Tuesday Rockpile: Month May Kill Season if Criminally Unlucky Cargo/Tulo Can't Fire Up
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 31, 2011 7:54 AM MDT
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You have to hand it to the Rockies - no other team in recent memory can lose as creatively as Colorado. Jim Tracy's club managed to rap out 14 hits last night, including four in a row at one point, and the only run they scored was on a Ty Wigginton home run. The loss clinched 20 losses in May, the fourth-worst month in franchise history and the worst month for the Rockies since May 2005, before Troy Tulowitzki was even drafted.
The disappointing season for the Rockies has often been tied to the struggles of the O's - not Baltimore, but Tulo, Cargo and Ubaldo. But don't blame Cargo for this May: his wRC+ this month is 152. Troy Tulowitzki has struggled to a 61 wRC+ this month, but his "struggles" are truly unique. In 115 May plate appearances, Tulo has struck out just seven times. Slumps don't persist with that type of contact.
The duo's fairly pedestrian production in 2011 (Cargo - 108 wRC+, Tulo - 107 wRC+) is certainly holding back the Rockies' offense, but here's the shocker:
- Carlos Gonzalez has a career-best 20.4% strikeout rate and 9.2% walk rate. Both are better than league average. (20.6/8.5)
- Troy Tulowitzki has a career-best 8.0% strikeout rate and his second best career walk rate at 9.8%. Again, both are better than league average.
Of all the players in MLB, only 49 have qualified in PA and posted an above average walk and strikeout rate thus far. Despite boasting power, the Rockies duo are in the lower 30th percentile of those 49 in wRC+. only fifteen have a lower wRC+ than the Rockies' duo. Each of those fifteen have low SLG/ISO, with none hitting more than 6 HR, making Ben Francisco being the biggest "slugger" of the bunch. Cargo and Tulo are truly in unique company...with themselves...sluggers who put the ball in play often, with poor results
| BABIP | xBABIP | |
| Carlos Gonzalez | 0.286 | 0.330 |
| Troy Tulowitzki | 0.224 | 0.322 |
Neither are legitimately hitting as well as they were in 2010. Parts of their game have been bad, but for the most part, both have been criminally unlucky. Even Carlos Gonzalez, who hasn't been bitten by the BABIP bug as much has seen his BABIP drop 100 points despite a drop in xBABIP of just 19 points from last year. What does this mean?
Eventually, balls will start finding holes off the bats of Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez. In the case of CarGo, it has already started to happen. When it does, the Rockies' offense will be much less pathetic. Make no mistake - it will happen eventually. The only question is whether it would be too late to save the season. Thankfully, the Rockies are just 4.5 games behind in a weak division.
Links
Young's success forces Rockies coach Tracy to sit Herrera - The Denver Post EY2 has stepped in and done fairly well in the leadoff role for four consecutive games, hitting .316 and stealing two bases. The result has been just two starts for Jonathan Herrera in the last seven games, who has hit just .247/.281/.318 in May. Jim Tracy calls it a permanent move at second base, and Jonathan Herrera is okay with it. Perhaps that is because Young has yet to draw a walk or hit an extra base hit, and sooner or later, Herrera might look like the superior option once again if Young's peripherals persist.
Krieger: Rockies' Ubaldo Jimenez a victim of velocity - The Denver Post The lost velocity for Ubaldo is a complete mystery. Bob Apodaca has no clue where it went. Ubaldo swears he's physically 100%. For a pitcher who lives on velocity, it is most perplexing. Apodaca's unsubstantiated working theory is that Ubaldo tried to take the "next step" as a pitcher, becoming more economical with his pitches by stressing better control and command. Insodoing, his velocity dropped. Is it true? Is all Ubaldo needs to do is throw harder and carefree? Who the hell knows.
Nicasio to start Friday; Cook gets another rehab start | Inside the Colorado Rockies It's not Juan and Done for the Rockies' rookie. In taming the National League's best offense for seven innings, Nicasio will take his 0.00 ERA to San Francisco on Friday to face the Giants.
Dodgers' courtroom drama "discomforting" to Tracy - The Denver Post Not too surprising of a reaction here for the former Dodgers' skipper.
Beyond the Box Score Power Rankings: Week 9 - Beyond the Box Score The Rockies fall to 12th of 30 teams in the BtB Power Rankings. That they are still above the league median in a stats-based matrix of a power rankings suggest they are indeed getting results less than not only their talent level, but their overall performance.
Baseball Prospectus | Divide and Conquer, NL West: Streaking Snakes and Get-Well Cards I'm not the only one who writes an NL West Report. Granted, you have to pay for a BPro membership to read Geoff Young's, but have at it.
xWHIP and eFIP - The Hardball Times - Ever wonder why there has been an xBABIP for hitters to judge luck on batted balls, but not for pitchers? Hitters tend to "earn" higher/lower BABIPs much more than pitchers, but there is a bit of skill in limiting line drives, home runs, and solid contact. The Hardball Times is now bringing you a toy. The same site that developed xBABIP a couple years ago now have an xWHIP calculator, to calculate the expected WHIP a pitcher would have based on the batted balls they allow. It can identify hard luck and good luck pitchers more than strictly BABIP, considering some pitchers actually earn their BABIP that strays from the mean. In the interest of drawing this Rockies related, Jhoulys Chacin has been one of the luckier pitchers in MLB in terms of xWHIP and its associated eFIP (expected FIP).
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We just need to string together a couple of wins
versus a tough opponent and I think we will start to get back on track. Starting tonight would be great
A baseball park is the one place where a man's wife doesn't mind his getting excited over somebody else's curves
That happened
May 16 and 17 against the Giants- two great comeback wins no less. We’re 3-11 since.
Wait, what's his real name? We should make a joke out of that.
by BrandonHawpe on May 31, 2011 10:46 AM MDT up reply actions
I guess by couple I meant few
like 3 or 4
A baseball park is the one place where a man's wife doesn't mind his getting excited over somebody else's curves
by waterboy31321 on May 31, 2011 12:06 PM MDT up reply actions
well, they need to do it again.
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by Andrew Martin on May 31, 2011 12:56 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
How traditional
of a manager is Jim Tracy? He’s below average according to Beyond the Boxscore’s TMI. It’s a junk stat, as Jacob Peterson writes, but it does say a bit about managers.
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Tracy above average, but we will see
The question is, what is a good manager? Is the measurer based only on wins, is the technical manager better than the motivating manager, or is a matter of just being popular?
If you are looking at wins, the manager is only a part in a large machine. I think Bruce Bochy is a very good manager, but he has not always been successful. Tray has shown that he can be extremely good in certain circumstances. But he is no better than his staff, the club leadership behind him, or the players themselves. He has control over a lot of things, but not everything.
I think Tracy is definitely above average. But how well the Rox do in the next couple of months may tell us a lot about his character and leadership.
by Real Perspective on May 31, 2011 11:10 AM MDT up reply actions 5 recs
good call
Someone rec this for me
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by Andrew Martin on May 31, 2011 12:57 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
done
should be green
We're trying to win a (#)(*@$%#)@#&$#)^ argument here!!!!
Whatever the manager does is wrong, unless it works. Then he's a button pusher.
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"I made baseball as much fun as doing your taxes" - Bill James (Simpsons version)
"Everyone study two out situations, count management, and I'll be back with some gluten free crackers"
by Junction Rox on May 31, 2011 12:59 PM MDT up reply actions
I agree with all of this except...
with Tracy being “definitely above average.” I’m not sure if his career bears that out.
by DumbAndNerdy on May 31, 2011 1:00 PM MDT up reply actions
Why, because he only made the playoffs twice in his four years in LA
And because he couldn’t take a AAAA roster in Pittsburgh to the playoffs?
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
No. Using Real Perspective's part of a larger machine idea,
both of the machine’s that he was previously a key part of booted him out relatively unceremoniously. This doesn’t mean that every manager that gets fired is average or below. But the way in which was fired and the reasons behind the firing seems to point to the fact that he lacks skills working well within an organizational plan. His decisions then often undermine the success of the organization.
In his time here in Colorado, he has shown that he has learned from some of his mistakes. Nevertheless, I think he has made enough mistakes to not deserve the label of “definitely above average.” If he were deserving of this label, he wouldn’t have spent so long between his job in Pittsburgh and becoming bench coach, then manager of the Rockies.
As an addendum, he only took the Dodgers to the playoffs once in five years. That was the division-winning 2004 team.
by DumbAndNerdy on May 31, 2011 1:46 PM MDT up reply actions
I'm not trying to suggest he's "definitely above average", however....
But citing the way he was dismissed from Pittsburgh is rather silly, when you take a look at the Pirates overall managerial history since Jim Leyland left.
And as for his departure from the Dodgers, that’s really quite simple. The McCourts hired Coletti, who wanted his own guy in there, so he fired Jim Tracy.
It’s not at all unexpected that a new GM will fire the manager to bring in “his guy” to run the club. Notably, Grady Little was no more successful than Tracy, as his replacement. And it’s worth noting that the Pirates performed much worse after Tracy was fired.
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
If you don't think that he is "definitely above average, "
then we agree.
I would disagree with your arguments that citing his tenure in Pittsburgh is silly. His time there was pretty much an unmitigated disaster. He was brought in to help take a young, talented team with names like Jason Bay, Freddy Sanchez, and Jose Bautista to the next level. Instead, his two seasons were worse than three-out-of-five of his predecessors’ seasons, and led to the window of opportunity closing and the team being rebuilt yet again with names like McCutcheon, Tabata, and Jones.
As far as standing out from the other recent Pirates mangers, here are the win totals from the last ten Pirate seasons in random order: 75, 57, 72, 67, 62, 68, 67, 67, 72, 62. Which ones are Tracy’s? He won 67 and 68 games. Those don’t quite stand out from the pack.
You have a point on the Dodgers, but I feel that Tracy helped bring both his and DePodesta’s time to a close and left with fans crying for a change to be made which led to the hiring of Colletti. I’m not as familiar with this situation though.
by DumbAndNerdy on May 31, 2011 2:18 PM MDT up reply actions
I want to add that I'm not anti-Tracy.
I just don’t have illusions that that 2009 MOY has somehow washed away the sins of his past. He has certainly gotten better, but I sometimes wonder if the 2011 Rockies are the right team for him.
by DumbAndNerdy on May 31, 2011 2:23 PM MDT up reply actions
Might be a good point
You could be right here — about Tracy not being right for the current team. But it’s hard to reach out and gage all the intangibles. Especially from our perpective, real or unreal.
He has ceratinly made some mistakes this year. But will he correct and fix them? Will his fixes be adequate to salvage the season? I would certainly hope so!
I think we would all have a better grasp of this if we could sit through his team meetings or see him work problems from up close.
One thing I would say, is there are lot of guys I would hope we never see put on a Rockies Manager uniform.
by Real Perspective on May 31, 2011 3:20 PM MDT up reply actions
I'm not trying to suggest he's "definitely above average", however....
But citing the way he was dismissed from Pittsburgh is rather silly, when you take a look at the Pirates overall managerial history since Jim Leyland left.
And as for his departure from the Dodgers, that’s really quite simple. The McCourts hired Coletti, who wanted his own guy in there, so he fired Jim Tracy.
It’s not at all unexpected that a new GM will fire the manager to bring in “his guy” to run the club. Notably, Grady Little was no more successful than Tracy, as his replacement. And it’s worth noting that the Pirates performed much worse after Tracy was fired.
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
This is a silly argument
There’s no way you can objectively look at managing skills — it’s all mental, or at least mostly. If Tracy gets fired, it will have nothing to do with whether he’s any good at his job or not. It will just mean that the FO is looking for something different to jumpstart the players. Happens all the time.
by BostonTransplant on May 31, 2011 4:31 PM MDT up reply actions
Right
And if we give credit to the thesis that this team is just really freaking unlucky this season (e.g. Cargo and Tulo), then what is there to jumpstart? You can’t jumpstart luck.
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
The inability to jumpstart luck
is an ontological assumption. Not everyone shares this assumption, and desperate times may require desperate measures!
Firing Tracy is not the answer. Instead, I propose a sacrifice, ritual, or magical fetish to help jumpstart our luck!
"I am an optimist - it does not seem to be much use being anything else" - W. Churchill
Well, we already sacrificed a starting pitcher....
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
DePodesta
was the GM when Tracy was not extended due to disagreement on personnel decisions. DePodesta was a stats guy and Tracy is old school.
Right. This is what I'm mentioning about not getting with the organizational plan.
DePodesta was let go 26 days after Tracy.
by DumbAndNerdy on May 31, 2011 7:18 PM MDT up reply actions
rec'd
There is nothing like a game of pitch and catch. 40,000 fans in purple and black can't be wrong. What's it amount to? Our Colorado Rockies.
How do you get your kids to behave? Threaten not to take them to a Rockies game. They straighten up REAL QUICK.
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"There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare." ~Tallulah Bankhead
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." ~Greg, age 8
JFK
About the Krieger piece
is it me or was there a definite disconnect between Ubaldo and Dac in how they are approaching Ubaldo’s issues? Dac seems to be saying that Ubaldo is moving away from what made him great and Ubaldo seems to want to be different. I’m not sure I like the sounds of that disconnect.
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
There is nothing about Ubaldo this season that makes me feel good
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 31, 2011 8:41 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
I hear you.
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
This is something that
hjjrockies keeps bringing up and I tend to agree with him. Ubaldo isn’t throwing the ball like he should (ie. his velocity is down 4mph) and while he’s working on control he’s not nearly as intimidating and is less effectively wild.
"There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare." ~Tallulah Bankhead
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." ~Greg, age 8
JFK
hjjrockies, IIRC, believes Ubaldo is injured and it's not being disclosed.
I’m more concerned that their is rift between Ubaldo and Dac.
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
I think you're right he's claiming injury
I am thinking along with Dac that he needs to go back to throwing the ball like Randy Johnson did when he was younger and the control will come. When Iannetta called a game of almost all fastballs a while back Ubaldo had pretty good success so I think they should start there and work off that.
The rift between Dac and Jimenez is something I can’t explain and I hope they can figure it out because it sounds like it is just a difference in opinions of what Ubaldo actually needs to do.
"There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare." ~Tallulah Bankhead
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." ~Greg, age 8
JFK
This is the first time Ubaldo has ever been hurt.
He’s frustrated, and understandably so. New territory for both Ubaldo and Dac
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
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Also true
I haven’t played baseball in 5 (almost 6) years, after playing almost every day for 15 years, and now I’m playing softball and coaching 11 year old and I can’t throw a ball without pain in my shoulder and now I’m going to an orthopedic surgeon to get it checked out. Frustrating is absolutely the word to use here.
"There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare." ~Tallulah Bankhead
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." ~Greg, age 8
JFK
Better to admit it
I agree the problem appears to be related to an undisclosed injury on the part of Ubaldo. This may not be a serious injury. But a little tightness in the back could have a significant impact on a pitcher’s mechanics, for example.
What Dac and Ubaldo say in public may not represent the whole story. So I am not as concerned about the disconnect between what they are saying. To me it merely indicates that neither one of them is reciting the entire story. Tracy keeps saying it has to do with his mechanics.
I suppose we as fans don’t need to know the entire scoop. But if Tracy and company wold admit there is an injury, they could take him out of the lineup and rehab him, while letting the rookie pitchers hold down the fort. It might be better for everyone in the long run.
by Real Perspective on May 31, 2011 9:40 AM MDT up reply actions
My beef with the injury argument
is what possible purpose would it serve to just not say oh we’ve found a strain or it’s fatigue? And just put him on the DL.
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
Good question
Maybe management does not want to admit there is a problem. Maybe they haven’t accurately assessed its severity. Or maybe we are mistaken about the injury.
by Real Perspective on May 31, 2011 9:52 AM MDT up reply actions
I don't think its that hard for a player to hide a minor injury
especially if his cuticle is just not the same. It might not be something that the training staff can’t see and Ubaldo wants to try and fight through. Its not very uncommon. Players mention playing through injury after the season is over all the time.
The article may have found the issue and it could be that Ubaldo is just not letting it go and trying to be a “command” pitcher, which almost makes less sense to me. Why change so drastically after having such a dominating season? It does look like he is throwing way more off speed pitches, but it could be because it is less pressure on his thumb, who knows? He might just be adjusting because he thinks the league adjusted to him the 2nd half of last season, if so he needs to stop thinking so much, and just go out there and blow people away again.
"Whenever I see an old lady slip and fall on a wet sidewalk, my first instinct is to laugh. But then I think, what if I was an ant, and she fell on me. Then it wouldn't seem quite so funny."
Jack Handy quote
I can understand the cuticle issue.
But if it’s causing him to become a worse pitcher he has to just get it fixed. Which is why I don’t think it’s an injury.
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
I agree that he does, but convincing a highly competitive athlete
of doing that can be much more difficult to do.
"Whenever I see an old lady slip and fall on a wet sidewalk, my first instinct is to laugh. But then I think, what if I was an ant, and she fell on me. Then it wouldn't seem quite so funny."
Jack Handy quote
Rift might be too strong. I guess I'm concerned
that there could be one if it doesn’t get fixed.
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
I don't think they are deliberately hiding an injury
I guess by the term “injury,” I mean anything that’s not “confidence” or “command” related. For a while, most of PR held the belief that his velocity issues were 99% choice because he was having command problems.
My theory is that the velocity issues have been caused by prior “nagging” injuries that caused arm strength issues. The command problems are a result of the velocity issues because he has altered his pitch selection to throw more sliders and changeups, pitches which are fundamentally harder to throw for strikes.
Rocktober is not a time of year, it is a religion.
He's not hurt
He doesn’t look hurt (9 times out of 10 even amateur observers can tell, and the time pitching coaches can), he doesn’t feel hurt, and he still huff it up to 98 on occasion. I’m not sure where else you can go with that particular conspiracy theory.
He may be sick, but it’s not a mechanical injury. I’m totally confident of that.
Most likely, he just can’t find his delivery anymore. As someone said after his last start, he looks like he’s thinking through the motion step by step instead of smoothly moving through it. This leads to a loss of momentum instead of an amplification. Look at his current motion in slow motion, and compare it to Lincecum’s, who is in some ways similar. Timmeh’s arm speed is the result of a constant amplification through the motion, from big muscles to small. Ubaldo’s is chunky, and the large muscle momentum doesn’t translate into small muscle as well.
by BostonTransplant on May 31, 2011 4:37 PM MDT up reply actions
For the record. It's not my theory and I don't agree that he's injured.
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
He just needs to breathe thru his eyelids like the lizards of the Galapagos Islands.
In mourning for Jorge's ulnar collateral ligament and lost season.
Proud member of the Jonathan 'Scrappy Doo' Herrera Fan Club - Puppy Power!
Strikeouts are boring - besides that, they're fascist. Throw some more groundballs. Its more democratic. - Crash Davis
Still not sure
According to PitchFX, his average velocity has been down only 1.8mph, not really the doom and gloom 4. 2mph is still significant, but not catastrophic. The issue seem to be that he has lost the ability to tap into a 100mph pitch when needed.
However, his lose in velocity is not the reason he has struggled. He still lacks command most of the time. Last game, his fastball was up in the zone more often then not. I still am not convinced that it’s simply a mechanical issue for Ubaldo. The question is, how do you fix it.
Normally this is where I say that Tulo is still trying to hit everything out of the ballpark and blame his swing
But here’s his batted ball data for 2010:
LD% 15.0 GB% 44.9 FB% 40.1 % IFFB% 16.5 HR/FB% 17.1
2011:
LD% 14.8 GB% 44.8 FB% 40.4 IFFB% 16.2 HR/FB% 14.9
He’s hitting the ball exactly like he did last year, but without the results. ATF is right, he’s criminally unlucky this year.
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
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Those are shockingly similar numbers...
It would be hard to imagine his numbers not turning around and soon.
"My eyes! The goggles do nothing!" - Rainier Wolfcastle
by BittenAnkles on May 31, 2011 9:05 AM MDT up reply actions
and that doesn't even tell the whole story
His K rate has dropped significantly, so he is putting the ball in play more. That should be helping too.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 31, 2011 9:18 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Nice assessment
Sounds like a little bit of tweaking should generate some profound results.
by Real Perspective on May 31, 2011 9:50 AM MDT up reply actions
Was Tulo's .327 BABIP last season pretty close to where it should have been based on his batted ball stats last season or were some of his 2010 numbers assisted by good luck?
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 9:52 AM MDT up reply actions
I don't remember exactly, but I think .327 is close to what his xBABIP was
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 31, 2011 10:11 AM MDT up reply actions
Thanks
And now that I think of it, his .322 xBABIP this year has to be pretty close to what it was last year since his batted ball numbers are almost exactly the same.
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 10:13 AM MDT up reply actions
Tulo has essentially done the best thing a hitter can do to improve batting average
Reduce strikeouts. Essentially cut in half. Yet no cigar thus far.
Rocktober is not a time of year, it is a religion.
And it's been particually bad in May
In April his numbers were…
LD% 14.1 GB% 42.4 FB% 43.5 % IFFB% 18.9 HR/FB% 18.9 BABIP .266
Tulo probably deserved that .266 BABIP in April because of the spikes in FB% and IFFB% but May is a completely different story.
LD% 15.3 GB% 46.9 FB% 37.8% IFFB% 13.5 HR/FB% 10.8 BABIP .189
So he actually dropped his FB% by 5.7% and his IFFB% by 5.4% this month and saw his BABIP tumble 77 points from a mediocre .266 number in April. That’s a MASSIVE desposit at the “Luck Bank”.
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 9:50 AM MDT up reply actions
I really like those first four numbers
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
SB Nation Denver | On Twitter | Random Music Writings
That's the reason I'm not in a panic about the offense yet
If very hard for any offense to function when the clean up hitter has a wRC+ of 63 for the month but those first four numbers above say the cleanup hitter’s wRC+ should double (at least) from what it’s been this month if he just keeps doing what he’s doing.
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 10:04 AM MDT up reply actions
I was pointing this out last week
Tulo’s really pissed somebody off upstairs this month.
The only pennance
is to kill the Bieber music, cut the rat tail, regrow the mullet…and God help me, reinstate Miley Cyrus
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
Funny exchange this weekend
I was at a game with my nephew. Between innings, that Godawful Bieber song starts playing. My nephew looks at me and says “Bieber? That’s not exactly baseball music.” Me: “Uh, Troy Tulowitzki uses it as his walkup music.” Him “You’re kidding.” Me: “Nope. Last year it was Miley Cyrus.” Him (shaking head): “That’s just not good…”
I haven’t had the heart to mention the rattail/mullet thing to him yet…
We're trying to win a (#)(*@$%#)@#&$#)^ argument here!!!!
Whatever the manager does is wrong, unless it works. Then he's a button pusher.
In line for seats at the Grand Junction Rockies 2012 home opener
"I made baseball as much fun as doing your taxes" - Bill James (Simpsons version)
"Everyone study two out situations, count management, and I'll be back with some gluten free crackers"
by Junction Rox on May 31, 2011 10:07 AM MDT up reply actions
I agree with this plan.
In mourning for Jorge's ulnar collateral ligament and lost season.
Proud member of the Jonathan 'Scrappy Doo' Herrera Fan Club - Puppy Power!
Strikeouts are boring - besides that, they're fascist. Throw some more groundballs. Its more democratic. - Crash Davis
by DAWNMARIE01 on May 31, 2011 11:19 AM MDT up reply actions
This is, admittedly, purely an anecdotal connection… but I’m kind of getting a 2009 vibe from this team in the sense that early in the 2009 season, they just could not win a series, and lost a lot of one-run games, but when they did win, they were blowout wins. That pretty much describes these Rockies to a T.
I remain convinced a turnaround is right at the end of this tunnel, and I will continue to squint and swear I see the light until the math says it’s not possible anymore.
"You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around the whole time." - Jim Bouton
this
Dear Gods of Baseball, whatever we did, we are sorry. Please let Ubaldo be great again.
--The Rowbots
P.S. What can we do to make the bats hot again?
Can I ride into the tunnellwith you?
Until the train hits us?
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
One run games support this point
Through 53 games in 09, the Rockies were 3-10 in one run games – not all that different from the 6-12 number the Rockies have in one run games so far this season.
Once the 09 Rockies figured out how to win this games, they finished 20-10 in this category in their last 30. We just have to hope that this year’s Rockies can do the same.
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 9:59 AM MDT up reply actions
I didn't see the game other than a few innings
but how the hell do you get 14 hits and only one run on a solo HR, that blows my mind.
bad bad baseball my friend
something we have seen to frequently this month
The Big Purple Machine will make a believer outta you!
by El Paso Jeff on May 31, 2011 8:54 AM MDT up reply actions
I've taken the last two weeks off.
I want to watch some baseball.
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
SB Nation Denver | On Twitter | Random Music Writings
Trust me
You don’t :-)
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 10:05 AM MDT up reply actions
I'll wait until after the Stanley Cup then...
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
SB Nation Denver | On Twitter | Random Music Writings
I'm so excited about that
I think the Bruins are gonna lose but then again, I thought that the last two rounds.
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 10:11 AM MDT up reply actions
They're gonna get smoked imo
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
SB Nation Denver | On Twitter | Random Music Writings
I expect them to lose in 5
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 10:15 AM MDT up reply actions
there is also some bad luck in there
CarGo being thrown out at the plate
EY’s line drive with the bases loaded right to 2B cheating towards 2B
Bad baseball + bad luck = massive cringe factor
Bleed purple
uggggggggggg
this is so freakin’ painful to watch every pitch.
Bad AB followed by bad AB, followed by error followed by bad pitch execution followed by Wasted Plate appearance,followed by a base running error, followed by missing a cut-off.
Followed by a 14 run explosion and then 5 games of Shiite
We aren’t doing little or big things right. This needs to stop. Start scrappin’ bring in Bud Black, or Kirk Gibson to get this team to fight a little instead of waiting “for talent to shine through”.
Not a call for Tracy’s head per se, just a request to do something a little different. Doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different result is insanity
The Big Purple Machine will make a believer outta you!
To be fair
the relay Eric Young Jr. tried to make on Carroll’s triple last night was pretty comical.
"There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare." ~Tallulah Bankhead
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." ~Greg, age 8
JFK
I have had the impression that this team is making a ton of errors this season.
But in reality, they have only committed 5 more errors than the league leader and are in the upper third of MLB in fielding percentage. I think this fits the narrative of a Criminally Unlucky™ team. All there errors seem to have been costly.
Its going to get better…
"My eyes! The goggles do nothing!" - Rainier Wolfcastle
So I guess the universe tries to course correct.
Daniel Faraday is right.
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
The error last night wasn't costly
Not immediately anyway, as Hammel pitched around it.
The botched fly ball also didn’t cost the Rockies anything, since it would have been a sac fly anyway and they ended up forcing Ethier at second on the play. Either way, run scores and man on first with one out.
The only guy who was really unlucky last night was Hammel. He got pecked to death in the 4th, with a little help from Gasbag Joe West, and was down 4-0 before the Dodgers even hit the ball hard. He melted in the 5th, but with this offense the game was pretty much out of reach by then. Several moments last night when just a productive out would have helped get something going, but right on cue the Rockies would produce a backwards K or a room service DP ball.
by Northsider1964 on May 31, 2011 9:45 AM MDT up reply actions
Not clear why Hammel struggled
Any idea why Hammel was having such a difficult time? Was he not focused, or just unlucky?
by Real Perspective on May 31, 2011 9:48 AM MDT up reply actions
He was getting squeezed. Which I think frustrated him
he was getting the low strike at all. And then some bad pitches and one missed DP ball.
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
*not getting the low strike call....
coffee not kicked in yet
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
Very, very unlucky in the 4th
Frustrated and out of gas in the 5th.
Pitching for a team that continually wets itself in the offensive half of the inning will tend to do that to you.
And as SDcat notes, Joe West is a joke. Ethier, Helton and a few other big names could pretty much take any pitch last night and it was called a ball. Then Gasbag Joe would turn around and ring up Wiggy or Iannetta or whoever on exactly the same pitch.
by Northsider1964 on May 31, 2011 9:53 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
He is an
There is nothing like a game of pitch and catch. 40,000 fans in purple and black can't be wrong. What's it amount to? Our Colorado Rockies.
How do you get your kids to behave? Threaten not to take them to a Rockies game. They straighten up REAL QUICK.
EY Jr
I want to root for him, but something in my gut says he won’t be an answer for this team. I just can’t shake the feeling that he will make the crucial fielding mistake, get picked off, or do something else to hurt the team too often, and I don’t really think his bat will hold up to major league pitching. My hope is that he proves me wrong, or that they give Chris Nelson a chance if EY slumps.
Fielding looks the same as always
Flashy, but inconsistent. But, he looks a whole lot better on the basepaths. So quick, and he looks smarter out there. Although your right, not sure if he will hit enough to use that asset.
EY looks better at the plate too
Has his weight way back and his hands low, which is allowing him to get the barrel on the ball. Pretty much the same approach Rene Lachemann used to get Fowler back on track, except Dexter gradually abandoned it and now has his hands back above his earhole.
Rockies do have a film room, don’t they?
by Northsider1964 on May 31, 2011 9:48 AM MDT up reply actions
its filled with movies of bieber concerts and reggie jackson hitting the ball out of tiger stadium
the only organization of humans responsible for more evil in the universe than the philadelphia phillies is the boston red sox
fire jim tracy: if you can closer-by-committee, you can manager-by-committee
and bad Dinger commercials
In mourning for Jorge's ulnar collateral ligament and lost season.
Proud member of the Jonathan 'Scrappy Doo' Herrera Fan Club - Puppy Power!
Strikeouts are boring - besides that, they're fascist. Throw some more groundballs. Its more democratic. - Crash Davis
by DAWNMARIE01 on May 31, 2011 12:42 PM MDT up reply actions
EY2, Jonny and Wiggy
I agree that EY2 is not the answer to everything. But he is not going to bring the team down and may help a little. He seemed to provide a spark to the big win over the Cards. I suspect his fileding will improve once he gets into more of a groove.
Hate to see Herrera out of the lineup. Wondering if there is a better approach. Is Wiggy now permanently at 3B?
by Real Perspective on May 31, 2011 9:46 AM MDT up reply actions
It looks like Wiggy will almost certainly stick at 3B
He now has a league average bat which I think we should be happy to have a 3B considering the sinkhole that was there earlier this year. Herrera may get some time there, but he hasn’t been hitting as well as Wiggy.
Check out my blog about undergraduate science research
by black_knight101 on May 31, 2011 9:53 AM MDT up reply actions 2 recs
this needs a rec
Because we have a league average bat at 3b.
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by Andrew Martin on May 31, 2011 10:17 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
This may say more about the league than
about some sudden resurgence at 3B….
We're trying to win a (#)(*@$%#)@#&$#)^ argument here!!!!
Whatever the manager does is wrong, unless it works. Then he's a button pusher.
In line for seats at the Grand Junction Rockies 2012 home opener
"I made baseball as much fun as doing your taxes" - Bill James (Simpsons version)
"Everyone study two out situations, count management, and I'll be back with some gluten free crackers"
by Junction Rox on May 31, 2011 10:21 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Batting numbers are down in the post roids era
Really, compare to league average numbers in the 70s-80s. I haven’t done so, but I dare say they’re probably pretty close.
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
by Mondogarage on May 31, 2011 10:37 AM MDT up reply actions
IIRC
Stewart was league average at 3B last year. And we would kill for that level of performance now, amirite?
Bleed purple
yeah he was
considering how terrible 3B has been so far this season, we really needed somebody to step up and be that guy. hopefully Wiggy can stick there, or Stewart figures out what in the world he is doing.
Check out my blog about undergraduate science research
by black_knight101 on May 31, 2011 11:02 AM MDT up reply actions
If we can keep Wiggy there with a league average bat I could see a scenario developing where this offense starts to take off
C: Above average production from Iannetta
1B: Above average production from Helton
2B: This is the Wild Card but between EY (who looks like he has a really improved approach at the plate) and Herrera I think we should get close to league average production.
3B: League average production from Wiggy
SS: Above average production from Tulo once his BABIP numbers normalize
LF: Above average production from Cargo
CF: At or just below league average production from Dex
RF: Above average production from Smith.
If Wiggy can plug that hole, there’s really no “automatic” out in that lineup and I see no reason why this offense can’t be a strength for this team – something it has been anything but so far.
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 10:27 AM MDT up reply actions
How long until that happens?
Combined with our suddenly scary starting pitching health, we need it to become a strength sooner rather than later.
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
SB Nation Denver | On Twitter | Random Music Writings
I'm hoping the start of June will usher in something better.
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 10:50 AM MDT up reply actions
I'm hoping
the end of May (today) will start that usher
"There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare." ~Tallulah Bankhead
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." ~Greg, age 8
JFK
Well for me, the game starts at 10:00pm so it will end in June :-)
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 10:59 AM MDT up reply actions
Dido!
June is also my birthday month so I am expecing all around good things for this month.
by OutHereInPA on May 31, 2011 11:21 AM MDT up reply actions
i rec'd
There is nothing like a game of pitch and catch. 40,000 fans in purple and black can't be wrong. What's it amount to? Our Colorado Rockies.
How do you get your kids to behave? Threaten not to take them to a Rockies game. They straighten up REAL QUICK.
He most definitely isn't the answer
He plays below average defense and is flat-out the worst hitter on the roster. He may be “hitting” .316, but he’s yet to draw a walk and he’s striking out like Dex.
Rocktober is not a time of year, it is a religion.
I'm willing to give EY2 more than a week audition.
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
SB Nation Denver | On Twitter | Random Music Writings
I think given all the complaining about Lopez and Amezaga....
and the demands here to DFA both of them, and the demands to bring up EY2, no one has any right to complain any longer.
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
by Mondogarage on May 31, 2011 11:20 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
nelson's even back
the only organization of humans responsible for more evil in the universe than the philadelphia phillies is the boston red sox
fire jim tracy: if you can closer-by-committee, you can manager-by-committee
exactly
We got the roster fixes we wanted. Let’s attempt to enjoy them.
Purple Row - For all of your Colorado Rockies-related needs
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by Andrew Martin on May 31, 2011 1:01 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Herrera isn't any better
Have you seen him the last few weeks? Declining pretty severely. And he has no speed.
2B is still most definitely a problem for us, but I’ll take EY any day of the week because of his speed on the bases.
by BostonTransplant on May 31, 2011 4:46 PM MDT up reply actions
He's crashed pretty hard, hasn't he?
.546 OPS the past 28 days. Oof.
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
SB Nation Denver | On Twitter | Random Music Writings
Remind me again what is the least acceptable OPS?
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
I mean and still keep playing
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
Ahh thanks!
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
.800 is a good starter, .700 is usually a bench player
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
SB Nation Denver | On Twitter | Random Music Writings
.484 OPS the past two weeks
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
SB Nation Denver | On Twitter | Random Music Writings
i'd cut him if any decent 2b were available in my league
the only organization of humans responsible for more evil in the universe than the philadelphia phillies is the boston red sox
fire jim tracy: if you can closer-by-committee, you can manager-by-committee
Here you go: the column OOB is the one to look at
http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2011-baserunning-batting.shtml
Daron "...the D. Baxter fan-club"
Mark: "A non-profit organization."
by Jim McLennan on May 31, 2011 9:47 AM MDT up reply actions
Thanks
It looks like the Rockies are third on this list.
"There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare." ~Tallulah Bankhead
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." ~Greg, age 8
JFK
Nice work on the Cargo Tulo analysis
the first thing i’ve read in a hot minute that makes me feel better about this team
by AbsenteeRoxFAn on May 31, 2011 10:45 AM MDT reply actions
When exactly is the Rule 4 Draft?
"There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare." ~Tallulah Bankhead
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." ~Greg, age 8
JFK
June 6-8!
Check out my blog about undergraduate science research
by black_knight101 on May 31, 2011 10:55 AM MDT up reply actions
overheard.....wut?
-“I don’t understand, was De La Rosa really that much at risk for an injury needing Tommy John Surgery? He didn’t appear throw with that inverted ‘W’ shape.”
-“You mean an ‘M’?”
-silence………………..
We Fear NO ONE.
Because We Know: WE ARE THE ROCKIES.
by The Lodo Magic Man on May 31, 2011 10:48 AM MDT reply actions 2 recs
Anyone know where
to find info on walk-off wins? I know we have none so far. The Giants have like 10. Even the Astros had them on back to back days a couple weeks ago. Of course, that’s to be expected when the team is OPSing under .500 in the 9th and extras.
Wait, what's his real name? We should make a joke out of that.
I was just thinking about this the other day.
It’s sad we don’t have any b/c they are so exciting and are the stuff of LoDo magic. I am not surprised at all by this given how inept our offense has been in later innings of games. I really thought we were going to get one on Sunday with CarGo up to bat. Maybe a walk off win is what we need to pump some life into this offense…
by OutHereInPA on May 31, 2011 11:47 AM MDT up reply actions
perfectly on topic
Satchel Price suggests Tulo is getting better: http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2011/5/31/2199141/troy-tulowitzki-getting-even-better
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 31, 2011 11:56 AM MDT via mobile reply actions
This comment is awesome
Jeez. Tulo is going to regress with a vengeance. Look out.
The Martha Stewart of processed foods.
Super Overlady Of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
Proud Member of the PR gynocracy.
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Also, Bochy asked Kirk Gibson and Jim Riggleman to be his bench coaches.
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
I thought Alex Gonzalez
was the best all-around SS in the NL though
"There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare." ~Tallulah Bankhead
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." ~Greg, age 8
JFK
He leads all shortstops
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 1:30 PM MDT up reply actions
Jose Reyes should really have more votes with the season he's having.
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 1:32 PM MDT up reply actions
The Wilpon's couldn't afford to pay for all the labor to mark the ballots
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
stupid east coast bia---
huh?
You can do it Ian! You can do it Ian! Help the Rockies out! That is what I me-an.
by frightened inmate #2 on May 31, 2011 1:39 PM MDT up reply actions
The East Coast bias is visible in the catcher's voting...
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
He pretty much has no chance of getting caught either
He has more than twice as many votes as Jimmy Rollins (the closeest person to him). We pretty much know right now that when the NL All Stars take the field in Arizona this July, Tulo will be trotting out to take his place at short.
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 1:43 PM MDT up reply actions
I really hope he hits cleanup behind Pujols =)
Although he’ll probably hit 6th or something
Rocktober is not a time of year, it is a religion.
At this point
I’m just so thrilled that he’s going to be starting that I don’t really care where he bats. Tulo has given this franchise so much and yet, for a variety of different reasons, he has yet to play in an All Star game. I’m really happy for him that’s he’s got this reward coming.
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 2:44 PM MDT up reply actions
Tulo has more than twice as many votes
as the second place SS, Rollins!
That is actually flabbergasting!
"I am an optimist - it does not seem to be much use being anything else" - W. Churchill
Maybe it is time to question the effectiveness of the batting coach.
All Don Baylor did last year was get Tulo and Cargo MVP mention and Silver Slugger trophies, and he gets a pink slip for his efforts. Enter Carney, who was supposed to help Stewie, CDI, and Fowler. CDI may arguably be better at hitting this year, but Fowler has become so tentative at the plate, that he leads the legue in strikeouts, most looking. AM had a nice 3 part article on Stewart before the season, reasoning that all that needed to be done was get him to move a bit farther off the plate. Instead his mechanics became so messed up that his batting average dropped below 100. nothing in his history would have suggested that he would tank that bad; I blame Carney. Our free agent additions, Lopez and Wiggy have also regressed this year, as many on this site predicted at the beginning of the season. Meanwhile over at Arizona,
Baylor seems to have the bats swinging as never before.
by Cheeseheadroxfan on May 31, 2011 2:27 PM MDT reply actions
Arizona really hasn't been markedly better offensively.
Montero, Roberts, and Miranda have taken off, but the rest of the team is at about its career average. There is likely to be some regression.
What Baylor might have done is at least prevented anyone from declining.
by DumbAndNerdy on May 31, 2011 2:33 PM MDT up reply actions
Associating Lansford with Lopez's decline
Would be like blaming the Pittsburgh coaching staff for Garrett Atkins washing out for them in 2011. Lopez “regressed” from being terrible over a full season to being terrible over two months.
And I agree with Petro – the Dbacks always had some offensive pop. They got rid of their 200-strikeout black hole and they run the bases like there’s no tomorrow, but up and down the lineup their numbers aren’t really any different. Their team BA, OBP, SLG, and OPS are almost exactly where they have been the past four years. Their Runs/Game average is up, but I credit that as much to their aggressive baserunning as anything else.
I would say Lansford has done very well with Smith and he got Fowler off to a good start before Dex reverted back to his old habits. But truth be told, I would liked to have seen Rene Lachemann get the job. He’s the one guy who seems to be able to convince these guys to hit within their ability, and it often translates during their first few weeks back in Denver. But then after a while, it’s back to the same old pull-happy hacks that got them sent to the Springs in the first place.
by Northsider1964 on May 31, 2011 2:54 PM MDT up reply actions
Maybe Andrew Martin or someone could post the players batting averages
from last year to this year, to see if they really are regressing. Because it sure seems to me that the hitting has declined for most from last year.
by Cheeseheadroxfan on May 31, 2011 3:05 PM MDT up reply actions
Maybe Andrew Martin or someone could post the players batting averages
HAHAHAHAHA
I’m laughing just thinking about AMart reaching for a sick bucket after posting batting averages. Probably not good for his health.
Seriously though, if you want to compare numbers, just go here (2010) and here (2011).
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
NO, we are NOT going to fire Jim Tracy midseason!!!!!
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 3:14 PM MDT up reply actions
That comment was tongue in cheek
it was meant to tweak him a bit. I figured he would come out with a page and a half of stats!
by Cheeseheadroxfan on May 31, 2011 6:30 PM MDT up reply actions
I don't think I agree with much here
Note that the entire point of this article was to assign the “struggles” of CarGo and Tulo to bad luck, not a bad approach. In the case of Tulo, his approach is identical. Bad luck can’t be the coach’s fault.
Last I checked, arizona’s offense isn’t that much better than last year’s. They are winning due to improved pitching more than anything.
The buzz on Lansford was to fix Stewart, Iannetta and Smith, not Fowler. Smith has been arguably the best hitter on the team, and Iannetta leads all NL catchers in home runs, fWAR, OPS, wRC+. Those two are resounding successes. Stewart is a flat failure, but with no other ties between Lansford and failure, you can’t really complete the triangle with failure, Lansford and Stewart.
I have no idea what happened to Stewart. I’m very familiar with his weaknesses (I wrote the series not AM), and its hard to figure for me. Best I can see is that his bad habits simply weren’t fixed, manifested in SSS while we was still getting into baseball timing, and then started passively pressing – when a hitter tries to get himself out of a slump by watching pitches and clobbering good pitches to hit only.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 31, 2011 3:10 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
I wish PHLP
was still dropping by, at least to maybe take a bow for his Stewart calls. Certainly I don’t know if he was right or not in his reasoning, obviously. But its kinda easy for me to think he knew what he was talking about.
A shame some seemed to want to run him out of here.
by Teekalong on May 31, 2011 3:22 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
could not agree more
The biggest weakness of Purple Row is a lack of guys like PHLP.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 31, 2011 3:31 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
He had a good perspective and knowledge
but an arrogant (and often disrespectful) attitude that just made it too hard to take.
"I am an optimist - it does not seem to be much use being anything else" - W. Churchill
Perhaps true
and he asked for some of it (the slopping pigs bit was pretty funny and he deserved what he got for that) but the fact remains he had a totally unique and valuable perspective and was basically chased out of here. A real loss to the community, as ATF notes above. There seem to be a few of the old school types that I really liked to read dropping off lately. Hopefully they’ll come around.
by Teekalong on May 31, 2011 3:39 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agree
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
I agree
If I have one disappointment with Lansford, it’s that this team came out of the gate in April with an emphasis on all-fields, situational hitting – and then reverted to a lot of overswinging and throwaway at-bats. But given what we saw the past few years, I don’t have any reason whatsoever to think that would have been better under Baylor. And neither Baylor or Lansford are responsible for the station-to-station, over-40 slowpitch softball team the Rockies have become on the base paths. If there’s one area where this coaching staff needs bolstering, I would say that’s it.
by Northsider1964 on May 31, 2011 3:25 PM MDT up reply actions
Sorry ATF
I meant to credit you, not AM, with the preseason articles, which I found very insightful. After reading them, I was all reved up to see Stewie hitting better this year, then he just dropped off the edge. Now he is even hurt and not playing in AAA, diminshing his changes of coming back to the squad, which is a shame, as I think everyone was sure he would be the starter at 3B for awhile.
Obviously you cannot blame all the lack of production on just one man, but if Baylor got fired for the team’s performance last year, Landsford can’t be expecting to stick around much longer either.
by Cheeseheadroxfan on May 31, 2011 6:20 PM MDT up reply actions
What I've noticed about Tulo..
Yes his numbers are way down for no apparent reason. It appears he’s just been getting unlucky. However, it seems that Tulo has only been using half of the field. I haven’t seen too many line drives to right center, or home runs to right field. Could this have something to do with it? I’ve seen a lot of line drive outs to left field, or third base, or deep flyouts to left field.
Just tossing out ideas, trying to figure this out.
That's true, but ...
Over-pulling is more usually a symptom than a cause of poor approach. There are some guys that just can’t square the ball up unless they’re pulling it — or more rarely, hitting the other way — but most MLB hitters can hit the ball hard both ways. When you see a guy pulling everything in sight, what’s usually happening is one of two things: 1) they aren’t seeing the ball well and are guessing. For some reason, guessing equals over-pulling, whereas seeing the ball and hitting it leads to more up the middle and other way. Or 2) the pitchers have decided he’s more dangerous going the other way and are throwing fastballs in and off speed away, which would naturally lead to a lot of pull hits.
Interestingly, guys who hit the ball the one way predictably are prone to bad luck, because fielders know where the ball’s going. Hitters who can inside-out the ball and go the other way (think Derek Jeter) get a lot of bloops and bleeders and generally have high averages.
by BostonTransplant on May 31, 2011 4:55 PM MDT up reply actions
tulo's may BABIP is lower than CDI's 2010 average
(like the mid .100s)
the only organization of humans responsible for more evil in the universe than the philadelphia phillies is the boston red sox
fire jim tracy: if you can closer-by-committee, you can manager-by-committee
OTish: A very special proposal
for Royals’ Stadium
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
anyone have a guess.. or a way to know
Which game I will get tonight on MLB network? Rockies or Yankees?
"Don't give up, don't ever give up" - Jim Valvano
by nodakroxfan on May 31, 2011 4:36 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
I'm getting Rockies according to my cable guide
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
mine just says or
Maybe I’ll hop on my computer and see if they have a map
"Don't give up, don't ever give up" - Jim Valvano
by nodakroxfan on May 31, 2011 4:56 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
I think everyone is getting Rockies/Dodgers unless they are in the Denver or LA markets
Can we lay off of Cargo and Tulo until their BABIP numbers get with 50 points of their career averages?
NO, we are NOT going to fire Jim Tracy midseason!!!!!
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on May 31, 2011 5:50 PM MDT up reply actions
ahh hope so.. thanks!
"Don't give up, don't ever give up" - Jim Valvano
by nodakroxfan on May 31, 2011 7:07 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Rox lineup
via Harding
Rox lineup bs. Dodgers: Young4, Fowler8, Gonzalez7, Tulowitzki6, Helton3, Wigginton9, Nelson5, Iannetta1, Mortensen1.
Has Nelson been starting at 3B? Someone fill me in here
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
SB Nation Denver | On Twitter | Random Music Writings
what? Tell me your joking
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
No, it's true
Jim Tracy heard that Purple Row commenters recently have every roster-based reason to complain about him, removed. So he thought he’d do it just for the Rowbot LULZ.
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
Forgive me for if I have little confidence. I can’t understand why the lack of Spilly or Smith because both have been pretty good May so far. I’m thinking they must be injured…..we’ll see though
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
Darn. Well thanks f
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
Seth's been injuried for several days (tight groin)
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
I'm aware of Smith's nagging groin issue. Didn't know if it was still ongoing
Spilly’s injury is news to me. But thanks for the help
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
Much obliged
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
Ya I heard it after the St. Luis Series
that he is day-to-day with something thats pulled.
It's Jim Tracy's Fault.
Maybe, or he re-tweeked it
I’ve had pulled groins in Tae Kwon Do… they take forever to go away and stop bugging you.
It's Jim Tracy's Fault.
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Wigginton in right
We Fear NO ONE.
Because We Know: WE ARE THE ROCKIES.
by The Lodo Magic Man on May 31, 2011 5:02 PM MDT up reply actions
Hey, he's hitting better than Spilly lately, and if it gets Chris Nelson in the lineup, than whatev
I’m sure if Spilly were in RF and Wiggy at 3B tonight, we’d get complaints “why u no start Nelson?!?!?!”
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
Wigginton has played well recently
And Today should not feature too many fly balls. And Nelson at least deserved a start for his catch yesterday. Plus, Smith looked pretty bad, needs to be eased into it.
We have seen much worse.
I see that for once, you're not actually waiting for the game to play out first.
;-)
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
please, somebody needs to get a .gif of that from yesterday.
We Fear NO ONE.
Because We Know: WE ARE THE ROCKIES.
by The Lodo Magic Man on May 31, 2011 5:06 PM MDT up reply actions
Most of his starts in AAA have been at short this year
This is his first start since The Call-Up
/should play The Clash’s The Call-Up, in honor
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
Thanks. My vacation was ill-timed for Rockies news
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
SB Nation Denver | On Twitter | Random Music Writings
Well, the Rockies have been ill, just the same
Welcome back homeslice
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
Probably my favorite vacation ever, for many reasons
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
SB Nation Denver | On Twitter | Random Music Writings
Well yeah, I can imagine...it's pretty good to be the Muzia these days
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
Damn straight.
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
SB Nation Denver | On Twitter | Random Music Writings
That's it? Wow.
Some days, I feel like I’ve accidentally entered the Church of Tulowitzki on Baseball Easter.
SB Nation Denver | On Twitter | Random Music Writings
Well, there be no drunken statements so early on in the game. I have to work, but only for 4 or 5 hours. When I get done, I will on here.
1. Eric Young (S) 2B
2. Dexter Fowler (S) CF
3. Carlos Gonzalez (L) LF
4. Troy Tulowitzki® SS
5. Todd Helton (L) 1B
6. Ty Wigginton® RF
7. Chris Nelson® 3B
8. Chris Iannetta® C
9. Clayton Mortensen® P
Nelson gets a start! Wiggy in right? Oh boy. Let’s do this guys. Good lineup. I’ll talk to all later. GO ROCKIES
There is nothing like a game of pitch and catch. 40,000 fans in purple and black can't be wrong. What's it amount to? Our Colorado Rockies.
How do you get your kids to behave? Threaten not to take them to a Rockies game. They straighten up REAL QUICK.
This would also work from Tulo and Cargo also. EY needs to have another good game.
Mortenson needs to have another decent outing. Just a good quality start but we will see.
There is nothing like a game of pitch and catch. 40,000 fans in purple and black can't be wrong. What's it amount to? Our Colorado Rockies.
How do you get your kids to behave? Threaten not to take them to a Rockies game. They straighten up REAL QUICK.
So we can now vote for players who get to participate in the HR durby
I’m writing in Herrera.
It's Jim Tracy's Fault.
I'm thinking we should be voting for Tulo
because he’s not hitting enough infield popups
"We have done everything possible to be set for this day, for this season. It's time to go. We are ready. I can promise you that." - CarGo
Jason Hammel
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
I'm going with Mortenson...
once he gets a hit he’ll be on fire. :-D
"It ain't over 'til it's over." Yogi Berra
"Boys, baseball is a game where you gotta have fun. You do that by winning."
Dave Bristol
"First and foremost, we want to win the Western division" Jim Tracy
"That would be really special" Roxman
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