Rockies can't back Rusin as win streak ends - Thomas Harding / MLB.com
The Rockies got shut out for the first time in 2016 last night, falling to the St Louis Cardinals 2-0. Chris Rusin continues to exceed (albeit limited) expectations in the fifth starter slot. He got his first quality start of the season, throwing six innings allowing just two runs, dropping his ERA to a respectable 4.50. The only runs he allowed came off the bat of former Rockie Matt Holliday, who smacked a two-run double in the bottom of the third inning.
Unfortunately the offense couldn't manage anything against Adam Wainwright. He went 6.2 innings and allowed just five hits, his best outing of the year so far. Charlie Blackmon had two of those hits, including a leadoff triple, but was thrown out at home on a groundout to third baseman Matt Carpenter. The next best opportunity came with two outs in the sixth. Blackmon struck out against reliever Kevin Siegrist, stranding runners on first and third. The Rockies ended up going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position on the night.
The Rockies will go for the series win today with Jon Gray on the mound as he takes on Michael Wacha.
First-quarter awards for 2016: Trophy-worthy performances - Jason Stark / ESPN
Stark names a certain Rockies third baseman in this list, dispelling a lot of myths along the way.
Reyes set to begin workouts at Rox complex - Thomas Harding / MLB.com
Jose Reyes was on administrative leave during Spring Training so this is the first time he's stepped on a baseball field for the Rockies since last October. His suspension ends on May 31 which means he is eligible to be activated on the major league roster on June 1.
Buried in that article is the news that Miguel Castro has been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque following his activation from the 15-day disabled list. Apparently the team was concerned by his performance in his rehab appearances (2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, HR) and would rather he stay in AAABQ to figure things out.
Rockies create incentives to throw strikes - Thomas Harding / MLB.com
More people are taking note of the improvement the Rockies pitching staff has made when it comes to limiting walks. The team is actually 10th in the majors with a 2.96 BB/9, a far cry from their league-worst rate of 3.65 BB/9 last season. Thomas Harding investigates:
"Internal competition with incentive-based reward -- that's how we did it," Rockies pitching coach Steve Foster said. "The incentive was money."
Foster and right-handed pitcher Chad Bettis came up with a system involving various pitching categories, such as first-pitch strikes, 1-1 strikes, innings pitched and fewest walks. Prizes come each time through the rotation, and will be dealt at the All-Star break and at season's end.
At first glance this seems like paying your children to get good grades, but considering the troubles the Rockies have had in the past with walks I'm not going to complain if it's working. What's more interesting to me is how the players were given a printout of the various pitching categories in spring training. This tells me that the analytics department may be involved and, if so, they may have solved the age-old problem of how to convey data to players in a way that is relevant and applicable to them.