Five games behind the Dodgers already this early in the season is wretched, the Rockies need to start at least nibbling back at that lead with this series. Taking a huge chunk out of it with a sweep would be ideal. Of course it all has to start with the high quality kind of performance we have yet to see from Aaron Cook this season.
Stults has a couple of things going against him tonight that have me hopeful that the Rockies can rough him up a little. For one, he has a reverse split in his career against LHB's, meaning his ability to neutralize our best hitters in Brad Hawpe and Ian Stewart, as well as Todd Helton, might not be as big as you'd normally see from a typical LHP. Of course, Stewart mashes LHP's anyway, so I'm very curious to see how the double reverse split continues to play out tonight. So far Stewart's two for two with a double off of Stults, with both hits coming in a 16-10 Rockies loss last July.
The second thing is that Stults doesn't seem like the type of pitcher to easily find a groove and get deep into a game at Coors. He's got an okay fastball that averages 90mph, and a changeup that he throws 30% of the time this season. He's mostly dropped his curveball so far in 2009, and I'd expect him to throw even less at altitude. I should say that while he struggles some against lefties in general, he has had success against Helton and Rockies right handed hitters except for Tulo, with Todd, Atkins, Spilly and Iannetta being held hitless thus far against Stults in 18 AB's.
Clint Hurdle's serving notice to Iannetta that he needs to step it up, which is called for, I just wish somebody on the team would have the guts to go after a couple of our other more veteran laggards as well.