Quick Hits
–While winning a franchise-record nine straight road games, the Rockies have outscored their opponents 66-21.
–Aaron Cook is 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA (28 innings, 6 earned runs) in his past four starts. Cook’s franchise-record 59th victory came in his 185th game and 154th start with the Rockies. Jason Jennings won 58 games in his first 155 games, all starts, for the Rockies.
–Making his second start since June 6, Seth Smith drove in a career-high four runs. Smith had two three-RBI games, the most recent Aug. 17 at Washington. Smith’s homer, his fifth of the season was his first in 41 at-bats since May 22 at Detroit.
–Troy Tulowitzki, who went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs scored, batted fifth for the fifth straight game and sixth time in the past seven dating to June 16. Tulowitzki had not hit fifth this season before then, and has gone 9-for-20 (.450) batting fifth with two doubles, one homer, two RBI, six runs scored and seven walks. Tulowitzki, who raised his average to .260, has hit safely in seven straight games and 14 of his past 15.
–Brad Hawpe, who is 26-for-64 (.406) with runners in scoring position, singled and scored on his first at-bat and hit a three-run homer on his third. He had gone hitless in back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday, the first time he has gone without a hit in consecutive games since he went hitless in three straight games May 18-20. Hawpe’s three-run homer was his first of the season.
–Hawpe celebrated his 30th birthday. During his career, Hawpe is 5-for-12 (.417) with two homers, a double and six RBI on his birthday.
–Dexter Fowler, who went 2-for-5, has hit safely in eight of his past nine games to raise his average from .249 to .267, the highest it has been since he was hitting .272 on May 25.
–Juan Rincon made his Rockies debut, pitching a scoreless eighth with one walk and one strikeout.
Everything clicked last night and the Rockies are now within 1/2 game of the wildcard lead. My concern at this point is the bullpen. While they have been doing a good job so far, other than Street they are not a real intimidating crew. If Corpas is only out 2 weeks, that will help. But, I just don’t see a bullpen of Daley, Peralta, Rincon, Embree, et al, being a lockdown ‘pen over the long haul. Thoughts? Of course, if the starters keep going 7/8 innings every night then it won’t matter near as much.
Robb–I agree the bullpen is the biggest potential weak spot. They will be needed before long and lack of depth and uncertain reliability of Daley and Peralta is a little troubling. I’d be surprised if Corpas is only out 2 weeks, though I don’t know how long one is usually out with bone chips. Isn’t surgery usually called for?
It has been reported that O’Dowd is in “waiting” mode, as are most GM’s. I’d have to think he’s interested in a reliever, he just needs to find a good match.
Pitching is always tough to come by, who knows maybe this stretch has allowed the bullpen to ‘rest’ and will be there when needed at the end of the year. Sounds like their is a solidarity that is developing around Fogg in the bullpen. Since he has performed this has helped immensely. I wasn’t so sure about him this year since he didnt seem to have the stuff in spring training that he used to. He is a battler and so are the rest of the guys our there. they have confidence and more importantly perhaps is that Tracy has shown confidence in them. Give it another month and we shall see if they really need another lefty in the pen in exchange for Atkins perhaps before the deadline.
It seems like we could package either Atkins or Spilly and get some relief help in return. St. Louis seems to need a 3b, and also seem to have solid bullpen depth. I wonder if Atkins would be enough to get a decent reliever from St. Louis?
Also, is there any word that Morales is on the block? It seems that in the remote chance that we are able to sign Matzek and Brothers, we would have some good LHP depth in the farm system (Friedrich, Matzek, Brothers, Smith). Just seems that he may draw significant interest as a “change of scenery” guy.
Lastly, when was Fogg called up? It seems that the rotation has been pitching lights out since he was called up, and I wonder if he has provided some much needed stress relief. Whatever the cause was, I’m certainly enjoying the results!!!
Go Rockies!!
Matt,
Fogg joined the Rockies on May 25. He has pitched nine times but just three since June 5, which is one day after the Rockies began their 17-1 run. Tracy likes the fact he can sit for long stretches, not complain and do a good job when called upon, despite not getting regular work.
They definitely should be able to get some bullpen help for Atkins or Spilly. Nobody is going to give up a lights out kind of guy but I think our bullpen isn’t very good so depth would be nice. Outside of Street, I don’t have much confidence in those guys. Daley has been good, but for some reason I expect the league to figure him out soon. Peralta has been a great surprise and to be honest, I think he is our 2nd best reliever right now. Embree has flat stuff and that’s proven every day he pitches. Even the outs he gets seems to be rocket shots right at somebody. Hopefully the starters can continue to pitch well and hide our bullpen defects!
Let’s be thankful the Cubs took Luis Vizcaino and gave the Rockies Marquis. According to mlbtraderumors.com via the team’s twitter page, the Indians have designated for assignment Vizcaino once again this year.
So the bullpen is a funny thing. One person can make a difference. I don’t know that it is Fogg for sure, but my vote is his personality and contributions have given the team another coach out there to help the team stay focused and loose.
If we’re playing for the wild card, Spilly’s a pretty important guy to have around. CarGo was awful against lefties last year. Small sample, but we’ve got to assume he’ll show the usual platoon split. Atkins? Given that Stewart is the rare LHH who seems to show no platoon split, and given that he’s just all around better than Atkins now, you’d be willing to move him for any other useful part. I expect him to rebound to his 2008 form, so there should be takers if we keep the majority of his salary.
Garrett Atkins lead this team in RBI 3 of the past 4 years. In 2007 he was 3rd on the team with 111. I understand moving Atkins if the Rockies can get value and someone that can help this year, But, if all we get is a stiff and have to pay his salary anyway, lets keep him as a good bat off the bench.
If the Rockies want to win this year, I just don’t get the urgency to move him. All of those RBI on the bench make it stronger, as well as provides insurance against a long Stewart dry spell (end of last year) or a Helton injury. If Stewart or Helton goes down, who replaces them? I know there are options, but I don’t consider them real good options.
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