Diamondbacks rough up Rockies in series opener
A five-run sixth inning for the Arizona Diamondbacks buried the Colorado Rockies, whose late rally fell short in a 10-7 loss.
The Rockies had missed a chance to tie the game or take the lead in the previous half inning. With the Rockies down 3-2, Dexter Fowler doubled and Mark Ellis walked to start the bottom of the fifth. Both were left stranded when Carlos Gonzalez grounded out and Troy Tulowitzki lined into a double play.
Things fell apart completely for the Rockies after that. Esmil Rogers, who allowed one run in the first and two in the fourth, gave up a leadoff home run to Geoff Blum to start the sixth. A single and a walk later, Rogers gave way to reliever Josh Roenicke, who gave an RBI single to Willie Bloomquist and hit Justin Upton to load the bases. Paul Goldschmidt cleared them with a double but spared the Rockies further damage by getting thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple.
The Rockies’ first two runs came on solo home runs, one by Fowler in the first and the other by Ellis in the third. The Rockies threatened again in the eighth with three successive singles, the last by Kevin Kouzmanoff to drive in a run, but that was all they were able to get in the inning.
The Rockies rallied in the ninth with another solo home run from Fowler and a three-run shot by Tulowitzki, but could not get out of the hole left in the sixth inning.
I left before the ninth inning, but glad to see a little fight, though probably against the Dbacks dregs.
What has possessed Dexter Fowler? If we get this type of performance from him all year next season and at least an average hitting third baseman then we may have a shot at really improving.
I think the Rockies need pitching, pitching, pitching! I hope both Aaron Cook and Jason Hammel are let go at the end of the year!
What I would do…
Sign Heath Bell
Sign Michael Cuddyer or Lance Berkman
Sign Mark Buerhle or trade for a Gavin Floyd, John Danks
Keep everyone one roster but let go Aaron Cook, Jason Hammel, Ryan Spilborghs, Greg Reynolds and Ian Stewart
Here is the complete list of free-agents this off season. Which ones might land in Denver?
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/03/2012-mlb-free-agents.html
Eric, if you were to let Ry(yawn) Spilborghs go, then you’d also lose Dinger, they are a matched set.
btw… when do you think the rockies will finally decide that G. Reynolds is a bust? It’s looking more and more like they are spending good money after bad by keeping this loser in the system.
I was at today’s game. There was lots to be frustrated about. We need to get to a point where we have 5 better starting pitchers than Esmil Rogers. Maybe that doesn’t happen until the middle of next year when we get DLR back, but we won’t be a great team until we get to that point. Esmil might be OK as the long reliever/spot starter, but nothing more. And, to agree with Eric W., we need to get to the point that we have 5 better starting pitchers than Cook and Hammel.
I didn’t see anything in the performance of Greg Reynolds that suggested that he is a major league pitcher. His fast ball topped out at 90. I think that he’s done.
Spilly not bunting the runner over, but hitting into the double play, was so frustrating, and so typical of how we have played this year. Until the team can play small ball, we won’t be a winning team, and if that means getting rid of Tracy, that’s fine with me.
On the other hand, you have to be happy over all with the play of Fowler, Tulo, and CarGo (great throw from right field; that was worth the price of admission today).
I would like to understand why we continue to bring up players who cannot seem to make an impact and get sent down first time we need someone else promoted. It’s one thing to be in the race and add to your weapons. It’s another to keep bringing up the same below average players.
Cook, Hammel, EY2, Spillborghs, G Reynolds….we could go on and on about who to release. Our pinch hitters don’t have a person over .240(probably .225 actually) unless we let Giambino get a chance. I don’t need to see the same players who have not produced continue to get playing time. Rediculous that we pay major league prices to see a handfull of players and the rest AAA fill-ins.
Will never abandon the boys but at some point this grates you to the bone.
Go Rox
I want to make a small clarification between a bust and a failure. A bust is a guy who never gets close to being in the bigs. Reynolds got there, showed a little something in 2008 (with no support from the team), but has failed in large part because of injuries (shoulder, arm, etc.), just like Weathers. At this point there is no harm is seeing if there is a role of Reynolds. The pick ended up being a bomb, but I give guys who get hurt a pass on the El-Busto label (injuries in a bar fight like the legendary Yankees #1 dont count). But yes, it probably is time to cut ties with Reynolds, Hammell (trade i assume), and Cook. I am assuming we are seeing EYJr again to work a trade or at least give a chance somewhere else. Spilly is over 30 and he is what he is. He can be someone’s 5th outfielder somewhere, but at this point this team has to see what their younger (and yes, cheaper) players can do. I am still intrigued by Nelson but his clock is also waning. As for Rogers, come on folks, he gives a few bad outings but some really good ones as well. His arm is certainly big league, but it may need to be in the pen.
I would love to get Burhrle here (a big switch for him from the AL), but do not see how that happens. Probably looking at trades, which means aside from the big 3 of Tulo, CarGo and Helton, we have to be willing to part with any other piece to improve a club that could easily witha a few career or close to career years contend for the division.
And yes, Dex continues to make us all wonder. Is he finally growing into his body and skill set? This Dex could be an All-Star (as long as voters dont watch him on the basepaths….please, get Larry Walker here to teach the kid). But he may be one of our most marketable items in a trade.
Never thought I would say this but…end the season soon so we can get on to Hot Stove.
I think Rogers has the talent to make it out of the pen. Time to give up on him as a starter.
The D’backs total domination of the Rockies is embarrassing. Really, this is the smoke and mirrors team to end all smoke and mirrors teams. You gotta be able to beat this club when Ian Kennedy isn’t starting. Really, this is bad …
Ditto to Rogers out of pen.
I’d like to see the Rockies do what the Padres did in 2009. Even though they were out of the race by mid-season, Bud Black got his players to play tough against the division leaders, winning series against the Rockies for example, to prove to themselves that next year they could compete. You can evaluate young players all you want this September, but what confidence are they going to have next season if they repeatedly let themselves get spanked by AZ, LA, and probably SF. Jim Tracy and the team leaders need to motivate this team to play spoiler, to influence the division leaders, to start developing the mental toughness for next season.
Miketober, JT and staff couldn’t motivate this team all season why do you think they could do it now.
I agree JT is just awful and I have lost faith with everyone in management and never was happy with ownership. Doctor, what is HotStove?
Liz, Hot Stove league refers to a time long before the internet. It conjurs up images of people spending their winters around a “hot stove” to keep warm and talk about baseball trades, players etc for the upcoming season.
Sorry Liz, using ancient terms. The MLB network even does their winter program called “Hot Stove League.” At this point there is not much else to be excited about in the way this team is playing.
And count me in the Rogers in the pen unless something happens over the off-season. But the team may have to use him in the rotation anyways. Lets hope Nicasio really does have a quick recovery.
Anon, I agree with your sentiment on the lack of motivation.
My point is, I don’t want to see a bunch more B-Team and C-Team lineups while we evaluate this and that player, while meanwhile we set in concrete this culture that losing is okay. Let’s win some ballgames! Let’s bloody Arizona and SF’s noses!
Miketober…couldn’t agree more. I don’t need to watch recalled players populate our lineup. This has to grate on players like Todd and Troy if you don’t play your best people. ( still waiting to see Para take one in the backside for last week’s crap). Go out fighting at least!
Go Rox
I should have said go out fighting/playing your best, not fists ;)