It was painfully obvious last night that Rockies fans and followers weren’t the only people on the planet aware that Tulo was missing his swing. In the top of the third, with two on and two out, the Dodgers elected to walk Carlos Gonzalez to load the bases. This move spoke volumes. In a move usually saved for the 8th hole hitter with the pitcher behind him, they made the call knowing that they would most likely get out of the inning on either a weak grounder or a pop-up from Tulo’s bat that seems to be turned up to 11, reaching for the fence with every swing.
Tracy took note and dropped Tulo in the batting order for the final game in LA before heading to San Francisco.
ROCKIES LINEUP
Scutaro
Colvin
CarGo
Cuddy
Tulo
Hermandez
Nelson
Fowler
White
IN GAME CHAT (just click play to chat during game)
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Sorry about last night’s lack of post game writeup…i’ll add chat in a bit to today’s…
Anyone have some stats about Tulo’s average with RISP, especially with two outs? My perception is that he’s really letting the team down in key situations, just like last night.
They talked about it during one of these Dodger games. I don’t remember the pct but it is pretty low.
About time our Perennial Manager made this move!
And we allow a 6 run inning, more mistakes by rockies, cargo and colvin miscommunication, tracy must go and O’Dowd we right at the bottom win-loss not just in the NL but the AL as well.
Once again JT’s philosophy of letting a pitcher work out of his own jams has paid dividends for the Dodgers. His session with Tulowitzki looks like it really helped too. :-{
On to face Vogelsong and Lincecum. Yippie
TEN walks today.
How much worse can this get?
Alex, I what I found sad was Drew’s comments as the game came to an end. The Dodgers last 3 runs were scored with only 1 hit.
At this point the best thing the Rockies can do is keep the freefall going until Tracy and O’Dowd are gone. It may be a long wait.
Correct!!
Not sure what the Rockies ownership is waiting for. If they think they’ll get anything different in 2013 or 2014 from this club they are fooling themselves.
This team is broken from top down.
Does anyone see anything resembling passion from the players or coaches? Even the stars of this team are on cruise control.
Just imagine how bad this would be if Tulo wasn’t so hot right now.
No RBIs in at least 10 games for Tulo.
Wiggington-owitzki’s last RBI was April 30 against the Dodgers.
His last extra base hit was on the same day.
The atmosphere surrounding this team and its fan base seems eerily similar to what it was like just prior to when Hurdle was fired. Just saying.
And we were able to salvage the season after the firing. I’m sure DOD, Tracy, Dac, and Carney are all fine gentlemen, but we need some new blood.
Remember, I was the optimist coming into this season. On paper, the talent was there to contend.
But I’m a realist too. This season has gone down the tubes. Oh, we could recover from 13-20, so while the bad start hurts it’s not a killer. But look what’s happened:
– Chacin: totally lost. “On paper” counted on him for about 180 average or somewhat better than average innings. Hand those innings over to a rookie or Guillermo Moscoso now.
– Pomeranz: troubling. “On paper” said about 130 league average innings. I suspect he’ll be back soon, but is he the pitcher we thought we got?
– Bullpen: as Tracy has discovered, sooner or later you find out you can’t get by with only 2.5 (I give Reynolds the .5) proven relievers. In descending order of effectiveness, we’ve struggled through: Rogers (horrid), Escalona (really bad), Brothers (definition of erratic), Roenicke (o.k., but not a guy you ever want to rely on in critical situations). And now Outman (who may be a lefty one-out guy) and a bunch of other scrubs and non-prospects.
So I’m just not seeing things turn around this year. Turn around a bit, yes. Enough to make a run at anything, no. Some players who aren’t in our future will have real value to a contender: Ramon Hernandez, Scutaro, Betancourt, Belisle, Giambi (but he probably won’t go anywhere else), Guthrie (if he ever puts together a string of decent starts). So I’d think about starting to get what we can for them and building toward 2014, which is a reasonable target if you’re hoping for this year’s rookie pitchers to develop and for Tulo and CarGo to still be productive.
Ag, you’re kidding right? You the optimist coming into the season? This post is just a continuation of all the negativity you’ve been spewing since ST. I’m sure we can dig up all the old threads where I’ve called you on it. So please, save it for another time.
Just to get the conversation started, after those vets are traded/gone, here’s what I’d like to see come June:
C Rosario full time
1B Helton and Colvin (I want to get Colvin at bats to see if he’s a keeper)
2B EY Jr. Gotta see if he can play a position, and whether he can get on base enough to make that speed work.
SS Tulo
3B Arenado
LF CarGo
CF Dex (same as with Colvin; consider it an audition)
RF Cuddyer
Colvin will sub for all 3 outfielders, and with some starts at 1B will play 2/3 of the time
Herrera can be the supersub for now
Pacheco will be backup catcher
If Wheeler gets healthy I’d like to see him get some action in September. Maybe Rutledge too.
Rotation: Pomeranz, White, Friedrich, Chacin (restore some value if he comes back; who else?), Nicasio. I’m o.k. with Moyer for now if it helps keep fan interest, but I think that’s already worn off. Can’t see anyone buying a ticket to watch Jamie pitch. Bring him back next April when he’s 50 for a repeat performance.
Bullpen: Roenicke, Rogers (again, who else? I thought about saying make him a starter again, but I have zero confidence that would work. I have about 30 % confidence he could still turn into an effective reliever), Reynolds, Putnam as general use guys. Outman as lefty specialist. Unless dealt, Belisle as closer. I’d move Chatwood to the pen to see if he can make it as a setup guy next year.
That club would probably perform worse going forward in 2012 than the current club. But you know what? We’d at least know what we’ve got and what’s worth keeping next year. And more importantly, I’d be more interested in watching that club than the one that just got swept in LA.
Ideas?
Troy Tulowitzki (2012):
.267 BA, .331 OBP, .408 SLG, 20 R, 3HR, 13 RBI
7 errors, .951 fielding in 144 chances
Ty Wigginton (2012)
.264, .343, .368, 14 R, 2 HR, 10 RBI
3 errors, .981 fielding in 160 chances
Cisco, I said the best minds out there had the Rockies at about 85 wins (with, as always, a big margin of error), exactly even with the Dbacks and Giants (same margin of error for them).
When the Vegas lines had us at 80.5, how is predicting 85 pessimistic? I think O’Dowd made some bad moves that made us less likely to make the playoffs overall.
Other than your love of all things O’Dowd (it occurs to me you may even BE Dan O’Dowd), what exactly is your reasonable cause for greater optimism? What was YOUR prediction of the Rockies won-loss record this year? Or are you just frustrated that things have gone poorly but don’t really have anything to say about it other than to complain about other fans expressing their disappointment, or suggesting ways for the franchise to move forward?
Stay the course … because, well, seriously, tell me:
1. What is the course? What is the club’s target date for winning?
2. How are they going to get there?
Boys,Boys,now lets play nice,we are all really frustrated.I only expected a .500 team and I’m already frustrated enough to consider giving up.Ag,I think its a month too soon to do as you suggest,although overall I like your take and logic.I just don’t think other teams are looking much yet,and we should see if any of the players you suggest trading really could up their trade value.Like most here I really like Colvin and his 55 insignificant AB’s.Maybe DOD got this one right.I’ve been very unimpressed with Scutaro,and really think this team needs EYjr.to spark this team like Faried and Brewer sparked the Nuggets down the streach and to the almost upset.But he has to get on base at .345 or better,bunt like Willy T.,and steal bases like his Dad,and be serviceable at 2nd.We need speed at the top of this underachieving lineup and alittle spark is sorely needed.
Of course I agree with your EYJ comments! I think our Junior could make the same impact the Dodgers Junior is making. This lineup needs some energy and a different threat.
J Tracy has no clue how to use speed and small ball – none!
I don’t know all the right moves, but I will say I’d rather hit the reset button and watch a bunch of youngsters win 70 games than a bunch of overpaid veterans do the same thing. That is, unless we think this team could do the unthinkable and lose 110+ games by doing so.
EYJ needs to return fast!! Center Field looks like a dumpster fire right now as does most of this team! I have to admit fellas, losing a little interest in this club right now. It is getting easier to walk away from the TV or phone and do other things with my day.
Good article in MiLB.com on DrewPo’s outing yesterday:
http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120513&content_id=31195168&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb
It says his velocity was up to 91-92 due to a slight mechanical adjustment. Perhaps suggesting the kid is damaged goods or hurt may be a bit premature as some have suggested.
Interesting article.
Maybe I’m way off base here, but isn’t it ironic that the Rockies bring in Moyer and sit him next to Drew Pomeranz so Pom can absord something from Moyer……and Pomeranz starts relying less on his speed and adjusts his motion to be more like Moyers? LOL
I guess some bad habits can be learned as easily through osmosis as good habits.
Interesting point, Prog. Maybe it’s as simple as Pomeranz trying to do the crafty veteran lefty thing way too soon in his career, forgetting what got him here. Friedrich recovered some velocity, although he did have some arm trouble too. (By the way, looking forward to seeing him pitch tonight.) My point has been primarily that you never know with pitching prospects, and of course for every buyer with high expectations there was a seller with far lower expectations.
In general, I will say we’ve learned a lot about how “changing the clubhouse culture” wasn’t really the solution. Of course, if the Rockies now go on a winning streak we’ll hear that the reason they were able to turn it around is that the clubhouse culture was so strong that guys didn’t give up when they hit a rough patch …
How many do-overs does O’Dowd get? This is perhaps his fifth iteration of a “plan” to improve the team.
Obviously the owners prefer continuity over change, but at some point continuity without success turns into stagnation. O’Dowd has been GM since late 1999 with very minimal success for such a long tenure.
His expiration date is overdue and he should be held accountable for his manifest failures.
I liked all the veteran signings but third base has been a black hole. O’Dowd signed Casey Blake with full knowledge of his precarious physical condition, and apparently had no backup plan beyond Arenado possibly winning the job in spring training.
I agree with your first 2 points, but are you looking at the stats and performances of the lineup such as Helton batting only .250, Tulo only 13 RBI, Scutaro only .314 OBP and 2 RBI, the bad defense, inconsistent pitching and conclude that the problem is the 3B/8th hole hitter?
1-7 this team should be good enough to allow for a Chris Nelson, Pacheco or Herrera to hit in the 8th hole.
2 hitters (1 a part timer) at .300 or above is a joke for a team that plays 1/2 of its games at Coors. And that 2nd player is just barely hanging on at .300 exactly.
The 2 catchers are having better years than Tulowitzki for goodness sake.
The problem with this team is not the peripheral players like Colvin, Hernandez, Rosario, Nelson, even Dexter.
Cargo, Tulo, Helton, Cuddyer and Scutaro are not doing the heavy lifting that the highest salaries on the club demand.
“…conclude that the problem is the 3B/8th hole hitter”
But that is exactly what we – and the Rox organization – have been doing for years, Prog. It was Barmes’ fault. Then it was Iannetta’s fault. It’s never the heart of the order’s fault, because “you know they’re gonna hit”.
I did not “conclude” that third base is the only problem. I merely listed that as one area where O’Dowd failed in his responsibility to improve the team.
The main problem is O’Dowd’s leadership. He is responsible for the entire organization…and he should be held accountable for its failures.
I’ve been railing against O’Dowd for years, so I am with you there in general.
But personally, I saw nothing wrong with this year’s acquisitions or lack thereof, offensively Scutaro, Cuddyer and Hernandez. Colvin and LeMahieu as well.
These seemed like decent moves to improve the edges of the club, which according to most seemed like what the team needed.
(I disliked the Smith trade however, not for losing Smith, but for the lack of quality return.)
Considering some primary reasons the team is struggling is that the returning core of the team: Helton, Tulo, Cargo and lesser Dex are struggling, I find it a bit weak to reference the failure to acquire a 3rd baseman to be a very good example of this year’s failures.
Unless we are talking about an AllStar quality 3rd basemen, that upgrade would make zilch difference, IMO.
If O’Dowd goes, its because of repeated problems since 2008 the least of which is 2012 3B (for me anyway).
I predict 10 game winning streak, starting tonight.
Seth Smith is hot right now. His BA is rising and his OBP is .394.
I’m glad we got so much value for that trade.