All-Star Gio Gonzalez held the Colorado Rockies to one run over 6 innings and the Colorado defense fell apart in the sixth and seventh innings as the Washington Nationals defeated the Rockies 4-1 on a stifling hot afternoon in the nation’s capital. Jeff Francis delivered another quality start for Colorado, allowing 3 runs in his five+ innings of work, taking the loss as Danny Espinosa doubled and Bryce Harper singled against the left-hander opening the sixth, Espinosa scoring on a single off Josh Roenicke by Ryan Zimmerman, with Harper coming home on yet another error by Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario. Zimmerman scored Washington’s fourth and final run after moving to third on a walk to Adam LaRoche and a force-out by Ian Desmond, coming home when Roenicke hit Desmond with a pick-off attempt at first base, the carom eluding over-paid Colorado first-baseman Michael Cuddyer.
The Rockies’ only run scored in the fourth, when the over-paid Cuddyer doubled leading off, moved to third on a ground-out by Tyler Colvin, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Jordan Pacheco. Cuddyer’s run cost Colorado 1.5 times the amount a similar run scored by Minnesota’s Josh Willingham would cost the Twins.
The Rockies’ defense continued to struggle in the seventh, when Nats’ catcher Jesus Flores reached leading-off on a boot by Colorado third-baseman Chris Nelson. Pinch-hitter Steve Lombardozzi, attempting to sacrifice, reached on an error by Cuddyer. Rockies’ reliever Matt Reynolds held things together, striking-out Espinosa and getting Harper to ground into a double-play.
Ryan Mattheus handled the seventh for Washington, striking-out the side. Sean Burnett allowed a Dexter Fowler lead-off single in the eighth. Fowler went 3 for 4 for the Rockies. Tyler Clippard took-over in the ninth and recorded his 14th save in 14 chances, but not before Colorado put runners at first and second with one out. Clippard then struck-out pinch-hitter Jason Giambi and Nelson to close things-out.
The two teams will play a rubber match tomorrow morning, starting at 11:35 Mountain Time. The Rockies’ Jeremy Guthrie (3-8, 6.28) will face the Nats’ Jordan Zimmerman (5-6, 2.70) in a battle of right-handers. Temperatures are not expected to reach 100 degrees for the only time in the series, topping out at 99. Root Sports will have the telecast with radio on 850 am KOA.
Jeem, you’re in fine form. Although Jaredean would’ve delivered the same quality for 2/3 the cost.
I get the big Cuddyer bucks, baby.
Who’s the guy in the picture looks like Giambi’s possible replacement age wise.
Lol. I have to say I love the editorializing we get from you guys as opposed to ITR. Great work. You guys rock even when the ROX don’t.
I disagree Prog.Jeem,you are too good a blogger[journalist/writer/whatever],for the cheap 2nd paragraph.We have no control over contracts,and all here bitched for 6 months for a RH bat for the middle of the lineup.Every “wanta be”major leaguer writing on this site would take that money and run.Cuddyer has not run but rather given a professional effort every game he has played for us.I understand the contract issue,and BIB DOD’s overpaying to get what we all demanded,but IMO it’s a cheap undeserved shot,and out of place in your otherwise entertaining wrapup.Since he may well be our 1st baseman next year,in order for Colvin,Dex,and Cargo to become one of the best outfields in baseball,I think his salary at THAT position pales in comparison to many others holding down first.
I agree… with all due respect, the 2nd paragraph kind of screwed up an otherwise fine post.
Cuddy is not the problem here. It was management that offered him the inflated contract. Cuddy would be nuts to turn it down. The guy has played well (no superstar, but I don’t think we expected one). Has been a positive voice in the community. Has been a generally friendly presence who plays the game the way it is meant to be played. Sorry, but I can’t criticize Cuddy for anything. Criticize the GM. Criticize Dick Montfort. Unfair to dog Cuddy, in my opinion.
Found a very interesting stat in my Yahoo fantasy pages tonight. Amazed me.
Dexter Fowler for the season- 70/243 44 runs, 11 dingers, 36 rbi, 7 sb, .288 avg
Bryce Harper for the season- 68/240 42 runs, 8 dingers, 25 rbi, 8 sb, .283 avg
Maybe I’ve been too tough on Dex. Or maybe everybody else is too much in love with Harper.
Oh dear.
Apparently my attempt at humor here has been TOO subtle. My feelings about Cuddyer are actually pretty much identical to those of Gary + Iggy expressed above. I was actually trying to lampoon those of us RWOers who continue to harp on Cuddyer’s compensation being shall we say “over-market,” when in fact at this point the compensation is irrelevant.
Sorry. I think Michael Cuddyer is both an excellent acquisition + a fine player, not to mention a good person.
My bad.
Sorry Jeem… I am becoming less and less perceptive of subtlety the older I get!
Iggy, most excellent data re Dex, Harper. The grass is always greener, eh?
Thanks for the Cuddy support. I think he’s a good ballplayer.
What’s the deal with our defense? Is it coaching? Injuries? Shifting line-up? And can anyone tell me whether Scutaro is just having a bad year or he has always made the occasional big blunder? Or is he just being picked on because his blunders are more visible?
You have ordinary or less than ordinary defenders at each infield position, including catcher, except when Helton is at first. You see Tracy working at it. I’ve criticized him for deferring too much to Todd, but fact is he likes the defense. Likewise at third it appeared Pacheco had won the position, but now you’ll note Tracy has gone back to the “platoon” of he + Nelson. Again, Pacheco is a nice story, but his D is really substandard. Jonny Sparkplug is a less than average defensive SS, but he’s what we have going forward (except as Ag notes for Nelson, a card Tracy hasn’t seemed interested in playing at all), until the return of Tulo. Scutaro, again is merely average, + as you note, not at all “heads-up.” I think we, not knowing him much, expected more, but we probably were naïve.
Then there’s also been this “beer league softball” tendency to throw the ball around wildly, starting with Rosario. Then all the outfielders are trying to be heroes and throw the guy (who’s wheeling around the bags on a wild Rosario pick-off attempt) out at the plate.
Then there are the wild pitches + passed-balls. It’s not that mysterious, really.
Cuddyer has been fine. We expected him to hit about .280, with about 80 RBIs and about 20 HRs. By the time the season is over, he may be in that ballpark, although the BA is lower than that now. But he was signed with the expectation that he’d be one of our top three outfielders, and that’s not currently the case. So, does Cuddyer play 2/3 of the games at 1B and Todd 1/3 until Todd retires, presumably at the end of next year? How does that work out for about 16.5 million total dollars? I think that if another team makes an offer for Cuddyer that the Rockies can’t refuse, they should look at it.
If we traded Cuddyer, where is the next major league first baseman in our minor league system? Is it McBride, or do we have to go all the way to Modesto until we see a guy who might one day be a major league first baseman?
I think folks here at RWO are just a mite too defensive regarding Cuddyer, and though I am about to critizice his salary, that doesn’t mean that I do not appreciate his hustle and professionalism – because I really do. He just isn’t cost effective for a last place team.
This however is a fact – the Monforts can not afford to pay Cuddyer $11.5 per year to be a fourth outfielder or a fill in at first base. The Rockies have decent options for the outfield in Wheeler and Blackmon, while really 00no minor league options for first base (maybe McBride?).
With many holes to fill on this team the Rockies have to trade from their excess depth and that right now would mean one of Fowler, Colvin or Cuddyer. If the Rockies could be in contention in 2013 or 2014, then it does make sense to keep Cuddyer. However those are wasted ABs and dollars if it takes until 2015 to be competitive (with Cuddyer then gone anyway).
Pardon my Rockies pessimism here but without starting pitching it could easily be 2015 before they contend, so yes I do hope they trade Cuddyer – and keep the younger more cost effective Fowler and Colvin.