It's May 2nd and I'm already worried about making it through this season alive. The 2012 Rockies simply won't quit, but they refuse to make it easy, and because of that it looks like we as fans will be put through the wringer day in and day out.
They're going to drive us crazy. They're going to give us headaches. But what makes it all OK at the end day is that they're going to entertain us. And for that, I think it's time we all embrace them for what they are and see how long can hold up.
I'm giving myself until the 4th of July.
Rockies 8, Dodgers 5 (boxscore)
Winning Player: Oh, let's see here, how about Carlos Gonzalez?
Gonzalez added two more big bombs to his total today — off the defending Cy Young who's also left-handed — giving him seven homers in his last nine games. Over that same stretch CarGo is 16-for-34 with 16 RBI and 5 BB. He's absolutely sizzling right now and there should be no end in sight as long as he remains selective (aka swings at strikes).
Wilin Rosario also added a home run off Kershaw, making this the first three home run game he's allowed according to Dodgers Thoughts.
Turning Point: Great starting pitching meant it was the bullpens turn to stink today, and that's what they — Rex Brothers and Rafael Betancourt — did, blowing 2-1 and 5-3 leads respectively in the 8th and 9th innings.
But it was after that Dodgers rally in the 8th — Damn Hairstons! — that the Rockies immediately went to work themselves against Kershaw. Marco Scutaro led if off with a single. Jonathan Herrera bunted him over. Then Dexter Fowler got Scutaro home with his own single to center. Those three hitters set the stage for CarGo's second blast and that sequence is what set the Rockies up to win this baseball game.
Drew Pomeranz's Line: 6 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 5 K, 113 pitches (64 strikes)
Sure, the ball-strike ratio wasn't exactly solid, but this was a nice step forward for Pomeranz at a time when the Rockies desperately needed a competitive start. It's also worth nothing that two of those of those four walks were of the four pitch variety to Matt Kemp (one intentional, one unintentional intentional). The third time he faced Kemp? Pomeranz blew him away on four pitches, which was the highlight of his afternoon.
Excellent outing.
Highlight of the Afternoon: The Dodgers were stuck in the ninth. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out, they didn't have the option of walking Jason Giambi to get to Carlos Gonzalez. And Jason Giambi made them pay.
Screengrabs of the Game
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| I really, really missed Vin Scully this afternoon. (MLB.TV) |
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| Is there anything worse than a Dodgers-Lakers combo jersey? |
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| There's the controversial play at first. Close enough. |
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| Loney is left-handed, but Rosario knows which umpire was on the Rockies side today. |
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| Winner! |
Final Thoughts: As for Jim Tracy intentionally walking Matt Kemp as the tying run in the ninth inning? Well, personally, I'm not a big fan of that thought process. But I do admit if there was ever a batter to do it with, it's this version of Matt Kemp (the one who was unanimously named Player of the Month before the game).
If Rafael Betancourt retires Dee Gordon, we might be patting Tracy on the back. If Troy Tulowitzki takes his time and puts his relay throw on the money (Dee Gordon's double), the game ends at the plate. So while I would not have done what Jim Tracy did, there was a confluence of events coming together that made it look like a worse gamble than it actually was.
And this concludes me partially defending Jim Tracy for being Jim Tracy.
Weird day.
Weird season.
More Rockies thoughts await you if you follow me on Twitter: @Townie813 & @HeavenHelton
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