Sunday Morning Rockpile: A Trip to the DL

by Russ Oates on Apr 6, 2008 8:26 AM MDT in Rockpile

You know, maybe this is one amazingly brilliant plan the guys cooked up during the offseason. Maybe someone read Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part I and thought it would be a good idea to set the bar really low during the start of the season, just as Prince Hal set the bar low for himself before becoming king. So, when the time is right, the Rockies will break out of this malaise and become a great team, just as Prince Hal became Henry V and led the English to victory over the French at Agincourt. Does that make any sense? It did in the dream I had last night. And Tulo gave the equivalent of Henry V's St. Crispin's Day speech in Henry V. Why am I dreaming about the Rockies taking part in Shakespeare's plays?

Seems there is a problem with Luis Vizcaino. He was placed on the 15-day DL last night with a shoulder injury after he experienced pain there while warming up in the seventh inning. Ryan Speier will take his place in the 'pen.

Look for me to beg for a win in today's game thread in a few hours.

Poll

Ryan Speier will . . .

Stay in the bullpen once Vizcaino comes off the DL.

27 votes

Pitch well, but be sent back to the minors after Vizcaino returns.

36 votes

Get the offense going somehow.

13 votes

Pitch in relief.

12 votes

88 votes | Poll has closed

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Four games

"Four games are meaningless. They’re a rounding error, a blip, five days to be forgotten just in time for the next cry of "Play Ball." -- Joe Sheehan, Baseball Prospectus.

This has been my personal mantra the last 12 hours. Maybe it'll work for you, too.

Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.

by Franchise26 on Apr 6, 2008 9:08 AM MDT reply actions

And from the same article:

"In baseball, the very best teams are perfectly capable of taking a trip through their rotation without winning a game."

The Shakespeare thing is supposed to be more inspirational than a downer.

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

by Russ Oates on Apr 6, 2008 9:16 AM MDT up reply actions

Braves, Mariners, Phillies, Rockies, Tigers and Yankees

Are all in last place right now. All could still win the pennant.

Every day is a Holliday!

by free7694 on Apr 6, 2008 9:30 AM MDT up reply actions

Maybe Speier can lay down a decent bunt

by WanderingRoxFan on Apr 6, 2008 9:33 AM MDT reply actions

Bizarro world MLB 2008

In respect to the two greatest superheroes of all time, Superman and Jerry Seinfeld, this is my list of reasons this season has been turned upside down in its first week:

1. The Arizona Diamondbacks lead the Majors in HR's

2. The San Diego Padres hold the 2nd best team batting average in the NL, 3rd in the Majors!

3. Clint Barmes leads the Majors in slugging percentage at 3.000, he also leads the Majors in OBP and Batting Avg, Jeff Francis is second on the team in OBP at .500

4. Ronnie Belliard is 2nd in the Majors in doubles

5. The SF Giants have outscored the Rocks 12-8 this year

6. Baltimore, Kansas City, Florida all lead their divisions right now

7. Tampa Bay has outscored the NYY 19-7 in their series

8. The Rays don't have a single player on their big league roster named "Ray"

9. Out of the top 5 teams that lead the Majors in batting average and ERA, only the Padres lead their division.

Are there any others you can think of?

There's only one Rocktober!!

by Charlie77 on Apr 6, 2008 11:21 AM MDT reply actions

+1

This IS a very weird start to the season.

Get used to us smacking it outta the park, though. Our 3 young power hitters (Reynolds, Young, Upton) are 24, 24, and 20 years old, respectively.

"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 8, 2008 2:39 AM MDT up reply actions

I don't know...

I was having anxiety dreams all night about choreographing the school musical - you know, not knowing what I already choreographed, trying to rework it, impatient kids that aren't even in the thing...

Yeah. That's transparent. I almost never dream about the Rockies...maybe that's a good thing?

I'm honestly not worried. It happens. It happened. Perhaps this is the stretch from hell that we got in June last year on the road trip that shall not be named. You never know. We've been through times with this team where nothing goes right.

Here's one interesting point by the announcers: last year they were a bunch of guys having fun and playing baseball. This year its much more businesslike. Coincedence? I don't know. Maybe. A lot of the guys have new, big contracts. Are they trying too hard to prove themselves? I think it's possible.

Contracting a BAD case of senioritis...

by Squeaky on Apr 6, 2008 11:36 AM MDT reply actions

Today

Since Sunday day games are tradtionally the time to give struggling regulars a rest, Willy T and Nix should get the day off. Barmes drilled that ball in the 9th yesterday -- let's give him a few ABs today and see what he can do. And Willy has been just awful at the plate. Good day for Pods to get a start.

And, oh yeah, maybe let's fit Baker in there today too.

by BroJB on Apr 6, 2008 11:58 AM MDT reply actions

Yeah, some shakes will be good.

Better to try something new, you never know what might happen.

Contracting a BAD case of senioritis...

by Squeaky on Apr 6, 2008 12:02 PM MDT up reply actions

I'm rather impressed

With the Shakespeare reference. Henry V isn't my favorite in the canon, but the aforementioned speech is quite stirring, and among the best Mr. S. ever wrote.

Plus, I've always been partial to the line, "The day is ours." Let's hope we can say that about 4 pm today!

2007 National League Champions, baby!

by rockhead on Apr 6, 2008 12:00 PM MDT reply actions