Friday Rockpile: Heading to Arizona, Rockies offense needs to click
by Russ Oates on Sep 18, 2009 8:15 AM MDT
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PrintRox lead NL Wild Card, but need offense | ColoradoRockies.com: News
Streaky and strike-out prone, the Rockies' offense needs to find its groove again.
Krieger: Rockies' K's are nothing special - The Denver Post
When they strike out more than seven times a game, their winning percentage is .446, according to general manager Dan O'Dowd. When they strike out less than that, their winning percentage is .671.
Rockies' Betancourt a good bet in clutch - The Denver Post
Baseball Prospectus | Future Shock: Great Leaps Forward, NL
Kevin Goldstein looks at some of those prospects for NL teams who took large steps forward this past season. For the Rockies, Goldstein chose Christian Friedrich for "one of the best breaking balls around" and his "more than enough" fastball. His runner-up is Juan Nicasio, our 17th-ranked PuRP.
Also, remember to help us decide which charity Purple Row should donate its proceedings from its PurpleRowCares shop on Cafepress.com here.
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This is as good a place as any
to say I hope people do not think of me as overly negative. I saw the thread from yesterday about negative posters on game threads, and I really try not to be a negative person, but I guess sometimes we do post more when we are worried, then when we are busy high fiving fellow Rockies’ fans. I want this team to win as much as anyone. In fact, I regularly hear my wife ask why an event that I have no control over ruins my moods all the time. I wish it didn’t, but I really do love the game of baseball and specifically the Rox. I will never give up on this team and I take no pride whatsoever in being right at the expense of this team, unless it results in a positive change for the team. I think we all say stuff to protect ourselves and avoid being hurt, almost like relationships, and that comes out in this too.
So, I really hope no one thinks I come and post on game threads to be a troll or revel in the Rox losing, that’s the last thing, me or my wife would want.
P.S. I am an ardent defender of Morales and Stew for some reason, ok and Tulo.
It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.
by smokinRox on Sep 18, 2009 8:33 AM MDT reply actions 2 recs
You are no troll.
We can’t all be optimists, and us optimists need pessimists to keep us grounded.
We all love the Rockies, just in different ways.
GO ROCKIES!
oh you're not a troll at all
I hope my pushing for positive hasn’t reflected as such.
Trolling is if you’d come in and try and bring up Redhawk and my argument: “Hits and Walks: Issues in the Civil Rights Movements (there’s a joke there) in baseball counting statistics and valuation thereof” because you’d be posting it not because you want to discuss it, but because you want to get the big obnoxious argument (from both sides) started up all over again.
ALTHOUGH if you came in and told me that despite his great start vs SF, Jorge De La Rosa is still no better than a #5 pitcher, tops, and probably should be in the bullpen, you’d get a neverending tirade from me – ie, you probably trolled me pretty good.
Seriously, I harp on the negativity because I KNOW WE NEED MORE BASE HITS WE STRIKE OUT TOO MUCH OH MY GOD STOP. If it’s new and fresh, bring it on.
Mike McCoy Status: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
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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 Sep 18, 2009 9:05 AM MDT up reply actions
You won't get me to fight you on DLR
I have been enamored w/ his stuff since we got him. A lefty that throws 94-96 pretty consistently, has a very good slider, a decent curve, and a developing changeup, how can I not like that. I think his stuff is potential #2 at least, and obviously if he and Jimenez get the mental side together, well we could have a legit #1 and #2. BTW, I think Jimenez is very close to having the mental side down, and who knows if DLR ever will. His last start certainly had me excited though.
I will never give up on my fight to give Morales a shot at the rotation again next year though. 2 dominant lefties in the rotation, who doesn’t love that thought.
It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.
I don't DISagree on Morales
I don’t necessarily agree, but I’m very much on the fence. I brought up rotation stuff in the PHLP fanpost
Mike McCoy Status: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Seth Smith Status: Bludgeoning Baseballs
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 Sep 18, 2009 9:22 AM MDT up reply actions
About the mental side
John Smoltz had many of the same problems from 1989-1991 or so, and ended up spending much much time with a sports psychologist.
I’d say he turned out to be a halfway decent pitcher for a couple of years.
Sometimes, players simply don’t reach their potential particularly young, and it seems JLDR may firmly be in that camp. Color me as hoping he can be our #3/4 next year.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
I think you might've overshot my joke into a more involved joke
but hey, if you enjoyed it, kudos!
Mike McCoy Status: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Seth Smith Status: Bludgeoning Baseballs
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 Sep 18, 2009 9:21 AM MDT up reply actions
oh, did you mean Selma, Alabama?
I guess that’s sort of on the same page.
The joke is just one word that could be substituted in there.
Mike McCoy Status: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Seth Smith Status: Bludgeoning Baseballs
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 Sep 18, 2009 9:33 AM MDT up reply actions
haha, I wasn't even going there
but we’ll just go ahead and punt on this one
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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 Sep 18, 2009 11:22 AM MDT up reply actions
But
we don’t want the pendulum to go too far to “it’s all flowers and sunshine, and the kids are all above average” there on the Row as well. We are here to discuss, the good and the bad. In fact your continued “I GET IT” gets old. It’s shouting down in away, issues and concerns of other Rockies fans. Maybe they need reassurance that the Rockies really do not Sukz.!
Basically, to me most discussion fall into 2 main categories:
1) X player is not as bad as you think, and here’s why.
and 2) X player is not as good as you think, and here’s why.
Now, they won’t always look like that. They might look like, “Crap, Stewart, you need to not Strike out so much” Or “I love Eric Young Jr”. but they are variations of the 2 above mega-themes.
There is nothing wrong with being negative, or making a negative comment, if done correctly.
I can't be the only one represented in the "I GET IT" is the thing
There is nothing wrong with being negative, or making a negative comment, if done correctly.
This is truth. Ian Stewart K’s too much is not it.
Mike McCoy Status: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Seth Smith Status: Bludgeoning Baseballs
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 Sep 18, 2009 9:48 AM MDT up reply actions
But I can't tell you how many times
I will say something, like, player X and player Y are pulling the team down, and some one else will point out, that Player Y has had a good 2 weeks. Some times that’s the conversation that is needed. My perception from the At Bats I see is that Player Y is struggling, But maybe he’s turning it around, and it hasn’t registered on me yet. We had some of that with Hawpe who’s bat showed some signs of life in San Diego.
And I use myself as an example, to show others they are not alone. I watch a lot of Rockies baseball, and I don’t catch everything. I don’t know everything. My observations (and other posters) can be a starting point to have a discussion.
(and for the record for other readers, I’m always right, and RMN is always wrong in our discussions….there that should save a lot of time and confusion!)
You're good with your comments
It’s the “Barmes pop out again, why the hell do we play this bum” and “STEWART FAIL” and “All Hawpe does is K” comments that don’t actually add any discussion value, and are just pure whining.
We’re all watching the game. We all see Barmes popout/Hawpe K/whatever. We all are not happy about it. We get it.
In contrast, I’d like to see “Barmes pop out again, what’s wrong with his swing?” and “STEWART FAIL, IS HE JUST TRYING TOO HARD?” and “All Hawpe does is K, I think he needs a couple games off to work with Baylor in the cage”
Then we can discuss possible solutions and the way forward!
Gladly sharing a name with Dexter Fowler!
by ShadowPenguin on Sep 18, 2009 10:18 AM MDT up reply actions
TBH I think this kind of comment
Are acceptable in the heat of a game thread. Along with F*** YOU BRUCE BOCHY. Hang on, which blog is this…?
I agree that game thread posts
can be/should be/are, different qualitatively from rock pile posts
Patrick Saunders: I think Kruk is lazy.
In a game thread there isn't really time
to discuss in-depth besides movies and Star Wars
But maybe those in the game thread should bring them back to the Rockpile the next day. “Hey, I was watching the game, and it seems Stewart is an auto K machine. Is there something he’s doing, is this fixable, or am I just over reacting”. Which I’m sure would get a good discussion going.
MY GOAL FOR YOU!
I WILL CUT IAN’S K RATIO DOWN BY NEXT YEAR. YOU NEED TO STOP BEING SO NEGATIVE. BUT LIIKE YOU SAID THAT IS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST OR YOU. LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
Gratuitous caps aside...
Are you Ian’s hitting coach? I think he definitely has the talent to progress, and it sounds like you have plans for him over the offseason. I hope you are right about cutting down the Ks.
Also, are those your kids with Ian in your avatar? It’s a cute picture.
I'm afraid
Gladly sharing a name with Dexter Fowler!
by ShadowPenguin on Sep 18, 2009 5:03 PM MDT up reply actions
Welcome aboard
Maybe too many caps there though. Please tell me how you are planning on cutting Ian’s K rate, and then, if it sounds viable, go out and do it
"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
Welcome to the Row
and glad we pulled you out of “Lurker” status!
I look forward to Ian Stewart’s improvement.
And do all major league players have their own hitting coach? I know a lot of the Scott Boras clients do.
No more caps
I would answer your questions but I do not have your email. Ask Charley77 for mine.
by spin2hit on Sep 18, 2009 6:54 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Game Threads
tend to be negative. It’s kinda the nature of the beast, that and it’s baseball, where even the best fail 70% of the time. You are getting the instant gut reaction of the fans on the game threads.
If someone came here and posted, “all Hawpe does is K” I’d be wanting more too.
Unless you are talking “I <3 EY2!” and I don’t think that needs any addition.
Eh I guess
I suppose it comes from the fact that when I’m upset or angry about something that happened, I don’t feel like sharing it. I vent it personally, but I don’t post it. I just want to share all the happy stuff, and not spread the negativity.
Gladly sharing a name with Dexter Fowler!
by ShadowPenguin on Sep 18, 2009 10:33 AM MDT up reply actions
This is true for me too
After Tuesday’s game I was really frustrated, and mainly stayed away from here. Some people feel better after venting, and I knew that would be going on, but that just adds to my frustration. I don’t want to take away from their forum, but reading the comments stirs me up and doesn’t help.
Funny Dog to Make Life Worthwhile
by frightened inmate #2 on Sep 18, 2009 10:38 AM MDT up reply actions
Yup, I was the same.
I felt downhearted about the team, I knew others would too, and I didn’t have anything clever or different to say. Doesn’t mean I’m not negative, but there are times and places!
negativity tends to breed worse things
Poster A comes and says something negative
Poster B feels argumentative and decides to counter Poster A
Poster A doesn’t appreciate being countered, and gets upset
…
personal insults are resulting, mods are hiding, deleting, banning, warning, etc.
When we start beating the same dead horses all in a futile cycle of frustration, it just gets ugly.
Mike McCoy Status: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Seth Smith Status: Bludgeoning Baseballs
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 Sep 18, 2009 11:27 AM MDT up reply actions
Well if you post that you love him
right after he got picked off, you’d have some explaining to do.
Funny Dog to Make Life Worthwhile
by frightened inmate #2 on Sep 18, 2009 10:35 AM MDT up reply actions
IMO...
My negativity/frustration comes more from the lack of change in the approach more than the failure itself. I consider myself a savvy baseball fan, and I understand the nature of the game where failure is the rule rather than the exception.
What kills me is watching a player swing as hard with a favorable count or no one on base and no outs as with 2 strikes or a runner on 3rd and 1 out.
For me it’s the perception that the player is not able to understand the game as a whole rather than the individuality of his own at bat… that’s what drives me crazy.
And I’m not implying that they want to fail either, I’m saying that sometimes they seem to have a hard time understanding what success is on a AB to AB basis.
To be honest,
I agree with Redhawk here. Comments trying to rebut negative comments can give off just as much of a negative vibe as the original comment. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to be barraged with “ZOMG BARMES IS THE WORST PLAYER IN THE HISTORY OF EVARRRR” either, but all of the “we get it, you don’t have to say it” statements get old after a while too. JMO.
Never give up, never surrender.
Me too
but he needs to work on his defense. He seems a little jerky with his footwork, even on routine groundballs, unlike Barmes.
He looked awkward the other night
when he turned a double play ball. I hope he gets that fixed this off season, and in spring training.
But it was also his first DP turn, in the majors. That’s got to be running through his head too.
GO ROCKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stay positive and keep up the enthusiasm.
"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
::comes in::
::trolls smokinRox::
::leaves::
Posting 65 comments/day since June '07.
by DbacksSkins on Sep 19, 2009 11:16 AM MDT up reply actions
Krieger article
gave me hope that our boys will mature out of this K thing
Patrick Saunders: I think Kruk is lazy.
I really believe they can shake this K thing
and I think a major factor is age w/ some of these hitters and big league experience. I think Dex, as he gets more comfortable from the left side, will cut down on his, hopefully Stew as he gets used to a 2-strike approach, CarGo as his experience comes in the big leagues, and Iannetta as I think he’s just had a rough year all around. Iannetta let the pre-season praise get to him IMO. Barmes on the other hand, is most likely not going to change much. That’s just Barmie’s swing, and we either live w/ it or replace him w/ EYJ next year. Barmie plays a very solid defensive 2B, so that will be the major position battle in ST next year. I think working w/ a 2-strike approach would help a lot, but I also think being a little more aggressive early in counts will help.
It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.
If they keep Barmes
This off season he will be in his final arbitration year. If he asks too much as being a starter, who may not be in 10, than he could be too expensive. But I don’t the feel that the Rockies are comfortable, handing the job to EY2 either, so it will be interesting this off season, how they handle Barmes.
What about Q as well?
I don’t know Q’s contract situation, but I figure they’ll get rid of him somehow, and keep Barmes for utility role.
But yeah, they’ll probably start with EYJ in spring training, and see if he can handle the job. If not, they’ll have Barmes who can step in and do it, and EYJ can be the utility man for a while.
Gladly sharing a name with Dexter Fowler!
by ShadowPenguin on Sep 18, 2009 10:21 AM MDT up reply actions
Q is part of that interesting mix
do they get rid of Barmes? and if they do, and EY2 fails…would Q be enough of a back up to play?
Stuff like that is why I find the hot stove league so interesting.
Q?
He of the career 45 OPS+? Why do we even care. There are plenty of glove guys sitting in AAA in every system that can be had to fill his role.
Well a lot of people around here have
and attachment to him. I don’t get it myself, as I think he is the poster boy for “Replacement level player”
I was trying to be nice, I’m not attached to Q one way or the other. But if the Rockies did let Barmes AND Q go, that’s 2 from the middle infield gone.
There’s going to be some roster turn over. I’m interested to see how much.
The thing about Q is
that he is not even viable as a backup option should the starter go down. We would have to make a trade. He’s at best the 25th guy on the roster who can fill in a couple of places and not complain about no ABs.
I don't know if anybody around here has an attachment to Quintanilla
Or at least a strong enough attachment that they won’t be able to get over. He seems to do two things well, play defense and hit Tim Lincecum, and unfortunately that’s not enough to justify a 25 man roster spot for a player who’s going to be making over the MLB minimum from here on out. I really agree, however, that the team from an organizational standpoint will hold on to one or the other, and that’s likely going to be Barmes, but if Clint does get too expensive they might decide to roll the dice with Quintanilla and hope that Chris Nelson has a leap forward instead.
we have this Mike McCoy
Mike McCoy Status: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
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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 Sep 18, 2009 11:30 AM MDT up reply actions
Will the Rockies bring HIM back
I would assume a minor league free agent would be on a one year contract. If he thinks he as a better shot at big league job, he might be back.
But he seems like a good story, and is solid player.
I hope he's gone, but that's a pipe dream that I've had for a while.
Eschew Obfuscation!
by Jeff Aberle on Sep 18, 2009 10:35 AM MDT up reply actions
the K thing and park effects
Seems reasonable the young guys can improve. But contemporary MLB tolerates a lot of strikeouts. The league-wide average is 18.2% of PA’s – or 118 in 650 PA’s. So, guys w/power and who look for their pitch/work the count (e.g., Stewart, Fowler and Iannetta) will probably always strike out more than we’d like. The key is what you do when you make contact, and experience and a better approach should mean these guys get a bit more consistent. They’ll probably cut their K’s some, but will always K a lot.
The Rockies will also always seem like they whiff a lot on the road vs. home due to park effects. Coors cuts strikeouts by over 10% (due to the combo of home cooking, altitude’s effect on pitch movement, and perhaps visibility in the park). So in a way, they’ve been even worse this year in terms of strikeouts than we think.
If the Rockies on the road were a player with 650 PA’s, here’s what their stats would look like:
.236 AVG, .319 OBP, .400 SLG, 134 hits, 19HR, 67 walks, and 149 strikeouts. Yeah, too many K’s for that production.
FWIW, they are almost exactly at the league’s average for hitting on the road, in terms of OPS: .319/.400 vs. the league at .324/.399. Runs scored are very close to avg, too:
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
Anyone see this article on Hardball Times?
It breaks down who Rockies fans should root for Dodgers vs. Giants, from a purely monetary standpoint.
(Even though it covers last week’s series, not the upcoming series. The info is still very interesting)
Interesting article
Thanks for the link, but things have changed a lot… There is also an interesting probability flaw as the author produces numbers at one point that suggest that only the wc OR the West div champ can win the Div series (obviously they both could win).
More importantly, the numbers have changed since that series. Now all narcissistic Rockies fans MUST root for the Giants to lose. The math is overwhelming at this point.
Let us be humble in victory and courageous in defeat...
But most importantly let us never lose hope.
Yeah, but it is easy to root against the Braves
The Dodger Giant series is more complicated
Let us be humble in victory and courageous in defeat...
But most importantly let us never lose hope.
Right now we want
The Braves, Marlins, D backs, Giants and Dodgers to lose… Since the Giants and Dodgers are playing each other we have to choose one or the other… Actually we don’t have to choose, but as fans we want to have an idea who to root for… at least I do. Sadly at this point it helps us much more for the Giants to lose than it does for the Dodgers to lose.
Let us be humble in victory and courageous in defeat...
But most importantly let us never lose hope.
2 reasons
we play them (so if they lose we win)
and I want the D-backs to lose all the time on general principle
I second this motion
"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
DBS will be displeased
but motion passes
Mike McCoy Status: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Seth Smith Status: Bludgeoning Baseballs
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 Sep 18, 2009 11:54 AM MDT up reply actions
I AM DISPLEASED.
FEAR MY WRATH.
No, but that’s understandable.
Posting 65 comments/day since June '07.
by DbacksSkins on Sep 19, 2009 11:11 AM MDT up reply actions
Is it alright around here to call the DBacks the dbags
or is that too MCCish? just asking for future reference
by purplesocks on Sep 18, 2009 11:56 AM MDT up reply actions
It seems a little purile
If your going to go there why not the next step… Tea-bags
Let us be humble in victory and courageous in defeat...
But most importantly let us never lose hope.
this is my personal stance
Rox Girl frowns upon it, and I’m sure Russ won’t counter either of us regarding this issue.
Mike McCoy Status: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Seth Smith Status: Bludgeoning Baseballs
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 Sep 18, 2009 3:15 PM MDT up reply actions
No go
Respect your opponents, because when they beat you (as will happen in this lovely game), you don’t want those same insults thrown back in your face.
Gladly sharing a name with Dexter Fowler!
by ShadowPenguin on Sep 18, 2009 1:03 PM MDT up reply actions
definitely frowned upon
Not only do we want to stay respectful and clean here, but we don’t want to be hippocritical when chastizing Denver post commentors. I have seen that comment multiple times at it has been shot down by a mod or regular swiftly every time
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Sep 18, 2009 2:05 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Typically I'd agree
But those 6 games they have left VS SF I will be pulling for AZ… I can’t help it.
With great mustache comes great responsibility
by Rox R Champs on Sep 18, 2009 12:59 PM MDT up reply actions
The D backs losing their next three games
Helps the Rockies playoff odds more than any other team losing its games…
What you may be missing is who the D backs are playing
Let us be humble in victory and courageous in defeat...
But most importantly let us never lose hope.
Right
I just thought in general we were rooting for them to lose, which I am more than okay with.
Your list was WC competitor, WC competitor, D BACKS, WC competitor. It threw me for a loop.
Yeah, I should have put the D backs first
In order, we want the
D Backs
Braves
Marlins
Giants
and Dodgers
To Lose
Let us be humble in victory and courageous in defeat...
But most importantly let us never lose hope.
I'm just really glad that nobody
is still lobbying for the Cubs to be included on the list
Let us be humble in victory and courageous in defeat...
But most importantly let us never lose hope.
I just want them to lose anyway
but they don’t need to be on that list
"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
Cubs are on the permanent lose list
Gladly sharing a name with Dexter Fowler!
by ShadowPenguin on Sep 18, 2009 1:04 PM MDT up reply actions
I think right now we just need the Rockies to win...
I held back laughs at Braves fans who were saying this in July and August when their team was, as it is now, down in the standings by more than three games, because really at some point they would have had to rely on teams ahead of them losing to catch up, and it seems like a lot of their supporters didn’t want to acknowledge this. Here we are two months later and the Braves have been winning many series, but they’ve hardly made a dent in the standings with Philadelphia and Colorado since our teams have been winning just as much.
Since the Rockies are already in playoff position, there’s really not an urgent need to hope for losses from other teams as long as Colorado keeps on winning. If they happen to our competitors great, if not, so be it, it just means the Rockies have to be better and in the long run this will benefit the team. So I guess I’m saying I don’t really care who loses in the Dodgers/Giants series because I know somebody has to. If the Rockies have a winning team themselves, they should be able to take care of securing their spot regardless.
Yeah, at this point
If the Braves overtake us then they deserve it and we don’t
Let us be humble in victory and courageous in defeat...
But most importantly let us never lose hope.
Stewart and Hawpe strike out a lot
And it seems like when they get to 0-2, stick a fork in em.
Most frustrating is seeing them take a fastball for strike 1, so I appreciate first pitch aggressiveness, but if they foul it off, they’re already halfway to 0-2.
Not that I want to see them Eckstein up on the bat 0-2, but they both have swings that can take a long time to get to the hitting zone. Don’t know how to fix.
Funny Dog to Make Life Worthwhile
by frightened inmate #2 on Sep 18, 2009 10:41 AM MDT reply actions
I think a 2 strike approach from both of these guys would be nice
but given that they are typically more power guys, and have longer swings as you mentioned, I am not expecting much change on that approach. I would, however, love to see them do more damage on the 1st fastball strike they see. That is the biggest issue w/ Stew IMO, he is not hitting that 1st mistake as well as he should, he is either fouling it off or not swinging at all. I think if he would swing more often at that pitch he would begin to do DAMAGE! I know we all got frustrated w/ Holliday swinging at 1st pitches, but he did do quite well on those pitches from time to time.
It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.
stewart hit the two run homer
in the last game with a two strike count…
he’s 23, i’m willing to give him some time.
he has great power, is an AWESOME defensive 3rd baseman…
yeah, let’s give him a shot.
by RockyMtnCat on Sep 18, 2009 11:00 AM MDT up reply actions
yea seriously
he’s young and is going to get better
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 18, 2009 11:08 AM MDT up reply actions
This line of thinking frustrates me to no end.
he’s young and is going to get better
do all young players get better? No player ever fails, or be a bust? I’m not saying Stewart is/or will be a bust. (Personally I think he will be in that area of frustration, too good to be a bust, too bad to be a success) But to just assume blindly that he will get better makes no sense to me, He could get better, OR he could be as big of a bust as Choo Freeman, or a dozen other guys off the top of my head that wear prospects that didn’t make it.
He's already too good to be Choo Freeman, thankfully...
But otherwise I agree with what you’re saying completely. While there’s a good chance that he could get better, it’s definitely nowhere near a lock.
Oh, I did some math, yall'll be proud
What conclusions can be drawn, I’m not sure.
For every 3.71 hits Stew has had this year, 1 is a HR
If we make his BA more respectable, say .275 and give him as many ABs as Tulo (Tulo at 487, Stew at 385 as of today) using that same 3.71, he would have 36 HRs.
.275 and 36 HRs? Me and Redhawk would be ecstatic. RMN is asking what is OBP is.
Now, my question is….Is there any way Stew can get that 44 points in BA without sacrificing the HRs/hit he currently sports?
Feel free to point out flaws in my logic.
Funny Dog to Make Life Worthwhile
by frightened inmate #2 on Sep 18, 2009 11:48 AM MDT up reply actions
heh heh
I just saw a swear in my post.
Funny Dog to Make Life Worthwhile
by frightened inmate #2 on Sep 18, 2009 11:59 AM MDT up reply actions
The plural is all y'all
Eschew Obfuscation!
by Jeff Aberle on Sep 18, 2009 12:52 PM MDT up reply actions
so it should have been "all y'all'll
because I pretty sure the ’ll was contracting the verb “will”
Let us be humble in victory and courageous in defeat...
But most importantly let us never lose hope.
Correct on the contraction
but is the “all” necessary?
Funny Dog to Make Life Worthwhile
by frightened inmate #2 on Sep 18, 2009 1:09 PM MDT up reply actions
Shoulda been
“You all everybody” ;-P
Gladly sharing a name with Dexter Fowler!
by ShadowPenguin on Sep 18, 2009 1:11 PM MDT up reply actions
Hmm, yeah
Can’t remember if there was a space or not. But you’re right anyway :-)
Gladly sharing a name with Dexter Fowler!
by ShadowPenguin on Sep 18, 2009 1:42 PM MDT up reply actions
The story behind it is kinda interesting
Apparently while shooting the show, the crew would watch Jerry Springer from time to time. At some point on the show, some angry chick (as usual on Springer) got pissed off about something and shouted out “YOU ALL EVERYBODY…/insert rant”, and it became an inside joke amongst the crew.
So eventually during rehearsal, they needed Charlie to sing one of his songs, but they hadn’t written it yet. They told him to make something up, and they’d give him the real words later. Well, he started singin “You all everybody”, which got everyone laughing, and they decided to make the song from it.
Gladly sharing a name with Dexter Fowler!
by ShadowPenguin on Sep 18, 2009 5:02 PM MDT up reply actions
My favorite little thing about that song is that
they used it in an episode of Alias. It was playing in the background during a party scene.
Oh sweet
Abrams did Alias too, right? That’s a cool way to tie together shows :-D
Gladly sharing a name with Dexter Fowler!
by ShadowPenguin on Sep 18, 2009 5:15 PM MDT up reply actions
Yesyesyes!
I miss Charlie. Stupid russian dude.
Never give up, never surrender.
I'm gonna say No
But “all y’all’ll” sounds very … um … cool?
Let us be humble in victory and courageous in defeat...
But most importantly let us never lose hope.
come on
choo freeman?? dont’ be absurd.
does every young player improve – of course not.
do the signifcant majority – yes.
if you can’t see the talent stewart has…
by RockyMtnCat on Sep 18, 2009 12:00 PM MDT up reply actions
Thats the part that I agree w/ completely
Stew, just using the eye test has tremendous hands and tremendous talent. Certainly some guys never play to their talent, but I just have a feeling that Stew will do that. I think I need to adjust my sites downward though, and be ok w/ him being a .270-.280 hitter, not the .300 hitter w/ plus power that I was hoping for. I mean, he may never even reach .270, but I have a feeling he will. The plus power is already there, and the plus defense. I really like Stew and hope next year is a huge year for him, but as Redhawk points out, there is no guarantee to a players improvement.
It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.
dude i didn't say no young player can fail
i just see the quality in Stewart already minus him chasing stupid pitches which he will get better and better at avoiding…he has the power and is a pretty damn good fielder already…he is going to strike out more than normal as a power hitter…but i see his avg being 260-280 area in his career
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 18, 2009 2:57 PM MDT up reply actions
Ian Stewart: Matt Stairs who can actually field stuff
Mike McCoy Status: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Seth Smith Status: Bludgeoning Baseballs
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 Sep 18, 2009 3:16 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
1st full season
give him a few years to mature. then you can jump back on his band wagon becasue he will be up to the standards that we all know he can reach. he will get there.
the guy's sheer power is undeniable
He could hit 40 if he knew how to take full advantage of mistake pitches. That said, he seems unable to just stroke a single – thoughts?
Mike McCoy Status: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Seth Smith Status: Bludgeoning Baseballs
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 Sep 18, 2009 4:37 PM MDT up reply actions
He needs to
work with a hitting coach on keeping his swing slightly more simplistic. Go to and through the ball with the bat and don’t hack at it every time.
"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
that all caps guy may or may not be Ian Stewart's hitting coach
Mike McCoy Status: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Seth Smith Status: Bludgeoning Baseballs
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 Sep 19, 2009 12:32 AM MDT up reply actions
2-1 count
Funny Dog to Make Life Worthwhile
by frightened inmate #2 on Sep 18, 2009 11:31 AM MDT up reply actions
and I say this not to swat down, but because 2-1 homeruns stick in my head
I expect homeruns on 2-1 counts ever since Kirby Puckett hit a HR on a 2-1 changeup off Charlie Leibrandt in the bottom of the 11th to win game 6 of the 91 WS.
Funny Dog to Make Life Worthwhile
by frightened inmate #2 on Sep 18, 2009 1:08 PM MDT up reply actions
you're trolling me aren't you
Mike McCoy Status: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Seth Smith Status: Bludgeoning Baseballs
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 Sep 18, 2009 12:03 PM MDT up reply actions
Russ to advocate acquisition of Randy Wolf?
Who’s the most Wookiee-like on the team?
(laughs) Ronald Belisario is definitely a Wookiee.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
Belisario is very hairy?
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
by Russ Oates on Sep 18, 2009 11:26 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
No, he's just really really ugly.
Posting 65 comments/day since June '07.
by DbacksSkins on Sep 19, 2009 11:14 AM MDT up reply actions
And yes, very much so.
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
by Russ Oates on Sep 18, 2009 11:28 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
An odd sort of "tie" scenario
Assuming the Rocks win the WC and the Dodgers finish with the best NL record… what would the Div series pairings be if the Cards and Phillies finish with identical records?
This has become a real possibility…
Let us be humble in victory and courageous in defeat...
But most importantly let us never lose hope.
I'm guessing the head-to-head would be the tiebreaker
So the Phillies would be the “higher seed” in NCAA parlance. And is it just me, or has this “seeding” jargon in postseason series besides the NCAA basketball tournament just exploded in the last 5 or so years? I don’t remember anyone using that term back in the ’90s.
by controlled_slide on Sep 18, 2009 12:13 PM MDT up reply actions
The verb to seed
has been in use in sports for over 100 years, it originated in Tennis.
It has been used as a noun (eg. “the third seed”) also in tennis since the 1930’s.
Etymology actually follows from planting seeds… As certain seeds should be spaced so far apart to enable them both to grow… In sports teams are “planted” far apart to give the best players/teams the easiest path to “grow” to eventually meet each other.
I did not know any of this off the top of my head…
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=seed
Let us be humble in victory and courageous in defeat...
But most importantly let us never lose hope.
On a side note
about the Rockies Roster on the side of the screen, why is EY2 listed as a center fielder? I know that’s where he made his debut but he should be listed as second base or just plain infield.
"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
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