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Game #49: Francis vs Vargas

New York Mets @ Colorado Rockies


As rockhead pointed out in this a.m.'s Rockpile, we've got a more firm confirmation that Ian Stewart, as well as Seth Smith, will be playing for the Rockies this afternoon. Smith, in fact, gets put into the starting lineup with Brad Hawpe still ailing from a nagging hamstring problem.

UPDATE: According to the official press release, which I'll post in the comments, Hawpe and Barmes are the two to go on the DL, with Hawpe being put on retroactively to Wednesday.


Next Game

New York Mets
@ Colorado Rockies

Saturday, May 24, 2008, 1:55 PM MDT
Coors Field

Claudio Vargas vs Jeff Francis

Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 65.

 

Complete Coverage >


Let's try and look good for the cameras today,

 

Go Rockies!

 

0 recs | Comment 134 comments

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Rockies Press Release

The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has placed infielder Clint Barmes (right knee sprain) and outfielder Brad Hawpe (right hamstring strain) on the 15-day disabled list. The roster move for Barmes is effective today, and the move for Hawpe is retroactive to May 21. To take their places on the roster, outfielder Seth Smith and infielder Ian Stewart were recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Both players will be in uniform for this afternoon’s game against the Mets at Coors Field. Smith will wear No. 25 and Stewart will wear No. 24.

Barmes, 29, owns a .343 (46-for-134) average with 5 home runs and 20 RBI in 39 games for the Rockies this season. He was 2-for-5 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI last night before leaving the game with a sprained right knee in the 10th inning. Barmes, who has been the Rockies’ primary shortstop since Troy Tulowitzki went on the Disabled List on May 3 (left quadriceps tendon tear), had hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games at .431 (25-for-58). Entering today’s game, he ranks 5th in the National League in batting average during the month of May (.391).

In all or parts of 6 seasons with the Rockies since 2003, Barmes owns a .263 (288-for-1095) average with 24 home runs and 135 RBI in 310 games. He has appeared at four different positions during his tenure with Colorado (SS, 2B, 3B, CF), spending the majority of his time at shortstop (256 games).

Hawpe, 28, hit .231 (33-for-143) with 3 home runs and 17 RBI in 42 games for Colorado. He last played on May 20 vs. San Francisco and went 0-for-3 with an RBI. The Rockies’ primary right fielder was hitless in his last 12 at-bats. Earlier this season he reached base in 24 straight games (April 2-29), giving him the longest game on-base streak of his career.

The left-handed hitter has 66 career home runs in 487 career games with the Rockies since 2004. Last year he became only the third lefty in Rockies franchise history to have multiple 20-home run seasons.

Smith, 25, hit .321 (51-for-159) with 6 home runs and 30 RBI in 45 games for the Sky sox in 2008. He appeared in 7 games for the Rockies last season, hitting .625 (5-for-8) in his major league debut. He was added to the Rockies postseason roster as an injury replacement and recorded his first major league RBI in Game 4 of the NLCS vs. Arizona.

Stewart, 23, was batting .281 (48-for-171) with 12 home runs and 43 RBI in 46 games for the Sky Sox this year. He was selected Pacific Coast League Hitter of the Week in consecutive weeks (weeks ending May 11 and May 18), going 19-for-46 (.413) with 13 runs scored, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 6 homers and 21 RBI in that span. Stewart played in 35 games for Colorado last year and hit .209 (9-for-43) with 1 home run and 9 RBI in his first major league appearance.

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 12:41 PM MDT   0 recs

Holliday minutia:

According to the RMN blog, Holliday and Ryan Garko are the only two players over the last four seasons to tie a game in the ninth with a homerun and then win it with a walk-off hit.

The Mets lineup today looks like this:

  1. SS Jose Reyes
  2. 2B Luis Castillo
  3. 3B David Wright
  4. CF Carlos Beltran
  5. RF Fernando Tatis
  6. 1B Carlos Delgado
  7. C Ramon Castro
  8. LF Nick Evans
  9. P Claudio Vargas

But I haven’t seen ours yet. Like I mentioned in the Dark Ops piece, don’t think because Evans is a call-up that he’ll be easy for Francis, as he hits really well against southpaws. In a lot of ways this lineup looks more dangerous than last night’s.

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 1:11 PM MDT   0 recs

oh there it is...

Pods
Herrera
Holliday
Toddfather
Fankles
Seth
Iannetta
Q
Francis

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 1:18 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Definitely a lineup of the future...

Not exactly out of choice, really, either, but four players 26 or younger and seven of nine 28 or younger with Pods and Helton being the graybeards. The Mets are countering with six guys over 30.

I’ll just keep on carrying on this dialog with myself, btw. Apparently it’s a slow and quiet Saturday.

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 1:26 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Interesting Line-up

Now the Rockies can blame injuries for their crappy start. The up-side….we can see our “prospects” and see which ones are real, and which ones are fake

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June yet again. What do you think about the execution of your team? In the immortal words of John Mckay, "I'm all for it."

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 1:43 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm actually really excited about this game.

I love Seth Smith.

What makes me not excited about this game is GEANIE ZALASCO or however you spell that stupid name.

Yuck.

by roxintober on May 24, 2008 1:45 PM MDT   0 recs

Smith still has a career batting average of .625 (.571 including the playoffs)

And I forgot that this makes it career start #1 for him, as last season he was always a late game sub or pinch hitter.

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 1:52 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

So Can

jeff francis have a good solid game?

Can the Rockies score 4 runs?

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June yet again. What do you think about the execution of your team? In the immortal words of John Mckay, "I'm all for it."

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 1:51 PM MDT   0 recs

Even better question...

Will I be able to tolerate Eric Karros?

by roxintober on May 24, 2008 1:54 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh that's an easy one

no….but we have been conditioned with Huson and Frazier….we Rockies fans are tough.

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 1:55 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

So far

Francis hasn’t given up a run yet

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 1:56 PM MDT   0 recs

To win, "the Rockies

must locate.” Let’s see him do that today.

"Nuts!" - Gen. Anthony McAuliffe

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 24, 2008 1:56 PM MDT   0 recs

Well, that should be Francis

instead of Rockies.

"Nuts!" - Gen. Anthony McAuliffe

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 24, 2008 1:57 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

throw a k

jeff…....there you go

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 1:57 PM MDT   0 recs

Jeff

behind every hitter….this is going to be a long afternoon

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 1:58 PM MDT   0 recs

How do they lay off those?

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:00 PM MDT   0 recs

The early walk.

Hate those.

"Nuts!" - Gen. Anthony McAuliffe

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 24, 2008 2:01 PM MDT   0 recs

Jeff can't hit water if he fell out of a boat

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:01 PM MDT   0 recs

GITP time.

Herrera and Q are glove first players, right?

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 2:02 PM MDT   0 recs

double steal

wow…....the rockies suck

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:02 PM MDT   0 recs

Double steal.

I don’t like Wright’s career numbers against Francis.

"Nuts!" - Gen. Anthony McAuliffe

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 24, 2008 2:03 PM MDT   0 recs

Jeff can't hit the strike zone

ball four…..single 2 walks, and a 2 stolen bases…...great, just great

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:03 PM MDT   0 recs

Carlos Beltran goes

BAM!

"Nuts!" - Gen. Anthony McAuliffe

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 24, 2008 2:04 PM MDT   0 recs

sadly

I think a healthy Tavares might have gotten to that ball.

I’m officially, not a jeff francis fan

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:05 PM MDT   0 recs

Francis

looking pretty bad so far here

by moomacher on May 24, 2008 2:05 PM MDT   0 recs

Did I ever say?

That I love Rockies first innings?

by roxintober on May 24, 2008 2:07 PM MDT   0 recs

Gotta love New York

Willie is on the verge of being fired because his team is 2 games under.

Clint is probably thinking about purchasing a larger home in Cherry Creek and his team is 10 games under the defending NL champions.

by moomacher on May 24, 2008 2:07 PM MDT   0 recs

Love these National Fox announcers

the Mets and Randolph, are “inconstant” and in trouble. The Rockies…...nothing.

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:09 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

The Rockies are playing in this game?

Karros wouldn’t know anything about it

by moomacher on May 24, 2008 2:10 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

We just continue to fly under the radar...

Love it.

I’d rather not even want them to talk about the Rockies, as they always know nothing.

by roxintober on May 24, 2008 2:10 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

"under the radar"

is one way to put it.

Seems like we are more like not worth bothering with.

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:11 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Jeff's ERA so far today:

INFINITY!

Get an out…just one out

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:08 PM MDT   0 recs

Yeah...

I’d love to have a number

by roxintober on May 24, 2008 2:09 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

WHOOO HOOOO

one out.

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:10 PM MDT   0 recs

Followed by

a Castro RBI single.

"Nuts!" - Gen. Anthony McAuliffe

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 24, 2008 2:11 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Delgado's the only lefty in the lineup...

It’s only eight more guys before he’s up again for out number two.

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 2:11 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

LMAO

sadly, I thought the same thing

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:12 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

The rookie Evans

gets an RBI double in his first at-bat. Yay . . .

"Nuts!" - Gen. Anthony McAuliffe

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 24, 2008 2:12 PM MDT   0 recs

Vargs isn't much himself

this could be a 11-10 kind of game..limit the damage

by moomacher on May 24, 2008 2:13 PM MDT   0 recs

yes

but …..it’s the rockies offense we are talking about 11-5, and I’d count that 5 as a break out game

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:14 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

2 OUTS!

at this pace, we may only give up 20 runs today.

But if we today, we get TACOS! (like this offense can score 7 runs)

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:13 PM MDT   0 recs

Hmmm

and used a lot of bullpen last night….get it together Jeff!

by moomacher on May 24, 2008 2:14 PM MDT   0 recs

Vargas Vs. Francis

and I think we have the crappy match up

Francis really has fallen in my book, even more than I realized

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:16 PM MDT   0 recs

That Pedroia homer

is still killing him

by moomacher on May 24, 2008 2:17 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

that may have more truth then you know

lots of pitchers fall apart after being “exposed” in the playoffs and a national stage. I’m not sure why, but it happens.

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:18 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Only five runs behind.

Welcome back to the bigs Seth and Stew, this is the team you have to save. No pressure.

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 2:16 PM MDT   1 recs

That's just code

for the Rockies to get three hits today, no?

"Nuts!" - Gen. Anthony McAuliffe

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 24, 2008 2:20 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Is it me

or are we not doing as well as the Mets did in the first?

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:20 PM MDT   0 recs

Maybe we're doing it backwards.

Two outs and then five runs. They got five runs before two outs.

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 2:21 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Matty with a homer!

"Nuts!" - Gen. Anthony McAuliffe

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 24, 2008 2:21 PM MDT   0 recs

There's ONE

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:21 PM MDT   0 recs

Holliday

heating up with a HR

by moomacher on May 24, 2008 2:21 PM MDT   0 recs

Todd may need laser surgery...

His old eyes aren’t getting the borderline calls anymore…

(not in that case, but you get my point)

by roxintober on May 24, 2008 2:24 PM MDT   0 recs

Lefty heavy lineup working so far,

three ground outs for the southpaws while right handed Holliday hits the HR. Why isn’t our platoon advantage working like theirs?

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 2:25 PM MDT   0 recs

Well there pticher

has only 3 days rest

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:27 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

That must be the secret...

Francis needs less rest.

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 2:30 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes, that's a homer.

"Nuts!" - Gen. Anthony McAuliffe

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 24, 2008 2:29 PM MDT   0 recs

The Rox Girl fantasy jinx can't overcome hanging changeups.

At least that helps me make up some ground on RFTN.

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 2:31 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Not having

made any moves yet and not having checked in on the league in two weeks (I just did), I must say that I’m doing better than I expected.

"Nuts!" - Gen. Anthony McAuliffe

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 24, 2008 2:34 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Seriously

this is just like that D backs start from last week.

by moomacher on May 24, 2008 2:29 PM MDT   0 recs

Jeff

you have issues.

and I have stuff to do today, but watch this crap.

Colorado Rockies: Playing meaningless games in June, continuing a long tradition.

by Redhawk on May 24, 2008 2:31 PM MDT   0 recs

Ian connected fairly solidly

Didn’t miss getting a hit by much.

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 2:37 PM MDT   0 recs

Thats a scary graphic

our offense is actually better so far this year than at the same point last year, as is our pitcher’s ERA

by moomacher on May 24, 2008 2:38 PM MDT   0 recs

The big concern for me is that last season

We didn’t have as serious issues with players we were relying on to be integral parts. Slow starts are one thing, poor play by reserves, kids with options and fifth starters another, but what do you do with a dilemma like Francis? There doesn’t seem to be a “wait and he’ll get better” or “just call up player X and DFA him” solution to this. The same’s true with a lesser extent with Helton.

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 2:42 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Iannetta almost got that one, too.

Unfortunately, all these almosts aren’t going to cut it when our starter’s giving up no doubters.

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 2:44 PM MDT   0 recs

Today's lineup

At the beginning of the season, today’s lineup is what I would have expected to see in the Springs if Holliday and Helton were both on rehab assignments.

Now it’s the best we can offer for national TV.

Long season. Loooooooong season.

by BroJB on May 24, 2008 2:49 PM MDT   0 recs

Holy crap

6-1??? What is wrong with Francis? The dude has completely melted down. Kind of glad I have to go swimming and make steaks now instead of being able to stick around for this one.

by SlamDunkTheFunk on May 24, 2008 2:50 PM MDT   0 recs

Okay I'll stick around

for a few innings. Stupid sports, always luring me to their death traps.

by SlamDunkTheFunk on May 24, 2008 2:53 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Francis K's the side...

Two extra base hits since the first, but otherwise he’s been effective. We’re going to need to get some more solid contact the second time through the lineup if we want to get back into this one, though.

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 2:53 PM MDT   0 recs

Nice hit for Francis.

"Nuts!" - Gen. Anthony McAuliffe

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on May 24, 2008 2:56 PM MDT   0 recs

Seemed a little on Pods' AB

But that was more an aberration from what he’s been calling it.

by Rox Girl on May 24, 2008 3:00 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs