Rockies fall flat in finale, split with Brewers
The Colorado Rockies’ struggles on Sundays continued as another rough, short outing from Aaron Cook, poor defense and missed opportunities at the plate brought a series that started well for the Rockies to a disappointing end.
After winning the first two of the series and letting the third game slip away Saturday, the Rockies needed their first Sunday win at Coors Field this season to take the crucial series from the Brewers. But Cook, who has yet to pitch beyond the sixth inning in any of his seven starts, dealt with frequent traffic in lasting just 4 2/3 innings, his short start of the season.
Cook allowed just a single to Nyjer Morgan in the first, his most efficient inning. A Rickie Weeks double and Casey McGehee sacrifice fly produced the first run in the second. Cook then faced bases-loaded, two-out situations in the third and fourth innings, each time with an error by Ian Stewart on balls hit by pitcher Shaun Marcum contributing to the traffic. The first error came in the third when Stewart tried to barehand a soft grounder by Marcum but couldn’t come up with the ball. The second error came with two outs in the fourth, when Cook induced what should have been an inning-ending grounder to third from Marcum. But Stewart bobbled the ball to allow Marcum to reach. He still had a chance, though, to get McGehee, who would have been trapped between second and third if Stewart had been able to come up with the ball. But a second bobble gave McGehee a chance to get back safely. A frustrated Stewart then gave up on fielding the ball and, seeing an opportunity to advance rather than return to second, McGehee scampered into third in front of a Stewart.
Both times Cook was able to get out of the bases-loaded spots with a groundout, but with his pitch count elevated, Cook struggled a third time through the Brewers lineup. With one out in the fifth, Cook allowed five successive hitters to reach on a walk, single, double, single and double to bring in two more runs, a third prevented only because Weeks was caught between third and home trying to score on the second double. Cook was then pulled from the game, along with Stewart, who left in a double switch.
Despite Cook’s struggles, the Rockies were still in a close game thanks to an RBI single in the fourth by Seth Smith and a solo home run to the upper deck by Jason Giambi in the sixth. But Rockies hitters were just 1-for-11 with five strikeouts with runners in scoring position — the one hit Smith’s. The Rockies had chances in the eighth inning, when Giambi led off with a double but was stranded at second, and again in the ninth. Jonathan Herrera reached on an error and scored on a double by Ty Wigginton, who then represented the tying run. But Wigginton, like Giambi an inning earlier, was stranded at second after a groundout by Carlos Gonzalez and strikeouts by pinch-hitter Mark Ellis and Tulowitzki.
I think we have to give EdtheUmp credit for the call he made two months ago. This team is average. I’m not giving up the ship, but apparently Ed has a good eye.
Well, we’re basically 10 back, with only 67 left to play. And since San Francisco’s pitching staff is built such that they will almost certainly avoid any long-term slumps, I think that it’s just about time to face reality and become sellers for this year’s trade deadline. We really had to go at least 6-2 on this home stand to really think about being buyers (I guess we still could, but I can guarantee you that we’re not sweeping the Braves). Like I’ve previously posted, unless some team gives away their farm to us for Ubaldo, I really hope we hold onto him. However, players like Spilly, Wiggy, Fowler, Stewart, Giambi and possibly Street might be able to catch you a decent prospect or two. Five games under after almost 100 games played is absolutely pathetic for this team!
I guess I’ll look forward to the September call-ups to see what Friedrich, Rosario, Wheeler and possibly Pacheco can bring to the table next year.
““Troy is great, but sort of like LeBron James” YIKES Prog!!! Kinda harsh.”
Ok Prog, I apologize. Looks like maybe you were correct and I was wrong. I’m not sure what the hec he was swinging at in the 9th.
I didn’t get to see the post game but got a call on the way home letting me know Jim Tracy was seemingly very upset with Stewart while defending Aaron Cook. Stewart’s fate may have even been sealed with his performance today??? Was that other’s perception also?
Championship contenders don’t leave the tying run on base, in scoring position, with no one out, and the “go to guys” of Gonzalez, Ellis, Giambi, and (Lebron) Tulowitzki coming up. Plus 2 of them are the Rockies long term future.
BOTTOM LINE: Splits or winning a series doesn’t look like it will get it done being 9 back. I think back to Wayne’s thoughts which seem pretty darn real world to me. We have only 5 more losses at home before it will require a winning record both at home and on the road.
“If they go 30-7 the 2nd half (equally last years home record) at home and 17-17 on road in 2nd half, that would give them 90 wins. How’s that for positive thinking” – Wayne
Instead of going after the Rockies, I do an about face and credit the Brewers. They’re friggin’ good. They’ve got a bunch of gamers on that team. Prediction: Brewers win the World Series this year. They can hang with the Phillies or any other team in the league.
I love how Jim Tracy’s seemingly has no problem throwing his players under the bus…I think it may be about time he gets to see what the undercarriage of one looks like…
Tulo messes it up again… How long is this going to last? First Cook only goes 4 2/3 innings and now Tulo? Maybe it’s time for Cook to go back to triple-a. I still disagree about trading Ubaldo Jimenez unless getting 4-5 players in return… And I don’t think the Yankees would want to give up the pitching, not even Ivan Nova..
I didn’t see the game nor the post game conference with Jim Tracy but in an article I read it seemed that he pointed out Stewart for his errors and blamed him for Cook not getting through 6. I don’t think a manager should ever point out one player in particular and I think this is b.s. I have no problem if a manager calls out the team, but never one person. I personally think Tracy has it out for Stewart. Was Helton blamed yesterday for his numerous errors? Were Tulo and Cargo blamed today for the lack of hitting? I cannot wait for Tracy to be fired and I don’t think the players can wait either. No one likes a manager who calls out an individual. This is to bad for Stewart. I think Tracy is part of the problem for him. And I am sure this give Tracy his reason for playing Wiggington more. I hope Stewart can get a chance under a new manager. I just can’t stand Tracy, both for his pointing out of players and the fact that he has a low baseball IQ (call for an f-ing bunt). This will be his last managerial job.
At this point I really think that the owners (Monforts) and Dan O’Dowd have to sit down and think about the team they have. If they truly believe that healthy (aside from those who are out for the season, like DLR and maybe C.B.) this team can make the playoffs and be dangerous, then, sad to say, it is time for Jim Tracy to be let go or moved to another position (along with Lansford, but probably not the rest of the coaching staff). I like Tracy a lot. He seems like an earnest and honest guy. He did get the team to play to its talent in 09. But since then…they have played down to their lowest common denominator. Alas, this is Tracy’s M.O. He does great taking over, but then over the long-haul he makes mistakes tied into his perceptions.
I said earlier in response and humble admission of being wrong to RockyMountain, that this team runs out consistently the worst line-up possible on Sundays because he always makes the same decisions about time off the rest of the week. At this point Tracy is simply stuck.
A team featuring players like Tulo, CarGo (when healthy) and Ubaldo along with solid or improving players like Chacin and Smith is capable of winning a playoff spot in the era of mass averageness that is the majors at this time. They are however simply not playing with any zeal or expectation of winning. And here the issue falls on the manager. I loved Clint Hurdle, but it was clear he didn’t have the team’s ear. He needed to go. Now the same is true of Tracy. The biggest issue in my mind is that management didnt think this would be the case and so there is no clear replacement. The managerial pool is pretty thin right now (hence Jack McKean being dug up from the dead or near dead). Do they simply pull up their AAA guy? I have no idea. But I think (contra a lot of folks here) this team could win this division (I really cannot imagine the Giants staying at this course because they have simply put too many innings on their starters the past few years). Make a move is my vote. Tracy has some good qualities…kick him upstairs to do some work. But they need a new voice.
Oops, sorry guys this was supposed to go under Steve’s managerial change question. Will post it over there.
Today’s game was simply boring and unwatchable. I was wrong. This team is incapable of winning on Sunday’s because their lineups are hrorid and they never seem to have the right guy going on the bump. Ten back iwth 65 to play? Well, I will keep watching but minus some big change (managerial switch that works, injuries to the Giants, someone getting cosmically hot), this team is playing for respectability, not the playoffs. Very sad…this team should be in 1st place. Instead it is like a good ship that has been through a hurricane and has lost its rudder, most of its sails, and most importantly its sextent.
I know many of you won’t agree with me, but I think this team has two flat tires. One is JT, the other is DOD. Anyway, we get the Braves today. Let’s hope for a good series, even if it’s just for the fun of winning a few at home.
Beat up on KC, lose final game. Go to ATL, get ass kicked.
Beat up on MIL, lose final 2 games. ATL comes in, get ass kicked.
I’m praying we show some fight in this series, but I will not be surprised at all if we lose 3 out of the 4.
Just wanted to say I appreciate how thoughtful and insightful the posters are here compared to the mlb.com Rockies site. i learn stuff when i come here, rather than just listening to pointless b****ing.
It is obvious now that Cook doesn’t have it and isn’t going to get it this season. Is it JT’s decision to keep playing him, or the organization (DOD) not wanting to look bad for putting a lot of eggs in the Cook basket and then having to send him down?