Game Recap: Phillies 4, Rockies 3
Key to the game
After a rain delay of 1 hour, 39 minutes following the sixth inning, the Phillies scored two runs in the seventh, the second on Rafael Betancourt‘s wild pitch.
Joe Beimel began the inning and gave up a leadoff double to pinch hitter Wilson Valdez, who scored when Jimmy Rollins followed with a single. Rollins took second when left fielder Carlos Gonzalez booted the ball. Beimel retired the next two batters, but Rollins stole third base while Beimel was in the process of walking Ryan Howard. Betancourt came on to face Jayson Werth and threw a wild pitch before striking out Werth.
Rollins likely would have scored anyway, but Betancourt didn’t cover home plate when the ball skipped away from catcher Miguel Olivo.
The Rockies loaded the bases with two out in the ninth against closer Brad Lidge, but the Cherry Creek High School product threw a slider for a game-ending called third strike to Ian Stewart after falling behind Stewart 2-0.
The Rockies stranded 12 runners. In addition to the ninth, they loaded the bases with one out in the second, scoring when Clint Barmes hit a sacrifice fly, and with one out in the seventh before Ryan Spilborghs struck out and Stewart flied to right.
Other highlights
–The Rockies have lost four games on this 2-8 trip by one run. They have scored 31 runs in the 10 games.
–The Rockies blew leads of 1-0 and 3-2. Spilborghs, who doubled and scored on Stewart’s single in the second, hit a two-run homer following Melvin Mora‘s leadoff walk in the fourth to put the Rockies ahead 3-2. Spilborghs has hit safely in five of his past six games, going 8-for-19 with three doubles, one homer and two RBI. Spilborghs has hits in all five of his starts and went 0-for-1 on July 21 when he replaced injured Carlos Gonzalez in the sixth inning.
–Jeff Francis gave up six hits and two runs in five innings with one intentional walk and six strikeouts, leaving after throwing 94 pitches, 60 strikes. Francis, who gave up a two-run homer to Ben Francisco in second, pitched out of trouble in the fourth and fifth. In the fourth, Francis had the bases loaded with one out but struck out Cody Ransom and got Carlos Ruiz to ground into a fielder’s choice. In the fifth, the Phillies had runners on first and second with no out, but Francis got Shane Victorino to pop out, Placido Polanco to hit a soft liner to third and Howard to fly to left.
–Beimel, who blew his first save opportunity of the season, has been scored upon in successive days, giving up five hits and three runs, two earned, in 1 2/3 innings. The only other time Beimel was scored upon in back-to-back outings this season was June 24 and 28.
–Lidge, who struck out the side, earned his ninth save but not before walking two and throwing 30 pitches, 15 strikes.
Two weeks ago today, the Rockies were within five outs of sweeping the Padres and tying for the division lead.
Then Matt Belisle threw away an easy, potential 1-2-3 double play and things have quickly gone from bad to worse.
Belisle didn’t bother to cover home plate, either, when the second (and go-ahead) run scored on his wild throw.
What happened to the Tuscon tutorial on fundamentals and situational hitting Tracy preached all spring?
Gonzalez isnt a legit five tool guy until he figures out how to get hits when it matters. Stewart is long past the point where he should know how to treat an at-bat in that 9th inning, two outs situation. Why is it every other team has guys who can prolong late inning at-bats by fouling off pitch after pitch? Is it Baylor or are these guys just overmatched at this level? There’s been absolutely no improvement in this area all year.
Well another rough game, another many wasted opportunities, rain delay hurt them?… more excuses blah blah blah. Wow. Frustrating, seems to be the rinse repeat that has been going on for last 11 games now. Situational hitting, called third strikes, blaming the umpires, is this 2008? Come on guys, show us something tomorrow morning and bounce back. 7 1/2 out with 6 days to trade deadline. Clocks ticking, a week ago, I never saw this from this ‘team’ but they have shown too many issues and some shakeups may need to happen now and not in August. Guys have to perform on the field but this is what got Hurdle fired last year. Can’t believe I am saying that…but wow, another frustrating loss, who is going to step up?
It’s like a curse for this team to have the bases loaded.
Will this team be a buyer or a seller at the trade deadline?
I was going to mention that two weeks ago we were just about tied for first when we threw away that game.
And since then we’ve played terrible. Most of the games since then we’ve had a chance to win but we’ve made the big mistake or not come through when we had a chance.
It’s not a coincidence that we keep losing close games.
Yesterday I heard part of a Jim Tracy interview before the game and he started all the things that went wrong this season, like guys getting hurt, guys not playing to their potential, close losses, hot humid weather and so on. And then he said but we’re not making excuses. After listing all the excuses.
I watched very little of the game but was watching when Hawpe came in to pinch hit for Francis in the 6th and struck out (of course). It was raining, it was a close game, there was a possibility that the game would end soon, there were two men on base and you have the best pinch hitter in the game sitting in the dugout. Use him then! Why wait. A three or four run lead then would have felt very good.
The key to turning things around this season is three simple things:
1) Keep a consistent line-up: I’m a big Jim Tracy fan but he’s becoming too obsessed with resting players and playing the percentages with constant lefty/righty match-ups. The best line-up possible right now with the injuries of Helton and Tulo right now is this:
1) Fowler – CF
2) Herrera – 2B
3) Gonzales – LF
4) Giambi -1B
5) Spilborghs – RF
6) Olivo – C
7) Stewart – 3B
8) Barmes – SS
9) Insert Starting Pitcher
2) Plate Patience: For a majority of the season the Rockies have lacked this… They need to make the opposing pitcher work and get more guys on base. If you work a pitcher to more 3-2 counts, he’s bound to throw a pitch where he doesn’t want it and advantage Rockies… Too many Rockies hitters are popping up or grounding out on the first pitch and with more hot weather games coming it’s easy to fatigue a pitcher if he has to throw more pitches than he wants to…
3) Designate Bullpen Roles: Everyone knows Huston Street is the Closer but Jim Tracy needs to pick one pitcher to be the 8th inning guy (aka “The Holder”)… A healthy Franklin Morales would be an ideal Holder, or possibly Manuel Corpas. It’s very crucial that Tracy designates an 8th inning guy so once the Rockies start winning again that pitcher can gain some confidence and also have some consistency pitching in that role. Tracy can play with the whole lefty/righty pitching match-ups in the early innings if needed, but having too many pitchers throwing in the eighth has had way too many mixed results this season, and it seems more negative at that…
Ubaldo is physically gassed because Tracy threw him 130 pitches a start. That’s why he can’t get anybody out now. The game is about confidence and the Rox don’t have any. I know the Rox will start winning again once they get home, but to make the playoffs you have to win a little on the road. What a disapointing team. More so than 08 cuz they were only great for 3 weeks in 07. They were great for 4 months in 09. That really had me excited for this season. Most years I would so take a record of 51-47, but this team is capable of so much more. Biggest underachievers in MLB. Injuries have hurt for sure, but Hawpe can’t blame the collision with the wall. He hasn’t done squat all year.
Another gutless performance. Solidly in 4th again,it’s looking mighty dim. Should make getting tix for the series with the Pirates easy to come by.
I’m sorry for the negativity here but at least I’m not going to have to worry about spending money on post-season tickets this year. It’s awfully hard to pass up post-season games, but very hard on the pocket book too.
Was going to post about fundamentals – agree with Alex who mentioned it first. Dex, going for third yesterday with nobody out? Spilly today, not knowing where the shortstop was positioned? Betancourt, not covering home?!?
Also agree with Karl that there seems to be a curse on this team once the bases are loaded, or otherwise in a good scoring opportunity. They rarely take advantage. That’s what drives me CRAZY and it’s year after year.
Kudos to Jeff Francis, who looked like he was about to expire yet did a really good job.
I would like to defend these players re: the heat and humidity. Everybody says man up, both teams play in it, the announcers should quit referencing it, it’s no excuse, and so on. Have YOU all ever performed your best doing 3+ hours of outside work in brutal conditions like those, day after day? Maybe y’all have never experienced that hell; maybe it doesn’t bother you if you have; maybe you’re just spoiled by our wonderful climate where even heat isn’t too terrible and it always cools off at night. I believe this “no excuse” line is BS. That heat and humidity is a REASON our guys are beaten down, and there’s a difference between a reason and an excuse.
Third time I’ve said this weekend-PUT A FORK ‘EM-THEY ARE DONE!
In response to Jason H, I feel pretty much the same, but a few differences too.
I fully agree with the point of consistency. Baseball players are creatures of habit and really need to know that a) I’m gonna be in the lineup and b) I’ll be batting # whatever. I’ve played baseball throughout high school and it really is important to have the structure in place. The lineup you suggest has been used at various times this year and I do feel it is a decent one, IF Fowler and Herrera are hitting to set the table.
Plate patience is certainly important, but we simply do not put the ball in play frequently enough, particularly in critical situations with RISP and less than two outs. The strikeouts are rally killers to the Nth degree and have plagued us all year. Truly successful offensive teams give the other team a chance to make an error or have productive outs by moving runners and sacrificing effectively (bunt or flyout).
On bullpen roles, I think Tracy has certainly done a decent job trying to set these up and I really believe he knows who he wants on the mound in the 7th (Belisle/Beimel) and 8th (Betancourt) innings. He certainly gave Corpas and Morales every opportunity early in the season, but it became clear that wasn’t going to work this year. Outside of Corpas/Morales the bullpen has been more than decent this year in general.
This game is real simple, pitchers must throw strikes (this is player controlable for the most part), they need to field routine plays cleanly and make the occasional advanced play, especially at critical times (again player controlable), and put the ball in play (results are not in the players power, but at least give yourself a chance to get on base somehow). If these three things are done regularly and consistently, I will assure you that team will be very successfully and should be a playoff contender year in and year out.
The Rockies do all those things in spurts, and I think field the ball extremely well on a daily basis, but the strike throwing and putting the ball in play is what kills us most of the time…
Just my two cents. I bleed PURPLE and always will, but the fundamentals of those items are our Achilles heel at the moment (and this season really).
The ship is sinking and Tracy should help them a little. Bunt more, put a consistent lineup in there every day (like he said he would last year)!! Enough about the heat and humidity, these players are pros they get paid to perform, not wilt in the heat like high schoolers!! They other teams are doing it right??? Oh well I will save thousands of $$$ come playoff time, money that I would rather spend watching rockies playoff games in person. 4.5 out of the wildcard, makes every home game a playoff game since they can’t win on the road. Go Rockies
Lotta baseball left boys. That’s why they play 162.
I am so disgusted I was ready to post something really sarcastic to help me vent. But I have to say I completely agree with every comment posted so far so I will leave it at that.
…with one small caveat. I don’t agree that Ubaldo is spent from throwing too many pitches early in the season. He has certainly had plenty of rest lately due to non-quality starts. I think when you are under stress, sometimes you rise and sometimes you sink. The team has certainly put him under stress this year; he carried the team for the first 1/3, and he rose every time. Now I think he is starting to sink. I think it’s mental. And the team used to play better behind him (remember how they picked him up in the Boston game?), but those days are gone.
Boys vs. Men
The Men on this road trip have been the home teams. They have performed when they needed to. Close games separate the wheat from the chaff.
The Rockies on this trip have looked like boys playing little league ball. While they have had a tough enough time performing physically – the mental errors (mE’s as I call them) – have slayed this team time and time again.
How can anyone stand and watch a close pitch on a full count with two outs and men in scoring position?
How can a pitcher stand and watch a catcher struggle to find a wild pitch near the plate and not cover home with a runner on third?
How can a batter try to extend a nice double into a triple and get thrown out at third?
Mental Errors Kill!
My favorite mental error of the trip that far exceeds the individual bonehead plays – only some noted above – is the way the entire Rockies line-up allowed the umpire to hand yesterday’s game to the Phillies.
Derryl Cousins’ strike zone was very very tight (but he was consistent). It drove Ubaldo nuts. Why did it drive him crazy end eventually off the mound after only two innings? Because the Phillies batters took a ton of pitches which allowed Cousin’s tight strike zone to get to Ubaldo and rest of the Rockies pitchers. The Phillies plate discipline was outstanding. They were patient and got walk after walk after walk while elevating the Rockies pitchers’ pitch counts batter after batter. Brilliant strategy.
Meanwhile the Rockies flailed early and often at pitches that Cousins would have called balls. Herrera was the only one who seemed to have caught on to what the Phillies were doing as he became more patient as the game went on.
There are three main factors that affect every game:
Your Team
The Opposing Team
The Umpire Behind the Plate
While one can consider weather, sun, heat, field conditions, home field advantage, etc. … the main three factors are above. Each action from one of the above will cause a counter reaction (or at least it should – like covering home). The play may not be made successfully but the mental aptitude must be there to know what to do and what not to do. If the umpire is calling high strikes, one needs to be defensive on high pitches but let the low stuff go, etc. Right now the Rockies’ are a mental case. I have no idea how you change it as it will not happen over night.
Let me close in saying that this is my first post. I’ve monitored this board for over a year and have really enjoyed the thought provoking opinions and commentary.
I’m a huge Rockies fan and split season tickets with a friend. I was in Boston for the 2007 World Series and nearly every single playoff game in franchise history. I love the Rockies. Right now, however, they need some ‘tough love’ and I wish I knew who was going to give it to them …
Gotta disagree with Roxnsox about the humidity. There were two teams playing in each game. Why is it that it bothers the Rockies. We’re not talking about old farts like me. These guys are suppose to be athletes, supposed to be in good shape and in the prime of their athletic lives. But they have used the heat and humidity as an excuse. And for the most part we fans here in Colorado give them the break. Yes it’s 3 hours in the heat and humidity but half that time is in the dugout. The only guys who should complain about the heat and humidity are the guys who we always blame for everything – the umps. They are out there for the entire game and don’t get to rest and refresh.
Swede, great first post. That has always been a pet peeve of mine – the apparent lack of communication pitcher to batter or batter to batter. Like you said, if it’s a postage stamp zone, somebody needs to tell the batters to be patient. If he’s calling a low zone, after you strike out tell the next guy to lay off anything high, or protect the bottom with 2 strikes. If the pitcher walks a guy on 4-5 pitches, don’t swing at the first pitch. All season long (with a very few exceptions) it’s like each Rockies AB is happening in a vacuum – completely isolated from everything else in the game. They just don’t communicate and hit as a team.
Now who could coordinate such a strategy and be the conduit of information? I know, how about the hitting coach?
Bill, gotta disagree back at ya about the weather conditions over the last 10 days. These are athletes in the prime of their young lives, but THEY ARE NOT SUPERHUMAN. Maybe the lucky ducks that get to call those conditions “home” are more used to it than the Rockies, but I still say you are wrong to expect them to man up. Maybe it’s just that the Rockies AREN’T used to it. I don’t know.
The weather has been used as an excuse for all sorts of teams. Here’s the two we hear most often.
“The Cubs will fall out of it in July. They’re the only club that plays the majority of their home games in the day, and the heat of midsummer will take a lot out of them”
“The Rangers will wear down playing 81 games in that Texas heat.”
I don’t think there’s anything that shows these statements are true. And think about the reasoning regarding this weekend: Philly should be like the Cubs, playing all their home games in this intense heat. They should be the club “wearing down,” not the Rox (who play 80% of their home games in the relatively mild Denver evenings).
Angels get Danny Haren from the D’backs for next to nothing. Joe Saunders and two middling prospects.
Pitcher-catcher,the weather does make a differnce.Has anyone noticed the steady stream of water literally pouring off the back of Iannetas helmet when he’s behind the plate?Tim McCarver said he would lose 10 lbs catching in that kind of weather.Of course he also excelled while catching in the god awful summer heat in St.Louis.But,I grew up back east,Rochester,N.Y.-so not as hot or humid as Fla/Philly-but we played ball 8-10 hours a day,all summer long.As a teenwe played 18/27/even 36 holes of golf[carrying'no carts]5 times a week on hilly courses w/o collapse.Thus I only buy the weatheras it pertains to the busy guys[pitch/catch}And Tracy has been alternating lineups daily to help negate the weather.The real problems have all been expertly described above. My 1st post last June concerned the league knowing u could get Stewart out late in counts on the inside corner,because he would take that pitch time after time.Well one year later it would appear nothings changed,except the rest of the team hasn’t picked him up this year.And since he,and Giambi have been the only hot bats u would think he’d be hacking at a pitch that close.I am as disappointed as u all,but I continue to believe we stand pat till winter-which will give us all 6 months to sort it all out.
ok guys the sun will come up tomorrow, and if you are up early enough it might even be purple – actually its always purple for Doc C! Excuses like the weather, the umps, the schedule, the ballpark, lineups and even injuries really bother me.
As I said earlier in this road trip the weather will only be a factor if the Rockies allow that excuse to get into their heads. It really is hot and humid in the other dugout too. Does it affect the level of play for everyone – sure it does – but it should not become such a factor that you are mentally focused on it, as it affects the other team just like you.
Yesterday was a classic case of the umpire calling “his” strike zone. The border line pitches to ump’s left were viewed as outside/inside, however the borderline pitches to his right were consistently strikes. The ump was extremely consistent (actually Francis did a great job of figuring this out), but our hitters never adjusted and realized that was the way the ump “saw” the strike zone.
Big Olivo fan, however I think sometimes he does lose focus both at the plate and behind it – that easily could have been a passed ball instead of a wild pitch. With Rollins at third, in that situation you have to think about keeping the ball “in front” of you. If there is anyone who is wearing down as the season progresses its Olivo NOT Ubaldo. Even when he was at the plate he looked disinterested and thus not confident at all.
Ubaldo’s problem is the same one that Morales had – you have to put that +95 heater in the strike zone, or the other team will gladly take the walk – every time. His velocity (or stamina and strength) is fine, but the mechanics and mental focus are lost a little bit right now. The league is now “adjusting” to his fastball – so Ubaldo has to make the corresponding counter adjustment.
Finally, at times DanO has frustrated me almost as much as the Rockies hitters this season. Probably due to financial considerations, but the Rockies have failed to “fix” a couple of holes on this team, that could have easily been fixed in the off season at modest dollar amounts – second base and a right handed power bat. Here is to hoping that regardless of whether the Rockies dump salary or not, that they finally balance the roster and continue if need be to give their youngsters a chance.
If the Rockies can win one today, I figure (and I know Doc and his purple glasses will agree with me on this) the Rockies will be in great shape coming down the stretch.
Man, I love this site. So many diverse and intelligent opinions without any negativity toward each other.
Great first post Swede.
I missed the end of the game (movie, Inception, with sons).
I grew up on Long Island in intense humidity and could care less about it. All I cared about was being outside playing baseball and doing my best. Keeping your head in the game is paramount whether you are sweating or freezing. Be a player, not a spectator.
I am not a big Stewart fan, as you all know from previous posts. He is not a consistently good hitter. He has tremendous holes in his swing, and since he first came up breaking and off speed pitches kill him. He always looks fastball and does not adjust to other pitches.
If U and Iannetta both say that he has a mechanical problem, this time not standing up straighter in his delivery, then why didn’t anyone (coaches) spot this and help him make adjustments. When players are performing coaches look like geniuses. Its when something is amiss that a coach is needed the most. Didn’t happen.
I, too bleed purple, and I hope we are buyers and get some pieces to help us win 2/3 of our remaining game to get to the playoffs.
Come on guys, drop the heat and humidity excuses. Most of our players are from Latin America, and the Carribean. Have you ever been there? It’s like a sauna down there, the weather in Philly is nothing for these guys. I was raised in the midwest, and as hot and humid as it gets there, it feels like winter comapred to where Ubaldo, and Olivo etc… are from.
Rich, Doctor Christopher and I are two different posters. He wears the purple sunglasses, I only drink the Kool-Aide at times like this when I desperately need it.
I agree, great first post Swede. Welcome aboard.
I look at the heat and humidity factor the same as the altitude factor. If you’re not used to it (i.e. presently not spending the majority of your time in that environment) it’s going to be a huge mental factor. It makes you uncomfortable–a distraction that can make a difference. Nevertheless, I’d expect the coaching staff to address this aspect, challenge the players to get beyond it. I’d like to think they’d encourage the players to use those factors to hone their focus, rather than succumb to them.
I agree with many of the posts above, it’s always a good part of my day to get on here the day after a game and see what everyone is saying.
One quick praise I have to give is to Jason Giambi. The guy’s swing might be a little slower than it once was but he has got just about the best eye I’ve seen in baseball this year. The first strike called on him was way off the plate. The second was just a great pitch by Lidge right on the outside corner. Even when that second strike came through and it was 3-2, I had a ton of confidence in Giambi to either walk or get a hit and extend the game. You could just tell he was seeing the ball great and I think if Lidge had been on and hitting his spots, we probably would have seen one of those at-bats someone else was talking about where Giambi fouls off four or five pitches.
He needs to share his wisdom with the rest of the team because other than a bad one here and there, he puts together some great at-bats.
First let me say this. I definitely thought, until today, the Rockies needed help and more specifically with the starting rotation. Since listening to Tracy Ringolsby in the pre-game today (Monday) my opinion has changed somewhat.
The same guys play at home and on the road. The same guys that are 3rd in hitting drop to a miserable 30th on the road. The same guys that are 15 over at home are 10 under on the road.
While I have been BIG to critize the starting rotation, since before spring training even started, the pitching era is reasonably close between on the road and at home.
So what’s the big difference between last season and this?
1) first and foremost, look no further than the road record performance.
2) I still think the rotation figures into the mix. How many double digit winners did the Rockies have last season and how many do you think we will have this season?
How do you fix that? Would someone new in the middle of the lineup help balance out things or do you try to get a more consistent, solid rotation?
Maybe Tracy Ringoslby is correct. Maybe what the Rockies need most is nothing more than a wake up call.
Were not going to get used to this. Rockies will need to add a bat, or relief, or pitching, etc.
Who are the Rockies looking at Steve? Who will they likely trade for???