Rockies vs. Pirates 7/18
Today the Rockies are facing the Pittsburgh Pirates (44-51). I have a strange feeling that this could be the start of a second half run, yesterday, the rockies showed more quality at-bats and came through in the clutch.
Tonight’s pitching matchup includes two pitchers with over 5 ERA’s, the Rockies Glendon Rusch (2-3, 6.25 ERA) and the Pirates Ian Snell (3-7 5.92 ERA) Rusch has come off an impressive start against the Brewers, allowing one run five hits through six innings. Ian Snell has struggled as of late, his last win was in mid-june. Snell is 1-1 with a 4.73 ERA in his career vs. the Rockies
Keys
1. Snell will hurt himself with poor control
2. Start Chris Iannetta
3. McClouth, Bay and Doumit are key outs
Iannetta, Rockies start out 2nd half with a win
The Colorado Rockies started out slow, allowing three runs in the third inning, but didn’t allow any runs from then on. The Rockies eventually completed an exciting comeback win. Ubaldo Jimenez had another quality start, giving up only the three runs through seven innings. Highlighted by five runs in the fourth and sixth innings, Garrett Atkins, Jeff Baker, and Chris Iannetta contributed positively to the comeback. Chris Iannetta and Jeff Baker got RBI doubles. By the sixth they’re bats were fired up, Baker doubled, Atkins drove him in to tie up the baseball game. Later that inning, Iannetta hit a broken bat home run to give the Rockies a 2-run lead the they did hold on to. Brian Fuentes struck out the side in the ninth for the 100th save of his career.
Rockies vs. Pirates 7/17/08
The Rockies critically need to win this Pirates series to get any hope of making the playoffs. Tonights starters have been on fire. The Rockies have Ubaldo Jimenez, a right hander who has an ERA below 2.50 in his last six starts. The Pirates have lefty Paul Maholm on the mound, who has gone 6-5 with a 3.95 ERA his record is tremendous for a team like the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates lone all-star, Nate McClouth, a five tool centerfielder with a huge ceiling, will likely be starting today. He should be a key out.
Keys:
1. Take advantage of Maholm’s fly ball pitching.
2. U-ball needs to lower the walks
3. In the late innings, the Rockies must hit the pirates struggling pen
Unoffical 2nd half to begin
The rockies head in to the second half feeling more optimistic than a team almost 20 games under .500 do. The Rockies have 66 games remaining, 62 of those games are against teams with losing records. I think it would be a realistic expectation for them to win almost every series they play. The Diamondbacks are bound to get hot and the dodgers may make a big trade. In any case, the rockies desperately need to win games, and I have a hard time believing that when pitchers like Mark Redman, Kip Wells, Glendon Rusch and Jorge De La Rosa are in the rotation. Why not call up Jason Hirsh? I hope they do if he strings a couple of decent starts together. Also Franklin Morales. If he gets his command back, the rockies would have nothing to lose in calling him up. Jeff Francis figures to be back in the rotation in the very near future, so, with any luck we may not have to see the likes of Redman and De La Rosa any more this year
All-Star Game Goes Deep
It was quite an All-Star game to remember at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday. Rockies Matt Holliday and Aaron Cook contributed to the masterpiece themselves with their hitting and pitching, respectivly. Holliday blasted a solo shot off Angels pitcher Ervin Santana and Cook wrigled his way out of jams in the 10th, 11th and 12th innings. Cook entered the game and immediatly induced a groudball to the second baseman Dan Uggla. Uggla took a bad approach to the baseball and the runner reached safely. The very next pitch Cook’s sinker induced another grounder to Uggla, causing another error. Cook intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases. Manager Clint Hurdle brought the infield in to try to get groundouts and then throw home. Cook got a grounder to 2nd, this time fielded cleanly by Uggla, who threw home for a force out. Next batter grounded to thirdbaseman Christain Guzman who also threw home for the force. Miguel Tejada made a beutiful play at short to prolong the game. In the 11th, Cook almost allowed the walk off run when centerfielder Nate McClouth made a great throw to catcher Russell Martin. Martin picked the ball and tagged Tampa Catcher Dioner Navarro. Michael Yound ended the game with a walk-off sac fly (his second walk-off All-star RBI) to Rightfielder Corey Hart. Minnesota 1st baseman Justin Morneau touched the plate just before Braves catcher Brian McCann spun and tagged him, ending the game. Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew was named MVP of his first career All-Star game. Drew hit a game tying homer and went 2 for 4
Futures
Dexter Fowler and Casey Weathers looked really good in Sunday’s futures game. I think that if Willy Taveras ends up on the DL with the quad problem again that we should call up Dexter Fowler, not Cory Sullivan. Also, I expect if Brian Fuentes gets traded, Casey Weathers should get the call. I recently eMailed rox beat writer Troy Renck on the subject and he does not expect either to get the call until late August.
Hurdle
It will be awkward for me to watch the All-Star game this year with Clint Hurdle managing it. Hurdle is currently managing a team that is 39-57 and could lose 100 games. For a Rockies fan like myself it will almost be embarrasing. However, I feel will feel no shame watching Aaron Cook and Matt Holliday in the All-Star game. These two players really deserved it and I hope that they enjoy the festivities in New York City.
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