Lackluster Recrap: Chacin shines again in another undeserved loss

Giants 3, Rockies 1 (boxscore)

Ubaldo Jimenez could have been a 23-24 game winner in 2010 with a little help from his friends.

I don't know how many more wins Jhoulys Chacin could have realistically had in 2011 with a little help from his friends, but I assure you he doesn't deserve 14 losses. Sure, he's had his games that disappointed me and discouraged me, but not that many. Not nearly that many.

Disclaimer: I know, I know. Wins and losses aren't the end all be all for determining a starting pitcher's success. What I wrote above lends further evidence to that. But you can't discard what goes on a player's record. Until they stop keeping track, it's fine to be annoyed when a pitcher's record doesn't look as pretty as it should.

Anyway, Chacin was really good on this particular night.

His line: 7 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Not at all discouraged by the lower strikeout total, but definitely encouraged by only one walk. Save the strikeouts for when you really need them, but consistently throwing more strikes early in counts to get quicker outs is exactly what Chacin needs to do to get on those higher levels that await him.

Of course one of those next levels would be throwing 200 innings on a yearly basis. He ended up at 194 this season. Just think of where that number could go with even a little bit more efficiency.

-- Jim Tracy on Seth Smith's base running blunder with @Troy Renck's translation

"The ball was in front of him.'' Translation, what was he thinking?

See, what happened was Smith attempted to advance to third base on a ground ball that was hit directly in front of him. It's the most fundamentally unsound base running mistake a player can make, yet the Rockies have made it routinely, which is why. I understand Tracy subtly throwing Seth under the bus there.

That said, maybe the manager needs to include some basic base running drills and maybe some video sessions next spring. That crap has to be eliminated.

Smith also had a rough first inning at-bat with a runner on third and one out. Ryan Vogelsong flat abused him there, changing speeds and getting Seth to swing way late on a 92 MPH. Masterful pitching job, but Smith did rally for two hits, so that's a plus for him.

Mark Ellis also had two hits and the Rockies lone RBI. Plus night for him, too.

Rest of the offense: Back to normal.

Final Thought

Two games to go with Alex White and Drew Pomeranz each getting one more start. That alone makes them worth watching... along with, you know, not having baseball again for five months. Hope you all decide to check them out.