Rockies Win! Rockies Win! 5-3 Victory Snaps 17 Game Sunday Skid
by Jeff Aberle on Aug 21, 2011 8:35 PM MDT
in Rockies Game Wraps
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Huzzah, Rockies fans. Huzzah! For the first time in 18 Sundays (126 interminable days), I am able to write about a Rockies victory. And all I had to do was get up off of my butt and go to the game. Colorado's 2011 Sunday record when I attend: 2-0 (6-1 overall). The Rockies' record when I do not: 1-17. The starting pitchers of those wins: Alan Johnson and Kevin Millwood. That's a large enough sample size for me to decide that I need to be attending more Sunday games.
Today's contest, a sold-out affair against the division rival Dodgers, featured two key 2 run homers by the Rockies -- one a laser by Carlos Gonzalez (21) in the first, shortly after I reached my seat, to give Colorado the early 2-0 -- and the other a seventh inning bomb to the second deck in right by Seth Smith (14). Against all odds, Colorado managed to put up more runs than they had hits (5 to 3) -- heck, Smith's HR was the only hit they got after the first inning. That's right, you read that correctly -- the Rockies got two HRs and one single and won the game.
Kevin Millwood, who possesses the heart of a champion and the reactions of a cat, was decent against everyone except James Loney (4-4, 2B, HR) and Matt Kemp (2-4, 2B) while making several great defensive plays. He lasted 7 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits while striking out 4 to get his first win of 2011 (1-1), while Rafael Betancourt recorded his 2nd save. It should also be noted that Chris Nelson acquitted himself with style and aplomb at the hot corner as well.
It was a wonderful day at the ballpark, and I look forward to the pleasure of being invited to many such events at the behest of the Rockies, eager to stop me from watching Sunday games at home.
Graph:
Beautiful graph is beautiful
We Salute: Smith (.404 WPA), Matt Belisle (.134), Millwood (.112)
We Are Disappointed In: Eliezer Alfonso (-.083 WPA)
Panda Rating: Jubilant Panda
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Was at the game also, and I have to say that I really enjoyed it.
They executed plays really well, and that is what won them that game. Looking forward to another game.
Also, I caught one of the T-shirts they launched and almost got a foul ball.
A good game overall
The writer formerly known as Jabberwocky
READ and LEARN about the business of baseball at Purple Row Academy
Eschew Obfuscation!
Sellout?
Looks like the Monforts don’t really have to invest a whole lot of money into the team in order to get a good return…
Um, no.
It was Faith Day. I would say at least 5,000 people didn’t show up until after the 4th or 5th because they only wanted to go to the concert.
by DumbAndNerdy on Aug 21, 2011 9:00 PM MDT up reply actions
irrespective of that
140,000 people showed up at the park this weekend. That’s pretty absurd.
What’s puzzling to me is why DesertTurtle thinks that reflects poorly on the ownership……we had the highest payroll in franchise history this year and got the two stars who deserved it most (no offense Ubaldo) signed long term. LOLSELLTHUHTEEM
Carlos Gonzalez has an extraordinary tendency to amplify light through stimulated emission of radiation in frequent bursts.
Shoulder-to-Shoulder for life!
Hollidayrain Music
by Hollidayrain on Aug 21, 2011 9:18 PM MDT up reply actions
Attendance has been great all year.
I don’t expect that to change too much.
by DumbAndNerdy on Aug 21, 2011 9:22 PM MDT up reply actions
As a side note on this,
it really seems as if the fan base hasn’t been too shocked by Ubaldo’s departure. It’s still early I suppose, but there is no major revolt that I can see. This includes even in places like the Denver Post. Some people aren’t happy, but the possible downside of a great loss of fan interest isn’t really playing out.
by DumbAndNerdy on Aug 21, 2011 9:29 PM MDT up reply actions
I get questions from the more casual fan
all the time about the trade.
"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
Personally, I've seen a lot of growth in our fan base too.
Maybe not when it comes to the wave…but for most of the mid 2000’s, there was a startling lack of Rockies gear being worn….now EVERYONE has it. Hopefully this means we’re building a real fanbase of our own! After the Ubaldo trade, I expected horrible crowds. The smallest crowd I can remember since then was about 35,000, lol
And this one definitely feels different than the 90’s boom.
Carlos Gonzalez has an extraordinary tendency to amplify light through stimulated emission of radiation in frequent bursts.
Shoulder-to-Shoulder for life!
Hollidayrain Music
by Hollidayrain on Aug 21, 2011 9:30 PM MDT up reply actions
Also
If Ubaldo has many more starts like today, it’s going to be impossible for anyone to get on O’Dowd
I'm pretty disgusted right now!
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Aug 21, 2011 11:09 PM MDT up reply actions
The Monforts can keep their Faith Day
Unless they’re also interested in honoring Ramadan by not serving food or water for a game. Maybe do a Passover seder during spring training (unleavened hot dog buns) or Rosh Hashana, ironically symbolizing the rebirth of the Rockies’ playoff hopes late in the season?
Bobblehead day isn’t alienating fans; the atrocity that occurred today could not have kept me further from the stadium. Perhaps there’s joke about how they finally won on a Sunday?
I'm certain the Monforts (and the whole Rockies organization) don't care what you think of Faith Day
They sold out a Sunday afternoon game in August contested by a pair of teams that were 10 games under .500
How the world will end in 2012: George of the Roses builds a Machine that Pommels everyone with La Violencia during Whiteouts.
by free7694 on Aug 22, 2011 1:22 AM MDT up reply actions 2 recs
Without Question.
I’m debating ethics; not dollar signs.
Why would a "faith day" be about anything but dollar signs though?
Alanna Rizzo is my dream girl.
by Cargo's Ball Sack5 on Aug 22, 2011 2:04 AM MDT up reply actions
You really hate religion, huh, juno?
I used to be like that. I haven’t been to a Faith Day but I understand the religious element isn’t rubbed in your face; the Faith aspect is a concert after the game so you needn’t have anything to do with it; and there’s no disrespect intended towards other religions (which in any case you presumably hold in the same low esteem).
I still don’t have faith and imagine I never will, but why be so angry about something that makes many other people happy and is handled sensitively by the organisers?
(LOL at my 21-year-old self reading this and thinking “who the F is this sellout” :))
by biondino on Aug 22, 2011 4:06 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Hate? Nah...
I just have enough respect for the rest of my fellow man to treat them equally. People of ALL walks of life have attended baseball games for years, and I think it’s silly for the organization to recognize only a specific niche of them. It’s bush league, right up there with propping a bug-eyed dinosaur behind the home plate backstop.
You’d never see this out of another well-runl baseball team.
I have sets of Jewish baseball cards for what it's worth.
Jason Marquis is in there.
"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 sort of get your point, in theory
But would you consider a beer promotion night to be “bush league” because it ignores the needs of teetotallers? What about those allergic to bobbleheads?
It’s obvious you have issues about religion. Many of us do. But I don’t think it’s honest to try and justify your scorn by calling it exclusionary. Respect or your fellow man should also involve respect for their freedom of religion, and that’s all Faith Day is, it’s not forced worship or indoctrination or the things that really would be abhorrent.
I'm going to make one last point and end this...
I have one issue with religion, and it’s that I strongly believe spirituality is most effective as an individual expression. I will never disparage anyone for partaking in any religious tradition, but resent those who use it as a divisive tool, and this event makes my skin crawl.
Faith Day, as the Rockies executed it, was exclusionary, and there’s no way of getting around that. It may have been intended to represent “freedom of religion” or however you described it, but when you book a goofy christian band and market the tickets directly toward evangelicals, you’re looking to accomplish something entirely different. How do you possibly explain that to a social group as diverse as a baseball fanbase? “Oh, sorry. We don’t feel your faith would represent well at the gates.”
I don’t mind Todd Helton’s cross around his neck, I don’t mind Ian Stewart pointing at the sky after hitting a home run (though, it’s been a while…sheesh), and I really don’t even mind the Rockies throwing Jesus Day at Coors Field — even if it’s just a cheap marketing ploy. My problem is that the team has gone out of its way to pander to it’s christian fans, without even lifting a finger to recognize the other cultures that comprise their fan base, and that’s being exclusionary.
There’s no way that would go over in my line of work; I know my friends, who do marketing and game entertainment at KSE, would never let this fly (some are even fairly religious). It just saddens me, really.
And that differs from my 21-year old self, who would probably would have been angry.
by juno106 on Aug 22, 2011 3:55 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
The Giants have a Jewish Heritage Night
and an LDS Family Night. The Phillies also have a Jewish Heritage Night.
For poorly-run baseball teams, they sure win a lot of games.
My point here is not to defend Faith Day. It’s not my cup of tea, and I would be more than happy if the Rockies didn’t hold one. But it’s hardly unique to the Rockies, as much as you would like to think otherwise.
My biggest problem with Faith Day is actually the fact that this is the only concert that ever gets held at Coors Field, while other baseball stadiums host concerts all the time. I always thought an in-stadium concert might have saved the Lodo Music Fesitval, if some had been forward-thinking enough to allow it.
by Northsider1964 on Aug 22, 2011 8:20 AM MDT up reply actions
Sounds like they're doing exactly what I propose the Rockies do...
…and recognize different faiths equally. I’d be a proponent of booking more musical acts too. Fireworks aren’t the only thing that bring crowds to a game.
Rec'd for mature self-deprecation
Our 21-year-old selves were dumb.
Sorry, pip, this will include you, too.
Altar Boy in the Church of Santo Ubaldo
"...buffalo chicken is a fine anti-depressant, after all." -UZ
"... One order of buffalo wings, please..." -Yokel, after July 30, 2011
good god this is true
The stupidest thing I’ve ever done was on my 21st birthday, and it had nothing to do with alcohol. That whole year was terrible
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Aug 22, 2011 8:18 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Perhaps you're unaware, but the majority of Americans self identify as Christian.
I don’t think there would be a sellout for Ramadan day or Rosh Hashana, based on demographics of the Denver area. If you don’t want to go to Faith day, don’t go. I don’t think anyone’s feelings will be hurt.
Did I read on ESPN's BottomLine that
Pomeranz got hurt, but they could still call him up in September to make a few starts?
@CentralCaliRox
I know that...
Can someone shed some light on the issue
@CentralCaliRox
by CentralCaliRox on Aug 21, 2011 8:52 PM MDT up reply actions
Troy Renck wrote mentioned it in the Post today. There’s an outside shot of a late September cameo. I doubt it, and in fact really hope they don’t. The appendectomy really affected Holliday this year, and he’s an established vet. Pom has exactly 0 MLB innings.
Low-cut blouses are looked down upon in this establishment.
In what way was Holliday affected?
He’s on pace to a 5.7 – 6.0 WAR season; that’s about par for the course since leaving Colorado.
cargo is my favorite rockie now, but i still miss holliday every time someone brings him up
the only organization of humans responsible for more evil in the universe than the philadelphia phillies is the boston red sox
2012: get ready for White Pomz!
Matt Cassel
Played QB in the NFL 11 days after surgery. That being said, I don’t see any reason to rush the kid at this point in a losing season. There’s alway next year.
Irony to me includes being lambasted on a Broncos site for defending our starting quarterback.
I suppose it's possible
as recovery generally takes 3 weeks, maximum, and as little as a week or so. But even in the best case, he’d still need at least a couple more starts in the minors before pitching with the Rockies. With the minor league season ending in a couple weeks, I don’t know how that’d be possible. Especially after he just missed three weeks worth of starts due to a technicality.
I really doubt it happens, but who knows.
Alanna Rizzo is my dream girl.
by Cargo's Ball Sack5 on Aug 21, 2011 8:59 PM MDT up reply actions
I actually hope it doesn't at this point.
I’m not sure what there is to gain by it.
by DumbAndNerdy on Aug 21, 2011 9:01 PM MDT up reply actions
Unless there's something about this appendectomy we don't know
He should easily be available to pitch in a couple weeks. But maybe the Rox don’t want to put him on the roster this year for whatever reason anyway. I’m thinking they’d prefer he do some instructional league work instead of October big league games.
by BostonTransplant on Aug 21, 2011 8:51 PM MDT reply actions
I dunno.
I’m pretty sure that’s what I saw on ESPN’s BottomLine. That Pomeranz would pitch for the team in September.
@CentralCaliRox
by CentralCaliRox on Aug 21, 2011 8:53 PM MDT up reply actions
I would be suprised with this
Unless they’re fighting for a spot in the playoffs come September.
Might as well delay him from the 40 man. He’ll not be able to pitch for a bit. I believe they have to add Friedrich to protect him as well.
By the way, the article picture is officially the new way to denote success on PR
The writer formerly known as Jabberwocky
READ and LEARN about the business of baseball at Purple Row Academy
Eschew Obfuscation!
Second to Smite Baby, of course.
Altar Boy in the Church of Santo Ubaldo
"...buffalo chicken is a fine anti-depressant, after all." -UZ
"... One order of buffalo wings, please..." -Yokel, after July 30, 2011
SmiteWood?
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
BigGiantHead of the Ubaldo Lover's Club;OG Thugget Loyalist #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
I agree whole-heartedly
Awesome picture.
"My eyes! The goggles do nothing!" - Rainier Wolfcastle
by BittenAnkles on Aug 21, 2011 10:08 PM MDT up reply actions
Bettis with another solid outing
5 IP 3 H 1 ER 0 BB 3 SO
I was playing with my Purps list today and placed Bettis at #2..
before remembering I needed to add Pom and White to it. He still might be top 3.
Anyone know why he was pulled after 5?
He was pitching well, and I can’t imagine his pitch count was all that high, given the low amount of hits, walks, and Ks.
Alanna Rizzo is my dream girl.
by Cargo's Ball Sack5 on Aug 21, 2011 9:11 PM MDT up reply actions
Not sure on that..
Then again that may be trying to limit his innings considering he’ll get more starts with the playoffs.
I don’t see anything other then a note that he’s done after 5. They sat Arenado today as well.
he is being given the Chacin treatment
Bettis has clearly established himself as part of the Rockies big league plans, so they are limiting his innings by cutting his starts off at five innings the.rest of the way. It’s not much, but its something I suppose.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Aug 22, 2011 8:23 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Amazing what happens
when you don’t completely empty the bench on Sunday. Helton for Giambi is fine and Alfonzo only in due to the extra innings yesterday (at least we can hope).
Question for the board – if you are going to bring 1 veteran into camp next year on a low guarantee plus incentives would the community prefer Millwood to Cook? I am a Cook hater so want to get input from others.
I have a lingering fondness for Aaron Cook
and that’s why I’d rather go with someone else. Let the guys I like ride off into the sunset instead of me having to sit through their terrible starts wishing they could get back to form. So, Millwood, because I don’t get sentimental about him.
at this point it's a wash for me
i lean toward millwood because he’d probably cost like $6, but it will depend on how they each finish the year
the only organization of humans responsible for more evil in the universe than the philadelphia phillies is the boston red sox
2012: get ready for White Pomz!
I do think
that they will bring one of these guys or somebody like them in. It is very hard to project the 2012 rotation besides Chacin. So many kids and several injury return guys.
I think you can safely say Chacin and White will be in the Opening Day rotation
With DLR jumping in somewhere in the first half of the season.
How the world will end in 2012: George of the Roses builds a Machine that Pommels everyone with La Violencia during Whiteouts.
Milwood scares me...
I honestly feel he’s gotten lucky to not have a few more HRs off him.
Cook has suckage games but potential to throw low impact games and save a bullpen.
Neither would be my answer. If forced between the two I saw Cook as long as it’s not over 2-2.5 mil a year.
Neither would be my choice too
And frankly if Cook agreed to pitch for free, I would still be inclined to say no. The reason being that this organization will find every reason to shoehorn him into the rotation regardless of his performance. At least with Millwood, they would be more inclined to pull the plug.
I am open to changing my mind about Cook, but need to see more than one good start in a row in order to do so – and we haven’t.
by Northsider1964 on Aug 21, 2011 9:39 PM MDT up reply actions
Millwood was once (not too long ago) very good
If memory serves, quite a bit better than Cook. And he’s “only” 36. I dunno. Could he have a 13-10 ish, innings-eating season in him? I’d say just as likely as Cook does. Maybe more so.
by BostonTransplant on Aug 21, 2011 10:02 PM MDT up reply actions
I was at the game.
Sat next to Toddfather’s Goatee, who was a pretty nice guy with a baseball-loving mother. That was pretty cool.
I also saw RdRnnr from afar. I would have caught up with him, but going to games with the kids makes visiting hard to do. Maybe another game.
I’ve got three more games to go this year unless the Rockies make some kind of run, or Pomeranz pitches. I hope they are as good as the last two I attended.
I get to see White's Rox debut on Tuesday though! YEAH!!!!!!!
Carlos Gonzalez has an extraordinary tendency to amplify light through stimulated emission of radiation in frequent bursts.
Shoulder-to-Shoulder for life!
Hollidayrain Music
by Hollidayrain on Aug 21, 2011 9:20 PM MDT up reply actions
I would have bought tickets,
but I’ll be in Vegas. I have to hope for Pom, even though I really don’t want him coming up this year anymore.
by DumbAndNerdy on Aug 21, 2011 9:21 PM MDT up reply actions
Unless there's Rocktober for some bizarre reason
Carlos Gonzalez has an extraordinary tendency to amplify light through stimulated emission of radiation in frequent bursts.
Shoulder-to-Shoulder for life!
Hollidayrain Music
by Hollidayrain on Aug 21, 2011 9:26 PM MDT up reply actions
I got pictures of all of them.
I think I’m saving it until the dead of winter.
Altar Boy in the Church of Santo Ubaldo
"...buffalo chicken is a fine anti-depressant, after all." -UZ
"... One order of buffalo wings, please..." -Yokel, after July 30, 2011
This is a depressing picture
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
BigGiantHead of the Ubaldo Lover's Club;OG Thugget Loyalist #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
What a great picture
from the second best baseball venue around (Coors is first of course)
"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
Afar is my best side!
Glad we got to wave. (but not do the wave) I did say hi to Toddfather’s Goatee after you left.
"Surgeons have determined that doing the wave will, yes, will cause tears to the suprapinatus muscle and the infraspinatus muscle from the throwing of an individual's arms rapidly into the air. In addition, any children doing the wave will be sold to the circus. Do NOT do the wave in the ballpark. Doing the wave is safe at pro football games and Miley Cyrus concerts.
-scoreboard announcement at Ranger Ballpark in Arlington via Baseball Nation.
I've asked this question a few times and not gotten an answer
And maybe it’s because no one knows or maybe no one cares, but I care and am just wondering If anyone out there knows what happened to Stew. If this was answered somewhere else, sorry but I didn’t see it.
"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
He only played one game since going down though
Then was on the 7 day DL, but I never heard why. It says he is active now, but he still hasn’t played another game.
Alanna Rizzo is my dream girl.
by Cargo's Ball Sack5 on Aug 21, 2011 10:06 PM MDT up reply actions
He's in the Springs, working on a completely new swing
From what I hear, he’s cut the uppercut out as much as he can, and is focusing on making solid contact and hitting line drives. It’s the right thing to do, but is pretty much a hail mary at this point. You normally don’t do radical surgery on a swing for a major leaguer in his mid to late twenties. But I’m afraid the alternative was to be out of baseball after maybe next year.
by BostonTransplant on Aug 21, 2011 10:05 PM MDT up reply actions
I found it odd that he played 1 game in CS
And went 2-4 with 2 doubles and have not heard from him since. If he is working on a new swing it makes sense, but why play him in that 1st game then?
"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
Perhaps the best stat from this game.....
Dodger runs = 3
Rockie hits = 3
Who would have though on a day like that, the 2011 Rockies would find a way to win – and on Sunday no less?
It actually gets even better. The Rockies had just one hit after the first inning. ONE MEASLY HIT!!!! Yet they still managed to push three more runs across the plate.
I'm pretty disgusted right now!
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Aug 21, 2011 11:20 PM MDT reply actions
That is so anti-2011
From a team that a couple months ago scored one run on 14 hits, it’s kind of unbelievable actually.
Of course, the moment anyone thinks this game will be the start of any kind of momentum…2011 will come right back and slap you right in the face.
Alanna Rizzo is my dream girl.
by Cargo's Ball Sack5 on Aug 21, 2011 11:36 PM MDT up reply actions
It wasn't a measly hit though
It went a long way
"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
ITZ BECAUSE WE HAD MILLWOOD, DUDE IS A SERIOUS VETERAN BIG-GAME PITCHER
the only organization of humans responsible for more evil in the universe than the philadelphia phillies is the boston red sox
2012: get ready for White Pomz!
Maybe we should all pitch in
And get Jeff some season tickets next year. Glad to see the Rox showing signs of life. Too little too late perhaps, but it gets the hopes going for our future.
Irony to me includes being lambasted on a Broncos site for defending our starting quarterback.
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