Game #102: Rodrigo vs. Brad Penny

by Rox Girl on Jul 26, 2007 6:28 PM MDT in Rockpile

As was suggested in the comments in today's Rockpile, a split in this four game series with the Dodgers can't really be considered a good thing given our place in the standings. Three and one is what we're calling for, but a four game sweep would be particularly nice. In order to get the series off on a winning note, however, we have to break through against Penny, who's been as good as any pitcher in the NL this year. The Rockies haven't let that bother them when going against the likes of Josh Beckett, so let's hope we continue the trend of rising to the level of our competition on offense.

Rodrigo just needs to keep going on with whatever worked so well against the Dodgers earlier in the year. Let's go Rockies, this is the time to step up if you're worthy.

Go Rox!

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Lineups

Dodgers
RF Rafael Furcal
CF Juan Pierre
C Russell Martin
LF Luis Gonzalez
3B Nomar Garciaparra
1B James Loney
2B Wilson Betemit
RF Matt Kemp
P Brad Penny

Rockies
CF Taveras
2B Matsui
LF Holliday
1B Helton
3B Atkins
RF Hawpe
SS Tulowitzki
C Torrealba
P Lopez

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Jul 26, 2007 6:46 PM MDT reply actions

Tulo's back!

Hope he's feeling better, and that he didn't unduly press himself to get back out there before he should (as he might).

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 7:04 PM MDT reply actions

Double play

Good start for Rodrigo.

Let's go bats! Need to hit Penny early and often.

by avsfan4ever33 on Jul 26, 2007 7:10 PM MDT reply actions

That's the way to start the game.

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Jul 26, 2007 7:10 PM MDT reply actions

Good start for Lopez

Gets Martin to bounce into a DP. (His last name's Martin, of course I don't like him). For those of you TV-equipped, how did Tulo look on that Pierre single?

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 7:11 PM MDT reply actions

I am in favor of giving Spilly

more playing time until Willy is fully recovered. No sense trotting him out there on a staggered basis.

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 7:13 PM MDT reply actions

Think about this:

Spilborghs: 10.3 VORP
Willy T: 9.5

I wonder what things would look like had Spilly been with the team from the start of the season.

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Jul 26, 2007 7:19 PM MDT up reply actions

To be fair

Spilborghs gets a lot of time against his strengths, and full time duty could expose him a bit (like to road righties).

That said, it's almost time to wonder if we have an Aaron Rowand type centerfielder on our hands.

by David OhNo on Jul 26, 2007 7:26 PM MDT up reply actions

I don't mean he should be starting

over Taveras. Had Spilborghs been doing the reserve role the entire season he would have had those starts Finley received when Willy was out. Just saying that he's performing exceptionally well in his given role. There's no reason not to think he'd see a regression if he was a full-time starter.

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Jul 26, 2007 7:33 PM MDT up reply actions

Approaching the time

Penny should come down with an injury.

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Jul 26, 2007 7:40 PM MDT reply actions

I was just thinking that.

We can't count on it, though.

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 7:42 PM MDT up reply actions

Well

Matt Kemp went down the last time we played them, so I don't see how we can't work our voodoo in this game too.

by David OhNo on Jul 26, 2007 7:45 PM MDT up reply actions

Lopez seems to wear down fast

so having thrown over 50 pitches in not yet four innings coud make for a three reliever night. After the way some of our most "trusted" bullpen guys have been lately, we better start hitting.

by David OhNo on Jul 26, 2007 8:01 PM MDT reply actions

Yeah... I figure we lose.

Not rampant pessimism, but a) we're facing Penny, b) Lopez deteriorates quickly, and c) EVERYTHING else about this day has been unqualifiedly horrid, so it would stand to reason I can't comfort myself with a Rockies win.

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 8:02 PM MDT reply actions

d) We're piling up errors...

by David OhNo on Jul 26, 2007 8:04 PM MDT up reply actions

I hate life.

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 8:05 PM MDT up reply actions

Taveras fielding woes

Frazier can say that the wind just picked up, but that ball HAS to be caught in center. And by no means is that the first ball Taveras has misplayed. He's obviously got speed, but really is not a very good outfielder; I can't think of more than one or two exceptional plays he's made this season defensively.

And if he's not getting on regularly like he was, I'd love to see Spilborghs be given a substantial opportunity to play. Of course, Hurdle zealously guards his regular lineup like the slightest tweak will cause this .500 team to implode. I'm not sure what exactly Spilly needs to do to impress the powers that be. Let's not forget he somehow was the odd man out in favor of a couple of veterans who shall go nameless.

by moose14 on Jul 26, 2007 8:12 PM MDT up reply actions

It only looks bad because he got there

Coors is expansive, that takes a hop to the wall with most all other centerfielders.

by David OhNo on Jul 26, 2007 8:15 PM MDT up reply actions

Bah

His range and speed may cover up for his defensive weaknesses (routes, jumps) in terms of runs created/saved or number of outs recorded or whatever metric is appropriate but that doesn't change the fact that his skills as an outfielder are not great.

by MADness on Jul 27, 2007 1:04 AM MDT up reply actions

That was one costly error . . .

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Jul 26, 2007 8:05 PM MDT reply actions

Lopez' stuff

looks really blah tonight. I'm not sure I'd stay with him much past 75 pitches.

Hey, doesn't Cook still have some pitches in him?

by David OhNo on Jul 26, 2007 8:06 PM MDT reply actions

Despite his speed

Taveras is not a particularly good outfielder. This is hardly the first time this season he's turned the wrong way on a well-hit ball. That flaw first surfaced on Opening Day, in fact.

by alexcolfax on Jul 26, 2007 8:10 PM MDT reply actions

That's actually not true

he's routinely rated in the top group of centerfielders based on Dewan's plus/minus. Zone rating's traditionally like him, and Baseball Prospectus' numbers (though some here hate them) suggest he's been very good this year as well.

Though that error looks bad, most centerfielders don't even get to it. He may not look the most fundamental, but the numbers show he gets to a ton of balls.

by David OhNo on Jul 26, 2007 8:13 PM MDT up reply actions

In my opinion

He is not a very good outfielder. I have been to around 20 games in person this year and seen 90% of the rest on television. I have been a season ticket holder since 1993 and after watching big-league baseball for four decades, I trust my own opinion. I know nothing of the numbers you mentioned; if you want to go by them, fine. I don't; and if my evidence is anecdotal rather than statistical, so be it.

I realize Finley was anathema to most folks here, myself included. But in a late-game defensive situation, I preferred him in center. So did Hurdle, apparently, as he replaced Taveras with Finley several times. (They were not double switches, either). I think Sullivan is clearly superior defensively, too.

Taveras' speed is undeniable and he may well get to some balls that others don't. But I've seen him turn the wrong way, or take a bad route, often enough to form my own opinion. I know he had a good reputation in Houston, but I've been disappointed by his outfield play this season.

For my money, the best defensive centerfielder the Rox ever had was Mike Kingery, a key member of the '95 playoff team.

by alexcolfax on Jul 26, 2007 10:09 PM MDT up reply actions

Penny singles, followed by a homer

Joy . . . :(

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Jul 26, 2007 8:18 PM MDT reply actions

Great.

I somehow knew it.

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 8:20 PM MDT reply actions

Well...

at least the Sky Sox are teeing off, with four homers in as many innings, including ones from prospects Seth Smith and Ian Stewart, as well as sleeper prospect Joe Gaetti.

by David OhNo on Jul 26, 2007 8:28 PM MDT reply actions

Big bat, Matt. Big bat.

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Jul 26, 2007 8:39 PM MDT reply actions

Hawpe comes through!

Shattered bat even!

by avsfan4ever33 on Jul 26, 2007 8:47 PM MDT reply actions

Brandon

Thanks for making me smile for the first time in this godforsaken day.

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 8:47 PM MDT reply actions

I hear you

I'm having a really rotten day, also.

Free Taylor Buchholz!

by lgh77 on Jul 26, 2007 8:50 PM MDT up reply actions

I discovered a really good new CD.

And that's seriously the only good thing that's happened.

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 8:55 PM MDT up reply actions

I haven't even had that

I got chewed out by my boss and kind of scolded by her boss. Now, Lopez is leaving injured? This day really sucks! I wish I hadn't gotten out of bed.

Free Taylor Buchholz!

by lgh77 on Jul 26, 2007 8:57 PM MDT up reply actions

I had to get up at 4:45

And it got worse from there.

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 9:02 PM MDT up reply actions

Closer and closer.

Don't tease, guys.

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Jul 26, 2007 8:48 PM MDT reply actions

First Lopez, now Penny?

Bad day for pitchers. Penny on top of Lowe yesterday is really bad news for the Dodgers in the last two days.

Free Taylor Buchholz!

by lgh77 on Jul 26, 2007 9:02 PM MDT reply actions

So, uh

Why is Herges in a game we need to keep close?

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 9:04 PM MDT reply actions

Scratch that

Why is AFFELDT in?

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 9:04 PM MDT up reply actions

To make our day worse

Let's just be glad we don't still have Martin or he'd probably be out there.

Free Taylor Buchholz!

by lgh77 on Jul 26, 2007 9:06 PM MDT up reply actions

Typical

Great. Now my mlb.tv is not working and I have to follow the game on gameday. What a great day.

Free Taylor Buchholz!

by lgh77 on Jul 26, 2007 9:11 PM MDT reply actions

What did Taveras do

Gameday is out.

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 9:16 PM MDT reply actions

Gameday says missed catch error

but from what I saw, Loney took his foot off the bag to field a throw by Martin in the dirt, and Taveras got to the bag before Loney tagged him. If it was an error, it was a throwing error on Martin.

by David OhNo on Jul 26, 2007 9:20 PM MDT up reply actions

Hard to tell

but it looked like Matsui did tip that strike three in the dirt. Although, the way he was swinging from the right side, a strike out looked inevitable.

by David OhNo on Jul 26, 2007 9:21 PM MDT reply actions

Ugh

How predictable.

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 9:25 PM MDT reply actions

Contrary to Gameday

that pitched looked up and in, out of the strike zone. Holliday had swung after the ball had passed him...

by David OhNo on Jul 26, 2007 9:27 PM MDT up reply actions

Good start

Helton doubles.

by avsfan4ever33 on Jul 26, 2007 9:35 PM MDT reply actions

What? Why didn't Helton stop at first?

Are we allowed to get extra-base hits?

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 9:36 PM MDT reply actions

Helton took a risk

And it payed off.

by avsfan4ever33 on Jul 26, 2007 9:41 PM MDT reply actions

Brandon still loves me.

Tulo, hacking at the first pitch, does not.

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 9:42 PM MDT reply actions

Well, this is it

Gotta get it done against Saito.

by avsfan4ever33 on Jul 26, 2007 9:58 PM MDT reply actions

Two down, but not dead yet

Kaz takes a walk.

Please Matt... if there was ever a time for a clutch hit, this is it!

by avsfan4ever33 on Jul 26, 2007 10:02 PM MDT reply actions

And he Ks

...

by avsfan4ever33 on Jul 26, 2007 10:03 PM MDT up reply actions

Boring, painful, ends with a spark

of false hope quickly quashed.

Why do all our losses follow the same pattern?

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 10:03 PM MDT reply actions

Still three games

left in the series.

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Jul 26, 2007 10:04 PM MDT reply actions

We battled pretty good today

Lopez didn't get help, but he didn't have his typical control today and was elevating a very average sinker and change up today. Still, he managed to gut one out until injury, and the bullpen gave the offense a chance to come back.

We should be able to touch up Tomko, provided Fogg doesn't get roughed up similarly.

by David OhNo on Jul 26, 2007 10:07 PM MDT reply actions

You'd think so

but Tomko almost no-hit us in April.

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 26, 2007 10:12 PM MDT up reply actions

Now why'd you have to bring that up!?

by David OhNo on Jul 26, 2007 10:53 PM MDT up reply actions

What's worse?

What's worse? The fact that Holliday struck out, or the fact that I had no faith in him to do anything but strike out in that spot?

The Rox are now 6-11 when I attend games this year. I'm not going anymore - you'll thank me later, I hope.

mvn.com/mlb-rockies - Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.

by Franchise26 on Jul 26, 2007 10:52 PM MDT reply actions

I hate games

like this. If I'm going to go to a loss, might as well make it a blow out. I hate stewing on the train all the way home about what ifs. What if Willy doesn't make that error? What if Lopez doesn't give up a 2 run HR to freaking Furcal? What if we had just one or two more hits those last couple of innings? What if, what if, what if. Urgh.

by Knepster on Jul 27, 2007 12:15 AM MDT reply actions