Game Recap: Cardinals 6, Rockies 1
Key to the game
Jason Hammel was ineffective again, lasting three innings and giving up eight hits and five runs and putting the Rockies in a hole from which there was no escape against Chris Carpenter. Hammel failed to win any of his five starts and pitched five or fewer innings in the final four.
After Skip Schumaker led off the first with an infield single, Albert Pujols doubled him home with one out. Hammel gave up three straight singles and a run to start the second, followed by a sacrifice by Carpenter and Schumaker’s sacrifice fly. The Cardinals two-run third began with three straight singles.
Carpenter limited the Rockies to four hits and needed just 100 pitches, 66 of them strikes, to throw his first complete game of the season. The Rockies scored in the sixth when Dexter Fowler tripled with one out and scored with two out on a wild pitch as Carpenter was facing Ryan Spilborghs.
Other highlights
–Three innings matches Hammel’s shortest start of the year. But when he left after three innings April 26 against the Diamondbacks, it was a groin strain that forced Hammel from the game rather than ineffectiveness.
Hammel, who finished 10-9 with a 4.81 ERA, went 0-2 with an 8.61 ERA in his final five starts. In those five games, Hammel allowed 40 hits and 22 runs in 23 innings.
–The Rockies have lost five straight games and 10 of their past 11.
–Pitching for the first time since Sept. 8, Samuel Deduno gave up a single in the eighth with two strikeouts, one of them Carpenter, and threw 10 of 12 pitches for strikes. This was Deduno’s fourth appearance in the majors.
–The Rockies used Edgmer Escalona on back-to-back days, and he worked two scoreless innings in relief of Hammel and threw 38 pitches while giving up a hit and two walks in his fourth appearance in the majors.
–Fowler extended his franchise record with his 14th triple and second in three games.
–Troy Tulowitzki finished September with 15 homers and 40 RBI, both franchise records for any month. Tulowitzki went 1-for-4 and finished the month with a .322 average (37-for-115). Only Babe Ruth in 1927 had more homers (17) and RBI (43) in September than Tulowitzki, who hit one homer in his final 11 September games.
Mr. Extreme Dead Arm Walking was able to give us exactly what he promised.
At this point of the season, it doesn’t really matter (but it did really matter in his last start).
But the bigger question in this: the season is over. Why is Hammel starting? Why not shut him down? Is this some attempt to humiliate him? To toughen him up? Guys like Escalona and Deduno are getting looks. Certainly they could have handed the ball to Deduno to start and go, say, 60 pitches. Wouldn’t that be worth more than watching Hammel struggle through a few innings? I didn’t watch more than 10 minutes of this game, but I probably would’ve watched more if it had been slated as a spring training type game in which Deduno would go 3, Escalona 2, Morales 2, Delcarmen, and Reynolds 1 each. At least that would feel like an audition.
Good question about Hammel. I guess he wasn’t making that up about the dead arm. Why risk injury.
Sorry to all the ITR poster about my absense. My mom went into hospice a week ago and passed away Sunday and the funeral was today, so I have not even watched a Rockies game in a week (which, is a good thing alas). Agbayani good point. At this point the season is over, Hammel has looked tired for three weeks, time to let him rest. The season was a disappointment, but one wrapped around a lot of good things, things that set up for next year. I think Hammel figures in for next season, and his improvement at home was one of the good things, so suprised they ran him out again (of course all the arms have looked tired for the past 15 days or so). Guess the question is are the other guys stretched out enough. Of course with these four games meaning nothing for the playoffs for both teams guess you could go 3 innings each.
Sad last two weeks, and not just for my family.
Sorry to hear that, Dr. C. Good to have you back.
Great question on Hammel – I think it may have been a prescribed gut check. Not sure I agree with the decision but understand the thinking if that was the intent. For a guy that pitched so well for 3/4 of the season …his performance down the stretch has been atrocious.
I know how much time we will spend in the offseaon discussing the rotation so I’ll be brief for now – its going to be a bear trying to match the likes of the freak, Cain, Sanchez and Bumgarner without extending ourselves a little.
Agbayani – you made the point in another thread …Cookie’s guarantee next year is not going to help our cause at all
Condolences Doc and welcome back
Dead arm its called no “guts”. well he can rest all winter now.
Thoughts and prayers w/you Dr.C.My invalid Mom is 92,but has lingered far too long.Hope ur situation was for best of all concerned.Lost my Dad a few years back,so I know it’s tough.Glad to have you back for the winter “hot stove”arguments.And when I asked a week ago if they were going to “tank it” to season end,I really didn’t think they would!Getting the 20th for the “Chief”only goal left.
Doc C, I know the feeling…I lost my mom on Tuesday.
Gary, there are two goals left. The other is a batting title for Cargo.
Hard to believe that nearly two weeks ago the Rox assured themselves of a winning season by winning their 82nd game and are now stuck on 83. A dismal end to what looked like another fantastic finish coming.
Glad we have this website for our hot stove league over the winter. You guys are all insightful and worth taking my time to read. Keep up the good work all. (PS – I will be making my donation shortly with a little catch up for the past seasons.)
My condolences also Dr. C. Agree with the majoritybabout Hammel starting, there was no real upside and there are a couple of youngsters who should be “previewed”. Nobody, not even Ubaldo, was going to match up with Carpenter anyway. Dismal, atrocious, depressing–the adjectives can’t convey the depth and breadth of this collapse. Couldn’t watch or listen last night but apparently didn’t miss a thing. Was Cargo being “rested?”. Will there be any “playing for pride” or has everyone already gone home for the winter? Would really like to finish with more than 83.
Prayers and condolences to Dr C and Bob in WV, and your families.
Looking forward to the hot stove on the ITR. If it is anything like last winter, we should have some great discussions. And in retrospect if they had listened to all of us the roster and season would have been different. LOL.
I watched bout 3 innings of the game last nite and turned it off. The Rox have given up. The AB’s they are taking is not worth watching. Decent season but considering we all expected a division championship, pretty bummed out too. Upgrade in a few key spots, get the confidence back(that is what they need to do most) and let’s do it next season.
Rocket
Cargo was given the night off to benefit his wrist but is scheduled to play tonight and tomorrow – not mention yet on Sunday.
I echo everyone else, my prayers Doc Christopher and Bob in WV.
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Its amazing to think this team will finish the year barely over .500. The team truly has given up. I don’t know what to think anymore. If nothing else, isn’t there pride to play for?
I liked Hammell. Thought he was a 5th starter, but a very good 5th starter. Now I’m worried that he’s a quitter. I don’t want quitters. Especially on this pitching staff that already has it’s share of mental cases.
Jeez watching this team quit is sad. It really looks like no one cares anymore. Show some character and go out and at least try to win a baseball game. What a bunch of pouting babies.
Very sorry to hear about your mom Dr. C, our prayers go out to you and your family.
Watching the Rockies the last two weeks is like a bad trip to the dentist, can;t wait for it to be over. The Rockies are like a group of 3rd graders watching the clock on the last day of school before summer vacation. You can imagine the vacation conversations in the dugout. Stewart to Hammel… “Hey we’re all going fishing down in Florida Friday, wanna join us?”
I’ve never seen a team give up so fast and hard as these guys(with a few exceptions of course). Very dis-appointing.
Yes, they all pretty much look like they’re “Already Gone”…to the off season. Their body language says it, too. I’m shocked at the downward spiral, losing 10 of the last 11 games…C’mon guys, you’re better than that!!
Sorry for your loss. My prayers also Doc_Christopher and Bob in WV.
I guess the $20 question is why Hammel was pitching. The $50 question is why did they leave him in so long?
What really confused me was Alanna Rizzo’s post game question to both Tracy and Hammel. Where did that come from? Did the fact he came out of the BP in previous seasons have an affect on his performance this season?
He had 34 appearances last season. 30 as a starter. I think this season he is like 31/31.
Much like Rogers now, he was used in all types of situations in St. Pete. He was young and coming up. It’s not like they didn’t try him as a starter. He just struggled with it.
He seemed pretty dejected or maybe even embarassed but as some have pointed out. It’s not like he didn’t say he was done.
Just wanted to add my prayers and thoughts to you Dr.C
Dr. C and Bob, let me add my condolences.
What is it with starters named Jason, who are pretty darn good for the first half of the season, then tank for the second half?
My solution: Go find another Jason, and figure out how to keep him under wraps until the second half of the season. Sort of “re-Jasoning” after the all-star break.
Late to the thread, but also my condolences to Doc c and you too Bob. Thanks for coming to this solace of baseball discussion, sometimes baseball is just what we all need to get away. I think James Earl’s quotes in Field of Dreams pretty much sum it up for me. Hang in there folks.
My condolences also to Doc C and Bob in WV. My wife went through major surgery 3 weeks ago and while she will be better than new the recovery will take about 6 months. There are more important things than baseball, but what many of us turn to is baseball as a diversion from the more serious side of life.
I agree with a lot of you above. If Hammel had a dead arm, why the heck do you pitch him? And it’s not just the Jason’s who’ve had bad 2nd halves. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Ubaldo had a “not as good” 2nd half and in earlier years Aaron Cook and Shawn Chacon to mention a couple had bad 2nd halves. The one constant (perhaps not for Chacon) has been the pitching coach. Apodoca. Isn’t it time for a fresh face?