Rock Solid Recrap: The frustration continues

My first choice would be for the Rockies to start winning some games. Like I said yesterday, a winning streak. Win two, then win three, then win four. That's what I'm looking for. But I'm so tired of seeing the same thing everyday I'd honestly settle for an 9-8 loss. I'm begging for something different. Anything different. And I'm sick of feeling awful for our pitchers.

The games are boring. Absolutely painful to sit through. I could be watching any number of other games on a given night, but I love the Rockies. I'm committed to them. Because of that I'm missing out. I hate that feeling, too.

I feel like my writing is getting boring too. I mean what the hell can you write about when it's the same story every night? As my Rockies pal Brian put it on Twitter.

@gorox1983 im glad i dont have a blog about the rockies cause it would be riddled with f words.

Brian, you should get a blog! That would be a joy to read. But since you don't, allow me to riddle this Mother... you know what with some F words to describe the Rockies offense.

1. Futility 
2. Fail 
3. Flop 
4. Floundering 
5. Folding 
6. Feeble 
7. Faulty 
8. Foul 
9. Flaky
10. Frustration!

Those are just the F words.

Padres 2, Rockies 0 (boxscore)

Ubaldo Jimenez: Terrific.He pitched his ass off again. Ran into trouble in the 5th, but little of that was his fault. The 1-1 pitch to Alberto Gonzalez that was right down the middle and called a ball. Then the 2-1 pitch where Gonzalez's checkswing was ruled a ball when he pretty clearly went. He's out of the inning right there, but Gonzalez's at-bat continued and that damn infield RBI single followed.

Watch the play

Ubaldo did make the lazy pitch to the opposing pitcher that cost him another run, but he's human. Really no need to focus on that.

Catcher Jose Morales also had an awful half inning there. He couldn't get down on a wild pitch that looked like an easy block. That would have kept the Kyle Phillips at first, meaning he doesn't score on the infield single. Morales had a really ugly passed ball a couple innings later, so this goes down as his roughest night in a Rockies uniform. He'd done really well in his role up to now.

Also, I have no anger for Chris Nelson's attempt on that play. He knocked the ball down. That's his main objective and he did it very well. It gave Tulowitzki a chance to pick it up and throw home. It just wasn't handled by Morales. Morales picks it, makes the tag, everyone looks good.

It's sad that one infield single has to be put under the microscope with four paragraphs. Jesus. But when your margin for error is minus 50, that play qualifies as a disaster.

Lineup Card: 6-7-11 Rockies @ Padres

If you're looking for Rockies game lineups and you don't feel like searching all over Twitter or waiting for MLB.com to post them, check back to Heaven & Helton about 60-90 minutes before first pitch. They should be here waiting for you.

Links

• Yesterday's recrap: Shutouts guarantee success
• Denver Westward Blogs: Rockies have the worst ticket agents in baseball

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (28-31)

1. CF Carlos Gonzalez
2. 2B Chris Nelson
3. 1B Todd Helton
4. SS Troy Tulowitzki
5. RF Seth Smith
6. 3B Ty Wigginton
7. LF Charlie Blackmon (MLB Debut)
8. C   Jose Morales
9. P   Ubaldo Jimenez

I'll just say this about Charlie Blackmon. The kid is a terrific hitter, but I'm not expecting miracles. I'm not expecting him to instantly fix every problem the Rockies have offensively. Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki have to pick it up before that become a realistic hope. 

That said, I'm very excited to watch Blackmon play. I'm optimistic he will contribute positively. I'm confident he gives the Rockies a better 25-man roster. And most of all, I hope he's a fixture in the lineup for the next 6-8 years. 

San Diego Padres (27-34)

1. CF Chris Denorfia
2. SS Jason Bartlett
3. 3B Chase Headley
4. LF Ryan Ludwick
5. RF Brad Hawpe
6. 1B Jorge Cantu
7. C   Kyle Phillips
8. 2B Alberto Gonzalez
9. P   Tim Stauffer

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.