Jeff Francis continued to put distance between him and his first two starts of the season.
You remember those, right? 8.2 innings pitched combined to choke out 12 runs and a 12.46 ERA?
His last four starts you ask? Why they combined for 21 innings and only five earned, dropping his ERA to a respectable 5.16.
Well, respectable for the Rockies that is. You can’t really talk about true respect when you are discussing a team that has only won seven games in their last 25 efforts.
Seems like the only pitcher that can get the team on the road to a win is Francis. Since he joined the team if he is on the mound the team has a 5-1 record. If he isn’t?
They are 2-15.
The other bright spot of the night would be one Mr. Tyler Colvin. The Rockies won 3-2 and without Colvin’s bat they would have been shutout 0-2.
Colvin came into the third inning ready to take advantage of a walk and an error by the Red Birds to deposit his latest souvenir into the right-center field seats.
The only fans more upset at Colvin this season, other than the Cardinals at that moment?
That would be the Cubs, who get to hear about each and every Colvin at-bat by the fans that lament the fate of the player they received in return, one Ian Stewart. The same Stewart that just announced Monday he would undergo season ending wrist surgery.
At least something is going right for this team….baby steps….baby steps.
OTHER NEWS:
- Jeremy Guthrie will be starting on Wednesday night, possibly because Outman will be busy legally changing his name to Walkman. Or was that Hitman? MissTheStikeZoneBadlyMan?
- Dexter Fowler, after the game, told Troy Renck that his lat is “90-to-95 percent” good to go.
- CarGo is considered the underdog to win the HR Derby according to sports betting site Bovada
- Hernandez will begin a rehab assignment Wed or Thur in Triple A
- Juan Nicasio will pitch a simulated game Thursday
HA! “Walkman.” I like it.
Hey more drivel from me: on Rosario, undoubtedly he is a bright spot. Seems to be a wonderful kid, + frankly the only player on the team seeming to be having any fun. But at the same time he needs to bear his fair share of the burden for the pitching debacle. I have never seen so many pitches going to the backstop in 45 years of following baseball. I know he has a TON on his mind as a truly raw rookie, but the pitchers HAVE to suffer from lack of confidence he will catch the ball. + I’m not kidding he is going to get some ump killed. That one inside pitch to the right-hander a week or so ago that was barely tipped? He wasn’t going to catch that tip or not. + the tip didn’t divert it more than a half an inch in the 8 inches between the bat + glove. That ump had every reason to be extra pissed. That was just horrible + dangerous. I cracked awhile back that he “dozed-off” during a pitch + that is actually not too absurd. So it will be good to get Hernandez back, although I guess he’ll be trade bait.
Jeem, I would also submit his horrible move to second as to why he needs more work with Hernandez. Part of it can be blamed on Scutaro not being the glove Tulo is, but Baby Bull really has a sub-par accuracy to second. He already has eight errors this season, and I’d think most are throwing to second (or first) and just missing badly.
I gotta believe he is also in the mix for the way he calls the games, as far as blame being shared for our starting rotation. I loved the way Olivo called a game (and he’s orchestrated 2 no hitters), and know that the catcher, unless being shook off a ton, makes the bulk of decisions on pitch/location.
Yeah on the throws to second. Between that + wild throws to first up the right-field line we have WAY too many runners going 1st to 3rd. In fact, while the defense has cleaned-up quite a bit since the spring we still seem to be throwing it around like beer-league softball without or long after the ball is batted.
+ just read Helton article in yesterday’s Post. I am observing the MFL is now looking for excuses to get Helton in the lineup (Dex), more evidence of “managing to lose.” The MFL wants out.
LOL, Jaredean … Walkman. That’s gonna stick.
Jeem, right on all counts. I thought Olivo was challenged at blocking pitches. Rosario takes it to a whole new level. We all assume he’ll get better, but we’d like to see some improvement this year. It would be a shame if something like that holds him back since he’s already showing he can handle big league pitching (at least at average catcher level, maybe considerably better) and he can certainly throw.
And Renck gives us a hint you’re right about the MFL creating reasons to play Helton. Renck reported Fowler said he felt fine after Monday’s game, but Tracy had to sit one of the outfielders to get Helton back in the lineup. I don’t think Helton’s finished, but recent history shows he benefits from time off, so why not stack this week with the ASB?
Yes, Wilin has a great bat + I’m w/ you. Hoping this PB/WP issue doesn’t hold him back.
Also agree Helton not finished. And sure, you could give him 8 or 9 days off. Why not? Take the fam out to see some monuments in DC. Bennet’s office is next door to my home. I’ll get him to arrange a tour of the White house for the Heltons.
I like “MissTheStrikeZoneBadlyMan” too.
Well, it’s a strange feeling to see them hold a one-run lead for the win when expectations are for a one-run lead to equal a certain loss. Real, actual baseball game. Taking what I can get
Roxnsox right. Last night’s win was like a real MLB game. Rosario is getting his on the job training and sometimes he looks lost out there. But you have to remember who is throwing to him. Most of the time the pitchers don’t have the slightest idea where the pitch is going either. If we were getting lots of Wild Pitches and Passed Balls and very few walks one could rightly put all or most of the blame on the catcher but the starters, with the exception of Francis, are walking more guys than they strikeout. Usually by a lot. So what’s a catcher to do. He calls for a fast ball low and away and instead gets a curveball high and inside.
Obviously this season is a complete loss so I think we have to see what we have in Rosario, Pacheco, Nelson, Colvin, Dex and some of the young pitchers. I would see what we could get for Scuturo, Giambi, Cuddeyer (that will some contract to try to trade), Guthrie and maybe even Betancourt and Hernandez. But frankly I would hope that during the All Star Break the Monforts would come to their senses and can both O’Dowd and Tracy and somebody else can make those trades
“Most of the time the pitchers don’t have the slightest idea where the pitch is going either.” LOL! Sure can’t argue with that!
Way off topic, but the downtown backdrop behind the stadium in St. Louis is way up there on the “impressive” scale. I’d have to give the ballpark designers a 9.8, anyway, just in that respect.
I agree Steve. St. Louis is not my favorite city, or my favorite team, but when it comes to baseball and a really nice stadium with an outstanding view (and great pic), I am impressed. I hope to visit there someday, and will root for the Cardinals (because I played for the MSBL Cardinals for a while) and because it is a great baseball tradition.
My retirement plans include a little land in a place that is 4 or less hours from St.L, Chicago, Minneapolis and KC… and only a day’s ride from our Rockies. Hope they keep Busch Stadium up as well as the Rox have kept up Coors Field (the only outstanding thing this owner and mgmt. team have done).
I have to disagree. St. Louis’ ballpark is one of the newest, but I was shocked to see that it still has a concourse that is isolated from the field. That is, you have to go up tunnels to get to the seating and can’t see the field while walking the concourse. Not so in Colorado, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Philly, San Fran, etc. I really didn’t understand it.