A Hitless Rock Solid Recap

Rockies 4, Braves 0

What a night!

Winning Player: Ubaldo Jimenez

What more can I say that I didn't say during the game and over at Bugs & Cranks.

We have a very special right arm pitching for our favorite baseball team.  The way his strength, effectiveness, filth, intensity, focus and command build and improve as a game goes along is such a joy to watch.  If he were on pitch 200 in the 16th inning right now, I wouldn't be surprised if he took it to an even higher level.

I'm as full of hyperbole as the next baseball fan, so I'll go ahead and say he's one of the top 5 arms in the game right now.  And he may be closer to #1 than #5, but he's not better than Roy Halladay.  I'll get that out of the way.

Read more »

Running Thoughts: Jimenez vs. Kawakami

Preview

It's the reunion of the Opening Day lineup... sans Chris Iannetta, who once again sits in favor of Miguel Olivo.  Whatever, at least we know Chris will play tomorrow.

Baseball time.

1st Inning

• Chip Caray back in the both tonight for Atlanta.  Opens the broadcast by telling us the Rockies are battling for the NL Wildcard.  Actually, numbnuts, the Rockies are aiming a little higher this season.  
• Chip also informs us the Rockies are like so many other NL teams that are looking for a leadoff man.  Folks, I wasn't kidding, Chip Caray is a blithering idiot.  Can't wait to hear what else he has to say.  
• CarGo "the leadoff man experiment for tonight" does what he does so often, leads off the game with a hit (double). 
• Fowler moves CarGo to third, Helton walks, and Tulo sac flies.  Good start for the offense.  
• Even better start for Jimenez, who wipes out a walk with a DP grounder.  
• Rockies 1, Braves 0
  

Read more »

Looking Ahead: To A Better Today

Because yesterday sucked. And so did the day before that.

Jimenez vs. Kawakami

When times are rough, who's the person you always turn to? Your ace in the hole, right? Well, thank God the Rockies actually have one of those, and they're going to need him to live up to the billing in full for the third straight outing.

The Braves counter with Kenshin Kawakami. Kawakami is a very much underrated right-hander who came over to MLB last season from Japan. I suppose it's easy to understand why he would be underrated or overlooked when you look at the quality arms Atlanta has in their rotation.

At 34, he's also not a young prospect with endless amounts of hype surrounding him. He's just a solid, veteran arm that knows how to get hitters out without being overpowering. Josh Fogg might be a decent comparison to make, though I'd consider Kenshin to be more polished and talented.

Read more »