Game #155 Wrap: The Aaron Cook Saga Ends With a Fizzle

by Andrew Martin on Sep 21, 2011 11:22 PM MDT in Rockies Game Wraps

It all moved kind of fast. 5 innings, 78 pitches, and it was over. No fanfare, no ovation, nothing. One minute he was there, the next, a lefty was throwing.

Aaron Cook was confusing, to say the least, in what might likely be his final appearance in a Colorado Rockies uniform. His first inning looked like more of what we've seen from Cook this season than any other. The Padres batted around in the 1st on 4 hits, 2 walks, and 2 sacrifice flies. The inning ended with pitcher Anthony Bass striking out swinging.

After that, Cook turned on the angry.

The next 4 innings, Cook struck out 7 batters, walked none, and allowed only 2 more hits. He looked to be making up for time lost, what with the strikeouts and all.

Then he was pulled.

I'm absolutely baffled as to WHY Tracy decided to pull Cook when he did. He was replaced after 78 pitches in between innings for lefty Matt Reynolds. Cook threw 8 pitches in the 5th, getting 2 groundouts and a swinging strikeout of Chase Headley. He looked to be poised to finish the 6th, maybe even run through the 7th; it would've been a fine way to make up for that nasty 1st inning.

Instead, he was pulled between innings with no notice and seemingly no reason. I don't meant to bring torches and pitchforks to manager Jim Tracy's office over this issue, but even if Cook is sucking out loud this season, he's been with the club for 10 seasons. Put him back out for the 6th, have Reynolds ready, and if Cook gets into trouble, you go get him. In doing this, you give Cook a chance to reclaim his miserable 1st inning, and if he can't, you give the fanbase a chance to say goodbye. You give him a chance to climb the dugout stairs, tip his cap to the fans that have watched Cook his entire career, from his major league debut in relief of Shawn Chacon and Mark Corey, to his horrifying collapse on the mound in 2004 (ultimately caused by pulmonary embolisms in his lungs), to his World Series start in 2007, to today, when he got hit in the butt by a Luis Martinez ground ball. Give fans a moment to show a 10-year veteran some love and respect. His 2011 may not have earned it, but his career certainly has.

What's the worst thing that could happen, the Rockies lose?

Final 4-0.

70 - 85

Games Back: 19.5

Streak: Lost 7

Games Left: 7

via www.fangraphs.com

Pitcher	IP	H	BB	SO	pLI	WPA
Total	9.0	6	1	4	0.85	.381
A Bass	5.0	2	1	1	0.65	.192
E Frieri	1.0	1	0	1	1.50	.083
H Bell	0.2	0	0	2	0.91	.057
L Gregerson	1.0	1	0	0	1.10	.044
C Qualls	1.0	0	0	0	0.46	.037
J Thatcher	0.1	2	0	0	0.75	-.033

Pitcher	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	pLI	WPA
Total	9.0	9	4	3	11	0.57	-.119
M Reynolds	1.0	0	0	0	0	0.26	.021
M Lindstrom	1.0	1	0	0	1	0.27	.017
M Belisle	1.0	0	0	1	1	0.15	.011
G Reynolds	1.0	2	0	0	1	0.13	.005
A Cook	5.0	6	4	2	8	0.81	-.174

Batter	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	pLI	WPA
Total	33	4	9	4	3	11	0.57	.119
L Martinez	2	1	1	0	2	0	0.58	.059
A Rizzo	4	0	2	1	0	0	0.65	.049
C Denorfia	4	1	1	0	0	0	0.63	.043
A Parrino	4	0	1	1	0	2	0.57	.033
J Bartlett	2	0	2	0	0	0	0.19	.013
C Maybin	5	1	1	0	0	1	0.44	.008
J Hermida	4	1	0	0	1	3	0.40	.006
A Gonzalez	3	0	1	1	0	0	0.79	.002
A Cunningham	1	0	0	0	0	1	0.14	-.004
A Bass	2	0	0	0	0	2	0.67	-.039
C Headley	2	0	0	1	0	2	0.87	-.050
E Frieri	0	0	0	0	0	0
J Thatcher	0	0	0	0	0	0
L Gregerson	0	0	0	0	0	0
C Qualls	0	0	0	0	0	0
H Bell	0	0	0	0	0	0

Batter	AB	H	BB	SO	pLI	WPA
Total	31	6	1	4	0.85	-.381
E Young Jr.	4	2	0	1	1.00	.049
C Nelson	1	1	0	0	0.82	.036
C Iannetta	2	0	1	0	0.83	.024
D Fowler	4	2	0	0	0.71	-.005
A Cook	1	0	0	0	0.34	-.009
J Pacheco	3	1	0	0	0.65	-.030
T Wigginton	1	0	0	1	1.43	-.039
T Field	2	0	0	1	0.75	-.046
T Tulowitzki	2	0	0	0	0.84	-.048
K Kouzmanoff	3	0	0	0	0.88	-.090
S Smith	4	0	0	1	0.88	-.096
M Ellis	4	0	0	0	0.97	-.125
G Reynolds	0	0	0	0
M Lindstrom	0	0	0	0
M Belisle	0	0	0	0
M Reynolds	0	0	0	0

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Comments

/standing ovation for this game wrap

I was utterly baffled as well as to why Cookie was taken out.

"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

by SDcat09 on Sep 21, 2011 11:24 PM MDT reply actions

The more I think on it, the more melancholy I get

I wanted to say “goodbye”

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 21, 2011 11:28 PM MDT up reply actions

I felt the same way.

We were trying to figure out in the GT what the heck Tracy was doing. Some thought it had been planned that he would only go six innings and that didn’t make sense. I thought maybe the ball he took in his toushie hurt him more than we thought, but I doubt it.

It just seemed so disrespectful to a player of his tenure and value. It rather pissed me off.

by SDcat09 on Sep 21, 2011 11:34 PM MDT up reply actions

I'm trying to keep the tinfoil hat off and not freak out at Tracy

but… I don’t know, I’m mildly upset.

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 21, 2011 11:37 PM MDT up reply actions

I am also, but some frustration does come out sometimes.

You can let it all go when the season is over. LOL

Thank you Cookie for many years of service. Hope all goes well with you in your continued career.
Self taught and falling in love with this game is very easy to do, you can never hate it, and that is something that not one person can take away from anybody. The love of baseball and OUR COLORADO ROCKIES.

by Roxman4ever on Sep 21, 2011 11:39 PM MDT up reply actions

I'm working on a thing.

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 21, 2011 11:39 PM MDT up reply actions

Really?!

/rubs hands together
Will there be serenity now?

This year sucks.

by prettyinpurple on Sep 21, 2011 11:41 PM MDT up reply actions

Now I can't wait for christmas.

This year sucks.

by prettyinpurple on Sep 22, 2011 12:18 AM MDT up reply actions

clarification. I was just repeating what I heard Tracy Ringolsby say on pregame./but whateva

I was just as flummoxed as the next person about the event. I wanted to see Cookie have a rousing send off. Poor form on their part.!!!

In all things, it is better to hope than despair.

by butterfly on Sep 22, 2011 9:31 AM MDT up reply actions

This and a big ol REC'D for truth!

Prediction---->Well, Tulo got his 30 homers. Well, it looks like my prediction on Cargo took a bad turn. So much for 30 homers and 100 RBI's. DAMN YOU PABLO! Why did you have to hit that ball near the wall?
Self taught and falling in love with this game is very easy to do, you can never hate it, and that is something that not one person can take away from anybody. The love of baseball and OUR COLORADO ROCKIES.

by Roxman4ever on Sep 21, 2011 11:32 PM MDT up reply actions

So...

I’m ready for Tracy to go away and LEAVE my team

Colorado Offense: Making bad pitchers look like CY Young Winners.

by Colsportsfan on Sep 21, 2011 11:29 PM MDT via mobile reply actions

Cook should have been allowed to go as long as he stand to go.

If it meant going all 9 innings for the CG loss. So be it. After that 1st inning, that was the Aaron Cook that we all know. I didn’t know that Cook had all those K’s inside him. JT should’ve let him had his moment. This was a chicken beep move by him and everyone should let him know. I agree with everything you stated above. He worked his butt off for this team and granted, he may not have been the best, but he does have Rockies records that will now stand for a little while since Ubaldo is gone. It was totally disrespectful to do that to him. That just goes to show me that JT isn’t the type of manager to let players have their moments.

by Roxman4ever on Sep 21, 2011 11:31 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs

Sad.

Thanks to Cookie for all the innings thrown as a Rockie.
I’ll never forget…a lot of things….

Sigh. I tip my cap.

This year sucks.

by prettyinpurple on Sep 21, 2011 11:33 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs

But that don't matter to our 'manager'. He was more concerned about matchups in a meaningless game than to give his most veteren pitcher the chance to finish on a high note.

by Roxman4ever on Sep 21, 2011 11:36 PM MDT up reply actions

But but but... in the postgame show he said he truly appreciates the fans

As too often is the case with Tracy, words and actions do not match.

"The game of baseball is made up of many little things. If we do all the little things right, then we'll never have a big thing to worry about" -- Cal Ripken, Sr.
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by RoarFrom112 on Sep 21, 2011 11:46 PM MDT up reply actions

you dont do that kind of stuff with a guy who won't be back next year.

He’s been a career Rockie. I want to see him do that to Tulo. Oh wait, JT WON’T BE HERE

by Roxman4ever on Sep 21, 2011 11:47 PM MDT up reply actions

We can hope

I’m starting to think it might not be a bad thing if they lost every game this year. Might be the last straw to convince ownership that it really is time to move on from Tracy. It seemed today that Root was on a serious PR campaign to defend him, which would be setting the stage for bringing him back next year or, gods forbid, extending his contract.

by RoarFrom112 on Sep 21, 2011 11:52 PM MDT up reply actions

I bet he could've gotten 10K's easily the way he was playing pitch and catch with CDI after that 1st inning was over.

by Roxman4ever on Sep 21, 2011 11:37 PM MDT reply actions

Well, I'm tired and off to bed.

Maybe, we can have a luck changer playing Houston. Even though were done. Still have to say this. GO ROCKIES

by Roxman4ever on Sep 21, 2011 11:46 PM MDT reply actions

Night

by SDcat09 on Sep 21, 2011 11:46 PM MDT up reply actions

GO ROCKIES HIGHER DRAFT PICK

This year sucks.

by prettyinpurple on Sep 22, 2011 12:22 AM MDT up reply actions

Don't be mad at me.

I went over to Alanna’s Facebook page and put in a question for tomorrow’s game.
Why was Aaron Cook pulled after 5 innings and 78 pitches? I didn’t mention the PR. IF you are watching, look for a question from a guy from Grants New Mexico. I want a damn answer. He didn’t deserve it. Yea, I’m pissed off that he did that to him. Oh well, its just a game.

by Roxman4ever on Sep 21, 2011 11:50 PM MDT reply actions

Do you realize

that unless they win at least 4 of their last 7 (anyone want to take bets on that over/under?) this season’s squad will finish with the worst record the franchise has seen since the cover-your-eyes-awful GenR growing pains of 2005? Sad but true.

Wait, what's his real name? We should make a joke out of that.

by BrandonHawpe on Sep 22, 2011 12:35 AM MDT reply actions

I posted that in the rockpile comments too

All this time I’d been saying “can this really be considered the most disappointing season ever when they’ll have a better record than the 08 team coming off a Pennant?” But that doesn’t look true anymore.

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Sep 22, 2011 7:32 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions

I'm willing to bet the Rockies won't win another game this season.

We couldn’t win at home, what makes us think we can win on the road?

Get well soon Juan.

by Thnikkaman on Sep 22, 2011 7:48 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

One word:

Houston.

Altar Boy in the Church of Santo Ubaldo
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by Yokel on Sep 22, 2011 8:37 AM MDT up reply actions

I also would have preferred a mid-inning replacement for Cook.

My guess is that him being pulled was a function of Tulo only going 6 (which was preplanned), and the desire to make a double switch (since Cook’s spot was coming up in the next inning). I really doubt Tracy lacks the appropriate amount of appreciation for what Cook has done for the franchise, or lacks respect for Cook as a person, or somehow wanted to rob him of his moment. I just wish a bit more thought would have gone into the best way to make a pitching change in this (granted, extremely unique) situation, even if it would have meant burning an additional bench player to do it.

by holly96 on Sep 22, 2011 1:10 AM MDT reply actions

I also think it should have been discussed and planned out ahead of time.

Everyone involved obviously knew the reason Cook got the start in the first place, and I doubt that was Tracy’s decision alone. So I think partial blame should probably also go to DOD, who should have made sure ahead of time that there was a plan in place for the best way to remove Cook.

by holly96 on Sep 22, 2011 1:31 AM MDT up reply actions

I'm sorry, Holly.

There is simply no logical reason to conclude this. The GM should not have to explain to the manager exactly what he needs him to do. The manager should be aware enough to understand what is going on with his club. If he needs the GM to tell him, then he should not be the manager.

How does this conversation go?

“Ok, Jim. I want to give Cook one last start at home.”

“Right, Dan.”

“I think it’d be really great for the fans to see him out there one last time.”

“Ok, Dan.”

“You need to leave Cook in, regardless of how he is pitching, until you can take him out mid inning so that people can give him a standing ovation. It doesn’t matter is this may or may not affect the outcome of the game. Do you understand, JIm?”

“Yes, Dan.”

“Can you repeat that plan back to me, so that I know you understand?”

“Yes, Dan. Leave Cook…”

Is this the kind of conversation you want your GM having with your manager? I hope not. The manager has to have a sense of what is going on with his club outside of the three hours, six nights per week that they are on the field. Both in Tracy’s past, and in his time in Colorado, he seems out-of-touch with such things. If he is so out-of-touch that he needs his GM to have the above conversation with him, then we can blame DOD for keeping him employed, but not for some refusal to micromanage.

Finally, if Tracy really is as you say:

I really doubt Tracy lacks the appropriate amount of appreciation for what Cook has done for the franchise, or lacks respect for Cook as a person, or somehow wanted to rob him of his moment.

He shouldn’t have needed DOD to give him a special plan at all.

There are only variations on two themes here:

1) Tracy is so out-of-touch that he didn’t have much appreciation for what was going on and needed to have someone explain it to him.

2) Tracy didn’t really appreciate the situation, and was going to make the move that put him in the best situation to win the game, which was the double-switch.

Bringing DOD into this just doesn’t make sense.

by DumbAndNerdy on Sep 22, 2011 3:52 AM MDT up reply actions 4 recs

Or Cookie was starting to stiffen up after getting hurt and was happy to be pulled

I really want to vilify Tracy for this but I just don’t know all the facts, and with all due respect, nor do any of you.

It's my blog!

by biondino on Sep 22, 2011 5:11 AM MDT up reply actions

This wasn't a part of the discussion,

but is an obvious possibility as well.

by DumbAndNerdy on Sep 22, 2011 8:00 AM MDT up reply actions

Rec'd

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by Muzia on Sep 22, 2011 8:08 AM MDT up reply actions

Rec'd. Very nice

by Roxman4ever on Sep 22, 2011 8:10 AM MDT up reply actions

I can't believe there is still someone on here that defends Tracy

yet, here you are.

by ween1980 on Sep 22, 2011 5:58 AM MDT up reply actions

I just don't post on the topic very often

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by jrockies on Sep 22, 2011 6:27 AM MDT up reply actions

I don't know if saying she's defending him is the right way to put it...

She’s just very level-headed, unlike myself.

Just an average guy with exceptional hair. Nothing more, nothing less.
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by Bryan Kilpatrick on Sep 22, 2011 7:15 AM MDT up reply actions

I don't see how putting partial blame on DOD

is level-headed. I just don’t.

by DumbAndNerdy on Sep 22, 2011 8:03 AM MDT up reply actions

It's not NOT level-headed

suggesting an alternative explanation is just that, an alternative. There may be more layers to the derpception we witnessed than we realize.

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 22, 2011 8:11 AM MDT up reply actions

This is true.

by DumbAndNerdy on Sep 22, 2011 8:34 AM MDT up reply actions

Holly devils-advocates me all the time.

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 22, 2011 9:00 AM MDT up reply actions

Why not take them both out mid-inning?

Do the double switch then. That way everyone gets to cheer Tulo for another great season and Cookie for his career. Clearly JT was asleep on this one.

by webgem14 on Sep 22, 2011 7:14 AM MDT up reply actions

Tracy out-does himself every game.

What an idiot.

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

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Sep 22, 2011 7:06 AM MDT reply actions

And to think he has a street named after him in his hometown in Ohio.

Not to low baby, I might pass out! - Dean Martin

by Tensolator on Sep 22, 2011 11:43 AM MDT up reply actions

I was at the 2004 game when Cook suffered the blood clot...

He did not collapse on the mound. He walked to the dugout with the trainer and it all looked pretty routine. Only later did we learn how serious his condition was.

Was also at the game yesterday and could not understand why there was no way to let the fans salute Cook. All we knew was that Matt Reynolds was on the mound to begin the sixth.

All in all, a fitting way to end a wretched Fan Appreciation Week.

by alex colfax on Sep 22, 2011 9:23 AM MDT reply actions