Game Thread #20: Ascencio vs Floyd- Helton Diagnosed

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 4:22 PM MDT in Rockpile

Miguel Ascencio makes his first start as a Rockie tonight and the only question we have to be asking is, "is this better than Zach Day?". Okay, maybe that question is too easy. Instead, maybe we should ask, "can I have another (insert your drink of choice here), please?" as this could still be a long night. Let's face it, if Miguel Ascencio was a sure fire ace in the hole, he wouldn't be the Rockies' seventh choice for a starting pitcher. So raise your glasses friends, and let's drink to the randomness of single games and hope that this is one of those hallmark moments where a cast away pitcher down on his luck rises to the occasion for his fifteen minutes of fame. Hmm.., better make that a double for me, thank you.

Oops, while I'm thinking about it, I should mention that my colleague Dave over at The Good Phight sees the series as more close than I do, actually. I'm such a pessimist. No, actually I just think the Phillies as a team match up well against our pitchers for these first two games (I was hoping more from Josh Fogg than I probably should have) and I have little confidence in our offense as presently constituted. No, Wednesday and Thursday I see as our best chances -with JJ and Cook pitching, we could still scramble out of here with a split. Especially if that random gem from somebody like Ascencio happens tonight.

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Update [2006-4-25 18:43:34 by Rox Girl]: Todd Helton's been diagnosed with acute terminal ileitis. I like how in the press release they have to specify that "terminal" means relating to the small intestine so we don't mistakenly think he's going to die. Any doctors, or people who play doctors on TV, that can tell us more about this? How serious is it? Obviously it's bad enough to put him on the DL, but is it a temporary condition, or is it chronic? More info now from the Denver Post apparently this is very good news, Helton could be back within days.

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Starting lineups

Rockies
Sullivan cf
Barmes ss
Holliday lf
Atkins 3b
Hawpe rf
Marrero 1b
Carroll 2b
Ardoin c
Asencio p

Phillies
Rollins ss
Utley 2b
Abreu rf
Burrell lf
Howard 1b
Rowand cf
Bell 3b
Fasano c
Floyd p

Okay... to counter your point about Asencio being the Rockies' seventh choice for a starting pitcher... I think it's not so much that the Rockies thought Day was better than Asencio than that they pretty much had to use Day at the start of the year. First of all, Day was out of options and the Rockies wouldn't have been able to send him down to triple-A without passing him through waivers; Asencio was a NRI in camp and thus could go to the Springs without having to go through waivers first. Asencio also had not pitched in the majors since 2003 before this season, so even though he'd had a good spring putting him in the rotation was an even bigger risk than putting Day there.

Of course, if BK Kim had been healthy to start the season all of this would have been moot. Asencio would be in triple-A and the Rockies would have had to do something with Day. But at least this is happening in April rather than, say, August.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 4:43 PM MDT reply actions

I agree completely with the April rather than

later sentiment. And I can see your other points as well, but to counter your counter, Ascencio didn't make the decision quite as difficult as he could have during Spring Training. Still, what he did during the Spring compared to Z-Day should have made the Rockies a little more eager to pull the switch. Alright. Never mind. You're right, I just don't see why the Rox kept Day at all. And why if he really thought he was injured didn't he say something sooner so they could have just started the season with him on the indefinite IL? Aargh. I'm still frustrated over that one.

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 4:57 PM MDT up reply actions

Speaking of Rockies pitchers suddenly becoming

"injured" Sunny Kim made a rehab start for Colorado Springs and wasn't particularly good.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 5:10 PM MDT up reply actions

Nice start to this one

Let's just hope Holliday doesn't do his usual ground-into-a-double-play thing.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 5:10 PM MDT reply actions

infield fly, yuck

come on Brad

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 5:16 PM MDT up reply actions

Eh...

It's better than a GIDP, which is what Matt normally would have done.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 5:20 PM MDT up reply actions

I like this

Rockies are making Floyd work. And he's not getting people out.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 5:16 PM MDT reply actions

WooHoo! Yeah Brad driving them home...

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 5:17 PM MDT reply actions

Heh

I was watching ESPN and it flashed the score at the bottom of the screen, "Rockies 0, Phillies 2 Top 1st." How is that possible?

Oh yeah, the Rockies scored.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 5:17 PM MDT reply actions

Floyd's still not looking as good as he should

That's good news for us.

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 5:19 PM MDT reply actions

He's now up to 30 pitches

and has only retired one Rockie so far. Ascencio better take this gift and give us a solid game.

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 5:21 PM MDT up reply actions

Eli Marrero Rocks! Best signing ever

I've always said so,

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 5:20 PM MDT reply actions

Eli!

Run-scoring single... unfortunately this brings up, um, Jamey Carroll and Danny Ardoin.

At least if Asencio struggles we've staked him to a three-run lead.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 5:21 PM MDT reply actions

Ardoin and Carroll look to be a sinkhole

in our lineup for quite a while. Yuck.

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 5:24 PM MDT up reply actions

What's wrong with L.A.?

Heck, I'm even willing to bet Jayson Nix would be an improvement. Asencio is off to a good start.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 5:28 PM MDT up reply actions

I had to wait until after the Abreu at bat to say

yes, Ascencio is off to a good start. I'm hoping this bodes well.

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 5:31 PM MDT up reply actions

Ooh...

Asencio whiffs Abreu after falling behind 3-1. Nice way to end the inning.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 5:31 PM MDT reply actions

Ascencio may be pitcher, he might even be a dancer

but he looks pretty ugly trying to swing a baseball bat.

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 5:35 PM MDT up reply actions

Yeah Clint! 4 nothing ROX!

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 5:36 PM MDT reply actions

Didn't realize

that it only took Miguel 12 pitches to get through the first. That's always good.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 5:40 PM MDT reply actions

And he whiffs Burrell

This could be good. If this were Zach Day pitching, we'd be losing 5-4 right now.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 5:40 PM MDT up reply actions

Why didn't the Rox do this sooner?

Ascencio K's Abreu, Burrell, and Howard. This is a happy day.

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 5:43 PM MDT up reply actions

Then he drills

Rowand. Heh, maybe we'll get another beanball war tonight.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 5:44 PM MDT up reply actions

running into trouble with two outs

come on Miguel

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 5:46 PM MDT reply actions

4 K's through two innings

Surprisingly, it's the Rockies pitcher and not the hitters who have done that.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 5:48 PM MDT reply actions

Spoke too soon

with back-to-back Ks by Atkins and Hawpe.

by Russ Oates on Apr 25, 2006 5:53 PM MDT up reply actions

After Atkins and Hawpe K'd

it looks like they are trying to catch up

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 5:54 PM MDT up reply actions

you beat me to it.

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 5:54 PM MDT up reply actions

Floyd's heating up

I glad we pounced on him when we did.

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 5:53 PM MDT reply actions

Yeah

I'd be mad right now if we had wasted those chances in the first inning.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 5:54 PM MDT up reply actions

aargh Jamey Carroll

let's the ball slip out on that steal by Burrell

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 6:01 PM MDT reply actions

nice play by Atkins and Marrero

though to get Burrell for the last out of the inning.

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 6:04 PM MDT up reply actions

And now

it seems Floyd is back to first-inning form. Of course, with Carroll, Ardoin and Asencio due up, he may get away with it.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 6:04 PM MDT reply actions

maybe not

come on Miguel, don't embarrass yourself this time

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 6:08 PM MDT up reply actions

All right

Let's see if Asencio can at least lay a bunt down after Carroll and Ardoin managed to get on base.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 6:08 PM MDT reply actions

Arrrrgh...

Way to just waste an out. Come on Cory!

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 6:10 PM MDT up reply actions

Yeay Cory!

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 6:13 PM MDT reply actions

Floyd is done already

Now we get to the Phils' bullpen.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 6:15 PM MDT reply actions

Two gift runs from Rollins

makes it 7-1 Rockies.

by Rox Fan in TN on Apr 25, 2006 6:19 PM MDT reply actions

Ah, 2 runs off a throwing error

and Barmes then steals 3rd.

by Russ Oates on Apr 25, 2006 6:20 PM MDT reply actions

but the double play ended that inning

aargh. I hate relying on the hotel's spotty wireless connection. I'm skipping in and out of service.

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 6:30 PM MDT reply actions

come on Miguel, get through this

The Phils have made a game of it again.

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 6:36 PM MDT reply actions

Poor...

Asencio....he actually pitched well IMO. I was very impressed. He was throwing 94 MPH with great sink/movement and an excellent changeup...

that 4th inning just came unraveled. Barmes made a bad throw on a play that shouldve been made, and the wind messed with that ball hit towards Hawpe unfortunately....

now its RAMON RAMIREZ TIME!!!

by Rockiesbiggestfan on Apr 25, 2006 6:42 PM MDT reply actions

Rami time!

I felt bat for Miguel, too. He was so un-Day like, and then all of the sudden, he was Zach Day. Although that play by Barmes didn't help, you're right.

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 6:44 PM MDT up reply actions

I heart Rami!

I'm totally jumping on this bandwagon. I wonder though, if we didn't leave Ascencio in a little too long. It went from seven to one to seven to six really fast, but now a game that should have been on ice is still way up in the air.

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 7:10 PM MDT reply actions

Sorry roxgirl,

I already claimed him last week as MY favorite Rockie. But I suppose I can share him...

by David "ohno" on Apr 25, 2006 8:09 PM MDT up reply actions

I meant Rox Girl

I wish there was an edit function.

by David "ohno" on Apr 25, 2006 8:16 PM MDT up reply actions

thanks for sharing!

No kidding about the edit function, I guess the makers of these sites like our mistakes to be out there to make these discussions more organic.

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 8:35 PM MDT up reply actions

Fuentes is making this more interesting

than it should be. Come on Brian!

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 8:33 PM MDT reply actions

Rockies bullpen gellin'

Great Win.

by malakian on Apr 25, 2006 8:36 PM MDT reply actions

it's good to see

Fuentes gut one out when he clearly looked rusty and without his best stuff.

Oh, and if we are out of contention in July, Mesa's performance will give us a great bargaining chip at the deadline.

by David "ohno" on Apr 25, 2006 8:39 PM MDT up reply actions

Phew!

Close one, but a win nonetheless. Now let's just hope for a poor outing by Jamey Wright and the Giants as the Mets take them on right now.

by Russ Oates on Apr 25, 2006 8:38 PM MDT reply actions

Rockies win!

It's over, whew! Let's come back tomorrow and gain atleast a tie for this series. Good games by Clint, Cory, Brad and the pen, and actually a decent enough start by Ascencio to keep us in it. 11-9!

by Rox Girl on Apr 25, 2006 8:38 PM MDT reply actions