Rockies defense flubs the first, Astros take the game and series.

by Rox Girl on May 14, 2009 7:57 PM MDT in Rockies Game Wraps

Part of the reason I've never done game wraps on Purple Row until we had an SBN wide mandate to is because I feel that any individual game in a 162 game season is going to tell you very little about the big picture of the team and I like to try and stay in that big picture mentality as much as possible. This afternoon's loss to the Astros is no exception, but there certainly were some big picture parallels:

Garrett Atkins is a weakness on defense, and those moments he makes good at the plate don't justify it.
Brad Hawpe's moments of making good at the plate have been justifying his defense (which isn't as bad) this season.
Despite the poor looking results, the pitching isn't really the problem. Jason Hammel allowed seven hits and zero walks, eight groundball out versus five in the air, and anybody who watched the game can tell you that GB out percentage should have been even higher than that.
The Rockies' problems with LHP's (4-7) have nothing to do with the team's left handed batters being made ineffective or neutralized and have everything to do with the right handed batters not stepping up at times. Heading into today, Rockies right handers had a .253/.329/.479 line against LHP's, while the left handed batters on the team are hitting .340/.409/.608 vs. LHP's. Today against the Astros Wandy Rodriguez, that continued, right handed position players went 2 for 15 (.133), while their left handed counterparts went 3 for 8 (.375).

The fixes to the team are easy to see but hard to stomach. The Rockies are now 13-20 after the five to three loss.

via www.fangraphs.com

Rowbot Roll Call:

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But you did

try this back in 2007.

"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on May 14, 2009 8:12 PM MDT reply actions

That's actually pretty cool

I didn’t know there was a SB mandate on wraps.

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on May 15, 2009 12:43 AM MDT up reply actions

If as Hurdle says, Atkins' "line in the sand" is 150 ABs

what happens then? Although Atty did get a hit and rbi and another hard shot at the 3rd baseman, I’m not sure that’s a sign that he’s on the rebound yet.

And exactly what is Hurdle’s “line in the sand”?

Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field?
Author: Jim Bouton

by pedalpusher on May 14, 2009 9:14 PM MDT reply actions

It means they pay some lip service and then just keep on doing the same thing

Matt Murton status: Freed
Garrett Atkins status: Not Traded
Clint Hurdle status: Still Employed by the Rockies

by Andrew Martin on May 14, 2009 11:57 PM MDT up reply actions

Grrr

I’ll have more to say when I pull myself together, but in the meantime, these repeated outcomes are not acceptable.

The great thing about baseball is that there's a crisis every day. ~Gabe Paul

by rockhead on May 14, 2009 10:03 PM MDT reply actions

This is getting very old very quick.

Same old song and dance. Will firing Hurdle really change anything or just act as a PR blanket covering some of our real, huge problems as an organization? What do y’all think?

by Business Socks on May 15, 2009 12:40 AM MDT reply actions

That reverse platoon split vs LHP is just ...weeeeird

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on May 15, 2009 12:44 AM MDT reply actions

I slept on it but I need to rant

The home stand is over. 3-5. Now the Rockies go on the road where they normally struggle for 10 games. And looking at the comments in the Post today, you’d think the players are shocked by the loss. REALLY?
Let’s take a look at the Box Score (from the Sporting News the creators of the box score about 100 years ago) And what do we see?
Lots of O-fers. Barmes Ofer now batting .233, Murton ofer from the clean up spot (why the hell is he in the clean up spot?) Torrealba Ofer now batting .219. Stewart ofer now batting .203 for the year. Spillborghs, Atkins, Hawpe with one hit each.

Yes, we all ride Atkins lately, but the fact is if it was JUST one guy not hitting that is normal, and should be able to be covered up. Example lets take the Brewers now tied for 1st in the Central. JJ Hardy is batting a big .221 But Braun, Weeks, and Fielder have totally covered up for Hardy. The Rockies don’t have that hitter, and they don’t have 3 of them.

The main problem, is there are too many position players on the Rockies not performing. (DUH!) and too many players that are out of position, and out of their correct roles. It’s past time to make moves. The Rockies Front Office needs to make a move, a gesture, that they are awake, that they are paying attention, if they hope the fans will pay attention this summer. If box office is dead this summer, it’s going to affect the teams ability to sign draft picks.

Aktins needs to go. Stewart needs to either start at 3rd, or be sent down (wait who plays 3rd?…I don’t care anyone that can hit .250 would be nice Colonel would work until Stewart can come back) Eric Young Jr. needs to start at 2nd (or Nelson or Gomez) Yeah some one will be rushed, but that’s what happens when you have a hole the size of the grand canyon. Fowler (who I love) should NOT bet the lead off hitter right now.

Ultimately some one needs to get through to the players that the status quo has changed, that the same ole, same ole isn’t good enough. If the players step up great, if the don’t, well, it’s been nice knowing you. Sure you are nice guys, but it’s time to shut up and put up. And nice guys and losers finish last, and baseball, is about winning (or at least playing meaningful games after Memorial Day)

by Redhawk on May 15, 2009 8:05 AM MDT reply actions

Nice rant

But you could do better…

Memorial Day? I’d like to see meaningful games after Opening Day…

by rockieprogress on May 15, 2009 8:34 AM MDT reply actions

Went to this game yesterday...

sat 20 rows up slightly on the first base line—fantastic day for a ballgame, too bad nobody told the Rockies.

I had the perfect view of Garrett’s first inning adventures in fielding (and he got laid into pretty good for it). Poor Hammel, he pitched great (really getting velocity on his fastball while commanding his off-speed stuff) and was backed up by horrific defense. Though Daley came in and got the double play, Hurdle took out Hammel too early…which might have led to Alan Embree not pitching. Matt Daley did look very nice too.

At the plate the Rockies were pretty bad all-around (except for Helton), striking out what seemed like a dozen times, many of them looking. After Atkins got the confidence of one hit, he did look much better at the plate his next appearance. I didn’t understand why Murton was hitting clean-up and he did little to justify Hurdle’s faith in him yesterday.

Another day, another loss. PR Academy will be up some time this afternoon for those who are wondering.

Eschew Obfuscation!

by Jeff Aberle on May 15, 2009 9:17 AM MDT reply actions

I agree with all that you said

I too was at the game sitting in the second row in center field. This seems to be a “Change for the sake of Change” type thing with Hurdle starting Murton in the clean-up spot, that and Rodriguez has/had done well against lefties all year. There were too many strike outs with players trying to do too much (both in the field and at the plate). Mental mistakes hurt everything, missing cut-offs and wrongly throwing to second cost the Rockies almost as many runs as the Atkins errors.

Solution is simple: Go back to the defensive priority they had in 2007 when they had the best in the history of baseball. Some bats need to be taken out (both third basemen, Barmes). The pitching hasn’t been horrible lately, but they need to be more consistent.

"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." ~Al Gallagher, 1971
JFK

by jrockies on May 15, 2009 3:12 PM MDT up reply actions

"The fixes to the team are easy to see but hard to stomach."

What are the fixes again? I’m not trying to be snarky, honest. I find your posts very informative.

by FooMan on May 15, 2009 10:40 AM MDT reply actions

Lop off Atkins and Barmes,

There needs to be a clean quick cut. Trade Hawpe while he’s at a high in value for more 23/24 year old talent. Probably trade Aaron Cook in a similar fashion and explore whether it will be worth it to deal Marquis as well. Call up Carlos Gonzalez. Go through a 2009 season of inconsistency and losing, but losing with a purpose and a near, much brighter future. Either extend or fire Dan O’Dowd. Right now both our present and our future are too much in a middle/limbo area because O’Dowd’s a lame duck and a win now pressure will keep him from acting in the best interest of the franchise. I think the Rockies need to give whoever they have as a GM, be that O’Dowd or somebody else, a three year window because I think this start combined with the Dodgers’ success has done in our chances for the NL West this season and we really need to be looking at 2010 and beyond.

by Rox Girl on May 15, 2009 12:56 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

Thanks

I see. So not really “fixes” in the sense of helping this season, but for the franchise in general. That makes more sense.

On the rebuild-tack, would it make any sense to keep CarGon and Fowler at CoSprings? It would be a matter of whether they can learn there vs. in the majors balanced against their service time clocks.

I’ve really liked Hawpe his entire career, but I have to agree with that one. Esp. since he’s slow, 29, and Helton will be around through 2011. It seemed like just yesterday it was “GenR” and I was wondering if all these guys could make it, but all of a sudden, they’re 29-30!

by FooMan on May 15, 2009 1:03 PM MDT up reply actions

This is a great post

and really should get a better spot some where as I think it’s getting buried here.

by Redhawk on May 15, 2009 2:33 PM MDT up reply actions

I've got a more expansive post on this coming Sunday.

If the Rockies win the next two games, it will be a bit more kind to the current brain trust than if they don’t.

by Rox Girl on May 15, 2009 2:42 PM MDT up reply actions

Agree w/Redhawk and look forward to the Sunday post.

However, would the results of two games matter that much?

I admit, I’ve been thinking along the rebuild lines all season, though, and thinking of the lame duck status of Hurdle/O’Dowd. They had all offseason to make up their minds about these two, and they’ve both been with the club for a long time, so it seems odd to wait.

Anyway, re. rebuilding, I didn’t want to post too much about it early on…enjoy the new season and all that. However, with the losing ways stretching on, it may be time to think along these lines, as sad as that is.

I thought they were maybe a .500 team heading into the season, looked at the ages of the players, the injury to Francis, and wondered who on the team could lead the club to more consistent .500 or above .500 finishes, given the assumption that ownership won’t/can’t expand payroll too much further. I found the roster a bit lacking of what you call “competitive” players (the guys who can lift you from 80 wins to 90+) and so wondered about rebuilding around Iannetta/Tulo and whoever makes it from the Stewart/CarGon/Fowler group.

No one likes rebuilding, but I don’t think anyone would be happy with the prospects of a lack of a plan and an aging, mediocre roster, either.

by FooMan on May 15, 2009 3:22 PM MDT up reply actions

My Rockpile post this past Sunday said I would give the team one week

Before starting the ranting, and calling for heads to roll, so while the theme/concepts of the post will remain the same regardless, the tone I take could be very different if we’re 4-2 over the six games this past week vs 3-3 or 2-4.

by Rox Girl on May 15, 2009 3:37 PM MDT up reply actions

This kind of advanced planning and thought

will really limit your knee-jerk reactionism that I’ve come to expect from online journalism/blogs. In fact well thought out constructive articles, might get you kicked of the ‘net, I mean this site is severely lacking in porn or celebrity gossip as it is, which makes your ’net cred’ doubtful to begin with.

by Redhawk on May 15, 2009 9:03 PM MDT up reply actions

Do you think Barmes has any value?

dumping Baker I can see, but Barmes at least has value with his glove. He’s cheap for us to keep and if we jettison Atkins, he won’t exactly be taking anyone’s starting spot.

Matt Murton status: Freed
Garrett Atkins status: Not Traded
Clint Hurdle status: Still Employed by the Rockies

by Andrew Martin on May 15, 2009 5:36 PM MDT up reply actions

Barmes should be the utility/late inning defensive replacement guy and

Q should be cast adrift. There is no reason I can see to keep Q on this roster. Let Stewie play 2nd full time (or until lightning strikes and we work a deal with someone for Atkins).

Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field?
Author: Jim Bouton

by pedalpusher on May 15, 2009 9:38 PM MDT up reply actions

Check this out

Comment number three. It’s a kick

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on May 15, 2009 9:41 PM MDT up reply actions

Flores for Rusch

This is a bit of an underwhelming move, but I thought I’d mention it, since I’m not sure it’s been posted yet.

by FooMan on May 15, 2009 10:42 AM MDT reply actions

not posted on the front page, but there is a fan post.

I would have bumped said Fanpost to the front page, but too much was ripped straight from Troy Renck’s blog entry to make me comfortable with it and I didn’t want to take the time to edit and chop it down to an acceptable fair use level.

by Rox Girl on May 15, 2009 12:44 PM MDT up reply actions