Rocks Starters Set for Games 1, 2
Ubaldo Jimenez is the Rockies ace in waiting. He will get the call to start Game 1 of the NL Division Series at Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon.
Aaron Cook is the elder statesmen of the Rockies rotation. He is lined up to start two at Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon.
Both games are scheduled to begin at 12:37 p.m, MDT, and will be televised on TBS. FSN Rocky Mountain will provide pre-game shows at 11:30 a.m., each day, and post-game shows immediately after the game.
Rockies manager Jim Tracy formally announced Jimenez as the starter in the playoff opener.
Jimenez was 15-12 with a franchise-record 3.47 ERA during the regular season. He worked at least six innings in 29 of 33 starts, including 28 of the final 29, and allowed three or fewer runs in 28 of those six-plus-inning starts.
Cook is an obvious choice in Game 2 in light of the season-ending struggles of Jason Marquis, who failed in his fifth consecutive shot at a 16th victory in Sunday’s 5-3, regular-season, ending loss to the Dodgers. Jason Hammel, the Rockies fifth starter, also pitched on Sunday.
Jorge De La Rosa, who leads the Rockies staff with 16 wins, had to come out of Saturday’s start with a groin problem. A decision on whether he will even be on the post-season roster won’t be made until after he throws a bullpen session during a Tuesday workout in Philadelphia.
Tracy said the fact that De La Rosa’s start could be pushed back until Game 3 or 4 at Coors Field next Saturday and Sunday would work to De La Rosa’s benefit.
While Tracy said the reports were that De La Rosa has soreness on Sunday, De La Rosa was upbeat.
“It’s not that bad,” he said. “I will be ready. This is my first post-season. I will be able to pitch.”
Cook, meanwhile, missed a month with shoulder tendinitis, but has returned with two solid starts. He allowed one run in eight innings on Thursday after working five shutout innings in his return to the rotation Sept. 26.
Cook is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two career starts at Citizens Bank Park, a cozy paradise for hitters where Cook’s hard sinker can be a salvation.
THERE IS some concern about the Rockies late-inning bullpen situation. Lefty Franklin Morales, who went 7-for-7 in saves during Huston Street‘s absence, is struggling. In his last nine appearances he has retired only 13 batters, and allowed 22 baserunners, 12 of whom have scored. He has given up 14 hits and eight walks.
SIX PLAYERS are being sent to the Arizona Instructional League. Tracy said infielder/outfielder Mike McCoy and outfielder Matt Murton, and pitchers Juan Rincon and Joel Peralta will stay in workout routines in case an injury develops during the post-season.
Tracy also said pitching prospects Jhoulys Chacin and Esmil Rogers will join the AIL team in Tucson.
Hey Tracy, any word on Sunday’s game time. Hopefully a night game so that it starts after the Broncos game?
I’d be tempted to go Hammel in Game 2 because of his success on the road and his great start in Philly already this season, but Cook deserves the spot. Games 3 & 4 at Coors could be really ugly though if DLR isn’t 100%.
Townie, I agree completely. I think that Hammel just might be the best option on the road for this team. We really need DLR in this series. He would thrive on a left handed based lineup like the Phillies have. I would save Cook for game 3, let Hammel go game two and hopefully DLR would have enough time to recover by game 4 if necessary. We need Ubaldo to be Ubaldo in game 1. Take game 1 and all the pressure is off the rocks.
I would keep Morales off the playoff roster. Harsh, but he has been really terrible. Even in the clinching series, with a 9 – 1 lead against the Brewers, he looked shaky.
I don’t believe Morales at this stange of his career can help us in the playoffs, he looks like a deer in headlights out there. And for pete sake EY JR don’t be afraid to run the count deep on pitchers. Your job is to get on base, just remember you can’t steal unless you are first.
Sorry thats stage not stange.
Speaking of the AIL, has Matzek been pitching in games? (I assume they play competitive games there.)
Marquis scares the bejeebers out of me right now. The first two games will determine games 3-5. If Rockies somehow steal the first two, then you can afford to push DLR back a day or two. If they split, then you may still go with Hammel in Game 3 and pitch DLR in Game 4 and Jiminez in Game 5. Go Rockies.
I don’t agree with Hammel being the game 2 starter.
Guys, you need to have your best 2 pitchers pitching the first two games in a series when you are on the road. YOU MUST WIN at least one of those games. There is simply no other way around it. You’re going to bring your best, and Ubaldo and Aaron are the best on the rotation right now.
Don’t take that the wrong way, I love Jason Hammel. He’s been key this season, his breaking ball is devastating even at coors. But if I’m in a must win game, I’m taking cook over hammel.
I think you keep Morales in the line up, but you only put him in on these conditions: 1)left on left for first hitter and 2)another pitcher is warm in case Morales fails to get the 1st batter out.
If Morales pitches well to the first hitter you can keep him in for 1 or 2 more batters, but the 1st walk allowed is the last batter he faces.
As for Cook or Hammel in PHI, I agree Coo will keep it on the ground so he fits well in Citizens. I think you have to take a chance that Hammel shows up at home this time.
I actually wouldn’t mind if Contrares got the call either.
Hopefully Sunday is a DAY game so we don’t freeze solid in the stands BOTH games!
I also hope the veterans can keep the youngsters focused and grounded. The whole team had a bit of stage fright in ’07, I believe (and the Red Sox were a juggernaut that year).
You can not put Morales on the playoff roster. When he came out on Saturday night in a scoreless game I said oh crap he we go. Morales showed he did not have it and Tracy left him in and to me conceded the game. It is almost as if the sweep was a longshot to Tracy and he wanted to rest players. I would not put Marquis on the roster unless DLR is unable to pitch. Same with EY JR. I like what I see in him for the future, but he is too green right now. He gets picked off too much. GO POKES!!!!
I think Morales is more situational and Beimel is the later lefty right now for the first round. Tough call. Perhaps if they can get through the first round it will be better having DLR rest his groin and not try to damage more. Yes I know have to get through the short series first, but with Ubaldo and Cook going against their lefties I think the team will be ok. Being realistic and just hoping for a split in first two games and then let the home crowd take over hopefully.
Marquis scares me right now. I think that Contreres has been pitching better than Marquis.
Hammel has a 3.13 era away from Coors this season. He is our second best pitcher on the road statistically. He is also statistically a better pitcher for day games than he is for night games. While Aaron Cook is actually a better pitcher at home and at night games. Hammel is the statistically wise choice to make for game two for this series. The rockies don’t have a better pitcher on the road this year!
actually, statistically Hammel is our best pitcher on the road this season.
I am excited, but also nervous about this series. This is not the same Phillies team we hammered in 2007. Newbies Cliff Lee, J.A. Happ and Raul Ibanez make this Phillies team much more dangerous than in 2007. I wish we had DLR to pitch game 2. As we know he’s a lefty and the best hitters in Philly’s lineup–Utley, Howard, Ibanez–are leftys.
Jason Hammel’s road stats: 7-5 3.13 ERA, I believe that’s one of the best in the national league, compared to 3-3 5.73 at home. I became a fan of Hammel as the season went on. He usually gives us a chance to win. His curve ball is wicked.
I like Cook in Philly. Fly balls are home runs there. If Cook has his sinker there won’t be fly balls.
With the weather forcast for the weekend.
Jan 13, 2009 … The battle cry of the 1948 Boston Braves “SPAHN AND SAIN AND PRAY FOR RAIN”
krockies, you are right. With some rain or snow on Saturday or Sunday, the Rockies could get by with Jimenez and Cook in Games 1, 2, 4, 5.
this is off topic, but how would tix be handled if Saturday is PPD? Would game 3 tix be good for game 3 whether it was played on Sat or Sun?
Or is it treated like the regular season and the Sunday seats remain Sunday seats and the PPD Saturday game is now good for the (presumed) Monday make up game?
Game 3 tickets are good for Game 3, Game 4 for Game 4. It’s why they put Game numbers on the tickets, and not dates.
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