Okay, much is being made of the record the Rockies carved out in the month of May (worst in the Major Leagues). Okay, turn the page, June is here, and much like the first of April, when the season began, maybe there's room for Hope and Optimism. Maybe.
But, looking for hope in a lineup that has manager Jim Tracy frantically scrambling to find 8 batters that can click at roughly the same time? He's penciled in 8 different lineups in the latest 9 games, in which the Rockies rewarded their manager's confounding, confusing strategies with a 2-7 record. In the last 9 games, the confounded, confused Bad News Rockies have scored 27 runs in their two wins, and a total of 13 runs in their 7 losses. Optimism? Baseball strategies are often dictated by "The Book". No, not the Bible. I've never seen this fabled tome, and I sense that it is printed in a garbled language that Tracy cannot seem to translate. In their 7 losses, the Rox have hit .231 (52/225 with 37 singles, 11 doubles and 4 solo home runs, 50 strikeouts). In one memorable game (not in a good way), they produced 14 hits and scored exactly one run! And that, on a solo home run. In all that time, the Rockies, who must figure ways to scrape together runs, have exactly two successful sacrifice bunts. With runners in scoring position, they are batting .074. I think that, even with Troy Tulowitzki or Todd Helton or Carlos Gonzalez or anybody, for that matter, with ruuners at first, or first and second, BUNT THE FUCKING BALL !! Try it, the results can't be worse. Oh, I know, "The Book" says to let your 'run-producers' swing the bat in situations like that. Only pitchers and soft-hitting infielders or speedy outfielders should bunt. I guarantee you that every major league player, pitchers and Dexter Fowler included, could lay down a successful sacrifice bunt more than .074 of the time! Almost 80 baserunners in 7 games, and the Blake Street Bumblers have 4 fucking solo home runs. Two sac bunts, not any 2- or 3-run bombs (zero grand slams this year, 27 opportunities), only 4 stolen bases, 5 runners thrown out at home..........optimism, my ass.
Turning the calendar page will do no magical trick. Ubaldo's arm will not magically begin throwing like it did 10 months ago. On August 4 last year, Jimenez and the Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 6-1 at Coors Field, as the 2010 National League All-Star starting pitcher upped his record to 17-2, with an ERA of 2.61. Then, on August 10, at Citibank Field, he 4-hit the New York Mets, holding them to a single run, and lost! To finish the season, going for his 20th win, at St. Louis, he pitched a complete game 3-hitter, and lost again 1-0. Since August 5th of last year, Jimenez' record is 2-11 in 20 starts. A combination of bad luck, poor offensive support and a mysterious lack of command of his fastball, has him questioning when his next W is going to happen.
Maybe tonight. A new broom sweeps clean. Oh, probably best not use the broom analogy right this minute. Optimism is a quality, especially in baseball, that is fueled by the fact that there's almost always a game tomorrow. Isolated incidents of failure can be rectified with a good game tomorrow. Well, tomorrow has come, and we find ourselves with 108 games left in the regular season, in 4th place in the National League West Division, only 1-1/2 games out of the cellar. Seven games left to go on this road trip, and the worst possible scenario is unfolding. With 3 games vs San Francisco up next, after tonight's series finale in Los Angeles, and San Diego for a 3-game series, the Rockies could very well be out of the pennant race by June 10.
"I set records that will never be equaled. In fact, I hope 90% of them don't even get printed." Bob Uecker
Optimism? Still there, but I need reasons beyond Blind Faith. Ubaldo winning 7-1 tonight would be a good start.
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