Rockies build early lead and drub Braves
The Colorado Rockies blueprint for this season included major contributions from Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and Ubaldo Jimenez. They’ve all had their troubles but joined forces to help the Rockies wallop the Atlanta Braves 12-3.
The win was the first in six games with the Braves, broke the Rockies three-game losing streak and kept them from sliding seven games below .500 for the first time this season. Tulowitzki, who went 3-for-4, hit a three-run homer in the first off Brandon Beachy, who lasted 4 2/3 innings in his first appearance against the Rockies. Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in the second, and Jimenez pitched into the seventh as he won his third straight start.
Jimenez gave up two runs, solo homers by Dan Uggla, in 6 2/3 innings, and tied his season-high with nine strikeouts. He threw a season-high 120 piitches. In his past 10 starts dating from June 1, Jimenez is 6-3, 2.58 (66 1/3 innings, 19 earned runs) with 15 walks and 63 strikeouts.
The Rockies added a run in the third when Tulowitzki and Seth Smith began the inning with back-to-back doubles. Colorado broke the game open with a four-run sixth. Smith, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI, tripled home the first run, and Dexter Fowler, who went 3-for-4, hit a bases-loaded triple.
A two-run seventh completed the Rockies scoring. Todd Helton, who extended his hitting streak to eight games with a double in the first, led off with a walk, his second of the game and the 10th issued by the Braves. Tulowitzki sent Helton to third with a single, and Smith followed with a sacrifice fly. Chris Iannetta‘s two-out double scored Tulowitzki.
Other highlights:
_ Helton’s double was his 19th this season and No. 546 in his career. He’s one behind Manny Ramirez (547), who is 23rd all-time. After Ramirez, the climb up the all-time list will get a little steeper for Helton. Hall of Famer Eddie Murray and Jeff Kent are tied for 22nd with 560 doubles.
_ His two walks gave Helton 1,240 in his career. He’s three behind Willie Randolph (1,243), who is 50th all-time. Just ahead of Randolph is Hall of Famer Ty Cobb, who ranks 49th with 1,249 walks.
_ Gonzalez’s homer was his first since July 3 when he homered in the sixth inning against the Royals and one inning later, suffered a deep bone bruise in his right wrist when he crashed into the wall at Coors Field while making a catch.
_ Smith and Fowler are tied for the club lead with six triples. The six triples are a career-high for Smith, who had five last year. He has hit in seven straight games, one short of his career-high. Smith hit safely in eight consecutive games from July 10-20, 2009.
_ Fowler’s three RBI are a season-high and matched his career-high. This was his fourth game with three RBI and first since Sept. 2 against Philadelphia. He went 3-for-4 and tied his season-high with his second three-hit game. The other was May 5 at Arizona.
Impressive as it gets. All of the high dollar guys playing well in the same game, even in the same inning. Maybe a first for the season. Other than Uggla, Ubaldo had everybody’s number. Solid defense for the whole game, a welcome return to the usual. Now, who shows up tomorrow, this group or Monday’s?
“Bizarro Rox, Superman Rox: Chapter 97″
Is that a too old or too apropos analogy to what’s going on with our team this season?
Nice, fun game to watch this time anyway.
Enjoyed being at tonight’s game. Tulo’s ab in the 1st was ideal. Not because he hit a home run, but it seemed to me the HR happened because he wasn’t looking to hit one. He worked the count and got a pitch he can hit.
Excellent game all around.
Should have bunted Cargo over in the 1st-pissed me off.Luckily it worked this time-no DP from Tulo.So the millionaires earned their pay for a change,and we get tacos.About as good as it’s going to get this season!
For all the S.Smith bashers,I agree he can’t hit lefties but as a platoon player and pinch hitter he is still way better than many of you seem to realize.In the top 10-15 in BA.Top 5 in doubles,Top10 in triples,and top 10 in slugging!What’s not to like?
You know everytime we have a good game Tracy changes the line up. Last Friday to Sat – change the line up. so I am sure tonight he will have changed it again – then we will need to adjust. Like move Cargo to the 3rd spot. Then you mess up Helton and Cargo
JUST LEAVE THE LINE UP ALONE
Gary, I don’t remember anyone here bashing on Smith. He’s been one of our best players this year.
There has been talk on ITR of trading Smith while he still has value. That’s both a complement and a bash because it assumes he will pull a disappearing act like Hawpe, Atkins, and others.
Smith is a good player, but he doesn’t have near the value that either Atkins or Hawpe had in 2007 and 2008 respectively. Its not like the Rockies would get that much in trade for him.
Refresh my memory, exactly who did the Rockies receive for Atkins and Hawpe when they left? Smith is worth way more than that – just a guess though.
1) are you saying Smith is as good as either 2007 Atkins or 2008 Hawpe?
2) are you saying Smith is going to have a titanic meltdown too?
I’m not opposed to trading Smith if its proven that either Blackmon or Wheeler or someone else can beat him out for RF. Until then I’d rather have Smith playing 120 games a year than some marginal 5th starter, which is all I think he would get on the trade market.
Now this “outside the box” idea will get the ITR masses fired up, because I would trade Wheeler right now for the following reasons:
1. I think the Rockies already have four MLB outfielders that bat LH – Cargo, Smith, Blackmon and Fowler. Frankly I like all of those guys and yes even Fowler from the left side when he gets his swing figured out.
2. Wheeler’s value might be as high right now as it is ever going to be, because don’t forget he had two substantially sub-par years prior to 2011.
3. Wheeler is more of a power guy while I think the Rockies need more OBP from their outfielders than Wheeler will provide, as such those Wheeler AA K/BB numbers are a huge red flag for me.
4. Cargo isn’t tradable with the huge long term contract, so that makes Wheeler the most valuable of the remaining four of Smith, Blackmon, Fowler and Wheeler.
Yes, I do like Wheeler, but there is just too much over load of LH hitters in the outfield – so trade him already.
That’s something I can agree with, depending on what we do with it.
What is Wheeler’s value? I wouldn’t do a stand alone trade of Wheeler for some 5th starter that will be no better than Jason Hammell. But if you could take some combination of Wheeler, Matzek, EYJ, Stewart, or Iannetta and package them all for a bona fide #2 or #3 then get it done.
But I just don’t see any point whatsoever to adding someone who is not clearly better than Hammell, Greg Reynolds, or Aaron Cook. I would argue that would be a set back for the entire pitching side of the organization to add more mediocrity.
I’m sorry guys, while I am ecstatic they won with big contributions from a lot of people I prefer consistency. These 1 off blow outs we
occasionally get to experience are fun. There is no deyning that. Beyond that, how do these blow outs figure in the grand scheme of the season? We had 1 in a split against the Brewers. Now we have 1 in a best case scenario of a split against the Braves. And? We continue to loose ground in the NL West. We are 10.5 out.
Glad to see the home runs and the hits. Really, I am. Still, it sure would be nice if the big $$$ (meat of the order) guys could figure out how to get a runner on 2nd home with no one out, with the game on the line. Until then my jumping up and down with elation is mostly tempered with reality.
I am very happy Ubaldo is seemingly returning to form. I was very glad for him last night. I’m sick of the rumors. Then, this morning I hear even he added fuel to the fire in the post game interview.
Sorry to sound mostly glass half empty but it is July 20th. The Rockies need a RUN. Splitting and winning series won’t get it done unless the Giants and Dbacks decide to collapse. And then there is their road games.
This home stand certainly hasn’t done anything to discredit the Rox Jekyl and Hyde personalities. For whatever reasons, they refuse to live up to expectations. It’s as if they have to prove everyone wrong. Pick them to win big and they’ll fall flat on their face. Pick them to stink the place up and they’ll dazzle you. What message are they sending us? Pick one.
1)We’re a bunch of overpaid prima donnas who show up to work when we want.
2)We’ve pulled the wool over your eyes. We stink, but even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while.
3)Poor us. How can you expect anything else with all the injuries and bad luck we’ve had?
4)We play the game the right way every once in a while to show you what we’re capable of. We can’t stand playing for JT. Get him out of here and Mr. Hyde will leave with him.
You can really lose confidence fast if even during the wins you look at the standings and notice that you didn’t make any progress.
From here on out I am going to try to stop worrying about what the Giants are doing and just hope that the Rockies can get themselves over .500. Once we get that, then I’ll look further.
A Rockies Haiku
There’s plenty of time,
Great comebacks start with a win.
The Rox still have hope…
I love Jack’s use of verbs. Rockies “drub” Braves. Rockies “wallop” Atlanta.
:-)
Aaron? Aaron Cook??? Are you visiting us here on ITR? Is that what you guys are saying in the clubhouse?
With all the rumors out there do you guys think Ubaldo will be gone or given the Rockies demands he will stay? I heard the Red Sox were added to the mix of interested teams along with the Tigers, Reds, and Yankees for Ubaldo…. What would the Rockies want from the Red Sox? Clay Bucholtz?
If the Rockies were to trade Jimenez to the Tigers the deal would involve one of their top prospects Jacob Turner…
Here is the “latest link”
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/07/ubaldo-jimenez-rumors-wednesday.html
He is not going anywhere unless DOD totally crumbles. If DOD really wants a Herschel Walker deal, no other GM would do that.
The more I think about Ubaldo being traded the more I am inclined to say it won’t happen. There is no way they can replace him, at his salary level, with a comparable pitcher. There may be some potential #1 guys out there sitting in some team’s ML system, but they haven’t proven anything at the ML level. I agree with Rich M that now is a good time to trade Wheeler. One great year doesn’t make him a great player, but does increase his value. Unfortunately, DOD’s history is to hang onto guys after a career year thinking it is just the beginning. Then he ends up selling low (Shealy, Koshansky come to mind). I think the window has already been closed on EY2 where he could have gotten something of value for him this past winter. Now, he has proved to be an below-average fielder with good speed. Make some moves, shake things up, and take some chances.
Apparently in the post game Ubaldo stated he was very appreciative of the standing ovation. It had been a long time. What surprised me was his saying he wasn’t sure if he had pitched his last game in Coors or maybe it was with the Rockies.
That just added fuel to the media fire as more reports are now circulating today.
IF Mr. O’Dowd does have a momentary lapse of reason and opts to trade Ubaldo he better get a ton in return. And not just hopefulls.
EXAMPLE from one outlet: Why, why, why would the Rockies even think about trading Ubaldo Jimenez right now? There are only two reasons:
1.the Rockies want to see if another team will trip over themselves to make a ludicrous package of young players
2.secret Rockies MRI rays have found a tear in Ubaldo’s rotator cuff, and the team knows his time as an effective pitcher is limited
source: Baseball Nation
Teams, especially the Rockies, don’t operate like No. 2. It’s No. 1. The Rockies don’t want to trade Jimenez, but given the market right now, a team might offer a ludicrous package of young players. Only way he gets traded is if that happens.
Do the Rockies still make a move at the deadline even if Jimenez stays? There are so many holes to fill…
Thank u Rockies. Got everything I wished for in my pre game post. Ubaldo gives up 2 or less. He also blew away that little rookie with a broken bat and two Ks. I also said watch and learn from the Braves. They did just that getting on the scoreboard first and then squeezed and choked them to death all the way until 27 outs were recorded.
A friend of mine had an extra ticket to tonight’s game so I will be back at Coors. But not much hope given that Atlanta is a very good fastball hitting team and Nicasio is the perfect pitcher for them to have a field day. Plus given our habits e will come back to earth and struggle to score even 2 runs. I’m just going to enjoy the ball game and forget about what the tram is doing wrong.