Monday, June 27, 2011

Rock Solid Recrap: No sweep for us... part three

Yes, this afternoon's game was the Rockies third attempt at a sweep in the last eight days (although this one was continued from April). For the third time, they couldn't finish the job.

Cubs 7, Rockies 3 (boxscore)

Jhoulys Chacin: He had nothing today. Zero. And that includes confidence and energy. Every pitch looked like a struggle and the body language after several of them suggested he didn't know what pitch he could turn to to help him get an out.

That makes for a very mentally and physically challenging game, especially for a youngster used to being on his game. He's found a way to get through similar outings in the past with good results, but there hasn't been one like this where absolutely nothing worked. So while it goes down as a lousy performance, there's certainly no reason to get worked up about it unless he can't rebound effectively on Saturday.

Lineup Card: 6-27-11 Rockies @ Cubs

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 30-60 minutes before first pitch. They should be here waiting for you.

Links
Lineups

Colorado Rockies (38-39)
  1. CF Carlos Gonzalez
  2. 2B Jonathan Herrera
  3. 1B Todd Helton
  4. SS Troy Tulowitzki
  5. RF Seth Smith
  6. 3B Ty Wigginton
  7. LF Charlie Blackmon
  8. C   Chris Ianetta
  9. P    Jhoulys Chacin
Couple things...

1. I thought Todd Helton might sit today with yesterday's from New York to Chicago and another flight later today from Chicago to Denver. Perhaps tomorrow night will be the night he sits.

2. If this were basketball, we might be wondering if Chris Nelson is out of the rotation. I almost wonder though if Jim Tracy can finally use that home/road platoon that was rumored with Jonathan Herrera and Jose Lopez and use it with Nelson now. We shall see. 

Chicago Cubs (31-46)
  1. RF Kosuke Fukudome
  2. CF Tony Campana
  3. SS Starlin Castro
  4. 3B Aramis Ramirez
  5. 1B Carlos Pena
  6. LF Alfonso Soriano
  7. 2B Blake Dewitt
  8. C   Geovany Soto
  9. P   Matt Garza
The Cubs starter in "rained out" game in April was supposed to be Casey Coleman. So they upgrade to Garza here. Unfortunately for them, they couldn't avoid Chacin. He's going for Colorado like he scheduled to do that day as well.