Monday Rockpile: Rockies look to put Giants in their place in pivotal series

by Russ Oates on Sep 14, 2009 7:43 AM MDT in Rockpile

Rockies face Giants next in serious series - The Denver Post
Troy E. Renck has a great quote from Ubaldo Jimenez:

"All the pressure is on them," said Ubaldo Jimenez, who will pitch Tuesday for the Rockies. "We are in a better position. We are leading and can really make it hard on them if we play well."

Rockies stumble into huge series - The Denver Post
Find out what the Rockies' dirty little secret is in this piece by Troy E. Renck.

Inside the Colorado Rockies " Giants Need Sweep
Tracy Ringolsby writes why this series against the Rockies is HUGE for the Giants.

Cook works out, holds out hope for 2009 return - The Denver Post
The last time he was out for the rest of the regular season and returned during the playoffs, Cook couldn't have done more for the team on the mound . . . damn Red Sox buzzsaw.

MLB 2009 Attendance Comparison I - National League - Graph of the Day - Beyond the Box Score
A graphical look at Attendance vs. Wins. Apparently, ColoradoFan doesn't support the team according to this study.

BaseballAmerica.com:Prospect Hot Sheet: Prospect Hot Sheet: Sept. 11
The Rockies' Christian Friedrich placed #8 on Baseball America's final Prospect Hot Sheet of the season.

And happy 24th birthday to me!

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Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Russ, Happy Birhday to you.!!

The" butterfly effect ", which theorizes that a change in something seemingly innocuous, such as a flap of a butterfly's wings, may have unexpected larger consequences in the future, such as . . .winning the World Series.

by butterfly on Sep 14, 2009 8:03 AM MDT reply actions 2 recs

The thing that worries me

is that the Rockies and media seem fixated on only avoiding the sweep, which seems like a recipe for playing tight. Shouldn’t everyone be hoping for a series win or even a sweep on our end, however unlikely?

by moomacher on Sep 14, 2009 8:08 AM MDT reply actions

Exactly

If the Rockies go into this series playing not to lose they are toast.

by DieHardRox on Sep 14, 2009 8:37 AM MDT up reply actions

Happy Birthday Russ

I always thought you were older than me, guess not.

by Muzia on Sep 14, 2009 8:26 AM MDT reply actions

Justin Bopp at BtB is very hard on Rockies fans

The last stumper of this NL side of the study is Colorado. What’s going on up there? Is DenverFan so pissed off about Big Baby Cutler’s departure that they’ve decided to stay home? WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING? Only three games back from first and currently leading the NL Wild Card Chase…and that’s it? We all remember your bandwagon fans a few years ago in the Series, but this is sad. You have about 3 million people 8-9 hours to your east that would KILL for a .500 team right now, much less one in the chase.

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Sep 14, 2009 8:50 AM MDT reply actions

Huh?

is he saying that Kansas City Fans are better? would be more into the Rockies or would show up more?

I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but the Rockies have drawn well. This last home stand was not packed, but there were also no big teams, and school is back in. But the home stand before the Coors Field was packed for the Giants and Dodgers.

by Redhawk on Sep 14, 2009 9:15 AM MDT up reply actions

Kansas City is a much better baseball town than Denver

And it’s really not even close.

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.

by Franchise26 on Sep 14, 2009 9:38 AM MDT up reply actions

tru dis

Not to bash Denver fans, but we’re a FOOBAL town

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 14, 2009 9:40 AM MDT up reply actions

bah

As a Denver (mostly) native, I say take your* KC/St. Looey ’we’re such superior baseball fans" line out to the Colorado/Kansas border and bury it. Royals fans are bitter that their team has stunk since the George Brett glory days and St. Looey has had a team forever, yada, yada, blah, blah, we’re awesome..I get it. Having been subjected to the forced attempts by local TV/radio stations during the 70’s and 80’s to make Denverites Royals/Cards fans I would say most of us stuck with the Bears or transferred their allegiance to the rox. I.e those of us in Denver who are diehard baseballs fans don’t buy into this we don’t deserve a winning team crap.

Plus, KC fans nationally are known as diehard Chefs fans, not for any Royals mania.

/collective national diss of rox fans not you specifically:)
//I’m obviously still pretty cranky about yesterdays loss

I can't decide whether I'm hungry or just really tired.

by WalkInRight on Sep 14, 2009 10:48 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

Attendance

I believe that 2008 had a great start to the year with attendance because of the World Series year of 2007. This year we probably did not have as many season ticket holders. I would guess that our second half attendance is better than last year, but I do not know where to look that up.

by brian8065 on Sep 14, 2009 10:01 AM MDT up reply actions

First of all,

I was very disappointed in the crowd for this last homestand, it was a little disheartening. Lets get ready for the next homestand and get behind this team.

I am not sure about the comments regarding KC. I lived in MO for 4 years and had many close friends in KC, spent many weekends there and never saw much excitement for anything Royals. I know they are terrible and have been that way for awhile now, but this was about 10-15 years ago, and I didn’t exactly see a baseball heaven while I was out there. The Cards are obviously the team of the area. I think Royals fans are dying for a winner, but that doesn’t make them great baseball fans.

Denver is certainly more of a football city, but what do you expect, the baseball team has been here for less than 20 years. I see fans turning to baseball more and more around here, but I would love to see a better turnout for the next homestand.

It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.

by smokinRox on Sep 14, 2009 10:43 AM MDT up reply actions

I'd go to more games

but I’m scared that I’m bad luck :(. Went to one game during the last 9-1 homestand and guess which one it was? :)

I can't decide whether I'm hungry or just really tired.

by WalkInRight on Sep 14, 2009 11:14 AM MDT up reply actions

Um , me too.

by hawperox on Sep 14, 2009 5:45 PM MDT up reply actions

I hope the Rox give you a nice bday gift

if you're reading this, it means my undying support for your team will result in its failure.

by fantasyfencing on Sep 14, 2009 8:52 AM MDT reply actions

Haven't most of the last decade, I believe.

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

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on Sep 14, 2009 8:55 AM MDT up reply actions

great

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 14, 2009 9:00 AM MDT up reply actions

Won 2000, 2006, and 2008.

3-5 this decade with no game being played in 2001.

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

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on Sep 14, 2009 9:08 AM MDT up reply actions

Well that's not terrible

It’s not Silverblood’s history, but no one has that history anywhere. Don’t forget – it’s Hammel time…

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Sep 14, 2009 9:21 AM MDT up reply actions

“It’s disappointing. I am really frustrated with myself right now,” Marquis said. “This is a game that I felt like I should have won.”

This is why pitching wins are stupid. Sure, Marquis didn’t pitch well. But 3 runs typically won’t get the job done. This game wasn’t all on Marquis’ shoulders to win. It depresses me to see that he thinks it’s all on him.

I can’t even imagine performing in a situation where if your team scores in an inning, that might be all you get for the remainder of the game.

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 14, 2009 8:54 AM MDT reply actions

yes if we would of scored in the top half of the 6th

when we had 2 on NO out…we could of made it easier for him and he wouldn’t of been pressured to not allow that 1 run and would of been able to get away with a mistake…definitely not all on Marquis yesterday

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!!

by TuLoRocks2008 on Sep 14, 2009 9:18 AM MDT up reply actions

But three runs at PetCo is like 6 elsewhere right?

Okay, maybe four…

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Sep 14, 2009 9:22 AM MDT up reply actions

true enough

and in this case, I don’t really have much trouble with faulting Marquis’ poor performance. I feel as if him saying this now has been reflective of a month of pitchers having to go 7 before run support shows up just in time to give them a ND.

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 14, 2009 9:24 AM MDT up reply actions

This is true

It sure is nerve-wracking to see all this late offense. Giving fans faith at the end of games is great, but it’s not like we’ll face Merkin Valdez at the end of games in the playoffs or a closer with an ERA over 7…oh wait…

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Sep 14, 2009 9:32 AM MDT up reply actions

we have to get there first

and we lack the Pujols to break Lidge

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 14, 2009 9:37 AM MDT up reply actions

I hadn't even noticed St. Louis passed Philly

Where have I been? Delirious. Plus, of Lidge’s 42 runs allowed, only one is by the STL

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Sep 14, 2009 9:43 AM MDT up reply actions

this is a big picture thing PF

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 14, 2009 9:45 AM MDT up reply actions

Yeah yeah yeah

I ain’t scurred of Lidge

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Sep 14, 2009 10:07 AM MDT up reply actions

It's got to be frustrating for the pitchers

I agree with the sentiments of a poster from yesterday that the Rockies need to quit overthinking and relying on the notion that it’s better to match left hand pitching with right hand betters or vice versa.

While the side that a pitcher is throwing may be a factor, a good batter who is in the zone and has the right timing should be able to succeed over a slumping player who happens to hit from the other side. While it makes perfect sense to swap out Barmes for practically any other offensive player late in the game, it doesn’t make sense to send in a slumping Atkins, Stewart, expecting results.

The same thing goes for pitchers. If a pitcher has command is can throw strikes, that should be more important than what side the batter is standing on.

by ddavis539 on Sep 14, 2009 9:31 AM MDT up reply actions

Great quote by U-Ball

Go Rockies!…and Happybirthday Russ you are only a few months younger than me lol

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!!

by TuLoRocks2008 on Sep 14, 2009 9:17 AM MDT reply actions

Holy moly

A girl from my sister floor in the dorms freshman year is dating the #3 hot prospect on that list

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Sep 14, 2009 10:08 AM MDT reply actions

is she hot

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 14, 2009 10:09 AM MDT up reply actions

what kind of question is that?

of course she’s hot.

by Narcoleptico on Sep 14, 2009 6:59 PM MDT up reply actions

heh

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Sep 15, 2009 10:04 AM MDT up reply actions

Happy birthday Russ!

And go Rockies!!

by Rockie4Ever on Sep 14, 2009 10:09 AM MDT via mobile reply actions

IBB's

What was up with Tracy’s sudden infatuation with IBB’s this weekend? I’ve read previously that he (paraphrasing) “hates putting on potential tying/winning runs with IBB’s” which I agree with. Why the change of heart in the last two games? I really disagreed with putting on the extra baserunner in the tenth during Saturday’s game. I know we’re trying to set up the DP but…with Frankie’s wild tendencies I think it just put more pressure on the kid…

Thoughts?

I can't decide whether I'm hungry or just really tired.

by WalkInRight on Sep 14, 2009 10:58 AM MDT reply actions

more or less agreed

but setting up the DP is pretty standard issue, IMO

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 14, 2009 11:02 AM MDT up reply actions

sure but...

I think he saw how well the IBB’s worked for Torre in that Dbacks game (sar-chasm!) and wanted to emulate Super Joe (hey, he managed for the Yanquis!).

I can't decide whether I'm hungry or just really tired.

by WalkInRight on Sep 14, 2009 11:12 AM MDT up reply actions

Super Joe?

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 14, 2009 11:19 AM MDT up reply actions

I miss him so much already.

by Muzia on Sep 14, 2009 11:24 AM MDT up reply actions

Happy B day Russ

by Rock Oax on Sep 14, 2009 11:50 AM MDT reply actions

There is a fun little piece in the 4 letter network

Where BBTN’s Steve Berthiaume tries to shame us into not complaining about their coverage of the Rockies!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/notebook?page=bbtn

Now they are going all Catholic on us

by Rock Oax on Sep 14, 2009 11:55 AM MDT reply actions

check the fanposts

and typically, make a fanshot of something like this

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 14, 2009 11:58 AM MDT up reply actions

I posted it here in the Rockpile

because this is where I come to see links to other Rockies stories. But thanks for the constructive criticism…

by Rock Oax on Sep 14, 2009 12:14 PM MDT up reply actions

oh, it's just a guideline thing

I didn’t mean to come down on you, I assumed you weren’t aware of how we use fanshots.

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 14, 2009 12:27 PM MDT up reply actions

OK piece on Rockies...

except for praise for Frazier, which is entirely undeserved. I regularly listen to almost all TV analysts on Extra Innings and can’t think of any I wouldn’t rather hear than the only pitcher ever to lose three games in a World Series.

by moose14 on Sep 14, 2009 4:10 PM MDT up reply actions