Christian Friedrich will take the mound this afternoon, hoping to help the team avoid another sweep. The days of being on the winning end of a sweep seem like a glitch in the Matrix, almost an apparition, as the team seems to have moved back to their losing ways.
While the power to clear the fences was on show in last nights loss, the ability to have anyone on base to really make a dent was the issue. One person that showed he could still wield the lumber effectively was Chris Nelson who, who came in during a double switch with Francis, and went on to go 2-3 with one of the five home runs. Perhaps it is because of that, or to give DJ a rest, or maybe just a hail back to the Sunday Lineup of yestermonth, but Chris Nelson will be playing at second today.
Colvin will also lead off todays lineup.
ROCKIES LINEUP
Colvin (CF)
Scutaro (SS)
Gonzalez (LF)
Cuddyer (RF)
Helton (1B)
Pacheco (3B)
Rosario (C)
Nelson (2B)
Friedrich (P)
Hey guys, i’m back after a long strange trip that allowed me to officiate at my brother in laws wedding, spend 3 days at Disneyland and get stuck in traffic from LA to Vegas for 10 hours…oh, and the network at my office went down while I was there, so i’ve been here at work since i got back Saturday morning at 5:30 AM…still working on it, but wanted to post the lineups and say:
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to Jeem, who took over while I was gone and did a bang bang job!!! I love reading his pre/post game writeups and he really saved me a lot of stress and worry…
I’ve setup the chat for todays game and hopefully it wont be glitchy…i’ll make that one of my goals over this coming week to get it either more solid or find a new one to use…
Some “highlights” from todays news:
- Tulo looked good in batting practice today
- Tracy praised bullpen, lineup and said, “We all know where our problems are right now” = Rotation at 6+ ERA…
- Ryan Warner of Pine Creek will sign with the team today
- Moyer pitched 5 shutout innings in buffalo last night…1 hit, 5 K’s
- Signing of David Dahl (1st round pick) looking very good
Group, I had a great time sitting in for “the man” the past week. It was sure fun during the good streak but now it’s sure looking pretty dire. I keep thinking they’ve got great potential, then they go out and just look pitiful. Let’s hope Jaredean’s return turns the tide.
Jeem…VERY nice job on the pinch hit appearance. Dare I say as good as our exalted leader? Your very minimalized and subtle and sarcastic take is classic. And much appreciated by this sarcastic-loving reader, I might add.
Props to you from this old, beat-up ex-ump.
Ed, thanks so much. Love throwing in a zinger now + then. Wish we could get these guys winning!
Good job to the RWO team.
Not a good job by the actual team. They have no leadership anywhere from ownership, management, coaching or players. Pretty much just a bunch of individuals. Sometimes their stars align and we get a few wins, but for the most part no body playing for each other.
Solo HR syndrome strikes again.
Starting pitching sucks, but hardly the only problem.
Please find new management for next year.
I hope this awful team loses 100 games this year. Give us something to look forward to with the #1 pick. Of course the best GM in the biz will blow that too.
“Year of the Opposing Team’s Fan™”
Ya ha ha!
I just got back from the game. I was mad as hell about the “blown call”, but after watching the replay I admit they got it right. Probably it was a catch and a fumble on the transfer out of the glove – but calling it a non-catch is reasonable, and Cargo should have run.
It was an out and should have been called as such. Cargo running would only reaffirm the blown call and he’d of been out anyway. Umps need to be accountable for this bullshit. I am glad Tracy R. too the 2b ump to task. Guy was daydreaming out there.
I don’t buy into the whole theory that if the batter thinks it was a catch or a foul ball or double-strike, he should not run because this will somehow influence the ump into making the call that favors the batter. Baseball should be played the “right way” – the way you teach kids – which is run out everything even if you think the ball is foul or you will be out on a routine play.
I agree with you and CarGo and Jim Tracy that is was a catch, and a fumble after the catch. But calling it a non-catch is at least a supportable call. As far as CarGo being safe, I think he would have because the Angels 2B-man was pulled off the bag by the bad throw and had to go back and step on the bag before throwing to 1B.
Tulo got hurt running out a ball that people said he probably shouldn’t run out. Second nature on a ball that you think is caught, you stop. To then restart your motor with a jerk start might pull a hammy. Maybe if he runs from the box he is safe without injury, but I think it happened so fast, I don’t blame him for shutting it down.
I’m not blaming the umps for this loss by any means, but giving the umps a pass just because the team stunk is not right either.
.
When you score 8 runs and lose you can’t blame the umps. I only watched bits and pieces of the game which may be why I might keep my sanity. I had the sound off but it looked like Helton made a mental error when he got doubled up on Pacheco’s soft line drive. Why was he moving, there was now way he could have scored.
I saw the replay of the play in the 9th inning. I think the call could have gone either way. And yes Cargo should have run all the way but would probably have been out anyway. I think Tracy was arguing that the home plate ump should have asked for help. The ump seemed to be saying I saw it all the way, don’t need help. Not sure if that was the argument but what else could it have been. And on any play like that the umps should always get together and get the call right but other umps won’t give an opinion unless the first ump asks.
Of course Tracy may have been screaming, if I lose this game, I might get fired. Please help me keep my job. No such luck
How about hitting 5 home runs in two different games this year and losing both? This team can’t get it right.
I wonder why Friedrich looks so good on the road and so terrible at home. I understand the whole Coors Field issues for pitchers but this seems to me to be more mental than anything else.
Interesting observation. Dave Krieger has his opinion and I am looking forward to hear what he has to say today. I know JT doesn’t want to hear it.
I did not understand the double-switch in the top of the 8th. Belisle came in, Nelson to 3B for Pacheco, and LeMahieu in to 2B. The Rox were down by only 2 runs with 2 innings to play, so why take out one of your hottest hitters (Pacheco) when Belisle is only going to pitch 1 inning? It didn’t matter since that spot in the order didn’t come up again, but if Helton continues the rally in the 9th you want Pacheco in there, don’t you?
I only watched bits and pieces of the game so can’t comment on the double switch but that is typical Tracy. He loves to double switch even if it doesn’t mean anything or if it puts you in a bad position.
Frankly it doesn’t matter. As long as they keep DoD, Tracy and Apodoca in their present positions the Rockies will be average at best. 4 guys who couldn’t get it done in Denver.. Hammel, Ubaldo, Morales and even Paulino are having decent or better years somewhere else. Meanwhile Pomerancz, White and Guthrie are not and I don’t even think we got anything for Morales and Paulino. Yes, those two stunk in Denver but we all know Morales had tons of talent. And the best GM (by far) in baseball and his henchmen decided Paulino was better as a reliever than a starter.
Coors Field is a great place to watch a game. And baseball is my favorite game. So I’ll watch and go to games. But unless the Monferts decide that they want to win or decide to sell to somebody who does we’re stuck with this
I grew up in the DC area, rooting for the Senators. Terrible teams. When they became respectable they were moved. Twice. The area suffered from continuously bad baseball. Then no baseball.
The Nationals weren’t very good just a few years ago. Within DOD’s reign here. Their ascendance shows what can be done with good drafting, good coaching. They didn’t go out and purchase expensive free agents, the alternative the Rockies management always holds up as the wrong way, as opposed to their right way. Maybe the Rockies have gone about things the right way, but as a comparison to the Nationals shows, they haven’t done a very good job of it. Terrible, actually.
I’m happy for the DC area, the long drought of incompetent baseball is finally over. Unfortunately, it moved here at the same time I did. Compare DOD to the Nationals leadership, and tell me DOD is the best in baseball. Come on, Monforts. Look around.
Actually the Nats did go after expensive free agents and blew alot of big bucks prior to their current young phenoms! Jason Werth is at the top of that list! Off the top of my head others that come to mind-I.Rodriguez,Jason Marquis,and I know there were others.They have had an unlimited budget ever since the move.They also spent alot this past winter to complete that great young rotation.I think any comparison to what DOD has to work with here is totally unfair! That being said,I still think Danny boy has done a poor job ever since the World Series in 2007,altough he arguably stole Cargo w new deal and Tulo too for that matter.
I have totally lost interest in this 2012 team. Guthrie starting tonight, in Oakland, probably 137 in attendence. I will check the scoreboard to see how this team is doing this series and probably the rest of the year.
In THE BATTLE OF THE BLIND I would say Freidrich is still the best starter on the staff even after that horrible performance yesterday.
Trade Fowler and many others, GET SOME DAMN PITCHING!!!
I think Friedrich is still a crap shoot. Time will tell though. Yes he has a decent w/l record and has thrown a good game or two. He has also been the recipient of some big offensive numbers. I think you will now see his splits come into question and whether or not he can pitch in Coors by some members of the media.
I think thats a valid argument for 50% of our players overall. I’m starting to wonder if Cargo is not just a Coors Field guy. You would think his swing would translate anywhere, but the numbers don’t support that.
I’m a firm believer in the “dirty” pictures theory. The only logical reason some people continue to hold their jobs is that they have “dirty” pictures of their boss.
Today is purple Monday so like previous Monday’s I wore my Rockies purple. I was stopped by the fashion police and informed the Govenor has rescinded purple Monday. Anyone caught wearing purple on Monday will be forced to wear Dodger blue for week straight as pushinment.
How about those Angels? The hotest team in baseball ….oh wait …. the Dodgers are beating them.
Nobody beats the Dodgers-NOBODY!
I know they were playing us, but the Angels looked like one of the very best teams in baseball. They have just enough pitching to go with that crazy good lineup. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the WS.
The Angels, put together by GM Jerry Dipoto, former Rockies closer, former Rockies staffer, whose career path was of course blocked by Dan ODowd, the best GM in baseball.