Starting on the wrong foot...

by Rox Girl on May 14, 2008 6:56 AM MDT Comment 7 comments

You know the saying, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. This is from Tracy Ringolsby's wrap of last night's game:

Francis was the victim of a three-run first inning, when the first four Arizona hitters singled, then three more runs in the second when, after back-to-back singles by Randy Johnson and Chris Young, left- handed-hitting Stephen Drew drove the first pitch he was thrown - a changeup - over the right-field fence.

But that wasn't what ate at Francis.

"What bothers you is we come back and score four (off Johnson), and if I can keep it there, we have some pressure on them, but I don't," Francis said.

Maybe that first inning should be eating Francis a little more.

In the National League this season, teams are scoring an average of .059 runs in the first inning. If that same production were spread over the entire game, it would amount to a run average of 5.27. The Rockies are doing a little better than that offensively, scoring 0.62 runs for a 5.54 nine inning RA. Unfortunately, our pitching staff is starting the team on a pace to give up three runs more that, allowing 0.95 runs in the first inning, which translates to an ugly 8.54 nine inning run average. Last night marked the eighth time this season Rockies pitchers have allowed more than one run in the first, including Mark Redman's 10 run debacle at Dodger Stadium on April 26th.

Here are the run averages -both scored and allowed- of our divisional opponents in the first inning in 2008, ranked by the difference:

Arizona

Allowed: 4.62 Scored: 8.54 Diff: +3.92

Los Angeles

Allowed: 5.68 Scored: 8.05 Diff: +3.37

San Francisco

Allowed: 4.73 Scored: 2.70 Diff: -2.03

San Diego

Allowed: 6.08 Scored: 3.83 Diff: -2.25

Colorado

Allowed: 8.54 Scored: 5.54 Diff: -3.00

It should come as no surprise that the two teams doing best in the West this season are also doing best in the first inning. After the drubbings we've taken, I'm sure we've all come to the correct conclusion that the bulk of the Diamondbacks and Dodgers first inning prowess has come at our expense. Last night just continued a theme that's been developing this season of our pitchers digging a deep hole early against these teams that we just can't climb out of.

The Rockies are somewhat predictably just 2-6 when allowing two or more runs in the first. Our two wins in those situations were the April 18th 11-5 victory over Houston when the Astros graciously allowed us to outscore them 6-4 in the first, and last Wednesday's 4-3 comeback win over St. Louis. Typically, however, Rockies fans can feel confident that when the opponent jumps out in front like they did last night, they can turn away and not miss anything. This is not the message the team wants to be sending, but better than rooting for unlikely comebacks would be to have a lead in the first place.

0 recs | Comment 7 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Francis

Has been a microcosm for the team. He was electric during the run, but Boston stole his mojo and, I think, at the same time ripped out the team’s soul. And nothing happened over the offseason to change that fact.

I don’t know, I think those calling for the Jobu-style cleansing ritual might be on to something. None of the other proposed plans seem to have any real shot at changing anything.

by Teekalong on May 14, 2008 10:44 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm at the point of having nothing good to say about this team

Francis looks like he has lost command of all his pitches, and velocity on his fastball, which wasn’t that high to start out with. He’s Barry Zito, with out the wicked curveball. Soft throwing lefties, have to have movement and location. Francis, lacks either. This is where someone says “I’m sure he’ll get better” and ignores the fact he’s not much different pitcher then Mark Redman.

I could go on down the list. Last nights game was just brutal. I’m not sure anything can be done NOW….but wow, this team is not good. I could point out other players besides Francis, but it would be a much shorter list, to list players that aren’t sucking: (Atkins, Cook, Iannetta, Bucky) This team is just not fun. We go from World Series to not playing meaningful games after Memorial Day. That takes a group effort to be this bad.

But looks like we are stuck for the rest of the year, with this. I actually was sucked into to thinking this year we could actually be good…be contenders, not just another last place door mat. But like way too many years, that’s what this team is again. I’m sick of it. I’m not sure what the short team answer is. I’m not sure what the long term answer is either. I’m thinking this team is destined to be a door mat, like the Royals and the Pirates, no matter what happens. And I don’t like it one bit.

/end rant

WHAT THE (expletive deleted) IS GOING ON WITH THIS TEAM? YOU ARE THE NATIONAL (expletive deleted) LEAGUE (expletive deleted) CHAMPIONS, START PLAYING LIKE IT!!! WE NOW ARE IN LAST PLACE WITH THE WORST (expletive deleted) RECORD IN THE LEAGUE! THAT IS UNAC-(expletive deleted)-CEPTABLE!! YOU GUYS HAD BETTER SIT DOWN AND TAKE A LONG LOOK AT YOUSELVES AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE (expletive deleted) IS GOING ON BECAUSE THIS TEAM IS TO (expletive deleted) GOOD TO BE PLAYING THIS (expletive deleted)! NOW, I’LL BE IN MY OFFICE IF ANYBODY FIGURES ANYTHING OUT. (SLAMS OFFICE DOOR) courtesy of free7694

by Redhawk on May 14, 2008 11:08 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I think we should bat Spilly 9th tonight

If they get a DH, so do we.

Every day is a Holliday!

by free7694 on May 14, 2008 11:15 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Does that mean

he’ll be pitching?

Max Scherzer is all out of bubblegum.

by DbacksSkins on May 14, 2008 11:28 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Couldn't be worse

than what we’ve been throwing out there.

by Redhawk on May 14, 2008 11:31 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pitching, pitching, pitching

Those are the 3 things that have to be fixed before other adjustments (Spilly or Pods for Willy T, Ianetta for Yorvit) will make much difference.

It’s hard to blame Rox management for the pitching predicament the team is in.

At the end of last year, Francis seemed to be nearing “ace” status. Jiminez and Morales looked good for their age, and likely to improve. Hirsh had been looking up before his leg injury, which would be 100% healed by Spring training. There were 2 solid closers—Corpas & Fuentes.

The free agent pitching market was weak last year. Wells, Redman, Lohse (reverting to the mean in last few starts), Chacon, Fogg (who was overpricing himself), Jennings (diito). Taking a crapshoot on a 5th starter seemed like the thing to do.

It’s time to readjust the thinking. Francis and Morales regressed, as for the most part has Jiminez. Corpas imploded. Other than Reynolds, who’ll take some time to evaluate, there’s not much else in the way of starters within the organization at AA or above. Maybe Hirsh will come back strong. Maybe de la Rosa will blossom in Colorado. But there needs to be a Plan B. By late June or so, if Reynolds, Hirsh & de la Rosa are looking like nothing better than the No. 4 or No. 5 starters that the Rockies seem to collect in large numbers, some serious exploration of trades using the excess infelder-outfielder inventory needs to be done.

Trading for pitching’s always a gamble, but it’s a cinch what happens if a team is overloaded with mediocre pitchers. You’re seeing that most nights.

There is a bright side to the '08 season.
Barry Bonds & Roger Clemens are out of baseball.

by maris61 on May 14, 2008 11:52 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Trading for pitching

gets even more sketchy going on to the end of the season. Teams that are in contention usually over pay to have that one good last push. The Rockies will be out of it (as they are out of it now). We would be sellers. We would be actually looking to unload Wells, Bowie, Redman, et. al. for a couple of young organizational types. And we might re-sign Rodrigo Lopez if he comes back around the All-star break.

Also I think Morales is close. He has good stuff..the problem was between his ears. Same with Jimenez who I think will be ACE like by the end of the year. Many studs are wild when they are first up. Nuke should settle down. I actually like our rotation next year of Cook, Francis, Jimenez, Morales, Hirsch, Reynolds Yeah, it’s the same rotation as this year, that sucked but I would expect major steps forward from all the youngsters. They have good stuff. The one I’m not so high on is Francis. I don’t like soft throwing lefties, they are over rated.

Now this off season, could we trade for a top of the line guy, and not gut our system? I think it’s possible as I think we have tons of spare parts that are blocked, and blocking better younger talent in the system, other here don’t,

by Redhawk on May 14, 2008 12:05 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs