Know Your Foe: Visiting Chase Field never looked so good
by Andrew T. Fisher on Apr 20, 2009 12:40 PM MDT
in Know Your Foe
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PrintThe Rockies have completed four series thus far, winning one, tying one, and losing two. After a sweep punctuated by an embarrassing loss Sunday, a return to play Arizona in the desert might be just what Colorado needs. Did I just say that? Forget the past - that's history. What matters is right now, and the Rockies will be playing the coldest team in the majors, and the one team they have beaten in a series this year to boot.
Arizona Diamondbacks (4-8, L1, t-4th in NL West)
Monday-Wednesday : 3-game series at Colorado
As bitter as it tastes to be a Rockies fan after this past week, it's far worse being a D-Backs fan right now. Check it out:
- Arizona managed just TWO runs in their weekend set at AT&T.
- Despite allowing just four runs in three starts, Dan Haren is 0-3 - one total run of support will do that to you.
- At one point last week, not a single D-Back crossed home plate for 20 innings.
- Their run differential is -22, dead last in the majors (even the 1-10 Nats)
- Six losses in eight games.
- Rankings at the bottom of the barrel all around:
| Team Stat | MLB Rank | Amt |
| wOBA | 28th | .293 |
| OPS | 26th | .680 |
| Average | 28th | .227 |
| Runs For | 27th | 40 |
| ERA | 20th | 5.18 |
| Runs Against | 20th | 62 |
| K's For | 25th | 70 |
For perspective, their team wOBA is worse than Willy Taveras was last season. And those pitching stats aren't even misleading - their staff has allowed the 7th lowest BABIP in the bigs. Quite frankly, Arizona is performing like everyone thought San Diego would. DbacksSkins has issued advice to himself and his brethren. Jim McLennan at the 'Pit has 10 reasons to be fearful for Arizona fans.
Colorado faced the hottest team in the majors this weekend on the road, and now it's time to take on arguably the coldest. It will be a great opportunity to rebound while simultaneously returning the favor of sending Arizona spiralling downward in April.
Probable Pitchers:
Today, 7:40pm MDT
Battle of the new veterans:
Jason Marquis looks like the better veteran rotation addition so far. Anything close to his two previous starts should be a streak-breaker. Jon Garland has never faced the Rockies in his career. Marquis is 2-3 with a 3.82 ERA vs Arizona since 2006.
Tuesday, April 21, 1:40pm MDT
Battle of the pseudo-5th starters:
Yusmeiro Petit filled in the fifth spot in the rotation when Brandon Webb landed on the DL and struggled, while Franklin Morales returns to the fifth spot in the Rockies rotation after a scoreless outing in AAA. The Petit Unit has allowed two runs in seven innings in his career vs Colorado; Morales is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA vs Arizona in three career starts.
Wednesday, April 22, 1:40pm MDT
Battle of the unfairly winless:
Dan Haren leads MLB with three losses, but he has been the victim of historically minimal run support. Jorge de la Rosa allowed no runs in his last start, but a blown save foiled his chance for his first win. Haren is 3-2 with a 2.85 ERA vs. Colorado since 2006, and DLR is 1-1 with a 3.92 ERA vs the Snakes.
Lineup:
What follows is what was considered the best line-up Arizona had to start the season, but as is evident, the struggling offense will breed a lineup shuffle in order and personnel.
| Player | Avg | HR | RBI |
| Lopez | .370 | 2 | 4 |
| Young | .238 | 1 | 3 |
| Drew | .222 | 1 | 5 |
| Jackson | .200 | 1 | 7 |
| Tracy | .290 | 1 | 6 |
| Upton | .185 | 0 | 1 |
| Reynolds |
.257 | 2 | 5 |
| Snyder | .100 | 0 | 1 |
It's a bad sign when your best player is 0-3. Dan Haren (0-3, 1.89 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 17 K) has allowed just four runs in his three starts but lost all three of them. Felipe Lopez stayed hot after his historic Opening Day. He hit .462 last week in 26 ABs.
How about the rest of the lineup? Stephen Drew, Conor Jackson, Eric Byrnes, Chris Snyder and Chris Young all failed to record as many hits last week as Ian Kinsler did Wednesday alone. The entire offense frozen, especially with runners in scoring position.
Stephen Drew left Friday's game with a left hamstring injury. He is day to day but has not played since Friday. Augie Ojeda has taken his place in the line-up, hitting leadoff and pushing the hot-hitting Lopez to the three-hole.
NL West Report after the jump
NL West Report |
Arizona (4-8, t-4th, L1)
Last Week: 1-2 vs Cardinals, 1-2 at Giants. Arizona has lost every series this season, three of them at home. Getting buried early while
This Week: 3 game home series vs. Rockies, 3 game home series vs Giants
News: Brandon Webb threw a flat-ground bullpen session yesterday, and will throw off the mound tomorrow. Jim McLennan says it "doesn't seem he'll be back soon." The course of action Arizona will take with Webb is entirely dependent on his performance tomorrow.
Stephen Drew left Friday's game with a hamstring injury and has not played since, and Mark Reynolds missed Sunday's game with a left quadriceps strain.
D-Backs fans can at least take refuge in the fact that their AAA team is going strong. Until the Sky Sox won yesterday, the Visalia Rawhide were undefeated. 2008 Minor League Player of the Year Josh Whitesell is on fire, so perhaps he could see some playing time soon over struggling Tony Clark.
Los Angeles (10-3, 2nd, W8)
Last Week: 3-0 vs Giants, 3-0 vs Rockies. The Dodgers have the greatest run differential in the majors at +42. That eclipses 11-1 Florida by 11.
This Week: 3 game road series at Giants, 3 game road series at Rockies. Los Angeles owns MLB's longest win streak this season, though all but two of those games came at home. Los Angeles will hit the road for their next nine games, so hopefully they will slow down away from Chavez Ravine.
News: The Dodgers are one of three teams rumored to be interested in Mark Mulder. The former Athletic and Cardinal is still a few weeks away from being ready to pitch.
Signed LHP Chuck Tiffany to a minor league contract and will be assigned to extended spring training. Tiffany was traded to Tampa Bay in the Danys Baez deal in 2006 and was released by the Rays last month.
The Dodgers traded OF Delwyn Young to the Pirates Wednesday for two PTBNL's. Young was out of options and injured.
Los Angeles is on a tear to start the season, but it can't last forever. Sky Kalkman ran the CHONE projections again Saturday for the remaining games, and the Dodgers finished just two games north of .500. If after the weekend sweep you want to see more bad press on the Dodgers, check out GM Ned Colletti's all-time team of players he gave up on.
San Diego (9-4, 2nd, W4)
Last Week: 2-1 at Mets, 2-1 at Phillies. Despite facing the top two NL East favorites on the road, the Padres continue to roll. A blown save yesterday by Edwin Moreno prevented a 5-1 week. Heath Bell, who leads MLB with 7 saves (3 more than anyone else), was unavailable due to multiple recent appearances.
This Week: 1 game to finish 4 game series at Phillies, 2 game road series at Giants, 3 game home series vs Pirates.
News: 2B Trivis Denker was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox last Tuesday.
Paul DePodesta answers questions regarding Denker, the sporadic use of Eulogio de la Cruz, and why the Friars carry 13 pitchers.
The Padres have surprised so far this season with their 9-4 record. If they remain in contention, they have the payroll flexibility to add a piece in a push for the playoffs.
Walter Silva strained his forearm and will head to the DL.
San Francisco (4-8, t-4th, W1)
Last Week: 0-3 at Los Angeles, 2-1 vs Arizona. It is hard to gauge San Francisco, as they faced the division's hottest and coldest teams in the same week.
This Week: 2 game home series vs Padres, 3 game road series at Arizona.
News: GM Brian Sabean is reportedly back-tracking on another bad contract. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday that the Giants are trying to unload Aaron Rowand, with the White Sox as a possibility.
For any trade to take place, San Francisco would have to eat a large portion of his contract. Such a trade would hurt former Rockie Scott Podsednik's chance to make a contribution in Chicago.
El Lefty Malo notes that many fans are pointing to 2010 as the year the Giants will compete. He isn't so sure.
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Haren
That’s incredibly bad luck for Haren. That’s a great line, other than W/L. 17:3 K:BB? nice …
Reviews of some great baseball sites and other cool stuff on my blog @ The Casual Observer
CHONE had the Pads
at 80-82 before the season? That seems crazy.
Arizona may be worse than us
But they are one of the 3 teams LOWER than us in the BABIP rankings. They’re poised for an even bigger rebound.
Follow me on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/rockiesmagicnum - But be warned I only actually "tweet" every....well, not often.
Good call
They definitely will improve…their futility is nowhere near sustainable. But for a high-K team, they need an above average BABIP.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Apr 20, 2009 1:34 PM MDT up reply actions
I just have to say
that I suspect something painful is in the offing. Which I dearly hope is completely unfounded.
I love Greg Reynolds and I may be slightly ashamed to admit it.
NN!
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Apr 20, 2009 1:34 PM MDT up reply actions
Me too
That’s not because they are the only team you deem a legit threat to LA is it?
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Apr 20, 2009 2:29 PM MDT up reply actions
They're not the only ones
Although I do think they’re the biggest threat. I would be more comfortable competing with the Rockies at the top, especially given the way the last series went and the state of your starting pitching.
by Brendan Scolari on Apr 20, 2009 2:48 PM MDT up reply actions
He'd be singing a different tune if they had to face Cy Silver Slugger Marquis :)
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Apr 20, 2009 3:25 PM MDT up reply actions
This team fails to
do the little things that can change a game and decide wins and losses. I watched SD the other night. Runner on second nobody out, Eckstein a RH batter places a GB to the right side that movews the runner along. Yesterday Tulo in the same spot pops up to the SS. The lack of RISP hitting and ability to make productive outs is telling of a management philosophy of just go hacking.
by PinchHitLancePainter on Apr 20, 2009 2:27 PM MDT reply actions
Please guys let's turn things around
Starting tonight….i will not be here for most of the game will be with the g/f but i will catch the last few innings hopefully it’s not like friday all over again
Go Rockies!
Jiri Hudler...our underrated MVP
Baseball > girls
jk…enjoy. I’m sure you’ll be excited to get back in time to watch the bullpen at work
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Apr 20, 2009 2:30 PM MDT up reply actions
haha usually that's the case
but yes hopefully i will get back to a solid 7-8-9 haha….orrrr Marquis pitching into the 7th or 8th :)
2 down....14 to go for a repeat Go Wings!!!
by TuLoRocks2008 on Apr 20, 2009 2:31 PM MDT up reply actions
I think the Rox sweep
Other than Haren, the Rockies should get their groove back in AZ. And Haren is obviously jinxed in 2009.
I almost hope
he DOESN’T win, just so he throws at Melvin’s head or something.
He was FURIOUS after being pinch hit for last week.
Insert witty and/or humorous signature here.
I hope he doesn't win too
And for more than just woot!-Rockies-win reasons, but just to make him press his agent to demand a trade to a team that actually helps him.
Hey yeah...The Rockies have a much better offense
oh wait…
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Apr 20, 2009 4:53 PM MDT up reply actions
Lineup was posted
Smith and Spilborghs are sitting. The Rockies have too many OF. What’s the point of having two OF-only reserves? Especially if those guys were starting on opening day?
Trade one to a team that can use them, like the Cardinals did with an OF to get some more middle relief.
Lefty platooning
And I’m glad Spills is still sitting, and he needs to actually stay out all game this time.
Baker needs to be traded. That’s a fact.
Smith/Spills – Dex/Spills – Hawpe is a good outfield. Baker is redundant.
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 20, 2009 5:40 PM MDT up reply actions
I disagree
For two reasons:
1) Baker can play first, second, third, and the corners of the OF.
2) Baker can mash lefties.
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.
You know what would suck?
If they do something stupid like trade Baker for someone like Ryan Langerhans
LOL
In case you missed it,
link
link
"DAMMIT! No, calm down. Learn to enjoy losing." --Hunter S. Thompson
Aut Vincam Aut Periam
by PioneerSkies on Apr 20, 2009 6:26 PM MDT up reply actions
I fully expect
that you guys will win two of three in this series. And I’m mortified that Haren won’t be the one winning decision we get.
I'm just going to vote for the sweep
no matter what because why the hell not. Please don’t take it to be a reflection of what I think of the Diamondbacks (or any other club).
LOL
Whaddaya think I am, offended or something? Don’t hafta explain yourself to me. I’m just trolling a little.
Insert witty and/or humorous signature here.
by DbacksSkins on Apr 21, 2009 11:53 AM MDT up reply actions
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