Colorado @ Arizona GameThread, May 13, 2008 7:40 PM MDT

Game #39: Francis vs. Johnson

by Russ on May 13, 2008 6:30 PM MDT in Game Threads

Colorado @ Arizona

RJ takes the mound after Sunday's weather conditions had the D'Backs move his start to after the off day. Time for Francis to get a win.

Go Rockies!

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Jeff Francis	0-3	7	7	0	0	0	0	42.2	45	25	25	8	19	28	5.27	1.50

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Randy Johnson	2-1	5	5	0	0	0	0	26.2	27	20	15	4	11	28	5.06	1.43

Lineup

Colorado Rockies @ Arizona Diamondbacks

05/13/08 7:40 PM MDT

Colorado Rockies	Arizona Diamondbacks
Willy Taveras - CF	Chris Young - CF
Clint Barmes - SS	Stephen Drew - SS
Matt Holliday - LF	Orlando Hudson - 2B
Garrett Atkins - 3B	Conor Jackson - 1B
Ryan Spilborghs - RF	Justin Upton - RF
Jeff Baker - 1B	Eric Byrnes - LF
Yorvit Torrealba - C	Mark Reynolds - 3B
Jonathan Herrera - 2B	Miguel Montero - C
Jeff Francis - P	Randy Johnson - P

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Silverblood's Fun Fact O' The Day:

Last year, we faced Randy Johnson on May 15, except it was at home, not in the Snake Bank. Jason Hirsh was pitching against him and gave up 3 runs in 8 innings. We got shut out, and lost 3-0 to drop our record to 16-23. In other words, we need a win tonight, but we will then still be 2 wins and 4 losses away from turnaround time. Right? I will gladly sacrifice a few losses against the Twins if we get all three of them against the Slytherins. Well, not gladly, but you know what I mean.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 6:41 PM MDT 0 recs

I should be sure that is clear

if we get all three wins against Randy and the Johnsons.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 6:42 PM MDT up 0 recs

Go Griffindor!

Rockies fans have to be the brave ones to watch this team.

by Rox Girl on May 13, 2008 7:00 PM MDT up 0 recs

The "Snake Bank"?

I like that.

Max Scherzer is all out of bubblegum.

by DbacksSkins on May 13, 2008 8:22 PM MDT up 0 recs

Baker at 1B?

Helton getting a rare day off along with Hawpe getting the day off against the Lefty.

Die-hard Rockies fan. On the bandwagon since 7/6/93. Not giving up my seat. EVER!

by rockiesfan4ever on May 13, 2008 7:00 PM MDT 0 recs

Baker really needs to show up sometime.

Since about two weeks into 2006, he’s been pretty much dead weight that the team drags around with it from place to place. I hope he breaks out of it and comes up with something big tonight.

by Rox Girl on May 13, 2008 7:02 PM MDT up 0 recs

Yeah

I’m pretty sure that September ‘06 had us thinking he was the second coming of Dante Bichette, but ever since then, he’s failed to justify the offensive hype. He’s a great, funny guy, and he has a great work ethic as evidenced by his hard work to learn 2B, but the bat hasn’t been there for quite a while.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 7:03 PM MDT up 0 recs

Since his three hit game against the Dodgers last April,

He’s batting under .200 with an OPS well under .600. That’s the same sort of performance that had us rightfully up in arms over carrying Steve Finley or John Mabry. Baker’s become our new bench vacuum, unfortunately.

I just wish there was an easy way of getting rid of the likable guys that aren’t performing. And I really really hope I anti-jinx him tonight by bringing up how much of an out machine he’s been.

by Rox Girl on May 13, 2008 7:11 PM MDT up 0 recs

oops, meant 2007...

not 2006…

by Rox Girl on May 13, 2008 7:03 PM MDT up 0 recs

Yea

I think Helton is sitting because he is 10-42 against Johnson (.238) with 9 Strikeouts
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/b-pvb.cgi?year=0&n1=heltoto01#choice=&throws=L&minPA2=0&minPA=0&orderbydir=DESC&orderbydirb=ASC&n1=heltoto01&as=batter&year_game=career&opp_id=ARI&orderby=PA&orderbyb=Name

Die-hard Rockies fan. On the bandwagon since 7/6/93. Not giving up my seat. EVER!

by rockiesfan4ever on May 13, 2008 7:04 PM MDT up 0 recs

Hawper also sitting versus the big left of Johnson

by TulsaDriller on May 13, 2008 7:29 PM MDT up 0 recs

Torrealba again.....

I guess Hurdle was serious when he said that Yorvit is the starter.

by DenverBears on May 13, 2008 7:27 PM MDT 0 recs

Do we seriously

expect him to ever get the picture that starting Iannetta is a good thing? Ever?

As long as Iannetta starts against Webb, and not Yorvit. We will need all the runs we can get that game, and Webb just murders Yorvit.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 7:34 PM MDT up 0 recs

Deleted a comment.

Please be more considerate of the language you use.

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

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 13, 2008 7:28 PM MDT 0 recs

Awesome story link about Rai Henninger..

....on ESPN; hope you all were able to read it. Definitely an excellent article

by TulsaDriller on May 13, 2008 7:31 PM MDT 0 recs

Yorvit?

WHY???/

Francis, Cook, and OH GOD DON'T LOOK....

by The Lodo Magic Man on May 13, 2008 7:36 PM MDT 0 recs

I feel bad for CDI

He plays very well, is recovering from a terrible first year, and has been one of our most productive hitters. And he still can’t force the issue due to Hurdle’s ironclad Yorvielove.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 7:38 PM MDT up 0 recs

Willy swinging at ball four.

Francis, Cook, and OH GOD DON'T LOOK....

by The Lodo Magic Man on May 13, 2008 7:42 PM MDT 0 recs

And Willy

strikes out on 3-2.

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

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 13, 2008 7:42 PM MDT 0 recs

A Willy T K

Where have I seen this before?

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 7:43 PM MDT 0 recs

Barmes swings at ANOTHER BALL.

Francis, Cook, and OH GOD DON'T LOOK....

by The Lodo Magic Man on May 13, 2008 7:43 PM MDT 0 recs

This may be a long night

or rather, a too short one, if their plate “discipline” keeps up like this.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 7:44 PM MDT up 0 recs

Another swinging K

Ugh.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 7:44 PM MDT 0 recs

Barmes

goes down on the high fastball. Let’s not witness one of those nights.

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

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 13, 2008 7:44 PM MDT 0 recs

1-2-3. That's a bad habit for the offense.

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

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 13, 2008 7:44 PM MDT 0 recs

What a typical first inning

Willy T doesn’t get on, neither does the #2 guy, and Matt gets out on the first pitch.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 7:45 PM MDT 0 recs

Our "best in the NL" offense

with a strong start

by moomacher on May 13, 2008 7:46 PM MDT 0 recs

Maybe last year

We’ve all learned that’s a long time ago. And no matter how much Holliday is a great hitter, his total lack of patience is still really annoying.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 7:47 PM MDT up 0 recs

No I was just making fun

of the media and our announcers, mostly

by moomacher on May 13, 2008 7:47 PM MDT up 0 recs

Aaaaand Francis starts off

by giving up a hit. Although I’m on Gameday, so I can’t see if it’s a play Barmes should have made.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 7:48 PM MDT 0 recs

no way in the hole

no pay there even if its Tulo

by moomacher on May 13, 2008 7:49 PM MDT up 0 recs

Francis'

new weekly batting practice session has begun.

by Teekalong on May 13, 2008 7:49 PM MDT up 0 recs

I really miss 2007 Francis

I wish 2005/08 Francis would go away.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 7:50 PM MDT up 0 recs

There's another one

Yeah, this game needs to improve fast or I need to get out of here and focus on actually finishing my project.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 7:49 PM MDT up 0 recs

I always love the Keys to the Game..

....it’s always something like:
- Get an early lead
- Solid defense
- Must pitch 6 or 7 innings

Always so insightful

by TulsaDriller on May 13, 2008 7:49 PM MDT 0 recs

insight from Frazier.

Francis, Cook, and OH GOD DON'T LOOK....

by The Lodo Magic Man on May 13, 2008 7:49 PM MDT up 0 recs

Well hit ball by Drew.

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

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 13, 2008 7:49 PM MDT 0 recs

ooo. boy

Francis, Cook, and OH GOD DON'T LOOK....

by The Lodo Magic Man on May 13, 2008 7:52 PM MDT 0 recs

This one

is going to be over early.

by Teekalong on May 13, 2008 7:52 PM MDT 0 recs

Great pitch

sawed his bat off, Hudson dumps it into left.

Welcome to 2008.

by moomacher on May 13, 2008 7:52 PM MDT 0 recs

Hudson opens the scoring.

No outs yet.

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

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 13, 2008 7:52 PM MDT 0 recs

Nothing like facing us

to get the Snakes out of their slump. Three straight hits, no outs, and it’s 1-0.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 7:53 PM MDT 0 recs

and another

well hit ball. Getting out of this inning at less than 4 runs is the new goal.

by Teekalong on May 13, 2008 7:55 PM MDT up 0 recs

Hope the 'pen is ready for a long night

Urgh. I hate playing the Snakes.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 7:57 PM MDT up 0 recs

what...the...hell.

Francis, Cook, and OH GOD DON'T LOOK....

by The Lodo Magic Man on May 13, 2008 7:55 PM MDT 0 recs

Make that 2-0

its BP out there. Barmes should have gotten that one. I’m making myself a drink

by moomacher on May 13, 2008 7:55 PM MDT 0 recs

Watching Francis pitch

has become excruciating.

2-0. I’m thrilled. And wondering why I bothered.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 7:56 PM MDT 0 recs

Just got lucky

Upton pops up a wheelhouse pitch that could/should have been in the seats.

by Teekalong on May 13, 2008 7:57 PM MDT up 0 recs

Yeah

That one looked fat even on Gameday.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 7:58 PM MDT up 0 recs

Can someone from The Row please e-mail the booth

and demand some hard answers from the ‘professional baseball analysts’?

by TulsaDriller on May 13, 2008 7:57 PM MDT 0 recs

I wonder if Francis is hurt or something

He can’t strike anyone out with 2 strike counts, and his pitches don’t seem to be fooling anyone.

by moomacher on May 13, 2008 7:57 PM MDT 0 recs

Does anyone notice anything at all

different with his delivery? That could be a something.

Francis, Cook, and OH GOD DON'T LOOK....

by The Lodo Magic Man on May 13, 2008 7:58 PM MDT up 0 recs

Still think there's some funny business w/ Arizona's hitting at home.

Although it just might be that he’s tipping his pitches.

by Rox Girl on May 13, 2008 7:58 PM MDT up 0 recs

So

why has our professional coaching staff not noticed this and/or funky business with his delivery and done something about it? Right, because our motto is to sit back and let things work themselves out.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 8:00 PM MDT up 0 recs

What?

and acknowledge that everyone has the book on our pitchers and hitters? Noooooooooo!

by moomacher on May 13, 2008 8:01 PM MDT up 0 recs

Email the booth with the info you had the other day

Maybe something will come of it.

Francis, Cook, and OH GOD DON'T LOOK....

by The Lodo Magic Man on May 13, 2008 8:00 PM MDT up 0 recs

And people talk about OUR stats

being over-inflated at home…

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 8:04 PM MDT up 0 recs

As the AZ

tv feed shows HR after HR that Francis has given up to the Dbacks this year

by moomacher on May 13, 2008 7:58 PM MDT up 0 recs

Tavarez

Might actually be an upgrade for us, over the guy who started Game 1 of the WS. He still hasn’t recovered from that Pedroia bomb.

by Teekalong on May 13, 2008 7:58 PM MDT 0 recs

so long as

Tavarez doesn’t punch any brick walls with his pitching hand…

Aut Vincam Aut Periam

by PioneerSkies on May 13, 2008 8:01 PM MDT up 0 recs

Here's

an interesting tidbit about Julian Tavarez….
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2007/05/tavarezthe_x_ra.html

Aut Vincam Aut Periam

by PioneerSkies on May 13, 2008 8:10 PM MDT up 0 recs

BYRNED!!!!

Aut Vincam Aut Periam

by PioneerSkies on May 13, 2008 7:59 PM MDT 0 recs

....

Um.

Good lord, Francis. Nibble, nibble, and then you serve up a fat one and that’s what happens.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 8:01 PM MDT 0 recs

Johnson

leads off the next time the D’Backs bat. How about reducing his lead before that happens?

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

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 13, 2008 8:02 PM MDT 0 recs

Gee Francis

I wonder why you don’t have a win yet this year. It may be because you suck.

We're all going to die!

by Silverblood on May 13, 2008 8:02 PM MDT 0 recs

I almost feel like

Francis lost a bet or something—its like he’s not even trying. I mean, its meatball city up there. Slow, relatively straight belt high pitches just waiting to be smacked.

by Teekalong on May 13, 2008 8:03 PM MDT 0 recs