Sunday, September 11, 2011

Rock Solid Recap: Too hot for television

You know, it's pretty much impossible to analyze games you can't see.

That was the case on Saturday, as the Rockies were outhomered by Cincinnati 5-4, but amazingly won the game...

Rockies 12, Reds 7 (boxscore)

Listen, all I can tell you is Alex White is struggling mightily to get his sinker down in the zone. It seemed like every home run Cincinnati hit, one of the radio guys described it as a pitch that flattened out belt high and screamed to be parked in the seats. These are professional hitters in the Reds lineup, so the results are not surprising.

Interestingly enough, for the first time since White debuted with the Rockies, we heard word (from Jim Armstrong on Twitter) about the finger injury that sidelined him for three months not being completely healthy. I don't know if that's true, if that's positive spin coming from somewhere, or even pure speculation, but a guy struggling with his grip would certainly have trouble getting his ball to move and locate correctly.

That said, if there is truth to that, then shut him down. What's the benefit to anyone to pitching a 22-year-old that's not healthy or ready? I don't get it.

What I do understand is the benefit to playing Jordan Pacheco. Kid can flat hit. I don't care what the minor league numbers may have suggested. We all saw him hitting in the spring, and he's come to show hitting as well. Bottom line, he's going to hit. Maybe not for power consistently, but he's going to have a good approach, and the ball will be in play.

Now, whether or not he can fill a need defensively is yet to be determined. But he's looking like a lock for the 2012 roster.

Final thought

Sunday in the debut outing for Drew Pomeranz! Is he healthy off his appendicitis? I'm a little surprised he's coming back this soon, but I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Best of luck to you, Drew!

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