Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Lineup Card: Rockies @ Dodgers 8-8-12


Lineups

Colorado Rockies (40-68)
  1. Eric Young Jr. (LF)
  2. Josh Rutledge (SS)
  3. Dexter Fowler (CF)
  4. Wilin Rosario (C)
  5. Tyler Colvin (RF)
  6. Jordan Pacheco (3B)
  7. Matt McBride (1B)
  8. D.J. LeMahieu (2B)
  9. Jeff Francis (P)
"The best way to defense against teams pitching around Carlos Gonzalez is to sit him down." -- Jim Tracy

Not a real quote... but very possibly a real thought. 

Los Angeles Dodgers (59-52)
  1. Shane Victorino (LF)
  2. Mark Ellis (2B)
  3. Matt Kemp (CF)
  4. Hanley Ramirez (SS)
  5. Andre Ethier (RF)
  6. Juan Rivera (1B)
  7. Jerry Hairston (3B)
  8. Mattsy May-Treanor (C)
  9. Chad Billingsley (P)
Thanks to Eric Stephen (@truebluela) for today's lineups. 

More Rockies thoughts await you if you follow me on Twitter: @Townie813 & @HeavenHelton

Rock Solid Recap: Rockies, Rutledge Double Up On Dodgers

Rockies 3, Dodgers 1 (boxscore)

Winning Player: Josh Rutledge

The Rockies pitched their way to a series victory and their first back-to-back wins over the same team since they swept the Houston Astros four straight back in May. However, the big story for Colorado continues to be the hot hitting of rookie Josh Rutledge, who collected his first four-hit game, including three doubles (to all three fields by the way) and all three Rockies RBIs.

It's early for Rutledge, obviously, and he appears to have a few detractors in the scouting world (see: Law, Keith), but his swing looks smooth and the sounds his bat makes are wonderful. The ball is jumping off his bat right now, even in Dodger Stadium at night. The last two doubles especially were smoked. He's no doubt feeling it and seeing it well.

Will there be rough days ahead?

Positively. It's the big leagues. But he seems to be handling the day-to-day adjustments well and hasn't given me a good reason yet to feel nervous about him becoming overmatched once pitchers make their next round of adjustments.

Again... early... things change quickly. But for now, just keep swinging, kid. Just keep swinging.


Turning Point: Rutledge's night would have been a waste if not for Eric Young Jr. again reaching base at will. After a three-hit, two-run night in the opener, Young followed with three more hits, a walk, and two more runs scored. That's what a difference maker does. His name in the lineup and his production has changed the entire series.

To repeat what I said last night about Young: Need more of this!