After viewing the horrific line drive off the bat of the Washington Nationals' Ian Desmond that struck Juan Nicasio, I was left to marvel at how lucky, and unlucky, Nicasio was in that same instant. For 15 interminable and hands-wringing minutes, he lay nearly motionless on the dirt mound of Coors Field. Rockies trainers and medical personnel tended to the aid of the rookie pitcher from the Dominican Republic, as coaches and players watched, along with millions of TV viewers. When he was carefully strapped to an immobilization board and onto the cart and as the cart moved slowly toward the waiting ambulance in the left field equipment concourse, you could literally feel the palpable concern for the likeable pitcher's welfare. Though he is out of immediate danger, after surgery to repair a fractured C-1 vertebrae, he has a long road to return to "normal pitching activity". His youth and fitness are in his favor, and I'd give anything to see him return to Coors Field in the purple pinstripes. Such a promising future, such a good young man, I wish him well.
That the Rockies lost the game, 5-3 to the Nationals, even though they displayed grit by making it close, I think that the white flag has been waved. The Rockies brain trust (more on that later), has determined that the development of certain young players is more relevant than the experience of certain veterans. Plus, the hopeful showcasing of Eric Young, Jr., Chris Nelson, Mark Ellis, Ian Stewart and Chris Iannetta could lead to teams in contention down the stretch reaching out and offering the Rockies young players to stock the depleted farm system. After yesterday's loss, 3-2 to the Nationals, to cap another losing homestand, I continue to wonder about many decisions that the coaching staff institutes during the course of a series, and in the games themselves. Chris Iannetta had been hitting .500 on the current homestand, with two home runs, 4 RBI and 5 runs scored in 5 games. Backup catcher, Eliezer Alfonzo, had caught and played the Wednesday day game after the night game against Philadelphia, when the Rockies lost 8-6 to Roy Halladay, so it's not as though Iannetta "needed rest". Sure, Alfonzo had three hits yesterday against the Nats, but why do you sit a player who is wielding a hot bat at home, and is listed as your "starting catcher"? In a game lost, again, by one run, the deciding run was allowed when left-non-fielder Eric Young, Jr. misjudged a line drive off the bat of 2B Danny Espinosa into a lead-off double, who then scored the winning run on Jayson Werth's RBI single with two outs. Earlier, in the bottom of the 4th inning, Troy Tulowitzki singled to lead off the frame. Ty Wigginton walked, first and second, no outs. Chris Nelson, one-for-26-batting since July 31st, Chris Nelson, was NOT ordered to bunt. He flied out (Tulo should have tagged and gone to third, but misread the fly), then Alfonzo singled to load the bases (Tulo would have easily scored from third with the Rockies' first run). Mark Ellis weakly flied to left, too shallow for Tulo to tag up and score, which brought up pitcher Aaron Cook, who grounded softly to short, another promising rally dead with a thud.
Pretty typical, opportunities squandered, rallies that happen too late and too little, sloppy play allowing the opposition to score cheap runs, lead-off walks that come around to score for the other side, too many runners left on base in close games. EY is not a major league caliber outfielder nor infielder, yet. Isn't that what the minor leagues is for? Manager Jim Tracy seems to be hell-bent to force the issue that EY deserves to start and lead off, with Dexter Fowler batting behind him, and the returning Carlos Gonzalez batting third. No matter that the Rockies were clicking fine with CarGo leading off, and playing left, with Ellis at second (or Jonny Herrera), and Nelson or Stewart at third. Catalyst? EY as a catalyst? Maybe, but if there were a plus-minus stat, he's be costing more runs than accounting for. Stewart is starting to hit a little, let him play! Keep Iannetta in the eight-hole, lead off with CarGo, keep Helton in the three-hole! Herrera or Ellis or Nelson at second, Fowler batting second. CarGo in left, Seth Smith in right. Wigginton or Stewart at third, depending upon an opposing lefty or righty starter.
Or, just keep shuffling along. The San Francisco Giants just went through a rough patch, losing 8 games in a row. If only the Rockies had been within reach, they could have made up some ground. But while the Giants have gone 2-8 in their last ten games, the Rockies went 4-6, including a 3-4, seven game homestand, so they could only get as close as 9 games to the stumbling Giants. Except for the two teams behind the Rockies in the NL West, the Dodgers and the Padres, there are only two teams in the National League and three teams in the American League with a worse record that our Rox. Not quite what expectations were on April 30 this year, when the Rockies were in first, having finished their best April in team history, going 17-8. The inconsistent Rockies have gone 36-54 since. There were signs, to me, early on that the Rox were a brick short of a full load. They finished that astounding April only 6-5 at Coors Field, where they have historically won close to 60% of their games over the last ten seasons. They are now 28-31 at home thus far. Here's another astonishing fact: the last Colorado Sunday victory for the Rockies came on April 17, against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field, 9-5 when the Rockies scored 4 runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure a victory on the first anniversary of Ubaldo Jimenez' no-hitter in Atlanta the year before. Sixteen consecutive Sundays, sixteen successive losses. This, from a team and franchise that has been accused of being overly God-squad-ish. Also, when the Rockies have had a chance to sweep a series this year, they have failed seven consecutive times when they have won the first two games of a series. The last time they swept a three game series? April 11, 13 and 14 against the Mets at CitiField, though it was supposed to be a 4-game series, the second game was rained out. Can't close the deal. Oh, don't get me started on Huston Street. Talk about can't close the deal.
It's been a very frustrating year, why even Mariano Rivera has blown 5 saves. But, really, whom would you rather have striding to the mound in the ninth inning? The New York Yankees have hung on to remain only one game behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East, and firmly in the Wild Card seat, at 7 games ahead of the closest pursuer, the California Angels. Like I said before, I am grateful for the MLB Network and the YES (Yankees Entertainment and Sports) Network. ROOT Sports is fine, but there's nothing like John Sterling saying at the end of a game, "Inning over, game over, thuhhhhhhh Yankees win!"
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