Rockies 11, Athletics 9: Four home runs...in Oakland?! We needed all of them

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 27, 2009 11:14 PM MDT in Rockies Game Wraps

Bats lead to sixth series win in last seven

The story coming in seemed to be whether good Jorge or bad Jorge would show up. On a hot and muggy night, the Rockies' offense decided to make sure it really didn't matter whether bad Jorge, good Jorge or Tim Harikkala was starting.

Colorado emphatically ended Trevor Cahill's (5-6, 4.23) streak of seven straight quality starts by chasing him in the fourth inning. Cahill allowed seven runs on eight hits, but more importantly a career high four home runs - by Brad Hawpe (12), Clint Barmes (9), Ian Stewart (14) and Seth Smith (6). Hawpe's HR was his 100th in his career. All nine starters recorded a hit. Seth Smith, Clint Barmes and Todd Helton - the first three in the order - combined for six hits, six runs, four RBI and two walks. Carlos Gonzalez got his first triple in a Rockies uniform. Garrett Atkins had a multiple hit night for the third straight night. Too bad we only have the DH one more game (that's the only time I've ever said that).

Yeah so that's a pretty solid offensive showing in Oakland. They needed almost all of it.

Jorge de la Rosa (4-7, 5.64) was solid in allowing two runs in six innings and five strikouts. He left with the Rockies leading 11-2. The the bullpen melted down.

Matt Daley, Alan Embree and Juan Rincon allowed seven runs runs on nine hits in just two innings against the Athletics' defensive replacements. The blowout suddenly became a close game, and Jim Tracy had to turn to Huston Street to stop the bleeding. He walked one and allowed an inherited runner to score on a sac fly but otherwise slammed the door on his former team for the second straight night and his 18th save. I haven't seen a bullpen tank to lead to a save situation that much since I used to do it as a kid to get my stud closer saves in my video games. Box Score

So the bullpen is a mess, but hey...we won the game and the series. And with the Giants losing, we have moved to within one game of the wild card lead

39 - 35

Pyth W-L: 40-34

Pace: 85-77

Last Year: 31-43

WC GB: 1.0

WPA Heroes:
Brad Hawpe (.187) - 2-for-3, HR, BB, 2 RBI, K
Ian Stewart (.104) - 1-for-4, HR
Huston Street (.107) - 1.0 IP, K, BB, 1 inherited runner score, save

WPA Zeroes:
Juan Rincon (-.086) - 0.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 0 K
Troy Tulowitzki (-.020) - 2-for-5, RBI, K

Rowbot Roll Call

Chrysicat, The Lodo Magic Man, befizzle, Russ, wolf213, AtkinsandTulofan, TulsaDriller, Roxfan24, Charlie77, Maris6161, WolfMarauder, Poseidon's Fist, TuLoRocks2008, Behrens, MohrPlease, Yokel, OrangeTorpedo, FooMan, snakecharmer, fantasyfencing, pedalpusher, holly96, EricMedic, Rox Girl, RdRnnr, rdf8585, JBauer6430, walkoff59 made up the 28 Rowbots and 898 comments.

Comment of the night:

Pitchers park my arse.

by The Lodo Magic Man on Jun 27, 2009 7:45 PM MDT

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Comments

Crazy

Kinda wished I’d watched the game. I saw Big & Rich tonight at the Greeley Stampede. I’m not a big fan, but it was a hell of a show. I’d see ’em again.

I think that it’s about time to designate Embree for assignment. Talk about your all-time free agent busts. He’s knocking loudly on that door.

"Horton is win."
--Horvil Tiki

by wtnelson on Jun 27, 2009 11:28 PM MDT reply actions

I like Big & Rich

I would imagine that would’ve been a good show.

Embree needs to go for sure, problem is there isn’t much replacement, unless you want Morales pitching out of the pen.

Hey I'm on Youtube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gAlLTZsGUg

by wolf213 on Jun 27, 2009 11:34 PM MDT up reply actions

Gah!

I hope the Rox bullpen is as redfaced as me today after too much mountain sun in Estes Park.

Perhaps the BP current theme song?

Kudos to the Rox offense that showed up and kicked tail… for most of the game.

"Right now, I'm eating Scrambled Eggs, with a comb, from a shoe!"

by WalkInRight on Jun 27, 2009 11:34 PM MDT reply actions

Cards trade for Mark DeRosa

I fanshotted it as well.

They got him for Chris Perez…he could have been an interesting addition to the pen. OTOH, if I’m the Cards, I’d rather have DeRosa while not helping a potential WC rival at the same time.

Free Seth Smith!

by FooMan on Jun 27, 2009 11:35 PM MDT reply actions

Yeah

But DeRosa is less expensive than Atkins and has been a better player this year to boot. I doubt the Cards would have parted with Perez to get Atkins.

Of course, I heard on the radio today (before the trade went down) that the Cards were considering sending Ludwick and Perez or Jason Motte to the A’s to get Holliday, though a friend of mine (a Cards fan) said that the Cardinals probably leaked that to get Cleveland to go ahead and agree to deal DeRosa.

by Tom (RFTN) on Jun 28, 2009 12:54 AM MDT up reply actions

Well this is an stating the obvious

cause if the Cardinals would have offered Perez for Atkins, then Perez would be in the pen for the Rockies to day. But they chose DeRosa.

As for the Holliday rumor. I think there is legs there. LaRussa has made most of is positions revolving doors. Worse than Hurdle. I think they look at Holliday as a guy that could/would solidify a position, and one they could re-sign in the off season as well. Now how much would the Cardinals give up for 1/2 a season of Holliday? That is the real issue. I think the A’s would like some return for what they gave up for Matty. I’m not sure they will get it though.

by Redhawk on Jun 28, 2009 8:43 AM MDT up reply actions

I think Beane will ride him out

Unless Matt picks it up quickly, i think Beane may just take the 2 picks he will get as compensation. Since this years Oak spending spree didn’t get them anywhere i would be surprised to see major league talent be a part of the trade.

by Roxfan24 on Jun 28, 2009 9:56 AM MDT up reply actions

I never implied they could have gotten Perez for Atkins

Just that he would have been a worthy addition.

Free Seth Smith!

by FooMan on Jun 28, 2009 10:27 AM MDT up reply actions

"never meant to imply"

Free Seth Smith!

by FooMan on Jun 28, 2009 10:27 AM MDT up reply actions

Great night by our offense...

But I’m pretty sure our bullpen is going to endanger my life in the near future.

My heart can’t take much more of the Alan Embree Experience.

I didn’t think I’d be saying this earlier in the season, but boy do I miss Manny Corpas. I hope he hurries back.

by Shoemaker on Jun 28, 2009 12:19 AM MDT reply actions

There was a reason Juan Rincon was released

Time to look at some of our “prospects”. For a team that likes to grow their own position players, they seem to not want to grow their own pitchers, especially the bull pen guys.

by Redhawk on Jun 28, 2009 8:45 AM MDT reply actions

i was just thinking the same thing

let’s see more guys like Daley coming up and not washed up retreads.

we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE

by TuLoRocks2008 on Jun 28, 2009 9:01 AM MDT up reply actions

The Embree/Rincon's of the world are doing us no good.

If Corpas can come back and be healthy we should be fine. But i agree that I would rather have some younger guy pitching than Embree who has a book out there and seems to be out of gas.

by Roxfan24 on Jun 28, 2009 9:58 AM MDT up reply actions

Ryan Speier's looking close, too, thankfully.

Let’s not forget him.

by Rox Girl on Jun 28, 2009 10:07 AM MDT up reply actions

I'm no fan of Speier

but he does look like an upgrade over Rincon

by Redhawk on Jun 28, 2009 7:36 PM MDT up reply actions

I'm not sure that read how you want it to.

They don’t WANT to grow arms? You wouldn’t be able to say that if there weren’t injuries to Weathers, Speier, Lindsay, Hirsh, Reynolds and Mattheus. They WANT to develop arms. That’s why Helton, Tulo, Nelson and Wheeler are the only 1st round bats in franchise history. They just have been unsuccessful to – due to injuries and flameouts, but it’s not as if they are ignoring it at all. And for whatever reason, when those arms don’t show up, it’s O’Dowd’s job to find replacements. He’s done a reasonable job uncovering the Grillis, Herges and Peraltas, but there are going to be Rincons sometimes

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 28, 2009 10:05 AM MDT up reply actions

good post

It’s a difficult business building bullpens on a budget…esp. nowadays when need 6 or 7 and ideally would like 4 of them to be above average.

Free Seth Smith!

by FooMan on Jun 28, 2009 10:32 AM MDT up reply actions

Yes

and I agree with this…but it seems that right now, if there is a choice between some guy in AA or a waiver claim or a vet in the Atlantic Independence league, the Rockies are going the latter. And I"m not sure that’s all choice. I don’t know the AA or even the AAA guys, but one of them has to be a bull pen arm and as good as Rincon is (or isn’t)

the Rockies have several starters that are looking good in AA. But no bull pen guys anywhere?

by Redhawk on Jun 28, 2009 7:36 PM MDT up reply actions

That's partially what I meant

The MLB ready or near ready legit bullpen prospects in the AA or AAA level have been suffering injuries at a ridiculous rate – Speier, Lindsay, Mattheus, Weathers…Even Samuel Deduno is on the DL, though he’s probably not ready anyway.

Tommy Baumgardner is having a good year in Tulsa, but I don’t think he’s MLB ready this year. Joey Williamson looks like he could pull off a quiet Daley rise, though he got lit up for three runs in a start on the 20th in Modesto after a 2 start cameo in Tulsa. I agree it would be nice to have more coming down the tube for the pen, but injuries make it look more like a black hole than it is.

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 28, 2009 11:41 PM MDT up reply actions