Monday, May 17, 2010

Rock Solid Recrap: Wrigley Horrors Continue

I can't think of one single pleasant memory of a Rockies game at Wrigley Field.  Actually, I can't think of a pleasant Wrigley Field pertaining to anything. Nothing good ever seems to happen there.

Cubs 4, Rockies 2

That was a dreadful performance by the Rockies offense and their manager tonight.

The pitching -- the guys who weren't exhausted -- did a fine job. Aaron Cook seems to be in a good rhythm right now. I hate to say he's "back" or what not. He's just pitching well, which is refreshing to see.

Rafael Betancourt had a dominant inning of work. Thumbs up to that.

Matt Belisle was untouchable for two innings. Unfortunately, Jim Tracy, who appeared unprepared by not having Esmil Rogers warming up sooner as the Rockies were batting, decided to push him for a third inning -- on Belisle's third consecutive day pitching.

That's what we call playing with fire. Fire burns.  Jim Tracy got burned.

Lineup Card: Game 1 @ Chicago

Rockies Lineup

  • CF Gonzalez
  • LF Smith
  • RF Hawpe
  • SS Tulowitzki
  • 1B Helton
  • C  Olivo
  • 3B Stewart
  • 2B Barmes
  • P   Cook
Cubs Lineup
  • CF Fukudome
  • SS Castro
  • 1B Lee
  • 3B Ramirez
  • RF Colvin
  • LF Soriano
  • 2B Fontenot
  • C  Hill
  • P  Wells

Randy Wells is a very plain right-handed pitcher but he's very effective.  That pretty much describes the whole Cubs rotation to be honest.  Ryan Dempster stands out a little bit, but he's not due to throw in this short series.

Bad Wrigley Field Memory

May 30th, 2008

Remember that day? (Boxscore)

Aaron Cook takes the mound against Ted Lilly and the Chicago Cubs.

Rockies score four in the first behind a Helton 3-run HR and a Chris Iannetta RBI double. Three more in the third thanks to an Iannetta 2-run and an Omar Quintanilla RBI single.

Take a 9-1 leads into the 6th. It seems like a lock they will climb to 13 games under .500.

And then Cook loses it... quickly.

Bottom 6th: Fukudome hits a 2-run HR. Jim Edmonds follows that up with a solo HR. Suddenly it's 9-4.

Bottom 7th: Henry freaking Blanco hits a 2-run HR off Cook. Finally after Micah Hoffpauir singles (what the hell ever happened to him -- he could hit), Clint Hurdle figures out Cook is gassed. In comes bad 2008 Manny Corpas.