Tuesday Morning Rockpile:

by Russ Oates on Apr 22, 2008 8:38 AM MDT in Rockpile Comment 10 comments

So, the biggest problem during last night's game was a) the failure to successfully execute run-scoring plays with men on base, b) a bullpen that couldn't hold a one-run lead, or c) both a & b? Maybe Ryan Speier should have entered the game, since it seems that was the turning point in the game, according to the second link:

So it was that the turning point came when Speier turned around and jogged back into the bullpen. Working in his fourth game in five days, Fuentes suffered a second consecutive hiccup [...].

Actually, Fuentes had pitched in five of the last six games after his appearance last night. And the game Fuentes didn't pitch in was Friday's opening victory against the Astros. That's back-to-back-to-back games for Fuentes. According to Josh Kalk's study on the use of relief pitchers, a reliever loses about a mile and a half per hour on his fastball when pitching three straight days. Just something to note.

Also, part of the confusion over who was going to come in to replace Bucky is a result of Bob Apodaca dealing with a family matter. Bullpen coach Rick Mathews moved to the dugout, leaving the pitchers in charge of the 'pen. Fuentes thinks the mix-up occurred as a result of Micah Bowie incorrectly taking the call. Well, that was not the worst thing Bowie did last night. The Rockies do not know when Apodaca will return to the team.

Let's see less of the bullpen tonight and more of Jeff Francis.

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Hurdle

strikes again. Even though we should have had more runs we had the lead. Why bring the left hander Fuentes in to face the right hand hitter when Spier was ready. How about Corpas for a 4 out save.

by DieHardRox on Apr 22, 2008 9:26 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

maybe this is just my impression....

but I have the impression that Fuentes is particularly susceptible to fatigue from overuse. It seems to me that Fuentes usually looks great until he gets run out there on several consecutive days. Hurdle really needs to give him more rest. He pitched in 60+ games last year and missed a month. He’s pitched in 11 of 19 this year—-this is how Joe Torre treats Scott Proctor.

by DenverBears on Apr 22, 2008 9:40 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Managers get way too cozy with their set pitching rotations and it drives me crazy. No way Fuentes should have pitched yesterday, and no way Corpas should not have been in to protect a close game. As soon as Bowie came in, I told my wife it was time for dinner because I knew Philly was going to open the lead.

by Teekalong on Apr 22, 2008 10:29 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait a second....

....are you saying that Joe Torre SUCKS at managing his pitchers?? /sarcasm

"I was tied to a chair and he had a baseball bat. Pissing him off was the smart thing to do."

by DbacksSkins on Apr 22, 2008 11:54 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tulo’s slump continues to hurt, thankfully Torreaba actually showed up with a big bat to try and keep us in it. Everytime Tulo has hit into a double play, you can feel the momentum turn into sludge last night.

by SpiritOf95 on Apr 22, 2008 1:42 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Not a smart play on his part...

Very much unlike him. He should have let Willy T attempt to steal second before he took a swing. Infield would have had to play in.

Not sure why they had Barmes sacrificing in the 8th. He’s been hitting much too well lately, and it’s not like the meat of the order was coming up after him.

by jlikesrockies on Apr 22, 2008 2:32 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Some things I don't understand:

Why do you send Bucky out for the 8th? He’s lights out for an inning, but why don’t you go to Fuentes? Fuentes is better when he starts the inning usually. Then, why don’t you take Bucky out after two runners get on? Why do you wait until the bases are loaded? And once they are, why do you take him out? He either would have done the exact same thing as Fuentes or gotten out of his own jam. Not much to be gained or lost there.

Why do you have Barmes bunt? He’s batting .410! Seems like a silly move.

Why do you bring in Bowie? Don’t you want to keep the game close? I guess there was a mixup, but jeez. Not a good move there.

Why do you keep putting Tulo in the 2 hole? He should be moved to the 8 hole and Barmes can go in the 2 hole. Barmes is hitting, Tulo is not. There you go.

That game was INCREDIBLY frustrating to watch. Let’s hope tonight is less so. I won’t be able to watch most of it, I’m going out to dinner with my dad and some people with our show, but we’ll hope that they do well in my absence.

I miss going to games…really need to get to one soon.

www.notthisday.com ....coming October!!!

by Squeaky on Apr 22, 2008 2:50 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

One more thing:

Can we stop using Fuentes for a couple days before he tries to make a run at his record of four straight blown games?

www.notthisday.com ....coming October!!!

by Squeaky on Apr 22, 2008 3:32 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bucky

Fuentes always seems to create traffic – bringing him in with the base loaded and zero margin for error (wild pitch, passed ball, walk, hanging pitch, etc.) was crazy, in my mind.

Taylor may have lost his composure or he may not have – at that point we needed someone with good control and good stuff which meant either letting Taylor bail himself out or bringing in Manny for a 4 out save.

I turned the game off when they made the call for Fuentes.

by MADness on Apr 22, 2008 4:20 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Once the bases were loaded...

I was all for letting Bucky bail himself out. If he didn’t, we’d be in the same position we were with Fuentes. I just thought it was a very ..um…interesting…decision. I didn’t turn it off then, but I should have.

www.notthisday.com ....coming October!!!

by Squeaky on Apr 22, 2008 4:23 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs