After losing to Chicago in Chicago yesterday afternoon, Colorado flew to Colorado to face Chicago tonight. Yes, really. The White Sox are coming to Coors Field for the first time since 2005, when the 19-39 Rockies' double play combo was Desi Relaford and Eddy Garabito.
With such a long disparity between match-ups, one might think I couldn't come up with a storyline to tie them together. A ha! You underestimate me.
Recall just seven months ago, when the Rockies contacted the White Sox in hopes of acquiring Gavin Floyd, tonight's starting pitcher. Floyd was to fill a hole left by departing Jorge de la Rosa, a hole that currently still exists. A trade was never consummated, because the Sox were asking way too high of a price. According to Tracy Ringolsby, that price was two MLB starting position players. How is that for reflection?
Dexter Fowler and Ian Stewart have been by far the biggest offensive disappointments in purple this year, with both landing in AAA for extended periods. Fowler's OBP is dangerously close to the Mendoza line in Colorado Springs and Ian Stewart is striking out more than 27% of the time against AAA pitching.
Floyd has been a disappointment a bit as well of late, though not to the same degree. His strike out rate is down, his home run rate is a bit higher, and his ground ball rate is a bit down. Floyd has struck out more batters than he has walked in just one of his last five starts. The key will be to wait out his breaking pitches and take advantage of his subpar fastball.
Jason Hammel has been a disappointment of late after a very strong start to the season. Of his 15 starts this year, he has posted a Game Score of 45 or less five times...four of them in his last four starts. What is most perplexing is his sudden lack of control. The franchise K/BB leader has walked 4+ in three consecutive starts, bringing his season total of such starts to...three. His strikeout rate is way down, his walk rate is way up, and Colorado has won just one of his last ten starts. Time for a turnaround, Jason.
I will be attending the Casper Ghosts home opener tonight, which starts twenty minutes after the Rockies game begins. Consequently, the game wrap tonight will be a bit later than usual.