Sunday Rockpile: Expect much Phunny Business in headlines and comments this week
by Rox Girl on Oct 4, 2009 9:43 AM MDT
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PrintCertain things you can count on. Anytime Josh Fogg pitches, there will be a weather allusion. Anytime the Rockies play the Phillies, keyboard F's eventually stop working. At least Troy Renck and the Denver Post avoided that for the most part today, Renck instead taking aim and Philly's iconic sandwich with his opening:
- Rockies buoyed by strong memories in Philadelphia - The Denver Post
- NL West title eludes Rockies - The Denver Post
- Paige: Climb halted, but peak awaits - The Denver Post
- Umpire error: Gonzalez's diving attempt ruled a catch - The Denver Post
At any rate, after losing the division for keeps last night, the Rockies can now focus on getting healthy for the playoffs. The Phillies, for their part, are trying to decide whether to put rookie phenom J.A. Happ in the rotation or the bullpen with the loss of J.C. Romero
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Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba faced worst fears with son's kidnapping, bounced back - The Denver Post - A great piece by Patrick Saunders on the resurgence of Torrealba after his son's kidnapping, I definitely suggest reading it. Just how Torrealba has been able to affect this change is still a mystery to me, but that he's been a huge contributor for the Rockies down the stretch isn't in doubt. Getting production from the catcher's slot in the lineup is definitely something that was missing early in the season, but here are the stats for Torrealba and Chris Iannetta in Sep/Oct:
Believe it or not, Rockies catchers have been the fourth best in the majors in getting on base and keeping rallies going in the majors this year (to the Twins and Mauer, the Braves with McCann and the Cards with Molina) which is a big part of the team's success. If there's any way to retain both these players for 2010 to keep this going, it will be in the Rockies best interest.
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Inside the Colorado Rockies " Rockies New Math | Tracy Ringolsby-
As Ringolsby points out, what makes the Rockies dangerous for the playoffs is that there's not just one area of the team on offense or in the pitching staff to counterattack (well, maybe certain parts of the bullpen that will go unnamed). It's not like the Cardinals where if you figure out how to neutralize or at least minimize the damage done by Pujols and Holliday you have a solid chance of winning, the Rockies have dangerous hitters throughout the lineup, pitchers that are proficient at their job throughout the rotation. The flipside is that while this set up works very well and steamrolling over inferior teams, against these three playoff teams it's been hit or miss and dependent on who gets hot. Other factoids from ITR:
- Inside the Colorado Rockies " Pitching In |
- Inside the Colorado Rockies " Changed | Teams that advanced to the postseason following a managerial change since 1978.
- Inside the Colorado Rockies " Staying Power | Dan O'Dowd is now the fourth longest tenured GM in the majors after Kevin Towers got axed in San Diego.
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Alright Rockies,
lets have phun, play phair, and ph*ck those phillies up!
if you're reading this, it means my undying support for your team will result in its failure.
You know how I feel about the catcher situation...
but to belabor another point, Tracy will play inferior players (Atkins, Spilborghs) against left-handed pitching, which is why the Rockies have a worse record against them.
If Tracy played Smith-Fowler-CarGo (or Hawpe for Fowler) with Stewart at third against a lefty and Iannetta at catcher (as RG has pointed out, he hits VERY well against lefties and is the superior player) against the Phillies, the Rockies would have a much greater chance of winning.
This is why I’m apprehensive about the NLDS matchup.
Eschew Obfuscation!
Agreed
Atkins starting the last 3 days against lefty’s has made me worried about what he’s gonna do in the playoffs for this very reason.
Well, I guess we dance with the partners we have..
Is Tulo expected to play at all today? I’d love for him to get to .300 today if at all possible…
Dear Rockies - Thank you for proving John Kruk is a pertinacious nincompoop.
Troy Tulowitzki - THE best SS in the game..nuff said
Yorvit Torrealba - En Fuego
Brad Hawpe- Big Bad Brad is Back BABY!
Dexter Fowler - prowling CF, perched on the Wild Card, stalking the Dodgers!
Not sure there is much mystery left
Tracy has shown his hand over the past month, and its pretty clear. I would be completely shocked if we don’t see Atkins/Spilborgs in all the games v. LHP going forward.
I wish Smith would have been given more of a chance to prove he can hit lefties, but his 58 total ABs this year v. LHP is an ironclad lock that he’ll be flipping coins with Giambi for first PH opportunity.
I love Spilborgs as a fan, but its fair to say I’m not completely confident he’s the man for the job right now. If Smith isn’t going to play, I hope to see Dex and CarGo.
Stewart, alas, has been dismal v. LHP this year. Atkins is hardly any better, though, so I’d really like to see Stew get the nod for defensive purposes alone. Along with my Dex/Cargo thoughts, we need the best fielding out there we can get. The Phillies are going to put a lot of balls in play (considering after Uball and with a big ? on DLR, our pitchers dont strike anyone out) and whether or not we catch them will probably determine if we can make a run at this thing.
Stewart has never had issues with LHP until this season
That .220 BABIP vs LH isn’t exactly something anyone should consider will continue. His K rate isn’t that much higher. Hopefully, he’ll get a shot
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Oct 4, 2009 3:20 PM MDT up reply actions
I haven't had a chance to get on purplerow
for a couple days, but jabberwocky said exactly what I’ve been thinking. I wanted the division bad for many reasons, including now my brother-in-law can’t go to the 1st home game w/ us, but also because the Phillies are a terrible matchup for us. If they’re smart they will throw 3 lefties at us and we will have trouble w/ all 3. As Teekalong said we already know what Tracy will do. I felt it was a curse when Macha came out and said we have depth and we have a left handed lineup and a right handed lineup, because I knew that would just reinforce Tracy and his constant platooning. We will definitely see Atkins, probably too much Dex and too much Spilly, but I doubt we’ll see Iannetta at all. I don’t mind some Dex and some Spilly because they still have defensive skills that can help. I have a real problem w/ all the playing time Atty will get since it really hurts the team defense and is really not much of an improvement offensively against lefties.
This matchup makes me very nervous. I hope Tracy will be smart and put the best defensive team on the field. I am ok w/ Hawpe since he seems to be heating up a little, but otherwise we need the best defensive infield out there night in and night out.
Rox, please start playing with heart! Let's finish this thing off!
I have a riddle for you.
Q: What’s the difference between me and Franklin Morales?
A: One is left handed and has no business trying to pitch to big league hitters. The other… wait, I guess there’s no difference at all.
Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.
The Shawn Chacon Experience - Life as a Rockies fan, one day at a time: Because we're all still recovering from those nine blown saves.
Charlie77
wants the Rockies to sign you.
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Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
by Russ Oates on Oct 4, 2009 11:31 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Funny, my Mom had the same sentiment this morning...
I called her to discuss the game and she was LIVID that Tracy left Morales in. She was seriously ranting about Tracy, saying “I don’t think Tracy is as smart as everyone seems to think he is. Morales couldn’t hit a batter if he tried, and couldn’t IBB a guy without throwing to the backstop!” I did laugh, but then went on to try and explain that I can’t really doubt Tracy at this point etc etc.
We “debated” this for about an hour…It was pretty funny actually…
So you are not alone in your feelings about Morales. I sure hope he can get it together by Wednesday!
Dear Rockies - Thank you for proving John Kruk is a pertinacious nincompoop.
Troy Tulowitzki - THE best SS in the game..nuff said
Yorvit Torrealba - En Fuego
Brad Hawpe- Big Bad Brad is Back BABY!
Dexter Fowler - prowling CF, perched on the Wild Card, stalking the Dodgers!
Maybe so....lol
I don’t know where it came from…in the water of something maybe. My Dad coached Little League but that was before I came along. And he played play Senior League Baseball and Softball until the day he before he died (literally) a couple of years ago. His team went to the Senior Olympics once that was pretty cool..
But really I’ve always loved baseball.
PS And yes Mom is a hoot much of the time..thanks!!
Dear Rockies - Thank you for proving John Kruk is a pertinacious nincompoop.
Troy Tulowitzki - THE best SS in the game..nuff said
Yorvit Torrealba - En Fuego
Brad Hawpe- Big Bad Brad is Back BABY!
Dexter Fowler - prowling CF, perched on the Wild Card, stalking the Dodgers!
I'm with your mom!
Still a little raw about last night. I was just starting to taste the sweet, sweet nectar of a division championship when it was yanked away unceremoniously.
Well, we all have our off nights. Let’s hope Tracy just got his out of the way.
Morales was garbage
but as I said last night, any time a reliever gives up 5 runs, that’s on the manager. No idea what Tracy was thinking. Totally counter to his style.
I'm not glad we lost, but I am glad
that Morales is not dominating from the pen, because I think management was way too obsessed with the thought of him being a bullpen guy. I still think he’s a starter, its where he always was and I still think it is where he fits best. I hope to see him get that opportunity next year instead of being looked at a a pen guy only.
Rox, please start playing with heart! Let's finish this thing off!
The sun will come out tomorrow....
I slept like a baby last night. Personally as a fan, I am not ready to focus on Philly just yet…..Leave that to the Rox scouting and coaches for today. Today will be the first game in 2 months where I can just watch Rockies baseball and enjoy the game. The stress of 162 and getting to the playoffs has got to be huge, and the Rox played for months with every game meaning something…Chasing the WC and then defending it. Look at the other teams that clinched, and notice that there was a mental let down after clinching. The Dodgers just had thiers a little prematurely. No wonder some of the Rox are sick right now. Stress! I think it is good to start the series on the road for the Rox. Let the media in Philly hound the home team, while the Rox focus on the task at hand. Go Rockies!
How much is on the line for Marquis tonight?
Assuming JDLR is going to be fine, because he is and I refuse to even think anything else… Is Marquis still trying to prove himself a better option to start than Hammel or are we past that and he is already part of the post season rotation? If his place is now secure might he jeopardize it with a particularly bad showing?
I want a nice solid effort form Marquis and I want our bats to come alive today… first and final scrimmage before the real fun starts!
Weird observation regarding the Dodgers celebration...
I was watching the Dodgers celebration and maybe its just me. But it rang hollow for me. And what I mean by that, is the players were hugging one another, but it really didn’t seem like a team to me. Just a bunch of guys that don’t seem like they would run together at all or really are friends. And Torre’s speech about, “We couldn’t do it without you guys” to the fans seemed, I dunno, disengenous. It was weird.
This isn’t sour grapes or anything like that. It was just the observation.
Did anyone else get that vibe?
Dear Rockies - Thank you for proving John Kruk is a pertinacious nincompoop.
Troy Tulowitzki - THE best SS in the game..nuff said
Yorvit Torrealba - En Fuego
Brad Hawpe- Big Bad Brad is Back BABY!
Dexter Fowler - prowling CF, perched on the Wild Card, stalking the Dodgers!
Your observation is spot on. They carried that gorilla for so long, they just looked worn out to me
I think the Dodgers and thier fans realize this team has underachieved as a team for so long, they may not be able to turn it around at this point.
by GoodOleBoyCo on Oct 4, 2009 11:49 AM MDT up reply actions
Its weird...maybe DOD was right..
Dodgers seem like a collection of individuals. Rox seem like a team. Win together, lose together and hopefully not tear into each other too much if losing does occur.
Dear Rockies - Thank you for proving John Kruk is a pertinacious nincompoop.
Troy Tulowitzki - THE best SS in the game..nuff said
Yorvit Torrealba - En Fuego
Brad Hawpe- Big Bad Brad is Back BABY!
Dexter Fowler - prowling CF, perched on the Wild Card, stalking the Dodgers!
I think most MLB teams are collections of individuals
Baseball is different than most sports in that most of the time each player just has to do their own job and there is little real working together relative to other sports. The fact that the Rockies are a cohesive team that has an emergent character and is greater than the sum of its parts is one of the reasons that make the Rockies such a very special team.
Here here....bravo!!
Dear Rockies - Thank you for proving John Kruk is a pertinacious nincompoop.
Troy Tulowitzki - THE best SS in the game..nuff said
Yorvit Torrealba - En Fuego
Brad Hawpe- Big Bad Brad is Back BABY!
Dexter Fowler - prowling CF, perched on the Wild Card, stalking the Dodgers!
The only thing that I thought
was a little strange was when Manny took the mic. and thanked the fans and said they were the best fans ever…I guess he didn’t hear all the booos!!
Anyone know
When the playoff roster decisions will be/must be made? In ‘07, that happened rather quickly because of the quick turnaround time between play-in game and first LDS game. With a couple of days off this year, I’m just wondering when this might happen. It’s sure to prompt some serious discussion around these parts. And I do mean serious. ;-)
Rocktober is the best time of year, yes?
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