the game at second, with 3B Ty Wigginton moving to first, and 2B Chris Nelson moving over to third (remember that move, as it impacted the game in the 9th).
The 9th inning began with Belisle striking out Dodger RF Andre Ethier. Manager Don Mattingly inserted Matt Kemp as a pinch hitter for P Javy Guerra. Kemp did not start the game, to rest a sore hamstring, but was in the process of a 255-games-played streak, the current longest in the Major Leagues (pales in comparison to Cal Ripken, Jr.'s 2,632 game streak). He lobbied Mattingly to pinch hit to keep his streak alive. Harmless enough, in a game seemingly out of reach. He was instructed to be cautious and not over-stretch his sore hammy. He didn't, as he trotted leisurely around the bases after he clocked a pitch from Belisle onto the concourse in left-centerfield, next to Helton's Hamburger Stand. Okay, 6-1, still safe, right? A single to 1B James Loney, fly out from former Rockie, 2B/3B Juan Uribe. One on, two outs, piece of cake, eh? Dodger C Dioner Navarro bounces a routine ground ball to third, Chris Nelson fielded it cleanly and threw to first, game over. Not so fast, the throw was a bit low, one that we take for granted would be scooped by the incomparable Todd Helton at first. But, Wigginton couldn't close the glove around the 27th and final out, throwing error Nelson. Two on, two out. No big deal, if the Rockies were batting, game over. Tony Gwynn, Jr. doubled to drive in Loney, Navarro to third. Now it's 6-2, runners on second and third and a save situation. Out goes Belisle, in comes Huston Street, open the bottle of Tums.
Now, just because Street has 18 saves in 20 opportunities, doesn't make me glad to see him enter a game. First batter, Aaron Miles (another former Rockies), singles, driving in two, 6-4. The Rockies show what is known as 'defensive indifference', as they allow Miles to take second base without a throw, and he is not credited with a stolen base. Dodger C Rod Barajas singles to drive in an indifferently-scoring-positioned Miles for the Dodgers' 5th run. Oh-oh, dirt in the fuel line. Jamey Carroll (another former Rockie) pinch runs for the lead-legged Barajas, which brought up the Dodger LF Trent Oeltjen, who had just been called up the day before to avoid being allowed to become a free-agent. He had walked, singled and stolen a base earlier in this game. He strikes out on three pitches, to thankfully give the Rockies a 1-run victory, and Street his 19th save, barely.
Last night's game, in many ways, foreshadowed tonight's game, which I am watching right now. As soon as this debacle is over, you'll read some more rants about how this team (the Rockies) is an under-achieving, poorly managed, going nowhere, second-division disappointment. But, enough about their positive attributes...........
Friday, June 10, 2011
Streakers
Thursday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers was just what the doctor ordered. The first back-to-back, two-game winning streak for the Rockies in over three weeks. The most gratifying aspect of this victory was that Colorado battled back from two different 4-run deficits to beat the Bums.
Colorado rookie pitcher, Juan Nicasio, in only his third career start in the bigs, lasted only 5 innings. Dodger CF Matt Kemp continued his torrid hitting by pounding a leadoff homer in the top of the 4th, his National League-leading 18th round-tripper. Only Milwaukee's Prince Fielder has driven in more runs than Kemp's 53 RBIs in the NL. The Dodgers began to pull away in the 5th. LHP Clayton Kershaw started the rally with a single up the middle with one out. After a single from RF Andre Ethier and a triple by the hot Kemp, the Dodgers had their first 4-run advantage. That was the end of Nicasio's night.
The Rockies got three runs back in the 6th, highlighted by SS Troy Tulowitzki's bases-loaded double (2 RBIs), and an RBI ground out from 3B Ty Wigginton. The Rockies were within a run of the Dodgers, but LHP Matt Reynolds had a regrettable appearance in the 7th, surrendering 3 runs on 4 hits, a walk, a wild pitch and a throwing error by battery mate C Jose Morales. The top of the 7th finally ended with the Dodgers crafting their second 4-run lead, 7-3.
The Rockies' half of the 7th seemed to last forever. Dodger manager Don Mattingly made three pitching changes as the Rockies sent 11 men to the plate in the decisive 5-run inning. Colorado scratched out 4 singles (rookie LF Charlie Blackmon, Morales, CF Carlos Gonzalez and Tulowitzki), a hit batsman (Wigginton) and three walks, two of which came with the bases loaded. The 5 runs gave the Rockies the lead, 8-7, as the crowd of 26,066 was treated to an offensive display that hasn't been seen for quite awhile.
The Rockies added an insurance run in the 8th, as 2B Chris Nelson drove home RF Seth Smith with a sacrifice fly to deep right-centerfield. Rafael Betancourt (2-0) was awarded the official scorer's win after he pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Huston Street got his 18th save by allowing a lone double to Andre Ethier before striking out Matt Kemp and inducing pinch hitter Rod Barajas to fly out to Seth Smith to end the thrilling (for Rockies fans) contest, 3-1/2 hours after it began. Let's hope that the Rockies can maintain the energy and effectiveness over the next game, and the next. Three out of four from the Dodgers is what is needed. San Francisco lost Thursday night, shut out at home 3-0 by the Cincinnati Reds. The Rox pulled to within 4-1/2 games of the division-leading Giants, and remained 3-1/2 back of the surprising Arizona Diamondbacks, who shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0, on the road.
The Rockies now have exactly 100 games left in the regular season. They must finish this home stand with at least five wins out of the seven to keep pace in the West.
Last night offered up a taste of what can be possible when Rockies hitters string together productive at-bats with runners on base. After all, you can't have a winning streak until you at least win two in a row.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Road Rash
I missed the start of the Rockies vs Padres matchup yesterday, and forgot to set the DVR, so I have to rely on MLB Channel highlights, Denver Post and Yahoo Sports accounts, but the results were very satisfying, for this game.
It was good to see that Aaron Cook could pitch into the 6th inning, in his return to the starting rotation for his first appearance in the Major Leagues since last September 8th. He left the game in the 6th inning with a lead, 3-2, but with runners at first and second with two outs. Usually reliable Rockie reliever Matt Belisle, gave up a single to Padres 2B Alberto Gonzalez (the 8-hole hitter, currently batting .205), that drove in San Diego RF Brad Hawpe with the tying run. Belisle escaped further damage by retiring pinch-hitter Kyle Phillips on a fly ball to deep left-center.
The score remained tied going into the top of the 9th, when the Rox tacked on the final two runs of the game. CF Carlos Gonzalez began the frame with a single to centerfield. Jonathan Herrera pinch-hit for 2B Chris Nelson and executed a perfect *gasp* sacrifice bunt, moving CarGo into scoring position. Padres closer Heath Bell then intentionally walked 1B Todd Helton to set up the potential double play. That strategy backfired when Bell almost hit SS Troy Tulowitzki with a high and tight fast ball that Tulo dodged, but catcher Nick Hundley couldn't handle, as the pitch went to the backstop, as Gonzalez and Helton advanced to third and second. This was Hundley's first game back in the Padres lineup since May 4th, when he went on the disabled list with a strained oblique muscle. Tulo then took a chest-high off-speed pitch from Bell and laced it into right-center for a two run double, a key hit that has been eluding the Rockies anemic batting order for many weeks of futility.
Matt Lindstrom pitched a shaky, but scoreless 8th inning (where was Betancourt?). Huston Street pitched a perfect 1-2-3 ninth for the save, as Belisle was charged with the blown save and Lindstrom got the W.
The Rockies return home to the not-so-friendly confines of Coors Field for tonight's opening game of a 4-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. I said previously that the Rockies needed a 6-3 or better road trip. They went 4-5. I said the lineups should feature the best possible players on defense daily so as not to give up any cheap runs, as our pitchers have had to be way too careful with the way the offense has struggled. Yesterday's win vs the last-place Padres was the first time the Rockies scored more than 3 runs in one game since May 28th. Todd Helton continues to be Mr. Consistency, as he reached base 5 times against the Padres, with a homer (# 341), two doubles (# 540 and # 541), a single (# 1,374) and a walk (# 1,217).
Rockies need to win a minimum of 5 games on this 7-game home stand (4 vs Dodgers, 3 vs Padres). They are a woeful 2 games under .500 at home this year. We're still waiting and hoping for that hot streak to hit, and this would be a good time. Go Rockies!
It was good to see that Aaron Cook could pitch into the 6th inning, in his return to the starting rotation for his first appearance in the Major Leagues since last September 8th. He left the game in the 6th inning with a lead, 3-2, but with runners at first and second with two outs. Usually reliable Rockie reliever Matt Belisle, gave up a single to Padres 2B Alberto Gonzalez (the 8-hole hitter, currently batting .205), that drove in San Diego RF Brad Hawpe with the tying run. Belisle escaped further damage by retiring pinch-hitter Kyle Phillips on a fly ball to deep left-center.
The score remained tied going into the top of the 9th, when the Rox tacked on the final two runs of the game. CF Carlos Gonzalez began the frame with a single to centerfield. Jonathan Herrera pinch-hit for 2B Chris Nelson and executed a perfect *gasp* sacrifice bunt, moving CarGo into scoring position. Padres closer Heath Bell then intentionally walked 1B Todd Helton to set up the potential double play. That strategy backfired when Bell almost hit SS Troy Tulowitzki with a high and tight fast ball that Tulo dodged, but catcher Nick Hundley couldn't handle, as the pitch went to the backstop, as Gonzalez and Helton advanced to third and second. This was Hundley's first game back in the Padres lineup since May 4th, when he went on the disabled list with a strained oblique muscle. Tulo then took a chest-high off-speed pitch from Bell and laced it into right-center for a two run double, a key hit that has been eluding the Rockies anemic batting order for many weeks of futility.
Matt Lindstrom pitched a shaky, but scoreless 8th inning (where was Betancourt?). Huston Street pitched a perfect 1-2-3 ninth for the save, as Belisle was charged with the blown save and Lindstrom got the W.
The Rockies return home to the not-so-friendly confines of Coors Field for tonight's opening game of a 4-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. I said previously that the Rockies needed a 6-3 or better road trip. They went 4-5. I said the lineups should feature the best possible players on defense daily so as not to give up any cheap runs, as our pitchers have had to be way too careful with the way the offense has struggled. Yesterday's win vs the last-place Padres was the first time the Rockies scored more than 3 runs in one game since May 28th. Todd Helton continues to be Mr. Consistency, as he reached base 5 times against the Padres, with a homer (# 341), two doubles (# 540 and # 541), a single (# 1,374) and a walk (# 1,217).
Rockies need to win a minimum of 5 games on this 7-game home stand (4 vs Dodgers, 3 vs Padres). They are a woeful 2 games under .500 at home this year. We're still waiting and hoping for that hot streak to hit, and this would be a good time. Go Rockies!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Stauffer Stuffs Stumbling Rockies
The Colorado Rockies continue to wallow in mediocrity as they fall to the San Diego Padres Tuesday night, 2-0. Padres pitcher Tim Stauffer held the Rockies to 4 hits in 8 innings of work, shutting out the punchless purple pinstripers. The 8 innings and 8 strikeouts were both career highs for the 29-year-old right hander. He kept Rockies hitters off-balance all night with stuff that looked a lot tougher against a team that is making every opposing pitcher seem like a Cy Young candidate. In the meantime, Rockies erstwhile ace, Ubaldo Jimenez, has gone from Cy Young to Cy-Yo-Nara.
The Rockies have still not won two consecutive games since May 17th. Since beating the St. Louis Cardinals 15-4 on May 28th, the Blake Street Bumblers have scored a grand total of 16 runs in 9 games, going 3-6 in the process. Superstars Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki continue to bog down the Rockies momentum with empty at-bats and maddeningly futile plate appearances. Another decent pitching performance by Jimenez goes for naught. Ubaldo gave up 6 hits, walked none and struck out 8 Padres. The two runs he surrendered were deemed earned, but that doesn't tell the whole story.
The fateful 5th inning for the Padres began harmlessly enough. RF Brad Hawpe struck out, as did 1B Jorge Cantu. Jimenez looked sharp, as his fast ball was clocking at 96-99 mph and his breaking balls had sharp downward tilt. C Kyle Phillips golfed a pitch two inches off the ground and it dribbled through the infield between 1B Todd Helton and 2b Chris Nelson. The next pitch from Jimenez was a sharp breaking ball in the dirt that C Jose Morales let get through his legs, and Phillips easily scampered to second. Morales should have blocked it, sloppy work by the Rockies catcher. The next batter, 8-hole hitter 2B Alberto Gonzalez looked overmatched and clueless as he worked the count to 3 balls and 2 strikes. Jimenez fired a 90 mph slider over the outside corner that Gonzalez batted just past Jimenez' glove toward second base. Nelson got to the ball and smothered it, but couldn't corral it as it bounced right to Troy Tulowitzki. Third base coach, Glenn Hoffman, sent Phillips home as Tulowitzki had him dead to rights for the third out. The throw to Morales hit the dirt right in front of the glove of the Rockies backup catcher, and he couldn't corral it. Phillips slid home with the Padres' first run. In short order, typical of the Rockies' fortunes the last three weeks, the grounder should have been caught, the throw home should have been more accurate and the catcher missed two balls that any other Major League catcher should have caught. Instead, to add insult to injury, the fucking pitcher, Tim Stauffer laced a single to left to score Alberto Gonzalez with the Padres' second run. Game over, pretty much.
Oh, the Rockies did manage two hits and a walk in the final 4 innings, but never seriously threatened, as San Diego closer Heath Bell shut the door on the Rockies for his 17th save. I think that, in the last two games, we have seen the Rockies' future closer. Left-hand flamethrower Rex Brothers pitched an inning each in Monday's victory over the Pods and in Tuesday's loss to the NL West cellar dwellers. Brothers, who attended tiny Bible school Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN, was drafted by the Rockies in 2009. He has ascended through the farm system rapidly, impressive with his skills and attitude. The Rockies now have two arms in the bullpen that should serve as Huston Street's successor. The closer position does require a tough mental and intestinal fortitude, which I admit, Street does possess.
In closing, if Chris Nelson can't hit consistently, Jonathan Herrera is a much more efficient second baseman. Jose Morales will cost the Rockies more games than he can possibly make up for with his .217 batting average. He not only allowed the wild pitch in the 5th, and the mishandled throw from Tulo for, what should have been, the third out, but also a passed ball in the 6th that allowed a Padres runner to advance to third. Luckily, Ubaldo blew a 99 mph fastball past a swinging Brad Hawpe to end the threat. Jason Giambi maybe should replace Carney Lansford as the hitting coach, and vacate his spot on the roster. That way, we don't lose the potential power of the Golden Thong.
The Rockies have still not won two consecutive games since May 17th. Since beating the St. Louis Cardinals 15-4 on May 28th, the Blake Street Bumblers have scored a grand total of 16 runs in 9 games, going 3-6 in the process. Superstars Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki continue to bog down the Rockies momentum with empty at-bats and maddeningly futile plate appearances. Another decent pitching performance by Jimenez goes for naught. Ubaldo gave up 6 hits, walked none and struck out 8 Padres. The two runs he surrendered were deemed earned, but that doesn't tell the whole story.
The fateful 5th inning for the Padres began harmlessly enough. RF Brad Hawpe struck out, as did 1B Jorge Cantu. Jimenez looked sharp, as his fast ball was clocking at 96-99 mph and his breaking balls had sharp downward tilt. C Kyle Phillips golfed a pitch two inches off the ground and it dribbled through the infield between 1B Todd Helton and 2b Chris Nelson. The next pitch from Jimenez was a sharp breaking ball in the dirt that C Jose Morales let get through his legs, and Phillips easily scampered to second. Morales should have blocked it, sloppy work by the Rockies catcher. The next batter, 8-hole hitter 2B Alberto Gonzalez looked overmatched and clueless as he worked the count to 3 balls and 2 strikes. Jimenez fired a 90 mph slider over the outside corner that Gonzalez batted just past Jimenez' glove toward second base. Nelson got to the ball and smothered it, but couldn't corral it as it bounced right to Troy Tulowitzki. Third base coach, Glenn Hoffman, sent Phillips home as Tulowitzki had him dead to rights for the third out. The throw to Morales hit the dirt right in front of the glove of the Rockies backup catcher, and he couldn't corral it. Phillips slid home with the Padres' first run. In short order, typical of the Rockies' fortunes the last three weeks, the grounder should have been caught, the throw home should have been more accurate and the catcher missed two balls that any other Major League catcher should have caught. Instead, to add insult to injury, the fucking pitcher, Tim Stauffer laced a single to left to score Alberto Gonzalez with the Padres' second run. Game over, pretty much.
Oh, the Rockies did manage two hits and a walk in the final 4 innings, but never seriously threatened, as San Diego closer Heath Bell shut the door on the Rockies for his 17th save. I think that, in the last two games, we have seen the Rockies' future closer. Left-hand flamethrower Rex Brothers pitched an inning each in Monday's victory over the Pods and in Tuesday's loss to the NL West cellar dwellers. Brothers, who attended tiny Bible school Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN, was drafted by the Rockies in 2009. He has ascended through the farm system rapidly, impressive with his skills and attitude. The Rockies now have two arms in the bullpen that should serve as Huston Street's successor. The closer position does require a tough mental and intestinal fortitude, which I admit, Street does possess.
In closing, if Chris Nelson can't hit consistently, Jonathan Herrera is a much more efficient second baseman. Jose Morales will cost the Rockies more games than he can possibly make up for with his .217 batting average. He not only allowed the wild pitch in the 5th, and the mishandled throw from Tulo for, what should have been, the third out, but also a passed ball in the 6th that allowed a Padres runner to advance to third. Luckily, Ubaldo blew a 99 mph fastball past a swinging Brad Hawpe to end the threat. Jason Giambi maybe should replace Carney Lansford as the hitting coach, and vacate his spot on the roster. That way, we don't lose the potential power of the Golden Thong.
Monday, June 6, 2011
1+2+3+4=8K
Another day, another strong pitching performance, another futile day at the dish. The 1-2-3-4 hitters for the Colorado Rockies finished a collective 1 for 12 with 8 strikeouts. The Rockies came to the plate in 9 innings, and went down 1-2-3 seven times. Giants 2, Rockies 1.
Except for C Chris Iannetta's solo home run in the 5th, his 8th of the season, the anemic Colorado squad pushed a runner past first base only one time. Nobody on the Rockies roster is exempt from this contagion of piss-poor at-bats. LF Carlos Gonzalez, seemingly wilting under the pressure of expectations, struck out all four times he faced San Francisco Giant pitchers in this forgettable game. The game plan to pitch to CarGo is to stay away with breaking and off-speed pitches, show him the fast ball out of the strike zone, and he'll get himself out. In the last 10 games, the Rockies' record is 3-7, and CarGo is 10 for 38 (.263) with one extra base hit (double) and 13 strikeouts. The Rockies have averaged less than 2 runs per game on this crucial road trip thus far. Crucial, because all 9 games on the trip are against NL West Division foes. Barring a miraculous lumber revival in San Diego, the Rox will limp home in 4th place and in danger of falling out of the playoff chase before Father's Day.
As Yogi Berra once said, and this could be true for the Rox, "It's getting late early this year." The Rockies are 27-31, with 104 games remaining in this season that began with such hope and promise and optimism. If we extrapolate that the division winner will need to win 90 games (no division winner last year won less than 90), that means the Colorado Rockies will need to win 63 out of 104 games. That means going 63-41, or 22 games over .500! That is a .606 winning percentage. Let's see, how many teams in all of the Major Leagues is playing at a .606 winning pace thus far? Oh, none ! That means that the Rockies will have to perform better than every team in both the American and National Leagues has performed so far just to get to 90 wins. What do you think? I think it's a longshot that this team will win 90 games this year. That means that the best and only hope for Rockies fans, is that the rest of the West Division stumbles along at the same pace and the Rockies can play at least .575 ball the rest of the way. The Rockies play the Giants in 7 out of the last 14 games this season in September, you know, stay close, and kick the Giants at the end. Do you think 87 wins will be enough to get into the playoffs? The Los Angeles Dodgers won the West with 84 wins in 2008. The Minnesota Twins won the AL Central Division in 2009 with 87 wins. Why, even the Chicago Cubs took the NL Central Division flag in 2007 with 85 victories.
So, it is possible to get to the playoffs with less than 90 wins. That's the good news. The bad news? The collective funk that this 2011 edition of our Colorado Rockies is missing, that key ingredient necessary to be competitive day after day. What is that ingredient? Many theories, few answers, otherwise manager Jim Tracy and his stellar group of coaches would not be wearing the deer-in-headlights blank looks after every loss.
Optimism makes me think that "the Rockies will sweep San Diego to salvage a 5-4 road trip, giving them momentum for a return home to Coors Field to seek revenge on the Dodgers with a 4-game series sweep, and continuing mastery of the Padres for another 3-game sweep, giving the streaking Rockies a 10-game winning streak going into InterLeague play with series against the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox."
We can dream, can't we?
Except for C Chris Iannetta's solo home run in the 5th, his 8th of the season, the anemic Colorado squad pushed a runner past first base only one time. Nobody on the Rockies roster is exempt from this contagion of piss-poor at-bats. LF Carlos Gonzalez, seemingly wilting under the pressure of expectations, struck out all four times he faced San Francisco Giant pitchers in this forgettable game. The game plan to pitch to CarGo is to stay away with breaking and off-speed pitches, show him the fast ball out of the strike zone, and he'll get himself out. In the last 10 games, the Rockies' record is 3-7, and CarGo is 10 for 38 (.263) with one extra base hit (double) and 13 strikeouts. The Rockies have averaged less than 2 runs per game on this crucial road trip thus far. Crucial, because all 9 games on the trip are against NL West Division foes. Barring a miraculous lumber revival in San Diego, the Rox will limp home in 4th place and in danger of falling out of the playoff chase before Father's Day.
As Yogi Berra once said, and this could be true for the Rox, "It's getting late early this year." The Rockies are 27-31, with 104 games remaining in this season that began with such hope and promise and optimism. If we extrapolate that the division winner will need to win 90 games (no division winner last year won less than 90), that means the Colorado Rockies will need to win 63 out of 104 games. That means going 63-41, or 22 games over .500! That is a .606 winning percentage. Let's see, how many teams in all of the Major Leagues is playing at a .606 winning pace thus far? Oh, none ! That means that the Rockies will have to perform better than every team in both the American and National Leagues has performed so far just to get to 90 wins. What do you think? I think it's a longshot that this team will win 90 games this year. That means that the best and only hope for Rockies fans, is that the rest of the West Division stumbles along at the same pace and the Rockies can play at least .575 ball the rest of the way. The Rockies play the Giants in 7 out of the last 14 games this season in September, you know, stay close, and kick the Giants at the end. Do you think 87 wins will be enough to get into the playoffs? The Los Angeles Dodgers won the West with 84 wins in 2008. The Minnesota Twins won the AL Central Division in 2009 with 87 wins. Why, even the Chicago Cubs took the NL Central Division flag in 2007 with 85 victories.
So, it is possible to get to the playoffs with less than 90 wins. That's the good news. The bad news? The collective funk that this 2011 edition of our Colorado Rockies is missing, that key ingredient necessary to be competitive day after day. What is that ingredient? Many theories, few answers, otherwise manager Jim Tracy and his stellar group of coaches would not be wearing the deer-in-headlights blank looks after every loss.
Optimism makes me think that "the Rockies will sweep San Diego to salvage a 5-4 road trip, giving them momentum for a return home to Coors Field to seek revenge on the Dodgers with a 4-game series sweep, and continuing mastery of the Padres for another 3-game sweep, giving the streaking Rockies a 10-game winning streak going into InterLeague play with series against the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox."
We can dream, can't we?
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Small Balls
Following a baseball game with today's technology is different than it used to be. Without a television handy to watch it live, we were, my family, all at a family reunion, we turn to the iPhone apps. MLB At Bat 2011 and Yahoo Fantasy Baseball 2011 help us keep abreast of the progress of the game without taking away from visiting with long-lost family. As yesterday's game between the Rockies and Giants unfolded, it became obvious that it would be another typically low-scoring contest, where the final score would be decided by a small event or mistake.
Small ball, a process in which the Rockies have been woefully deficient the past few weeks. Well, the first run of the game was registered by the Rockies, in the top of the 5th inning, courtesy of a throwing error by Giants rookie SS Brandon Crawford. SS Troy Tulowitzki led off the Colorado 5th with a single to right (a good sign when Rockies hitters use the opposite field). Tulo has been crushing the ball lately, especially on this road trip, but has been finding his hot smashes being hit right at opposing gloves (atoms). RF Ryan Spilborghs follwed with a blooper to left, two on, no outs. This is where the Rox have been victims of their own lack of fundamental baseball strategy as of late. I'm thinking, "this would be a pretty good spot to maybe bunt the runners over with a sacrifice bunt." Nah, let's let 1B Ty Wigginton swing away and try for the big hit. Fly out to center, first out. Okay, this is where the next batter grounds into an inning-ending double play, according to the script of the recent Rockies' history. Sure enough, 3B Chris Nelson grounds a tailor-made twin-killing-grounder to Giant 2B Emanuel (call me Manny) Burriss. Cleanly fielded, toss to Crawford covering second, relay to first, wait........the throw is wide, 1b Aubrey Huff can't field the throw, the ball bounces into the Rockies dugout, allowing Tulo to trot home with the game's first tally. Crawford almost threw the ball away on an identical play in the 3rd inning, but Huff managed to catch the errant throw and tag a sliding Jose Morales to complete the double play.
The Rockies scored again in the 6th inning. CF Eric Young, Jr. singled to shallow right. 2B Jonathan Herrera executes a,*gasp*, perfect sacrifice bunt to move EY-j into scoring position. LF Carlos Gonzalez flies out to center which brings Tulowitzki up with two outs and a runner in scoring position. This is another situation in which the Colorado Rockies have been failing more often than not. Meeting on the mound to discuss whether to walk Tulo, or pitch to him. Thanks for playing, wrong choice. Tulo laces the first offering from P Madison Bumgarner past his ear into center field. Young scored easily, and Tulo saw that the throw was maybe going to the plate, and continued toward second. Huff cut the throw from CF Andres Torres, relayed to 2b Burriss to easily throw out the sliding Tulowitzki. Oh, well, 2-0 lead with Rockies right-hander Jhoulis Chacin pitching very well. A two-out RBI, very rare, indeed.
Bottom of the 6th, Chacin retires the first two batters, as he approached the 100-pitch count. That brings up LF Cody Ross, last year's World Series MVP for the World Champion Giants, and a hot, hot hitter. Ross was on a 5-game hitting tear going in to Saturday's afternoon game vs the Rockies, 10 for 20 with a homer and 5 RBIs, as the Giants won 4 out of the 5. Ross crushed Chacin's pitch #101 deep into the left field seats for San Francisco's first run, cutting the Rockies' lead in half at 2-1. Chacin retired the next batter on one pitch, his last, to retire the the Giants in the 6th.
It'd been awhile (May 20 vs the Milwaukee Brewers) since the Rockies had a less-than-4-run lead going to the 7th inning. I mention this because manager Jim Tracy likes to use righty Matt Lindstrom in the 7th, righty Rafael Betancourt in the 8th and closer Huston Street in close games. I mention May 20 because, in that game in Milwaukee, Betancourt entered the game in the 8th inning after the Rockies had taken a 4-3 lead into the 8th inning. Betancourt surrendered a game tying home run to Brewers 3B Casey McGehee to blow the save. Lindstrom pitched the 9th in the tie game, and retired the Brewers in order. Rox scored in the 13th, Street came in for the save, and gave up a bomb to Milwaukee SS Yuniesky Betancourt (no relation). Blown save #2 for the game. The Rockies scored again in the top of the 14th. Manager Jim Tracy fires his final bullet, hard throwing Felipe Paulino, at the Brewers in the bottom of the 14th, leading 6-5. First out recorded, 4-pitch walk to LF Ryan Braun, and a walk-off two-run bomb deep into the night. Blown save #3 and crawl-away loss for the Rockies. And Paulino's final appearance in the purple and black.
Anyway, back to the present. Lindstrom pitched the 7th, 1-2-3, Giants retired. On to the 8th. In comes Betancourt, 1-2-3, Giants done. On to the 9th, Huston Street time. Okay, 1-2-3 and out, but for the record, the third out would have been out of Coors Field as Brandon Crawford smoked Street's offering clear to the right field wall, where Spilborghs made a running catch just as he contacted the wall, at the 365 ft sign. The right field wall at Coors Field is 350 from home. Nit-picky, sour grapes, I know. Give Street and Betancourt and Lindstrom their due, along with Jim Tracy for allowing his normal strategy to function. And kudos for the Rockies executing two sac bunts successfully in the same game. Also, how about that 2nd base pick-off of Torres in the 5th? Perfectly executed by Chacin and Tulowitzki.
A good game, as I watched the replay at home last night. Technology again. I programmed my DVR from my uncle's back yard using my Direct TV app on my iPhone. It's good to have kids that can train the old man in the wonders of today's electronic gadgetry.
The Rockies try for their first two-game winning streak and first series win since they swept a two-game set from, these same Giants, way back on May 16-17. The Purple Squad can still salvage this road trip, if they win today and go on down to San Diego to sweep the Padres.
Small ball, a process in which the Rockies have been woefully deficient the past few weeks. Well, the first run of the game was registered by the Rockies, in the top of the 5th inning, courtesy of a throwing error by Giants rookie SS Brandon Crawford. SS Troy Tulowitzki led off the Colorado 5th with a single to right (a good sign when Rockies hitters use the opposite field). Tulo has been crushing the ball lately, especially on this road trip, but has been finding his hot smashes being hit right at opposing gloves (atoms). RF Ryan Spilborghs follwed with a blooper to left, two on, no outs. This is where the Rox have been victims of their own lack of fundamental baseball strategy as of late. I'm thinking, "this would be a pretty good spot to maybe bunt the runners over with a sacrifice bunt." Nah, let's let 1B Ty Wigginton swing away and try for the big hit. Fly out to center, first out. Okay, this is where the next batter grounds into an inning-ending double play, according to the script of the recent Rockies' history. Sure enough, 3B Chris Nelson grounds a tailor-made twin-killing-grounder to Giant 2B Emanuel (call me Manny) Burriss. Cleanly fielded, toss to Crawford covering second, relay to first, wait........the throw is wide, 1b Aubrey Huff can't field the throw, the ball bounces into the Rockies dugout, allowing Tulo to trot home with the game's first tally. Crawford almost threw the ball away on an identical play in the 3rd inning, but Huff managed to catch the errant throw and tag a sliding Jose Morales to complete the double play.
The Rockies scored again in the 6th inning. CF Eric Young, Jr. singled to shallow right. 2B Jonathan Herrera executes a,*gasp*, perfect sacrifice bunt to move EY-j into scoring position. LF Carlos Gonzalez flies out to center which brings Tulowitzki up with two outs and a runner in scoring position. This is another situation in which the Colorado Rockies have been failing more often than not. Meeting on the mound to discuss whether to walk Tulo, or pitch to him. Thanks for playing, wrong choice. Tulo laces the first offering from P Madison Bumgarner past his ear into center field. Young scored easily, and Tulo saw that the throw was maybe going to the plate, and continued toward second. Huff cut the throw from CF Andres Torres, relayed to 2b Burriss to easily throw out the sliding Tulowitzki. Oh, well, 2-0 lead with Rockies right-hander Jhoulis Chacin pitching very well. A two-out RBI, very rare, indeed.
Bottom of the 6th, Chacin retires the first two batters, as he approached the 100-pitch count. That brings up LF Cody Ross, last year's World Series MVP for the World Champion Giants, and a hot, hot hitter. Ross was on a 5-game hitting tear going in to Saturday's afternoon game vs the Rockies, 10 for 20 with a homer and 5 RBIs, as the Giants won 4 out of the 5. Ross crushed Chacin's pitch #101 deep into the left field seats for San Francisco's first run, cutting the Rockies' lead in half at 2-1. Chacin retired the next batter on one pitch, his last, to retire the the Giants in the 6th.
It'd been awhile (May 20 vs the Milwaukee Brewers) since the Rockies had a less-than-4-run lead going to the 7th inning. I mention this because manager Jim Tracy likes to use righty Matt Lindstrom in the 7th, righty Rafael Betancourt in the 8th and closer Huston Street in close games. I mention May 20 because, in that game in Milwaukee, Betancourt entered the game in the 8th inning after the Rockies had taken a 4-3 lead into the 8th inning. Betancourt surrendered a game tying home run to Brewers 3B Casey McGehee to blow the save. Lindstrom pitched the 9th in the tie game, and retired the Brewers in order. Rox scored in the 13th, Street came in for the save, and gave up a bomb to Milwaukee SS Yuniesky Betancourt (no relation). Blown save #2 for the game. The Rockies scored again in the top of the 14th. Manager Jim Tracy fires his final bullet, hard throwing Felipe Paulino, at the Brewers in the bottom of the 14th, leading 6-5. First out recorded, 4-pitch walk to LF Ryan Braun, and a walk-off two-run bomb deep into the night. Blown save #3 and crawl-away loss for the Rockies. And Paulino's final appearance in the purple and black.
Anyway, back to the present. Lindstrom pitched the 7th, 1-2-3, Giants retired. On to the 8th. In comes Betancourt, 1-2-3, Giants done. On to the 9th, Huston Street time. Okay, 1-2-3 and out, but for the record, the third out would have been out of Coors Field as Brandon Crawford smoked Street's offering clear to the right field wall, where Spilborghs made a running catch just as he contacted the wall, at the 365 ft sign. The right field wall at Coors Field is 350 from home. Nit-picky, sour grapes, I know. Give Street and Betancourt and Lindstrom their due, along with Jim Tracy for allowing his normal strategy to function. And kudos for the Rockies executing two sac bunts successfully in the same game. Also, how about that 2nd base pick-off of Torres in the 5th? Perfectly executed by Chacin and Tulowitzki.
A good game, as I watched the replay at home last night. Technology again. I programmed my DVR from my uncle's back yard using my Direct TV app on my iPhone. It's good to have kids that can train the old man in the wonders of today's electronic gadgetry.
The Rockies try for their first two-game winning streak and first series win since they swept a two-game set from, these same Giants, way back on May 16-17. The Purple Squad can still salvage this road trip, if they win today and go on down to San Diego to sweep the Padres.
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