Tuesday Rockpile: Bent on the bruised bullpen
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 30, 2009 7:15 AM MDT
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Chat: Chat with Buster Olney - SportsNation - ESPN
Buster Olney held a chat Monday on ESPN.com, which Rowbot holly96 highlighted in yesterday's Rockpile comments. The biggest highlight:
I had a longtime evaluator tell me last night that the Rockies are two middle relievers away from being the best team in the NL — they’ve got a deep lineup (since Tulowitzki started hitting), a solid rotation (Aaron Cook could be the pitcher of the month in the NL), an excellent bench, and Huston Street has settled in as closer.
I'm sure the boys at TrueBlueLA would take exception to that evaluation, but for those of you pining for national respect, there you go. This spring, that didn't appear to be the glaring weakness. Jason Grilli had a poor stint and was jettisoned prematurely (he has a 2.16 ERA in 8.1 IP in Texas), Manuel Corpas has been injured and inconsistent, and then of course there's that Tommy John demon.
The bullpen does need help. Only Huston Street and Alan Embree are holdovers from Opening Day. As currently constructed, the battle-of-the-bullpen-type games are the ones that place the Rockies are in most peril. Check out these numbers:
2.02. 2.01. 2.29. 3.68. 3.52.
4.60. 4.91. 10.13. 7.08. 1.39.
The top line are the ERAs of the first five Dodgers used in the bullpen last night, with the Rockies' respective line. Was there any reason to suspect we could pull it out? Our pen certainly performed better than expected, allowing just two runs in five plus innings - on a 2-run HR that was a decent pitch by Joel Peralta, on his 39th pitch to boot. The loss was in fact completely on the offense - the bullpen absolutely did their job.
Even then, their performance was ulcer-inducing after a flat scary weekend in Oakland. Only Peralta had a perfect inning last night, and a Dodger reached scoring position in every inning except Peralta's perfect 11th.
Unfortunately, the bullpen's issues cannot be just contained within the bullpen. Jim Tracy has already shown a preference not to lean on his pen, which means the innings have to get picked up somewhere - the starters. The Rockies' most abused starting pitcher in 2008 was Ubaldo Jimenez, ranked 44th in Baseball Prospectus' Pitcher Abuse Points. Given that he didn't miss a start, that is a notably low ranking.
Jimenez is higher up the list this year, 7th most abused in 2009. In fact, he's one slot above Tim Lincecum, by far and away last year's abuse king, and we know how much Bruce Bochy is going to have to lean on him for the Giants' playoff aspirations. Jason Marquis is 27th and Aaron Cook slips into the top 60.
I'm not sounding an alarm, but it is something to monitor. Jimenez has proved durable and elastic in his career, but that wiry frame may not hold up if leaned on too heavily. He has thrown over 100 pitches in 15 of his 16 starts (he tossed 91 in the other) and has thrown almost 44 IP in six June starts. It's not Roy Halladay-esque, but Jimenez also doesn't have the long-term evidence he can withstand such dependency.
So who can help save the day and be one of those two middle relievers? There are no relief prospects busting down the door from the minors, but Tracy Ringolsby reports that Manuel Corpas is playing catch. He hasn't thrown a bullpen session yet, though he could in the next few days. As of now, there's no timetable for his return, and I wouldn't depend on him being able to pitch through a bone chip.
Franklin Morales has pitched well recently in AAA (2-1, 1.47 ERA last 3 starts). Thomas Harding reports that Morales is being considered for a bullpen spot, and Troy Renck confirms. Since the rotation is the team's strength overall, there's no reason to disrupt it for Morales, who still hasn't done anything to prove he can outperform Jorge de la Rosa.
There are no current rumors connected to the Rockies and acquiring a reliever outside the organization, but the bullpen as currently constructed is the biggest threat to derailing the Rockies' post-season dreams.
Other Rockies Notes
For now, Atkins first choice to play third: The Player of the Week honors for Ian Stewart only go so far. He has struggled lately, so Garrett Atkins is our starting third baseman once again. It will be at least a chance to showcase Atkins, whom the Mets have called about.
Spilborghs finds longball success off left-handers: Spilly shows why he would be starting against left handed starters. Given the glut of talented outfielders on the roster, that probably should be where he gets 90+% of his starts.
Tracy thriving in third managerial stint - FOX Sports on MSN
Tracy Ringolsby brings some national attention to Jim Tracy's influence on the Rockies in his latest FOXSports piece.
Troy Renck posted his latest Mailbag in which he states "it would be the upset of the century if Tracy doesn't land the job full time [in 2010] given how the Rockies have responded under his watch." That might be a bit premature and dramatic, but he's probably right.
Saunders: Dealing Dan now holds aces: Patrick Saunders touches on many thoughts, one of which being the Matt Holliday trade, which he calls a "masterstroke."
Off the Map Notes
Using HITf/x to measure skill -- The Hardball Times: The Hardball Times' Peter Jensen just posted an in depth article on how to use HITf/x to measure a hitter's skill. I highly recommend the read if it's a lazy day. Also, Brad Hawpe makes the list as the 10th "luckiest" MLB hitter, while Aaron Cook is MLB's 7th most "unlucky" starter.
A Minor Slugfest | FanGraphs Baseball
The Mariners and Padres can't hit, but their High-A clubs can. The two teams combined for 51 runs on 58 hits in a single game.
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Troy Renck's Story
So the Dodgers get back into the game by a balk call? UGGH, I hope we cream the Dodgers tonight.
Don't blame the bull pen for last night
blame the disappearing offense,(Barmes, please turn the switch back to ON) or more accurately, credit a very good Dodger bullpen, and one that is superior to the Rockies.
Also watching the game, I got the feeling of watching a playoff game. The intensity was amazing on the defensive side of things. Both sides wanted it, but I got the feeling the Rockies were the tight ones, the challengers.
Morales in the pen I think would help. As would Lindsey, and Weathers, and Bucholtz and Matheaus…..grumble
I'm not blaming the bullpen
They did a great job considering. It doesn’t mean that it’s not a glaring weakness going forward though. I was working on this before the game
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 30, 2009 8:37 AM MDT up reply actions
That's how I took your article
BUT I would assume that others would make the connection from “glaring weakness” to a loss in extra innings, equals/means bullpen is to blame.
Mmm...I suppose I can see that
I almost pulled the topic in light of their decency last night but figured it’s still just as much of an issue going forward. At least Rincon showed he can get MLB hitters out, and I still love Peralta. To be clear, last night’s game was completely on the offense. Had I written a Rockpile over the weekend, it would have been on the same topic.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 30, 2009 8:49 AM MDT up reply actions
I agree
Our offense did dissappear but really if you think about it…you can blame anybody you just have to make a ‘logical’ arguement.
Barmes
In his last 10 games has gone 0-fer 6 of them including last nights 0 fer 6, and especially the 10th inning where he left the 2 runners in scoring position and the game. His BA had dropped 10 points and his OBP has dropped 11, his OPS has dropped 9 points (he’s had 2 homers in his last ten games)
Good I blame others sure, you win as a team, you lose as a team, but last night if you want to blame one person, I’d blame Barmes.
But again…I wasn’t blaming the offense. I was CREDITING the Dodgers bull pen. They are very good (see the article above)
Our offense struck out 17 times last night. And 13 times Sunday in Oakland.
Does this bother anyone else?
And where was Josh Fogg last night? Is he on the outs? Was he being saved to pitch the 14-17th or close? I don’t understand his absences in light of his performance.
"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
Ditto, and Ditto.
The K’s are alarming to me. It’s a signal that maybe the offense has made a turn for the worse. Two games is a small sample size, but that’s a LOT of strike outs.
Fogg has pitched well in short relief so far this year…the Rockies need bullpen help…why not use Fogg? I don’t get this at all either.
It makes sense to keep Fogg on the bench
Because at least he’s capable of pitching indefinitely, at least compared to most of the bullpen. Use him up in one inning and that opportunity’s gone.
He could have been used for three innings like Peralta
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 30, 2009 8:50 AM MDT up reply actions
I agree that he could be used for multiple innings. My questions is why hasn't he?
"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
the postgame guys remarked that Fogg was being saved.
Now, it was late and I was getting ready for bed, so I didn’t hear everything. I’m not sure if they meant for a really long EI game, or for tonight…I thought they meant for tonight.
Free Seth Smith!
We rank 5th in the NL this season in strike outs with 577.
I think the sample size is big enough to wonder why do we stike out so much. But then we rank 4th in OBP. Those two stats seem kind of contradictory.
"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
Dexter Fowler seems to be a really good symbol of that correlation
Fowler and CarGo are big K guys at this point.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 30, 2009 8:51 AM MDT up reply actions
Agreed, I wonder how many teams below us have as many true regularly starting 1st year rookies
my guess is not many.
by TulsaDriller on Jun 30, 2009 5:03 PM MDT up reply actions
Ummm... whoops
You’re totally right – I was thinking CarGo still had eligibility but he’s got far more than the 130 bats in OAK that would keep his rookie eligibility. Late night stupor just wearing off
by TulsaDriller on Jun 30, 2009 7:07 PM MDT up reply actions
I had to leave the game thread, so sorry if it got discussed.
But Fowler’s going to see a steady diet of pitches inside unless he starts to prove he can do something with em. His swing seems to take too long to get around to them.
Take me to the Gothic Castle
by frightenedinmate#2 on Jun 30, 2009 8:52 AM MDT up reply actions
not really
high OBP has a strong correlation with a high strike out rate, it’s a result of taking so many pitches.
by Narcoleptico on Jun 30, 2009 9:15 AM MDT up reply actions
I'd be interested in seeing that study
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jun 30, 2009 10:29 AM MDT up reply actions
“there is a distinct, positive correlation between an individual’s strikeout rate and a number of useful attributes: hitting for power—as represented in this case by isolated power (ISO, or slugging percentage minus batting average) and slugging percentage (SLG)—as well as drawing walks—as represented by walk-rate (BB/PA).”
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2617
you done trolling me now?
by Narcoleptico on Jun 30, 2009 12:59 PM MDT up reply actions
Don't get so defensive...
Showing interest in seeing a study is hardly trolling you. I know there’s more history here, but at some point you’ve got to let things slide.
alright
seemed less about interest and more about attempting to make me look stupid, but whatever, i’m done arguing with him/anybody.
by Narcoleptico on Jun 30, 2009 2:08 PM MDT up reply actions
My fav Barmes certainly blew som key oppotunities last night..
….especially in the 10th with runners at the corners and 2 outs but lets not forget that before his AB Dex & GarGo had the same situation. First Cargo – Spilly on third and no outs then Dex – Spilly on third with one out. Both K’d. It was a tougher situation for Barmes since he needed a hit to score a RBI while CarGo & Dex needed a hit or SAC. No, I’m not giving Barmy a free pass – he shoulda come through but if CarGo & Dex are gonna play in the bigs they need to perform as well.
by TulsaDriller on Jun 30, 2009 4:59 PM MDT up reply actions
wow mistakes galore
1st par: has gone 0-fer IN six of them.
2nd par: COULD (not good…I have no idea where that even came from) I blame others
he has been cooling down
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jun 30, 2009 10:29 AM MDT up reply actions
well, sure
was someone expecting him to hit .400 the rest of the way?
But it strikes me as odd to say that a player who just went 7 for 13 is “cooling down.”
Free Seth Smith!
I checked out his line last week and it was definitely dropping
But if he’s poking back up, good for him.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jun 30, 2009 11:32 AM MDT up reply actions
Love trade rumors!
Hawkins, that’s old news as far as interest goes
Qualls would work…but in the division?
Saito…has a torn tendon in his elbow…which makes no sense to get a guy that the Rockies would have to handle delicately
Not interested in Cla Merideth and Danys Baez….YEA! we may be beggers, but at least we won’t make a trade for a body, that makes our bullpen worse.
Speaking of this article....I love this note at the bottom!
One GM says of the Rockies: “They’ve got maybe the toughest lineup we faced all year. They’ve got lefties and righties, they give you good at-bats and all throughout their lineup are guys who can hit extra-base hits. They’ve also got enough speed to keep you honest. They’re not going away. They’re a good team.”
wish that team had showed up last night ;)
Other than Spilly and Ianetta it was a painfully offensive performance…
"Right now, I'm eating Scrambled Eggs, with a comb, from a shoe!"
I think O Dowd should go for a two front war er
trade campaign. One front is to find a cheap Grilli type who is under performing his peripherals and wants out of town/organization (this guy could even be in AAA). The other front is to look for good relievers under control for a while that will cost legitimate talent. Could Spilly + another lower level bat do it?
If the price is right
I think the price will matter for any of these guys. I’d throw Hanrahan into the possibility category. He’s been decent before, is still striking out over 9/9, and has one slave year left after 2009. But it depends on what they’re being asked for.
Free Seth Smith!
I like the end of this piece
which talks about a GM complimenting our lineup and it being one of the toughest they’ve seen. I like our mix of offensive players too, and we don’t even have anyone that has had a phenomenal year. In fact I would argue we have a bunch of guys playing below their capabilities.
It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.
Hawpe has been phenomenal
Barmes is having his best year. Depends on what you term “phenomenal,” but Smith is close w/a .420-ish OBP and 10-for-22 PH numbers (and is likely playing over his head a little).
Atkins is the obvious guy on the other side of the coin, and then there’s the young ’uns (CarGon, Fowler, Stewart) who could/should be better in subsequent seasons.
Free Seth Smith!
I'm pretty sure
that our only hope for the bullpen would be if these things can happen:
1) we can stay in contention until the trade deadline.
2) Atkins and/or Spilborghs can play well until that time.
3) We can trade Atkins and/or Spilborghs away for some quality relievers.
This has been stated before here, and it’s kind of stating the obvious now. But I don’t think that we’ll be able to trade for some quality bullpen help rightnow, given that none of our trade candidates are looking very appealing right now. I am warily optimistic that Morales could do well in the bullpen, but I don’t know if this would help him develop as a player.
All that being said, the key piece for the next month will be our offense. We need for more of our games to not be so close…or nailbiting…or lengthy.
Trading prospects
Will likely get you the biggest bang (given that the Rockies aren’t about to trade any of their ML players still in their pre-arb years). I don’t see why they shouldn’t consider moving prospects if the Rockies continue to hang so close to the WC lead and bullpen remains an area of concern. Obviously they shouldn’t move a blue chipper, and you don’t this for castoffs.
Free Seth Smith!
Well
The player of the week, would have caught the soft liner, that Atkins did’nt, leading to 2 runs.
Are you talking about Loney's drive in the 7th?
That didn’t lead to runs.
Take me to the Gothic Castle
by frightenedinmate#2 on Jun 30, 2009 10:34 AM MDT up reply actions
Between the late game and alley dumpster fire at 2 am
the brain is fairly fuzzy wuzzy this morning but I feel compelled to make a comment or two…
Thoughts/Questions:
1) It seems the Rox have at least one team every year that has their number (previous tormentors Braves, Fish and DBacks to name a few). For the sake of everyone’s sanity, maybe we should just acknowledge the Dogs are that team this year? Not that I’m advocating full surrender but coming to that realization does my mental health some good.
2) While the 7 million dollar man has pulled it together offensively as the DH in the last few games I think the timing of switching Atkins for Stewie for the dogs series is terrible. Why shake up the lineup at this juncture? Why put out almost the same lineup that has flailed against the Dodgers so far this year? Why make your defense weaker?
3) Was CarGo the best PH at the time with 2 on and no outs? You know he is going to be hacking – followed by Dex who was having his usual problems with inside pitches. I’m thinking a more seasoned situational hitter (Q, Phillips) might have been a better choice (yes, I know, baseball etiquette says you can’t use your backup catcher in that sitch). Which leads me to think it was basically a stress test for the young’uns in a tense almost playoff type atmosphere.
4)Re bullpen help= yes please!! However, I think a general rule of thumb (along with never getting into a land war in Asia) is to avoid 30 something pitchers the Yanks or Red Sox are dangling as an enticement for our talent/prospects. In the MLB universe, ‘we’ are (considered) a feeder team and they are the sharks — it doesn’t work the other way (or rarely works). i.e. We serve them nutritionally balanced super foods and they give us past their expiration date dinged can highly processed foods… Believe we would be better off negotiating with the the other nice goldfish teams in our bowl. ;)
"Right now, I'm eating Scrambled Eggs, with a comb, from a shoe!"
3)
While I didn’t like the results, I don’t question the choice of CarGo. A guy who admittedly has had some strikeout issues thus far, but who’s bat seemed to get going in Oakland.
PH your backup catcher with the starting catcher on, dunno, just don’t like it. Plust Spilly and Doom were the ones getting the hits, I would not want to see him take Doom out of the game there.
And Q…..didn’t look so good in the one AB he did get. I don’t know if he’s ever going to be the first choice.
If we had Baker on the bench, he would have been the guy. But in the situation, I think CarGo was the right choice.
Take me to the Gothic Castle
by frightenedinmate#2 on Jun 30, 2009 10:50 AM MDT up reply actions
yep
Weaver gave up two hits to righties – although Baker is also somewhat of a hacker he would have been the best choice if available…
"Right now, I'm eating Scrambled Eggs, with a comb, from a shoe!"
by WalkInRight on Jun 30, 2009 10:58 AM MDT up reply actions
not sure I wouldn't chosen Cargo either
he does not have the maturity/plate disciplint needed to ph in that situation. He came away from Oakland where he was most familiar to Dodger stadium that is a diifficult background to hit. Against the rules I would’ve picked Phillips too, why not go for it?
I would have gone with Phillips myself
he’s been fairly hot, and has more vet experience and a righty. Sure if iannetta got hurt or the game went long, there would be no back up catcher, but that was the winning moment.
It's a total hindsight comment, but yeah I'd like to see Phillips hit in that sitch
especially because he’s successfuly SACed before on a tough pitch (vs. the Angels I think) and can hit the ball into the outfield fairly easily as his swing patter has a Hawpe-like quality that lends itself to the flyball. Plus, I really like Phillips.
by TulsaDriller on Jun 30, 2009 5:11 PM MDT up reply actions
The Dodgers
have always had our number. Outside of 2007, they’ve been our superiors every year. Worst thing about living in LA (other than the dude who got his throat cut down the street from my house on Sun. leading to the chopper circling all night) is the utter disdain LA fans have for the Rockies. SF is the rival, SD is a secondary, Angels are a unique enemy, and the Rox might as well be the Pirates. And watching this season, its hard to blame them for thinking so.
sadly true
but I didn’t want to be too much of an NN. :)
Believe me, I’m still bitter about the Hideo Nomo no-no from 1996! I was there…grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr….
I don’t begrudge the Dogs fans considering the J’ints and the Friars as their main rivals. History and proximity dictate that. I’m guessing they consider the Dbacks and Rox about the same – pesky little flies occasionally landing on and besmirching their potato salad but otherwise mostly harmless. It made it all the more satisfying when the Rox supplanted them from their ‘rightful’ playoff spot in 2007. :)
"Right now, I'm eating Scrambled Eggs, with a comb, from a shoe!"
by WalkInRight on Jun 30, 2009 12:05 PM MDT up reply actions
Honestly I blame the Balk.
If instead of a balk, that pitch to Wolf had been a strike, we probably wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
I wasn’t in the game thread last night so this may have been talked to death already, but I think the balk upset Ubaldo enough to make him throw a bad pitch to Wolf that resulted in both Dodgers runs. If that one at bat had been different, we’d be celebrating right now. Now, I don’t necessarily blame Ubaldo, I thought the ump had called time too, but it was the turning point in my eyes.
Just my 2 pennies…
I wouldn't say it was a bad pitch.
Wolf went down and got it. But why Uball didn’t reach back and blaze it by him is what confounded me.
Take me to the Gothic Castle
by frightenedinmate#2 on Jun 30, 2009 10:44 AM MDT up reply actions
precisely!
I was thinking “high cheese” all the way! While Uball has matured quite a bit in the past year it seems like he still does a little more nibbling than necessary after he gets an 0-2 or 1-2 count…
"Right now, I'm eating Scrambled Eggs, with a comb, from a shoe!"
by WalkInRight on Jun 30, 2009 10:48 AM MDT up reply actions
I blame the terrible pitch out.
They figured it out perfectly. Iannetta would have thrown out the runner easy if it had not been in the dirt.
I think tonight's game will be one of our more telling of the season thus far.
If we come back from a gut-wrenching loss, a loss that arguably should have been a win, and win, then not much harm will have been done last night. If, on the other hand, we come out feeling sorry for ourselves and get clocked, we may just have signed over the West to LA.
It’s only a one game loss streak, but if Marquis ever needed to be a stopper, tonight is the night.
"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
I'm not so pessimistic.
I do think it’s important to take one of these two, and it would definitely be better to take both, but we don’t have to win tonight. I agree that we have to hope the Rockies don’t let up in intensity, though. LA’s got a clear advantage right now for the division, it’s just a matter of if there’s a breakdown ahead for them or not. I think that has to come from their end. For wildcard purposes, though, road series where we play the underdog like this don’t have to come up in the W column as much as when we’re facing lightweights. We should pull out all the stops to avoid getting swept, but winning a second game would be a bonus, not a necessity.
I don't think they've got to win both either. I do think they've got to prove to themselves (and to us) that they can beat LA.
The WC isn’t going to hinge on whether or not we can beat LA. But at this point, we’ve still got a legitimate chance to win the West. That is going to hinge on whether or not we can beat them. That’s what I was referring to.
"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
I have avoided PR during the hot streak
to avoid jinxing them. But they did it to themselves last night. The Rockies had 3 chances last night to put this away:
1. 1 and 3 (1 out) Atkins lines into DP. Comment: As a baserunner you are thought to be able to dive back to third and reach, plus freeze on a liner. Fowler bungled both and was nailed. Brain Fart #1.
2. Ubaldo basically gives away the lead single handledly. Misses a pitch out spot and cost Ianetta a CS. Brain Fart #2. Then IW for a 1&2 sit. Then lets the pitcher fart his brain for a balk. I have worked this drill and every level a pitcher is taught to throw the ball on late time outs for this exact reason. Brain Fart #3. Then he throws off speed to a pitcher and hangs one up for Brain Fart #4.
3. 1 and 3 (no out) in the 10th. After two solid hits by Spilly and Ianetta. Tracy (who used his best PH (Smith) earlier leading off the eight (bad choice as Smith should be saved for this exact scenario) puts in the undisciplined Cargo to PH. K. Fowler K, Barmers K.
Basically ballgame. The thing I cannot analyze is whether the LA bullpen is so much better than ours or the fact that the Rockies hacked all night and played into their hands. The ABs were very undisciplined last night.
by PinchHitLancePainter on Jun 30, 2009 3:20 PM MDT reply actions
I think it was definitely both
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 30, 2009 3:38 PM MDT up reply actions
Really like this post....
…. it was an evenly played game. Both starters pitched strong, later innings and both teams had serious underproduction from key bats but the thing that stands out most is that LA made fewer mistakes/brain farts. While the Rox played solid big-league ball, LA played at a post-season level. End result: evenly matched production from the starters/hitters/bullpen but more mental lapses by the Rox = Dodgers victory. (also, edge to the Dodgers for favorable umpiring behind the dish)
by TulsaDriller on Jun 30, 2009 5:17 PM MDT up reply actions
I think labeling the Matt Holliday trade a "masterstroke"
For either team at this point is fairly laughable. And yes, I would take exception to calling the Rockies the best team in the NL even with a few new relievers. I guess we’ll see.
by Brendan Scolari on Jun 30, 2009 6:08 PM MDT reply actions
I think RoxGirl said it yesterday...
Hopefully I’m attributing the right source, but someone mentioned yesterday that in the NL, there’s the Dodgers, and then there’s everyone else. I think last night showed that. Better pitching depth, consistency up and down the lineup – better plate discipline. I’m prepared to be smacked down by saying this, but I think Buster Olney’s scout source is a bit optimistic to think that 2 quality middle relievers are all that differentiate us from being an elite team. By all means, if we can get 2 (even one), that will go a long way.
I think that LA just has a little more of the magic pixie dust, i.e., intangibles, like better overall discipline, and luck, that make the difference. The Rox are good right now (good enough to win the WC), and could be great in a year or two with the right mix of our core, and some more seasoning of our young kids.
I think we go toe to toe with them in discipline.
I think we go toe to toe with them in consistency (you have seen Raffy Furcal’s line, right?). I think where they beat us besides the pen is just a better match-up when facing the Rockies. It’s sort of like the Red Sox dominance over the Yankees these last few seasons. On paper, there’s not that much separating the two teams, but Boston just beats New York down.The Rockies are 39-27 when facing any team in the majors besides Los Angeles. The Dodgers are 40-27 when facing any team in the majors besides the Rockies. I do think they’re a step ahead of everybody else, but if the Rockies can figure out the secret sauce to beating LA, they will have taken that step.
Being a Red Sox fan also...
I know that’s almost bad form for the classy folks here at PR, but hey, I grew up there, and suffered through Bucky effin’ Dent, Bill Buckner and decades of disappointment. I also grew up with watching the Yanks stomp all over us year after year after year after… The last couple of years (starting with 2004) are very strange and new to Red Sox Nation. Don’t get me wrong, I’m enjoying every last minute of it. But I also know that in the baseball-karmic view of the universe, it can change.
I will disagree somewhat that the latest Sox dominance over the Yanks is due wholly on what’s in the kool-aid. On paper too, they are better: deeper starting rotation, better bullpen, and I would argue, better situational hitters. 81 games in Fenway adds something to that also.
Back to my favorite NL, and hometown team: Yeah, we’re close – perhaps a couple of pitchers in the bullpen from having the depth. But I still think when I speak of discipline, I think it has to do with experience in that our kids (namely Fowler and Cargo, but to a certain extent Stewie, and Ubaldo and Hammel) to have been in enough situations to feel confident in their ability to come through in the clutch – that comes with more games played. That’s the magic pixie dust, I believe.
Hey
Raffy is pretty consistent. He’s just consistently bad.
by Brendan Scolari on Jul 1, 2009 12:08 AM MDT up reply actions
Not sure if anyone has posted anything on this site yet...
but Jamie Quirk is on MLB Tonight if anyone wants to check it out.
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