Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Rock Solid Recap: Shutouts guarantee success

If you don't allow the opposing team to score, you will win. It's a proven strategy. For most, it's the surest way there is to win. For the Rockies, it's the only way to win.

Rockies 3, Padres 0 (boxscore)

Clayton Mortensen: This is interesting. Mortensen was very effective tonight (6 IP, 5 H, 2 BB and 3 K), but apparently did not receive a whole lot of praise from Bob Apodaca in the postgame. I understand what they're thinking here. Keep Juan Nicasio in the rotation, bump Mortensen to long relief. I have no issue with that at all, but there has to be a better way than suggesting a pitcher wasn't good enough after six shutout innings.

What if Nicasio takes steps back in his next couple outings? What if Aaron Cook is no good? What if you're needing to go right back to Mortensen in the next couple weeks? I would have just said Mortensen was really good, but we feel he's best here (in the bullpen). No need to shoot holes in an excellent outing.

Offense in two words: Just enough.

Chris Nelson: Nelson had a really strong game at the plate. His first inning triple led to the Rockies first run. He later ripped a double to the left field gap, but was thrown out at third trying to stretch it. Replays showed he was probably in there, but that's a poor decision leading off an inning. Maybe he'll actually learn from it? That would be something!

Nelson was also really good defensively at second base. It would be nice if he was allowed to stick there tomorrow, but I won't hold my breath with the ever changing lineup cards.

Seth Smith: His ninth inning RBI triple was definitely the biggest (most relaxing) hit of the night. Going from 1-0 to 2-0 and eventually 3-0 felt like 13-0.

Chris Iannetta: Quietly the player of the game. On base three times. Called a solid game. Defense behind the plate was sound. Nothing exciting to point at, but high grades in every facet of his game.

Carlos Gonzalez: Nothing at the plate. Very frustrating, but the nice thing about CarGo is his defense is still Gold Glove caliber. And his arm is a freakin' cannon... right Jorge Cantu?

Rex Brothers: Congratulations on a solid ML debut. Tracy brought him into a one-run game and he did not look overwhelmed by any means. Nor did I expect him to. He was hitting the high 90's with his fastball. His command was excellent. It was very good. If all you see are the two hits, you're missing everything. One was a cheapie anyway.

Matt Reynolds, Matt Belisle and Huston Street: Lord were those three filthy tonight. This bullpen is not a problem right now with how nicely it's set up. They aren't perfect, which they essentially need to be with the current offense, but you won't find many better, especially when Street is on his game.

Winning streak: Two in a row does not a winning streak make, but you can't win three in a row without the two. So let's make it two.

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