Rockies Roll Over Against Zito, Lose 5-3 to Giants
by Jeff Aberle on Aug 29, 2009 9:56 PM MDT
in Rockies Game Wraps
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Well, this was not at all what Rockies fans were hoping for from the first two games of this crucial three game set against the Giants. Colorado was befuddled and decidedly unclutch against the overpaid but decent Barry Zito (9-11, 3.94), who went 8.1 IP, allowing eight hits and one run while striking out seven, and then a furious ninth-inning rally fell just short. Jason Marquis, who pitched six innings and gave up five runs on nine hits, took the loss (14-9, 3.60) and Brian Wilson put out the fire for his 32nd save.
A ninth inning Brad Hawpe home run saved the Rockies from the embarrassment of a second complete game shutout, snapping a 23.1 inning scoreless streak and chasing Zito. After that Ian Stewart, Yorvit Torrealba, pinch-hitter Seth Smith (who really needs to play everyday), and Todd Helton strung singles together to pull Colorado within two, but ultimately the task was too much for Clint Barmes (who flew out) and the Rockies.
Oddly enough, every Rockies starter except Troy Tulowitzki got a hit, but Colorado only managed the three ninth inning runs on 12 hits. Of course, they were victimized by poor BABIP luck and unusual double plays, but the fact remains that the Rockies didn't get the job done in the clutch until it was a little too late.
It was the Rockies' fourth consecutive loss since pulling within two games of LA for the division lead on Tuesday. With the loss and the Dodgers' win, the Rockies fell five games behind LA in the NL West. More importantly, however, their lead in the wild card standings was reduced to just one game.
On a more positive note, the last time the Rockies lost four straight they followed it up with an eleven game winning streak. So we've got that going for us, which is nice.
Colorado now needs to beat Matt Cain with Jason Hammel to leave the City by the Bay with their Wild Card lead intact. It's a tall order, but hopefully with a lineup that includes Carlos Gonzalez and Seth Smith (fingers crossed), Colorado will be able to pull it off.
Not a great graph, despite the rally in the ninth.
Didn't Embarass Themselves: Garrett Atkins (.061), Helton (.038), Smith (.025)
Growing Goat Horns: Barmes (-.179), Hawpe (-.168), Tulowitzki (-.111),
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AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH
Can we score before say the 6th inning tomorrow please? Thank goodness we had hits before the fourth today. Come on guys this is now pivotal. WIN.
"We made too many wrong mistakes." ~Yogi Berra
"The ballplayer who loses his head, who can't keep his cool, is worse than no ballplayer at all." ~Lou Gehrig
JFK
I think they turned a corner
Way too many scoreless innings and then things started to click in the 9th. Too little too late for tonight, but I have hopes offensive momentum it will carry over to tomorrow.
Everyone is still swinging for the fences
and EYJ is just swinging at everything. His strike zone is Eckstein sized, he just needs to not swing so much – he’s bound to walk at some point.
Mike McCoy Status: BETTER BE A SEPT CALLUP
Seth Smith Status: Part of a Good Problem
Chris Iannetta Status: OH MY GOD GET SOME HITS YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOK LIKE AN ASS
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Everyone
except Helton (and even he does on occasion). They need to be professional and take the ball where it’s placed. Singles work they just take longer. And stealing against the Giants doesn’t seem like a good idea for our middle infielders.
"We made too many wrong mistakes." ~Yogi Berra
"The ballplayer who loses his head, who can't keep his cool, is worse than no ballplayer at all." ~Lou Gehrig
JFK
well it seems more that we're failing to make good contact on the hit and run, hence the higher CS numbers.
the whole “fundamental” aspects are kind of falling apart.
Mike McCoy Status: BETTER BE A SEPT CALLUP
Seth Smith Status: Part of a Good Problem
Chris Iannetta Status: OH MY GOD GET SOME HITS YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOK LIKE AN ASS
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by Andrew Martin on Aug 29, 2009 10:28 PM MDT up reply actions
with this I agree
"We made too many wrong mistakes." ~Yogi Berra
"The ballplayer who loses his head, who can't keep his cool, is worse than no ballplayer at all." ~Lou Gehrig
JFK
I feel like we need some sort of closed-door meeting or something
because this is just unacceptable
Mike McCoy Status: BETTER BE A SEPT CALLUP
Seth Smith Status: Part of a Good Problem
Chris Iannetta Status: OH MY GOD GET SOME HITS YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOK LIKE AN ASS
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by Andrew Martin on Aug 29, 2009 10:31 PM MDT up reply actions
closed door meeting
was held by Don Baylor where he discussed all the fundamentals etc. they shoul use at bat. This according to Drew Goodman at top of first inning.
The fundamental thing
is what I’ve been thinking about. Don’t seem to be executing H&Rs, bunts, advancing runners like we were earlier in the season. It’s so frustrating right now.
I'll have another beer, please.
I didn't think we'd been executing H/R well at all this season
and being the stats guy, I’m all about the 3-run homer, but seeing how we’re not even hitting the ball, a homer seems out of the question entirely.
Mike McCoy Status: BETTER BE A SEPT CALLUP
Seth Smith Status: Part of a Good Problem
Chris Iannetta Status: OH MY GOD GET SOME HITS YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOK LIKE AN ASS
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by Andrew Martin on Aug 29, 2009 10:32 PM MDT up reply actions
I think you're right
about the H/R thing. And about our hitting in general. For a lineup that was (is) so “fearsome” 1-8, we sure haven’t shown it lately. With 32 (?) games to play, we need to start hitting again pretty dang soon.
I'll have another beer, please.
I do think we'll come out of it
We do seem to be catching a lot of bad breaks, but Hawpe and Stewart and Iannetta need to figure out what the hell is wrong and start hitting some line drives.
Mike McCoy Status: BETTER BE A SEPT CALLUP
Seth Smith Status: Part of a Good Problem
Chris Iannetta Status: OH MY GOD GET SOME HITS YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOK LIKE AN ASS
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by Andrew Martin on Aug 29, 2009 10:43 PM MDT up reply actions
The team will start hitting I think
when it comes back to Coors for most of Sept, and faces crappy pitchers on losing teams.
BUT…is that real? Will the offense get in enough of a grove to carry on against the better teams?
I agree with everything you said here
But beating up on the crappy teams counts as much as beating up on good teams, and if we make the postseason, everything kind of goes out the window, you know?
We have been facing a lot of good pitching lately, especially good pitching that plays to our weaknesses (striking out just a godawful amount).
Mike McCoy Status: BETTER BE A SEPT CALLUP
Seth Smith Status: Part of a Good Problem
Chris Iannetta Status: OH MY GOD GET SOME HITS YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOK LIKE AN ASS
Check out the most recent MLB Transactions on MLB Daily Dish
by Andrew Martin on Aug 29, 2009 10:50 PM MDT up reply actions
Not sure who counts as a good team...
Though obviously the season record against the Dodgers bites. But I agree—make the playoffs, see what happens then. You have to catch fire there at the right time.
I forget who it was (Rox Girl?) who pointed to the w/l records against .500+ teams on bb-ref. Most teams are right around .500 vs. teams .500+. ( I assume they mean .500+ at the time the game was played.)
With this 4-5 stretch, the Rockies are now 23-16 under Tracy. (34-37 overall). 8 of those wins were during the win streak (I have Seattle at .500 for that 1st game).
Records for some other teams at the top of the standings after tonight:
42-32 Dodgers (30-29 against everyone else)
33-30 Phillies
24-24 Cards
32-30 Giants
41-30 Yankees
39-35 Angels
37-36 Red Sox
40-33 Texas
31-30 Rays
So I dunno. Yeah, we need to start hitting and it seems like we should be able to scratch out more wins against the tough pitchers. A win tomorrow would be very nice, thank you in advance, Rockies. But lots of teams seem to have trouble beating the good teams.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
Huh, I dunno where those AL numbers came from
NL numbers changed too, but aren’t as radically wrong..
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
Hmm, I think they count teams as .500+ when the stat is generated
not when the game was played. The Yankees are now 33-30, and Minnesota (against whom the Yanks are 7-0) dropped under .500 yesterday.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
Not sure what to make of our hitting
In the last four games we had 6, 11, 5 and 12 hits (outhitting LA and SF twice), but nothing to show for it. we scored just 2 and 3 runs with 11/12 hits..
I want to see
Smith-Spills-Hawpe in the OF tomorrow. I mean, yay EYJ, but he looks absolutely lost in CF. God bless him for trying, I mean really, he’s working hard, but now is not the time to be letting a guy work on figuring out CF.
Mike McCoy Status: BETTER BE A SEPT CALLUP
Seth Smith Status: Part of a Good Problem
Chris Iannetta Status: OH MY GOD GET SOME HITS YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOK LIKE AN ASS
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by Andrew Martin on Aug 29, 2009 10:29 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
Did you see
him air-mail the ball to third on Uribe’s triple yesterday? He should have let Brad throw it. His arm is not made for center (or the OF in general). Maybe he can give Barmes or help give Tulo a day off (not tomorrow as it’s too important to win).
"We made too many wrong mistakes." ~Yogi Berra
"The ballplayer who loses his head, who can't keep his cool, is worse than no ballplayer at all." ~Lou Gehrig
JFK
Bench him tomorrow
I understand we’re in a tight spot, but we need a win, and God love the kid, but right now he is not benefitting our team.
He looks a lot like Dex during his Sept callup.
Mike McCoy Status: BETTER BE A SEPT CALLUP
Seth Smith Status: Part of a Good Problem
Chris Iannetta Status: OH MY GOD GET SOME HITS YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOK LIKE AN ASS
Check out the most recent MLB Transactions on MLB Daily Dish
by Andrew Martin on Aug 29, 2009 10:33 PM MDT up reply actions
We're too much into
this season and this is essentially a September callup that is not panning out right now. We cannot afford to start him anymore. I agree with your outfield for tomorrow, although if Carlos is available I wouldn’t mind having him start in center.
"We made too many wrong mistakes." ~Yogi Berra
"The ballplayer who loses his head, who can't keep his cool, is worse than no ballplayer at all." ~Lou Gehrig
JFK
I was jsut assuming he wouldn't
Smith-Carlos-Hawpe is fine by me, esp against a RHP
Mike McCoy Status: BETTER BE A SEPT CALLUP
Seth Smith Status: Part of a Good Problem
Chris Iannetta Status: OH MY GOD GET SOME HITS YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOK LIKE AN ASS
Check out the most recent MLB Transactions on MLB Daily Dish
by Andrew Martin on Aug 29, 2009 10:38 PM MDT up reply actions
"not panning out"
he’s had 5 games.
and he’s not a CF. And he’s had to face some of the best pitchers in the game so far as well, got 2 hit of Wolf.
Does he look over matched in SF? Yes…the whole Rockies team does. Is he going to have to adjust to major league pitching? Yeah. Is that going to be fun to watch? Not usually.
Personally I’d start EY2 at 2nd tomorrow with the RHP starting, and give Barmes a day off. Then I sit EY2 for a game or 2. He needs to relax, catch his breath, and breathe.
I could get behind this
"We made too many wrong mistakes." ~Yogi Berra
"The ballplayer who loses his head, who can't keep his cool, is worse than no ballplayer at all." ~Lou Gehrig
JFK
I'm not trying to light pitchforks against EYJ, don't get me wrong
but we all admit he looks overmatched – and yes, against top notch pitchers, so he gets the pass. Get him some playing time against the Reds or something.
Cain vs Hammel tomorrow, I want the flyball defense ready to roll.
I’d like to see Gonzalez leading off if he’s available.
Mike McCoy Status: BETTER BE A SEPT CALLUP
Seth Smith Status: Part of a Good Problem
Chris Iannetta Status: OH MY GOD GET SOME HITS YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOK LIKE AN ASS
Check out the most recent MLB Transactions on MLB Daily Dish
by Andrew Martin on Aug 29, 2009 11:51 PM MDT up reply actions
I agree with this...
I am not sure how EY Jr. is the problem after a night like tonight. If Barmes can lay down a freaking bunt in the sixth inning it may be a different story.
Why would a pitcher throw him a fastball? Throw him something off speed and out of the zone and he will swing at it all day long. He is the biggest hole in the Rockies lineup right now, Not EY Jr.
I am not trying to say the EY jr isnt overmatched, but if Tracy put him at 2B tomorrow and left Barmes on the bench, I think the Rockies have a better lineup.
Check out my website...www.rockiesreview.com
by Sandlotkid8 on Aug 30, 2009 12:10 AM MDT up reply actions
Better lineup with EY2 replacing Barmes...
Maybe. And there’s a lot of competition for “biggest hole in the Rockies lineup right now.”
A .263 OBP/.263 slugging is nothing to write home about, either. In the 5 games in which EY2 has played, Barmes’s contributions as a batter actually have more value than EY2’s, despite Barmes going 3 for 16.
Obviously few believe those 5 games are somehow predictive for EY2, but then he’d have to improve a lot to match Barmes’s season numbers.
I guess we can play that game where we give EY2 all the breaks and assume he’ll approach his minor league #‘s, and assume Barmes will just keep falling into a vortex of suck. But that’s not really a game I want to play.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
TBLA would absolutely light into you for this post
given that you were a “question-talker” which ground the gears of Dodger fans roughly on par with Hurdlisms.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Aug 30, 2009 12:39 PM MDT up reply actions
Lots of games left
these are not “must-win.” that said, I’ve been fending off texts from my Giants-fan friend all night and it blows. Win tomorrow. Pull it together.
It's not a must-win
but I’d liked to have beaten them and pad our lead a bit before we move forward, so later games don’t become Must-Win
Mike McCoy Status: BETTER BE A SEPT CALLUP
Seth Smith Status: Part of a Good Problem
Chris Iannetta Status: OH MY GOD GET SOME HITS YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOK LIKE AN ASS
Check out the most recent MLB Transactions on MLB Daily Dish
by Andrew Martin on Aug 29, 2009 11:52 PM MDT up reply actions
Another bummer
Thanks goodness for the 9th inning, otherwise the lone highlight of my two nights at the ballpark would have been a lone defensive play. Too bad the 9th was too little too late.
The crowd was LOUD again. Biggest cheers of the night were for Jeff Kent and Barry Zito when he left the game. Oh, and of course the splash hit.
So disgusted with this team right now
i shut the game off and went to bed in the 6th inning…i have NEVER not stayed up until a rockies game is finished so that tells you how mad/disappointed i was but in baseball strange things happen so i think somehow we will win today with the Hammel/Cain match up…i remember one sunday the reds were in SF last month and it was Harang vs Cain and the Reds crushed them.
we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE
"TuLoRocks2008 had the most comments I've seen in any game thread this year (322)...Can such a feat be eclipsed?" ..... Bring it on!!
The Giants have had trouble closing out a series.
In their last one they had two come from behind wins over Arizona, and then laid an egg in the last game. I’m hoping the same thing happens.
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