Know Your Foe #40: Venom-less Snakes hoping to feast on struggling Rockies

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Aug 20, 2010 12:00 PM MDT in Know Your Foe

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (47-75, last place in NL West)

2010 Record vs. Rockies: 4-5

Last Series vs. Rockies: June 4-6, 2010 @ Chase Field (W 2-1)

The D-Backs were losers of ten straight when they entered their last series against the Rockies. However, the perfect cure for their woes was a visit from one of the worst road teams in baseball. Arizona, who had been struggling on offense at the time, put up seven runs on the Rockies in the first game of the series. Justin Upton and Chris Young each homered, while the extremely light-hitting Gerardo Parra had a couple of hits including a double. Ian Kennedy had some issues keeping the ball in the park, as he allowed three home runs. But Esmerling Vasquez, who has given the Rockies all sorts of problems in 2010, entered the game and saved the day by striking out five batters in two hitless innings.

The second game saw Dontrelle Willis pitch his first game with the D-Backs and get the win, as the Rockies were unable to score any runs off of the erratic and fledgling lefty who has since been DFA'd by the club.

In the series finale. the Rockies were able to get a win, mostly because Ubaldo Jimenez was on the mound. At the time, Jimenez was the most dominant pitcher in the game and was riding yet another lengthy scoreless innings streak until Conor Jackson took him deep in the eighth inning to get the D-Backs within a run. However, the Rockies held on for a 3-2 victory.

Recent series results: L 1-2 at Washington, L 0-3 vs. Cincinnati

As has been the case on many occasions throughout the 2010 season, Arizona's bullpen failed them miserably in their most recent series against the Nationals. Wednesday's game sticks out in particular, as the combination of Sam Demel and Aaron Heilman allowed eight runs on nine hits in 2.2 innings. The other games weren't without bullpen gaffes either; DJ Carrasco gave up five runs (although they were all unearned because of a Rusty Ryal error) on two hits and two walks yesterday and in Tuesday's contest, Carrasco and Blaine Boyer were unable to limit the damage in their late-game opportunities.

Offensively in the past two series, the D-Backs have been led by Chris Young (1.077 OPS, two homers), and former Braves Kelly Johnson (.937 OPS, two homers) and Adam LaRoche (.903 OPS, two homers).

Friday-Sunday: 3-game series @ Chase Field

Expected Pitching Matchups

Friday, 20 August 2010 @ 7:40pm MT

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2010 - Esmil Rogers	2-2	18	4	0	0	0	0	41.1	50	31	23	3	15	36	5.01	1.57

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2010 - Ian Kennedy	7-9	24	24	0	0	0	0	146.0	128	75	71	24	55	124	4.38	1.25

Saturday, 21 August 2010 @ 6:10pm MT

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2010 - Ubaldo Jimenez	17-3	24	24	3	2	0	0	163.1	118	49	47	7	65	153	2.59	1.12

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2010 - Barry Enright	3-2	9	9	0	0	0	0	52.2	47	17	17	7	18	31	2.91	1.23

Sunday, 22 August 2010 @ 2:10pm MT

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2010 - Jhoulys Chacin	5-9	20	13	0	0	0	0	87.1	75	47	42	8	43	93	4.33	1.35

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2010 - Dan Hudson	3-1	4	4	0	0	0	0	29.2	22	7	7	4	4	27	2.12	.88

More after the jump...

Expected Lineup

Player	Pos	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	ISO	BABIP	wOBA
Stephen Drew	SS	.263	.343	.414	.757	.151	.306	.335
Kelly Johnson	2B	.279	.370	.494	.864	.215	.327	.376
Justin Upton	RF	.264	.347	.432	.780	.169	.342	.341
Chris Young	CF	.275	.343	.488	.831	.213	.310	.370
Adam LaRoche	1B	.273	.340	.493	.833	.220	.337	.359
Mark Reynolds	3B	.214	.333	.469	.801	.254	.278	.347
Miguel Montero	C	.296	.365	.484	.849	.188	.333	.362
Gerardo Parra	LF	.243	.287	.357	.644	.114	.292	.279

Bench

Player	Pos	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	ISO	BABIP	wOBA
Jon Hester	C	.219	.315	.328	.643	.109	.289	.292
Bobby Crosby	IF	.182	.231	.364	.594	.182	.250	.210
Augie Ojeda	IF	.194	.257	.224	.481	.030	.206	.224
Rusty Ryal	Util	.281	.339	.381	.720	.100	.385	.318
Ryan Church	OF	.176	.263	.235	.498	.059	.375	.209

Closer

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2010 - Aaron Heilman	3-4	53	0	0	0	6	6	55.1	55	25	24	7	22	41	3.90	1.39

*Keep in mind that it is quite difficult to predict who will actually be closing games for the D-Backs.

Injuries

Arizona Diamondbacks Injuries

60 Day DL / Out for the season

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Brandon Webb	shoulder	03/26/2010
Leo Rosales	foot	04/29/2010
Kris Benson	shoulder	04/29/2010

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Comments

like a broken record

every series on the road i have been predicting 2 out of 3 just hasn’t happened….we badly need a sweep but hey lets win a friggin road series damn it

time to make another run to the postseason....get it going guys!!

Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."

by TuLoRocks2008 on Aug 20, 2010 12:12 PM MDT reply actions

Well

At the very least, we should be able to hit at Chase Field… right?

The Coors Effect

by Tom (RFTN) on Aug 20, 2010 12:36 PM MDT up reply actions

Ubaldo Jiminez vs Barry Enright (who the heck is he!??)

Yes sweep badly needed, should be totally possible. Need to play to our potential, not get pulled down by the DBack’s suckiness.

by smellymelly on Aug 20, 2010 1:06 PM MDT reply actions

Enright = rookie

Called up from Double-A midway through the season.

Mr. Science Boy

by DbacksSkins on Aug 23, 2010 5:10 PM MDT up reply actions

Im very much looking forward to the Hudson/Chacin matchup

They figure to face each other a few times in coming years

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Aug 20, 2010 1:06 PM MDT via mobile reply actions

The Rockies better be able to get to the D'back bullpen this series

I want to see some road offense

The 2010 Rockies are done!!!!! Do you hear me Rockies? You have NO SHOT at making the postseason. In fact I guarantee you will not make the postseason. (Okay, now that I have removed all expectations go out and make me eat these words)

Yankee Haters Encouragement Group Member #1

by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Aug 20, 2010 1:11 PM MDT reply actions

Last night = L

Tonight = W!

Bleed purple

by Rawktober on Aug 20, 2010 1:53 PM MDT reply actions

And tomorrow and the next night and the next after that

forever and ever until we win the world series!

by nightninja13 on Aug 20, 2010 2:05 PM MDT up reply actions

yaaaaay!

I still believe...
This is R year!

by prettyinpurple on Aug 20, 2010 5:13 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

if this stays true...

we’ll win this series

Ubaldo "Iron Arm" Jimenez
Seth Smith’s beard looks on in anticipation.
His name is Dan Uggla!

by Colsportsfan on Aug 20, 2010 6:39 PM MDT up reply actions

This offense looks stronger than the Dodgers'.

And the pitching matchups don’t look too promising. I think we should be able to get one win.

by RoxnSox09 on Aug 20, 2010 2:16 PM MDT reply actions

The pitching matchups are fine...

As long as the Rockies have put in their work studying the two new guys, they should have the advantage in those games – especially with Ubaldo pitching one of them. Plus, Hudson got beat in his last start. And, as far as Kennedy goes, the Rox have hit him around a bit this year.

Just an average guy with exceptional hair. Nothing more, nothing less.
Bear Naked - My thoughts on sports, music, and life.

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Aug 20, 2010 2:24 PM MDT up reply actions

Chase helps their offensive numbers.

The Diamondbacks’ team OPS+ is 93, so once you account for their home park they’re actually a below-average offensive team.

Their starting pitchers have actually been rather competent, but their bullpen is a giant, flaming pile of suck (try a 6.20 ERA), though some of the worst offenders in that category are gone.

The Coors Effect

by Tom (RFTN) on Aug 20, 2010 3:04 PM MDT up reply actions

Ok,

Let’s beat these stupid dbags.

I still believe...
This is R year!

by prettyinpurple on Aug 20, 2010 5:14 PM MDT via mobile reply actions

Renck tweets that Tracy's called another team meeting.

I, for one, think you can never call enough team meetings. I mean, everyone loves a meeting. They never get old and you never stop paying attention…right?

by Bokosse on Aug 20, 2010 5:28 PM MDT reply actions

It hotter than

Bull snot here. It must have been like 110 today.

by PinchHitLancePainter on Aug 20, 2010 6:08 PM MDT reply actions

Are you still talking about the 20 year old?

The OT: All that AND a bag of meat.

by frightened inmate #2 on Aug 20, 2010 6:11 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

No

by PinchHitLancePainter on Aug 20, 2010 6:23 PM MDT up reply actions

Bummer

The OT: All that AND a bag of meat.

by frightened inmate #2 on Aug 20, 2010 6:39 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

Currently, 108 degrees in Phoenix, as of 6:20pm MT. Expecting 108 again on Saturday, dropping down to 106 by Sunday with some rain possible.

by CM85 on Aug 20, 2010 6:24 PM MDT up reply actions

Great

a weekend of sweat and agony. I have no fear of hell I’ve spent August in Phoenix.

by PinchHitLancePainter on Aug 20, 2010 6:25 PM MDT up reply actions

Better inside at Chase Field, then outside in Arlington. If the Rangers had been home this weekend, it would have been in the low 100's. But they have been spared from the heat this weekend, playing this weekend in Baltimore.

by CM85 on Aug 20, 2010 6:33 PM MDT up reply actions

Interesting move by the Rockies with Flores DFA'd and Jonathan Herrera called back up.

Tracy Ringolsby noted that since Herrera’s recent stint with the Sky Sox was less than 20 days, Herrera gets a bonus season of options, without him going battling through the waiver wire in 2011.

by CM85 on Aug 20, 2010 6:19 PM MDT reply actions