Rockies 10, Cubs 6: Dreamy leads Rockies past Cubs and Ubaldo's wildness
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 28, 2009 6:18 PM MDT
in Rockies Game Wraps
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PrintThe Colorado Rockies (12-15) overcame a very shaky outing by Ubaldo Jimenez to beat the Chicago Cubs (17-13) and Ryan Dempster Saturday in Tucson. Colorado scored three in the first with a walk, two singles and a Garrett Atkins home run.
Ubaldo's implosion led to a 6-4 deficit in the eighth inning. That's when the Rockies piled on 25-year-old Randy Wells (0-1) and Kevin Hart, accumulating seven hits, two walks and six runs to retake the lead. The comeback was punctuated by a two-out 3-run moonshot of a home-run by Chris Iannetta that turned a 6-5 deficit to an 8-6 lead.
Jason Grilli (1-0) pitched two shutout innings for the win.
Studs
Chris Iannetta: 2-for-4, 3-run HR, R, 4 RBI.
DreamyTM
CDI's spring average is now a cool .444. The Cubs did pilfer two bases on him, but one was a close call and the other was more on Jimenez.
Todd Helton: 2-for-3, 2 1B, RBI. Despite the modestly successful stat line, it should be noted Helton extended his consecutive at-bat hit streak to six with a monster line drive off the top of the right-center field wall. Reed Johnson played the carom perfectly and gunned Helton down at second. In any other park, tit would have been Helton's fifth home run.
The Offense: 10 runs, 15 hits, 2 HR, 2 2B, 2 3B, 3 BB. It was a day when everyone got in on the action. Other than Tulowitzki, every starter had at least a hit and two total bases. Jeff Baker, Dexter Fowler and Christian Colonel came off the bench to combine to go 3-for-4 with 2 runs and an RBI.
The MLB Bullpen: Toss out the line minor league emergency relief pitcher Franklin Nunez (0.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 K) and you have a solid appearance by the pen. Glendon Rusch, Jason Grilli and Huston Street combined for 4.1 innings of scoreless relief with three strikeouts and three base-runners.
Duds
Ubaldo Jimenez: 4 IP, 5 ER, 6 hits, 6 BB, HBP, WP. That, my friends, is an ugly stat line. Jimenez' control was off all day, as evidenced by his 3.25 game WHIP. He appeared to be rushing his delivery out of the stretch to me. It isn't surprising then that the wild pitch, plunked batter and all but one walk came while pitching out of the stretch. It could have been worse too. The Cubs stranded 21 runners.
Troy Tulowitzki: 0-3, BB, R, sac. That's actually not too bad. I'm stretching here to give Ubaldo some company. In fact, Troy was flashy defensively and even pulled off a magnificent drag bunt for a sacrifice that would have been a single if not for a great play from Mike Fontenot. Still, Tulo is the only starter today that didn't record a hit, and as Rox Girl pointed out in the game thread today, he's the only underachieving projected starter this spring. In fact, he's the only one hitting under .300. It's about time for TULo time.
Notes
Garrett Atkins did his best impression of Todd Helton, hitting a home run over the CF batters-eye in his first at-bat back from injury. Atkins left in the sixth inning as planned....Ian Stewart started in RF for the first time and showed no difficulty defensively...Matt Murton was the only Rockie not to reach base in an official at-bat...Clint Barmes had two IF singles and a steal of third. Willy who?....Colorado was 3-for-4 in theft attempts, including steals by Barmes, Stewart and Spilborghs an out by Iannetta.
Rowbot Roll Call: The Lodo Magic Man, Tom (RFTN), Fiftytwoeighty, pierzynskirules, WolfMarauder, PioneerSkies, Redhawk, 4thturn, jrockies, djmbluemoon, Rox Girl, moomacher, smokinrox, holly96
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Ubaldo is worrying me with his inconsistency (6 shut-out innings last start, then this).
Not to mention all the fly balls/line drives . . . like with Cook yesterday, not a good thing for two-seam/sinkerball pitchers.
One other positive to add: Stewart looked pretty comfortable in RF. Made a good read on a hard hit ball over his head to make the catch. Maybe he can be a power hitting super sub, playing at 3B, 2B, LF, and RF in the last two weeks. I think Hurdle will make sure to get him plenty of game action.
Jiminez
is still pretty young, isn’t he? Isn’t inconsistency to be expected?
Insert witty and/or humorous signature here.
Not REAL young....25
And only one full year as a starter….but a successful rotation HAS to include a very strong year from baldy.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 28, 2009 7:49 PM MDT up reply actions
I can take some inconsistency, but 6 walks in 4 innings? That's too much for me.
by blooming rock on Mar 28, 2009 8:14 PM MDT up reply actions
Young hard throwers
tend to be a little to a lot wild…and inconsistent. I remember a young Nolan Ryan, that lead the league in K’s and Walks the same year.
What makes me nervous, is the Rockies have 3 of these hard throwing, inconsistent pitchers in Uballdo, Morales, and JDLR. All have great upside, because of that heat….but it could make for a long season.
At least we have a good consistent sinkerballer, inning eater type in Marquis……what? Hum?
President of the "Sign Pedro Martinez Angry Mob" (fan club didn't make sense)
Well
We DO have a good consistent sinkerballer, inning eater type… just that his name is Aaron Cook, not Jason Marquis.
If you look a Ryan's stats.
Exclude his 2 best years of 1973 and 1974, his 2 best years. The IP, Ks and walks varied quite a bit from year to year.
Dex knows.....
by The Lodo Magic Man on Mar 28, 2009 10:24 PM MDT up reply actions
ahem *Rowbot*
I got a little excited and hit the X key instead, hate it when that happens.
Remembering Dustin Mohr's glory years!
But JFK didn't make it for some reason
I keep getting left out every once and a while :(
"A great catch is like watching girls go by; the last one you see is always the prettiest." ~Bob Gibson
JFK
Sorry man
It’s just fate for a Kennedy to get the shaft.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 28, 2009 11:49 PM MDT up reply actions
Nope Not a Kennedy
but my last name does coincide with a Major League stadium, spelled the same and everything.
"A great catch is like watching girls go by; the last one you see is always the prettiest." ~Bob Gibson
JFK
I didn't think you were a Kennedy
but if you want a JFK handle, I’ll treat you as such ;-)
Does your last name link you then to Missouri Royalty?
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 28, 2009 11:56 PM MDT up reply actions
Yes, but I really don't know why
I find Jason’s initials fun to throw around once and while.
"A great catch is like watching girls go by; the last one you see is always the prettiest." ~Bob Gibson
JFK
Jason?
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 29, 2009 12:36 AM MDT up reply actions
You are funny
"A great catch is like watching girls go by; the last one you see is always the prettiest." ~Bob Gibson
JFK
This was a pretty good game to watch
exept there were more Cubbies fans then Rockies fans, though that was expected >:-(
I wonder if something was up with Tulo that affected his game, because he didn’t sign any autographs. He has every other game that I’ve been to this past week, even when he wasn’t playing. so maybe he’s upset about something. Maybe the engaged life is becoming a little too much? haha, or maybe I’m just making excuses for my guy.
But man was it nice to shut up all the Cubs fans with the 6 run 8th.
I had a bunch of guys all around me giving me crap until then, and they magically disappeared. I don’t mind the CUbs at all, but some of their fans sure can make it fun to beat them.
by blooming rock on Mar 28, 2009 10:50 PM MDT up reply actions
I know, we had tix right behind the Rockies dugout, and still managed to be surrounded
but then they all left. They looked kind of sad. I wonder why? oh, cause they’re LOSERS!!!!
Sorry, had to let that out.
by Rockie4Ever on Mar 28, 2009 11:06 PM MDT up reply actions
Cubs fans were by far the worst
in my experience in Tucson, and they sadly weren’t any more educated than other fans.
I’m not sure what Tulo’s issue is. He’s always been distant and somewhat cold when I’ve been near him, similar to Holliday. But I have limited experience with me-to-player contact. Still, the friendliest, nicest players have to be Todd, Spilborghs and Fowler.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 28, 2009 11:51 PM MDT up reply actions
I agree with everything you say.
Cubs fans suck, the other teams that are close are some sox team from the east and their arch nemesis’ fans.
Tulo and Holliday were always distant from the fans as they rarely signed autographs and didn’t come talk to people. To your nice player list I would definitely add Iannetta and H. Street. I talked to Street while I was in Tucson and he was very considerate. Mike McKenry is always down to earth and good for a laugh, I just hope he stays that way.
"A great catch is like watching girls go by; the last one you see is always the prettiest." ~Bob Gibson
JFK
Add to that list Brad, Barmes and Baker
Brad is just a sweetheart. ’Nuff said there.
Clint and Jeff are always responsive and will actually reply if you ask them “Hey insert Clint or Jeff here how’s it goin?” or “Great play at second yesterday!” or “Good luck today!”
I don’t know about Ianetta. Nice, yes. But a little too shy to be considered friendly.
by Rockie4Ever on Mar 29, 2009 12:38 AM MDT up reply actions
Probably not as shy as Buchholz
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 29, 2009 12:41 AM MDT up reply actions
What is with you guys and Buckholz?
He’s not quite outgoing, but he was pretty talkative when I met him. Seemed like a cool guy to hang around. Maybe not the type to be the life of the party, but still…
by Rockie4Ever on Mar 29, 2009 12:47 AM MDT up reply actions
oh, whoops...
I meant Buchholz. really, I’m not THAT bad.
by Rockie4Ever on Mar 29, 2009 12:48 AM MDT up reply actions
I don't have anything against him
I just said he was shy. And on Photo Day, he was easily the most quiet, shy and tentative. That doesn’t speak to how “cool of a guy” he is or how nice. Just that he was easily the most shy.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 29, 2009 12:49 AM MDT up reply actions
No, I know you have nothing against him
Just I’ve never seen anything that would mean that he’s shy, and I wanted to know what you had seen, that’s all. I know you don’t go hating on any of our Rockies. You’re not the type of person to do that :-)
by Rockie4Ever on Mar 29, 2009 12:51 AM MDT up reply actions
Well
as I had written on Photo Day “the most bashful Rockie was our lovable lemur, Taylor Buchholz. He quite humbly accepted photo requests, often with a slight look of confusion and reservation, as if he didn’t deserve the honor.” An admittedly small sample size, but he was softspoken and reserved, at least that day. Maybe he just had the flu. Heh.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 29, 2009 12:57 AM MDT up reply actions
I was waiting in line for an autograph from Barmes before a game
his rookie year, a week or so before deer meat. I could have sworn his he said he was single so my dad introduced him to a girl he had met waiting in line. Clint ended up talking to her for 15 minutes…although he supposedly started dating his wife during spring training that year.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 29, 2009 12:48 AM MDT up reply actions
I've never gotten to be near Iannetta sadly
Darn WBC….they got eliminated the day I got home from Tucson! I shouted to Street several times, especially whilst donning my #16 jersey, but I never got to him. Doesn’t surprise me though. I was just surprised how little he was. When I first saw him on Fan Photo Day, I originally thought low level MI or pitching prospect recently from high school.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 29, 2009 12:39 AM MDT up reply actions
Good Finish Today
I’ve always been a big Huston Street fan. I was stoked when he came our way in the Holliday deal. Jimenez was all over the place today. I can’t believe that Reed Johnson stayed in the game after the HBP. I thought it domed him at first look on TV. The 2 HBP’s were two of the worst you’ll ever see – one on the wrist only an inch from the guy’s head, and one right in the back of the knee.
Iannetta is a man-child.
I met Tulo in Greeley last summer when he was still out with the quad injury. We were only supposed to get one autograph each, but he wouldn’t let me leave until he signed my jersey, an authentic Tulo foul-ball (I introduced it as such, which it is, and that drew a laugh), and gave me two pictures. Great guy, but he didn’t talk much.
"When the one Great Scorer
Comes to write against your name
He counts not that you won or lost
But how you played the Game"
--Grantland Rice
"Will I wear a hoodie? Absolutely. In fact, I can't wait to see my hoodie." --Coach Josh McDaniels
Awesome site!
I’ll definitely be around. Until now, I haven’t found a website with good Rockies information, so this is awesome. I’m an original die-hard.
"When the one Great Scorer
Comes to write against your name
He counts not that you won or lost
But how you played the Game"
--Grantland Rice
"Will I wear a hoodie? Absolutely. In fact, I can't wait to see my hoodie." --Coach Josh McDaniels
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