How many days did Bill Murray have to endure before the alarm clock woke him up and the calendar said "February 3rd"? I bet it was close to 162 games, I mean, days. It is probably no coincidence that the film, "Groundhog Day" was released in 1993, the same year that the Colorado Rockies came into existence.
Once again, the Rockies sleep-walked through another agonizing display of run-producing futility. In losing 3-1 to the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park, they were held to 5 hits by Matt Cain (4 hits allowed, 7 innings), Javier Lopez (1 inning, no hits) and closer Brian Wilson (9th inning, 1 hit). Two of the hits off Cain were by rookie pitcher Juan Nicasio, making only the second start of his Major League career. Nicasio doubled twice, and was stranded both times. He led off the 5th with his second double, and manager Jim Tracy eschewed the sacrifice bunt from leadoff hitter Seth Smith, who struck out. 2B Jonathan Herrera popped out weekly foul halfway to third, LF Carlos Gonzalez smoked a single that got to Giant RF Nate Schierholtz too quickly for Nicasio to score from second (but he would have scored had Smith bunted him to third to begin with). CarGo then stole second, and SS Troy Tulowitzki walked to load the bases, bringing up 1B Todd Helton, who tapped a one-hopper to P Cain, and threat erased.
The top of the 4th inning began with CarGo walking and Tulo doubling of the glove of the diving LF Cody Ross. Runners at second and third, NO OUTS! The Rockies' promising rally produced a single run, Gonzalez driven in by a weak Helton grounder. Oh, the rally could have been bigger. Runner on third (Tulo) with one out, Rockie 3B Ty Wigginton struck out (why not try a fucking squeeze, whadya got to lose?). C Chris Iannetta walked, and CF DeKKKster Fowler struck out to end any hope. Only three players in the National League have struck out more times this season than Dexter. He struck out tonight for the 64th, 65th and 66th time, hat trick, in his only three at-bats. He was denied the dreaded golden sombrero because he was lifted for pinch hitter Jason Giambi in the 9th inning, who singled, the final Rockies hit.
The Rockies have had 3 hits in their last 33 at-bats with runners in scoring position, accounting for a mind-boggling ONE RBI. The Rockies have had batters come to the plate 41 times with the bases loaded this year, 8 hits, .195 average, third worst in the Major Leagues. Amazingly, the Giants, Dodgers and Padres have all scored fewer runs than the Rockies. The Arizona Diamondbacks lead the NL West in runs and home runs, as a matter of fact, the Kirk Gibson managed D-Backs lead in every offensive category except triples and stolen bases. They led the division until yesterday, and now trail the first-place Giants (thanks Colorado) by a half-game.
Statistics aside, the problem with these Rockies is the same problem they've had for the last few seasons. They talk about being better on the road, better in one-run games, better at hitting the ball where it's pitched, using the whole field, foul line to foul line, better at situational hitting, better at hitting with two strikes, or two outs, better and more aggressive on the base paths. Lotsa talk, not much proof. All the talk is just not sinking in. And it's getting old, stuck on February 2nd day after day after game after game. Maybe Jim Tracy should pay a visit to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Perhaps he won't see his shadow, and we won't have to endure another six agonizing weeks of TracyBall.
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