Rock Solid Recrap: Lethargic State Of Mind

I was hoping for something a little closer to urgent... or conscious.

I try to avoid placing extra emphasis on any single game at this point of the season, but I really thought today's game presented a golden opportunity to turn a corner on the road, steal a win, a series, establish some confidence.

Perhaps even lay a foundation to build off of the next time they leave Coors Field.

Mets 4, Rockies 0

Those things didn't happen.

I'm really disappointed by that. Not just the result, but the entire nine inning package. It just wasn't good enough.

Yes, I get that Johan Santana was on his game today. I don't mean to take any credit away from him. But pardon me if I don't question a little bit if the Rockies inconsistent and too often lifeless offense had more to do with it than Santana. He may have just been in the right place at the right time.

Yes, I understand the Rockies battled hard last night to come back and win. That was great. I really appreciated and admired that effort. My recap should have driven that point home.

It's just... this team has put itself in a position where they have to battle everyday. Winning every other day in Pittsburgh and New York wouldn't be good enough under any circumstances. It's especially not good enough now, when every loss makes reaching your goals and potential more and more unlikely.

I'm not pulling the plug on this team. I'm just continually frustrated by what I perceive as a lack of urgency. That a switch can be flipped on and everything will be okay. That's my perception of this team's attitude. Wrong or right as it may be, that's where I stand.

These Rockies are absolutely talented enough to win a ton of games in a row, but it makes me extremely uncomfortable how comfortable they are allowing it to get to that point.

Hat tip

Jason Hammel started slow (2 in the 1st) and finished tired (2 in the 7th), but everything in between was really good. So I guess that qualifies Hammel as the Rockies player of the game.

Question

Don't you wish Don Baylor was K-Rod's father-in-law? Just wondering.

Tomorrow

Is Friday the 13th... Mustache Night at Coors Field... and my birthday. I'm equally excited about all three.

Oh... and there will be a baseball game as well. Jorge De La Rosa vs Yovani Gallardo.

That's a really tasty matchup if you love good pitching.

Rock Solid Recap: Survival Instincts Kick In

For the first six innings I thought I would be writing the exact same recap I wrote last night, only fill in Jeff Francis' name where Ubaldo's was, because truth be told, the Rockies looked like a dead ass offensive team for that period of time.

Thankfully it never came to that. Now I can provide you with completely fresh nonsense insight and wisdom.

Rockies 6, Mets 2

The Rockies were a different team when they came to bat in the 7th. Or maybe Jon Niese just hit a wall. Whatever the case, the Rockies looked liked a team that realized this particular game was pretty significant.

The 7th started with singles by Troy Tulowitzki and Melvin Mora. Spilborghs moved the runners to 2nd & 3rd with a chopper to David Wright. Chris Iannetta followed with one of the key ABs of the game. It was a 9-pitch AB that began 0-2, was eventually worked to 3-2 after spoiling some tough pitches, and concluded with a sac fly to dead CF.

Great AB. That would be all the Rockies would get that frame, but it was something.  All this team needed at that point was something, anything to build on.

The 8th began with a Seth Smith strikeout and a solid Dexter Fowler AB where he just missed a double, but eventually grounded out.

Survival Mode: On

And these are the guys you're paying to do exactly what they do right here.

• Todd Helton: 2-out, 2-strike single to right. That's why he's Todd Helton.
• Carlos Gonzalez: Now here's the AB I really thought was exceptional. Gonzalez -- who rarely walks, has a tendency to press at times in these spots -- works a walk. Very solid approach.
• Troy Tulowitzki: After a wild pitch is intentionally walked. Respect.

Melvin Mora

Wins you a baseball game with one swing. (Highlight)

I wish the highlight showed the entire AB, because that's how a professional hitter handles his business. He just wanted to extend the AB long enough to get that one pitch he could drive. There was no guarantee he would do anything with the pitch if he got it, but the key was to stay alive to get a pitch where he wanted it.

He got it.

He didn't miss it.

A walk and two singles later, the Rockies would have a 5 run inning and would ride Betancourt and Street to the 6-2 victory.

Matt Belisle got a well deserved victory after striking out the side in the 7th. Jeff Francis deserved his name in the win column as well, but you know what? Who cares, as long as it's a Rockies name in the W column. We all know Jeff did his job.

Tomorrow

Jason Hammel vs. Johan Santana

I think we can look forward to some more Melvin Mora ABs and an appearance by Jason Giambi.

Also... Hammel needs to be good here.  Really good.

Rock Solid Recrap: Ubaldo Was Pretty Good

Unfortunately he could have been perfect and still not left Citi Field with his 18th win. It was that bad a night for the Rockies offense.

Mets 1, Rockies 0

Yes, it's true the offense averages 5.8 runs a game for Ubaldo this season. It's also true this is only the 5th time they've scored less than four runs for him, and they have bailed him out of at least three potential losses. They have done a solid job holding up their end of the bargain on his nights.

That's all well and good.

But my God, you can't scratch a run across on Mike Pelfrey?

(insert laugh track here)

Yes, that Mike Pelfrey.

"Mike Pelfrey outduels Ubaldo Jimenez" might be the most nauseating headline I read all season.  Seriously sickening.

Of course tonight was about a lot more than piling up wins for Ubaldo or solidifying him as a frontrunner in the Cy Young, this is about the Rockies getting a MUCH needed win on road and failing miserably... again.

This is about a Rockies team losing another 1 run game to an inferior opponent when all they needed to do was scrap together a couple runs. That's all they needed tonight, but that task was way too tall against Mike Pelfrey.

I don't get it.

I do get that Citi is a pitcher's ballpark, but we knew that going in. These are games when you have to be creative. Dexter Fowler needs to push a bunt. The hit-and-run with Barmes and Olivo was a nice idea. Of course Barmes didn't get the ball in play, but you need a little more of that.

And the hitters absolutely have to resist trying to drive a ball out of that yard. It's just not going to happen. Especially guys like Fowler and Helton. Even Gonzalez layed into one that died around the warning track. Next time up he lined one over the head of Carter in left. Line drives will carry. Flyballs won't.

Line drives. Get people in motion. Find ways to put pressure on the Mets defense. I know that's easier said than done, but more times than not (especially on the road) this team makes even the most basic and fundamental of offensive approaches look impossible.

There has to be a middle ground somewhere. Find it. Create some offense. Score some damn runs. Paul Maholm won't be there to bail you out again this season.

Tomorrow

Jeff Francis vs John Maine

Pretty even pitching matchup. Another 1-0 game wouldn't shock me at all.  That means it'll probably be 10-9, but I honestly expect another low scoring affair.

Rock Crappy Recap: Do I Have To?

Mets 5, Rockies 0

Yes, I have to. But if the Rockies aren't going to put in a full effort on a Thursday afternoon, neither am I.

Official Scorer

Losing Player: #42. Everybody wearing Jackie Robinson's #42 in a Rockies uniform today embarrassed the number.

They played like shit. I could stop there, but I'll add a little to it.

• The defense was pathetic. 
•  Botched rundown with a pitcher running. 
•  Melvin Mora can't turn a double play unless a catcher or pitcher is running. 
•  Miguel Olivo with some really lazy backhands of balls in the dirt. 
•  Seth Smith throwing to the wrong base. 
•  Jason Giambi has no range. 
•  De La Rosa walked five. 
•  Zero runs scored.

Of course the final blurb there (0 runs) rendered everything else moot on this day, but you still have to look at the whole ugly picture.

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Running Thoughts: De La Rosa vs. Pelfrey

We jump into the action in the top half of the third.

3rd Inning

• Mets 1, Rockies 0
• We start with De La Rosa walking the pitcher, a high chopper over Stewart's head, and a botched rundown allowing a pitcher to score.  
• This defense right now isn't just embarrassing, it's bullshit.  There's no excuses for the lapses we're seeing.
• Drew Goodman with some odd commentary.  
• Mike Pelfrey cruising so far today.  Couple infield singles allowed and that would be the extent of that.  

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Looking Ahead: Sweep The Mess?

They came to Denver not yet a mess. One more loss and they'll leave town in shambles.

Winning homestand secured, now it's time for these Rockies to get greedy and vicious. Step on somebody's throat. Beat up on the less fortunate. Pile up some W's before we get deep into division play.

If you can't tell, I want this game today really bad. Not only for the sadistic reasons mentioned above, but because winning De La Rosa's starts is just as important as winning Ubaldo's. Jorge is practicially your second ace. Chances are really good he's going to keep you in it, so I like to take advantage of that.  Puts less pressure on the bottom of the rotation.

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Rock Solid Recap: Can't Out Mess The Mets

Rockies 6, Mets 5 (10)

Try as they might, the Rockies and their continued horrid defense could not snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory.

There was Todd Helton's yearly error in the first inning.  Aaron Cook pitched around that.

Matt Daley pitched over top of Ian Stewart's inexplicable throwing error.  He actually made several poor throws on the evening -- leading to some concern that his arm may be sore -- but the one he made here was so bad even Todd Helton couldn't pick it.  That's bad.

And then there was the Tulowitzki hiccup leading off the ninth.  As I mentioned in Running Thoughts, not as an easy play, but a play Tulo makes 98 times out of 100.  Scored a hit.  I was more than fine with the scoring.  Tulo just looked a step slow.

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Running Thoughts: Cook vs. Niese

Preview

Chris Iannetta makes his hopefully triumphant return to the starting lineup tonight.  Not a big fan of the catching rotation so far, even if Olivo has knocked a couple balls over the fence.  I prefer to see Iannetta get 60-40 split in his favor unless it's clear he's struggling.  Right now it's looking more 60-40 in Olivo's favor.

No Hawpe or Gonzalez in the lineup.  Hawpe sounds more likely to pinch-hit or play defense.  Indications are CarGo would only see emergency action.

Less than 10 minutes from first pitch.  Let's ensure a winning homestand tonight.

1st Inning

• Bob Apodaca mic'ed up tonight.  This oughta be interesting.  
• Todd Helton made an error.  Holy Sh*t.  
• Jose Reyes walks to third as the Rockies completely fall asleep defensively.  Not the sharpest start mentally.
• Cookie pitches around the error, the mental lapse, and a little bit of wildness to earn a scoreless first.  I fully expect him to settle in now.  
• Kinda starting to wonder when Dexter Fowler will start hitting righties or lefties this season.  *Inhale* Patience.
  
  

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Looking Ahead: Sink or Stink

Aaron Cook's second start of 2010 comes a week and about six hours after his first. That's worth noting because a rested arm is detrimental to the sinkerballer. Not only do the numbers bare that out (6.50 ERA in 21 starts with 6+ days rest), you can easily see it on the television when the overthrown sinker only has time to sink right into hitter's happy zone.

So the math here says: Second start of season + 7 days rest = Lots of arm strength.

I'm not predicting Cook will get shelled based on all of this, but I think the Mets are going to get pitches to hit early in the game. What they do with them is entirely up to them.

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Rock Solid Recap: All About Smith... And Don't Forget Smith

Rockies 11, Mets 3

Winning Player: Greg Smith

You can't really call him a kid, but you can definitely call him the man tonight. Greg Smith did it all. 7 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 8 K. That's just the pitching side. At the dish: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R. Showed some nice wheels on the bases beating out a possible DP to get his second RBI. There's a lot to like about his athletic ability and all the ways he can help the team win games.

He gets paid to pitch though, and wow, like I've been saying all spring, the stuff he has in his arm is big league caliber. He can make good hitters look silly when he's confident and in rhythm. That's exactly what he was tonight.

For him to roll out there like he was tonight, getting into that seventh inning, has to make all of us feel better about where this team can go. So many of the top notch clubs are looking to to find a solid 4th or 5th. The Rockies have six if Francis is healthy. As it stands, they have five.

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Running Thoughts: Smith vs Maine

Carlos Gonzalez is out of the lineup but may be alright to pinch-hit.  Seth Smith starts and hits lead-off.  Miguel Olivo is back behind the plate, which means Chris Iannetta has played one time in the last 7 days.  Not going to lie, that's starting to piss me off.

Can't decide if I want to watch the Rockies feed or the Mets.  Probably end up going back and forth.

1st Pitch on its way.

1st Inning

• Jim Tracy grades his team at a C+ through the first week.  That's a + too generous in my opinion.  
• 22 pitch inning for Smith results in two strikeouts, a walk, but no damage.  Mets batters works some deep counts on him though, so that could factor in next time through the lineup.  
• Two out action for the Rockies: Helton singles on an 0-2 pitch, Tulo walks on four pitches, and Hawpe pulls his first pitch down the line for a 2-run double.  
• Rockies all now scored first in all seven games. Rockies 2, Mets 0

2nd Inning

• Brad Hawpe leaves the game with an undisclosed something or other.  Lovely.  
• Smith with a low pitch 1-2-3 second.  Nice shutdown inning.  
• It wasn't pretty but Greg Smith gets a bunt down.  Rockies 2nd and 3rd, 1 out here.  Top of the order.  
• Horrendous AB by Seth Smith.  Pops to short.  Fowler flies out weakly to center.
  

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Looking Ahead: Meet The Mets

For now, at least, they aren't a total mess.

Not that they're good either. I picked them 4th in the NL East, and they come to Denver after a 2-4 homestand that was capped with back-to-back ugly losses to Washington. Ick.

Aside from Carlos Beltran, Luis Castillo and Daniel Murphy, they appear to be as healthy as the Rockies have seen them in three years. Jose Reyes is back in there. Johan Santana is healthy, but we won't see him. And David Wright, who debuted his Marvin The Martian helmet last season in Denver, has completely shaken the cobwebs from Matt Cain's fastball.

They added Jason Bay, Jeff Francoeur, Mike Jacobs and held onto a guy the Rockies were very interested in this offseason in Fernando Tatis, so the offense will be capable of putting some hits together. And yes, stringing those hits together is important because there's not a whole lot of 1st-to-3rd athleticism amongst that group.

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