Monday Rockpile: The Rockies head to Chicago for the Cubs' home opener

by Russ Oates on Apr 13, 2009 7:06 AM MDT in Rockpile

Well, the Rockies may play in the Cubs' home opener today if the weather situation changes, but there's an 80% chance of rain and the radar has a huge band of bad weather sitting over Chicago for some time to come.

Patrick Saunders writes that the bullpen's closing tandem failed its first major test of the season. But whoever wrote the headline for the article should have thought about it some more. That's how controversies that aren't real (at least not yet) crop up--fan looks at headline, notes that the closer job isn't settled, and starts making uninformed comments. Just look at the comment at the end of the article and that will tell you why George Costanza never became the Yankees' general manager.

Jack Etkin places the story of the game on the offense's inability to hit the ball after Chan Ho Park left the game, noting the Rockies managed only two singles after that point.

Aaron Cook on his best friend:

"Most of the time I hope I don't have to use it," Cook said. "Knowing that I do have it is good. I've worked really hard when I get in those situations to be able to slow the game down and realize I am just one pitch away from getting out of it."

The Cubs will be without the services of Milton Bradley, who left Sunday night's game in the fourth inning with a right groin injury. The good thing is, I guess, that he didn't get injured when tackled by his manager during a dispute with the umpire.

There may be some controversy over the Cubs' closer job, but Lou Piniella is sticking with Kevin Gregg--just not for more than an inning.

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I noticed that the other day with Irv Moss' article on Clint Barmes

The headline writer implied that the second base position wasn’t settled by saying that Barmes was boosting his bid to “win” it. I’m surprised the DP doesn’t have a page six the way it’s going.

by Rox Girl on Apr 13, 2009 7:18 AM MDT reply actions

Going from the RMN (rip) to the Post

has been an adjustment. At best the Post is very USA today-ish..at worse it’s slowly descending into a rag.

I expect to see head lines on “Coma Babies” anytime now.

"Suck it monkeys, the Rockies will win this year", Rox Girl 1-11-2009

by Redhawk on Apr 13, 2009 9:10 AM MDT up reply actions

Weather

I’m in Iowa, and the weather here is pretty crappy – the same weather that will be hitting Chicago soon.

The Rockies and Cubs do have a lot of options, since they have 3 days in which to play 2 games.

Maybe they’ll get pushed back to 7 PM Central start times because of rain – so that I can watch them onTV :) The only time I ever see the Rockies on TV are games against the Cubs.

I’m starting the trash talking with Cubs fans.

Reviews of some great baseball sites and other cool stuff on my blog @ The Casual Observer

by kosmo99 on Apr 13, 2009 7:35 AM MDT reply actions

Bullpen troubles sunk us in April 2008 as well

We couldn’t finish a game because we didn’t trust our closing staff.

I’m hammering on the same nail still here, but they should just close by committee until May. Not even use “closers” but use Street and Corpas against the best hitters in their lineup.

Follow me on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/rockiesmagicnum - But be warned I only actually "tweet" every....well, not often.

by Andrew Martin on Apr 13, 2009 9:43 AM MDT reply actions

The problem right now

is that the entire BP has been very disappointing so far in this short season. I would say Embree seems to be the only star performer, w/ Grilli being so-so. I’m not losing all hope in them yet, but I would say I am surprised considering I thought this would be a major strength.

So far the starting pitching has been better than I hoped for, other than Cook’s 1st start. The offense has been very good, although I am hoping they carry the patient (grind it out) AB’s into the later innings, just 1-3. Its just the BP that has been a little cause for concern. We would be at least 1 game better if not 2 w/ better performances from the pen. I know they won’t be perfect but it seems as if we just can’t get enough shut down innings right now.

It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.

by smokinRox on Apr 13, 2009 9:51 AM MDT up reply actions