Second Loss in 20 Games
What the Rockies have done so well they couldn’t get done in their 4-3 loss to the Angels on Tuesday night.
Ian Stewart became the focal point with two bunt plays gone bad in the bottom of the eighth. But it also was an inning that began with Ubaldo Jimenez issuing his only walk.
And the Rockies can only wond3er what could have been if they came up with a couple key hits. They were a combined 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
Clint Barmes was 0-for-4 with a runner in scoring position, including three times with a runner on third and less than two outs.
Brad Hawpe was 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.
After Seth Smith’s leadoff double in the fifth, Dexter Fowler and Todd Helton sandwiched strikeouts around a Barmes strikeout.
And Garrett Atkins came off the bench to pinch hit in the ninth with the tying run on second and struck out on a 3-2 pitch, never swinging at any of the six pitches that former Rockies closer Brian Fuentes threw hium.
Reason for concern? Or was it just one of those nights?
Had to make a living again last night, so didn’t see the game. However, after reading all the descriptions I would have to say “one of those nights”. Everything can’t go the Rox’ way every game. 18-2 in the last 20 is still extremely good. Just buck it up and show up to play again tonight and over the weekend in Oakland. Lots of season still ahead.
My worry (that I didn’t really catch until Tracy pointed it out) was the 0 for 10 with RISP. Be curious to see what that stat has been over ‘the stretch’. Hope its just one of those nights. Tonight will tell us a lot.
Haven’t washed my truck since the streak started, even after a bird “decorated” it, front and center on the hood. Well, maybe its time to wash the truck! But I’m not superstitious
Go Rockies!
I fell asleep before the game was over last night, but can’t help thinking today (after reading everything I could) that Tracy’s hands-off style cost us this one. Sure, ohfer with RISP is huge, but why stick with U-Ball in the 9th? Was he that dominating? Even after Stewart’s miscues on the bunts, was Peralta not ready to come in with the bases juiced? I know our ‘pen has been taxed of late, but c’mon, there’s no need to max out our starters’ pitch count either.
Is it just me?
Dave, it was the eighth inning, not the ninth. And Ubaldo had domianted Abreu, which is why he was left in to face Abreu.
One of the things that Tracy has been praised for since taking over is pushing the starters to go deeper in games.
No it’s not just you Dave, Tracy blew that one last night. He has had success with leaving the starters in lately but that one last night wasn’t smart. Ubaldo’s new pitch count seems to be 120 and all I see happening is Mark Prior and Kerry Wood all over again. George Frazier and Drew Goodman were commenting on that last night too. They even said in the 7th inning that this should be Ubaldo’s last inning. He was just over 100 after the 7th. Then sure enough he walks the lead-off batter and the rest is history. And of course was 3-1 with Abreu before his single to right. So clearly Ubaldo was taxed, but was left in the game anyways. Tracy cost the Rox dearly and ended up giving Ubaldo the loss. You always see at the end of games, managers take out the starter when the tieing run gets on base. They don’t want the starter, who after pitching a great game, to have a chance at the loss. So sure enough, he is left in the game and Ubaldo gets the loss after pitching great. So I blame a lot on Tracy! Barmes killed the Rox too and Stewarts plays were really bad as well. So not all on Tracy but definitely he deserves a lot of blame. One thing is for sure though, Ubaldo should’ve never got the loss last night! Peralta has stepped up so nicely too, give him a chance to claim the 8th. He came in last night and got out of the jam, so trust him! It takes 25 guys to win, not just one! And Tracy tried to let just one guy win that game last night with Ubaldo. That game just was frustrating because of all the Rox mistakes, but I’ve got to remember we have won 18 out of 20 and that is remarkable. Hopefully they can start another 5 or 6 game winning streak tonight. Go Rox!
I see both sides of the pitch-count issue. One thing to remember is that Ubaldo has been working with extra rest recently. The last two (including last night) were on 5-days rest, as will his next start.
I wouldn’t want to stretch out Ubaldo every start, but some of what’s going on here is probably good for his development.
I hope so Mike. I really think Ubaldo seems to be taking the next step. He seems like he is anyways. I just hope after pitching to the “100″ mark for what seemed forever doesn’t hurt his arm after now pitching to the 115-120 point every start.
Tracy,
Thanks for the personal response. You’re right – the recent homestand spoiled me into thinking the ‘end of the game’ was the 9th. Ok, so we were going for the matchup with U-Ball vs. Abreu, that sheds some light on things.
I do appreciate Tracy’s steady hand, though I wasn’t among those looking for Hurdle’s head. That said, *something* needed to be done, and while it seems foolish to credit the change at the helm with the recent course, I’m not questioning anything. Baseball, like anything, is more fun when you’re winning.
As an aside, I recently found this blog, and was glad to – it’s great to know so many talented folks have a “home” after The Rocky’s demise. I lived in Denver from 1995-2004, and became a lifelong Rockies fan in the process. Thankfully, technology (DirecTV, iPhone, etc.) makes such a long-distance relationship feasible.
Tracy has had success with letting the pitchers stay in longer instead of turning to the bullpen which had been so undependable but this will backfire in the longrun when the starters are tired at the end of the season right when the team is in the middle of a pennant race.
The Rockies have been incredible with runners in scoring position lately so that is not a concern. Hawpe smoked the ball twice with runners in scoring position. Barmes just had a bad night but he has been so hot and can’t be expected to keep up that type of pace.
Stewart’s defense at third on the routine plays and on the bunts is a concern and his inconsistency at the plate is mind boggling. But he is inexperienced so it is tough to judge him.
Not sure how much longer Tracy can keep starting Carlos Gonzalez. He is out in front of every offspeed pitch. Why give him ABs to develop him for the future when the team is in contention for the wild card spot now and has Seth Smith who is on fire and could start there or Spillborghs who gets big hits.
Lets give some credit to the Irishmen, he was in trouble all nite but kept the Rockies off balance. I believe our lefty’s had 19 ab’s and three hits.(Helton, Hawpe, and Smith) 2nd big league start, he was special. change-up with a 3-2 count. wow
On the 0-for-10 with RISP. Three or four of those were very well hit baseballs that the Angels made solid plays on. The play at the plate was not a well hit ball, but it was another great defensive play.
The pitch count on Jimenez makes me very nervous for down the road. Especially if the Rockies do hang around and have to rely on him heavily down the stretch. I’m looking to next year and 2011, when I believe the Rockies will be a legitimate contender.
Good game, tough loss. Three plays on the basepaths killed us:
1. Spilly broke for home on Fowler’s swinging bunt in the 7th. Out at the plate.
2. Stewart’s ill advised aborted attempt to cut off the lead runner in the 8th
3. Ubaldo’s I’ll advised attempt to cut down the runner at 3rd immediately after.
Without those too-aggressive defensive plays, the Angels score only one and we go to extra innings.
I was at the park last night. Always makes me appreciate Coors when I see these other parks. Crappy food and the place has never been updates. Expensive too. Surprise was more than a few Rockies fans there, all of whom looked far more interested in the game than any Angels fan (they were more interested in the dozens of beach balls being batted around). Lots of rude patrons, too. Cowboy, I know all of you WY guys chew at some point in your lives, but your manners are too good foe you to spit directly at the seat in front of you. First time in my life I’ve seen that…
Townie, I can only say that a key to a successful at-bat with a runner on third and less than two out is getting the runner home. You have to hit the ball in the air and if not it better be on the ground to the right side. There has to be a focus in those situations.
Agbayani, I never spit on any chair. Fact is there was no chair in front of me to spit on. Don’t chew any more. Not since the four days in internsive care with blood pressure of 51/19.
Agbayani, I don’t know if you can blame Spilly on that play when he broke home. First of all, I thought it was a great play to get him out anyways, he almost beat it out. Second, if he stays then there are 2 outs and it’s going to take a 2 out hit to score him. Granted, having him at 3rd with 2 outs is better than a runner at 1st with 2 outs, but still going to take a hit. And Mathis wasn’t allowing all those wild pitches like Napoli the night before. The two bunt plays in the 8th definitely hurt our chances, so I agree with you there. I blame more on the hitter with the Spilly thing rather than Spilly. I thought a huge thing that seems to be sliding under the radar here is how bad Barmes was. 3 times he had a runner at 3rd with less than 2 outs and didn’t even come close to getting that runner home once. Then he struck out in the ninth too with a runner at 2nd. If he comes through just once, that is the 4th run the Rox needed. And you never know, Helton and Hawpe could’ve come through after that batting with less than 2 outs. I know you can play the what if game all night, but Barmes was horrible last night.
I don’t blame Spilly at all, I’m sure he was told to go. Tracy made another mistake by having Gonzalez play right field. The play at the plate that Gonzalez threw high would’ve been made by Hawpe or Spilly, they both have plus arms. Could’ve been a different game if those decisions were different too. That being said, it’s hard to fault anyone with our current run. Go Rockies!
Thanks for the take on Spilly. From where I was sitting it was tough to see…
… And Cowboy, I knew you’d never spit on a seat!
Leave your response!
Popular tags
aaron cook brad hawpe carlos gonzalez chris iannetta clint barmes dexter fowler franklin morales garrett atkins greg smith huston street ian stewart jason hammel jason marquis jim tracy jorge de la rosa josh fogg matt belisle matt murton ryan speier ryan spilborghs seth smith todd helton troy tulowitzki ubaldo jimenez yorvit torrealbaRecent Comments
Newsroom
Reference Room
Blogroll
Archives