Running Thoughts: Jimenez vs. Kershaw

Preview

Lineup

Vin Scully -- "Ubaldo Jimenez is 6-0.  His ERA is 1.00.  He pitched a no-hitter.  Otherwise he hasn't done a darn thing."

I love Vin.

1st Inning

• Rockies load the bases and then Ian Stewart is called out on strikes on a pitch that was high and inside.  
• Jimenez's strike zone better be that big!  
• Jimenez retires Martin, Kemp and Ethier in order.  
• Back to work on Kershaw's pitch count.  

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Lineup Card Game 3 @ Los Angeles

Rockies Lineup

• LF Young
• CF Fowler
• 1B Helton
• SS Tulowitzki
• RF Spilborghs
• 3B Stewart
• C  Olivo
• 2B Barmes
• P   Jimenez

My condolences to Carlos Gonzalez and his family for their loss.  

Dodgers Lineup

• C  Martin
• CF Kemp
• RF Ethier
• LF Manny
• 1B Loney
• 3B Blake
• 2B DeWitt
• SS Carroll
• P   Kershaw

No getaway breaks for Dodgers regulars.  They send the entire A lineup out there to face Ubaldo.  Could be his toughest challenge to date.  

Looking Ahead: To Sending A Message

Not to the Dodgers.

The Rockies need to send a message to themselves. A message that includes...

• The Dodgers aren't so damn tough,
• We can win a series in LA.

Again, you know how important these getaway games are to me. This one is especially huge. A series win in LA would do wonders for the Rockies confidence. It would also be great to head into the Phillies series record with a winning record.

If you do that, and then you steal one or possibly two from Philly, you're set up pretty well as the schedule lightens up for the next two weeks. Still have to take care of business of course, but you can really get yourself into a great position. Let's hope they get it done with Ubaldo.

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Rock Solid Recap: New Script In Hollywood

And while the ending was rather anti-climatic, it was met with two thumbs up from Rockies fans.

Rockies 8, Dodgers 0

Headliner/Winning Player: Jhoulys Chacin

The rising star out of Maracaibo, Venezuela was on his game once again. He was staked to a 6-0 lead right off the bat, but didn't relax or get lazy. He attacked and lived in the strike zone from pitch 1 though pitch 117.

He kept the Dodgers off balance all night long by mixing his baseball, changeup and slider -- all three were very effective for him. This led to seven strikeouts and a scattering of six very soft basehits over 7 1/3 scoreless innings.

Seriously... the Dodgers hit nothing hard at all.  And half of their hits came from the red hot Andre Ehtier.  Two of those beat the silly overshift Jim Tracy likes to employ.  Chacin was just flat on it.

The scary/enjoyable thing about this performance is knowing he can actually improve. Confidence or poise don't look like issues, but he can defintely become more efficient with his pitches. He can get quicker outs and maybe even get himself into the 8th and 9th inning. For now, though, we'll just take and enjoy this roll he's currently on. It's quite a story.

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Running Thoughts: Chacin vs. Knuckler

Preview

Lineup Card

1st Inning

• Dexter Fowler, as many switch-hitters do against a right-handed knuckleballer, will hit from the left side.
• Rockies are making Haeger prove he can throw a knuckleball for a strike.  He can't.  Can't throw a fastball for a strike either.  Three walks in a row.  
• CarGo clears the bases!  Sweet piece of hitting.  
• Charlie Haeger out after five batters.  Damn!  Ramon Ortiz in.  
• Ian Stewart:  Two-run bomb to dead central.  
• #8 hitter Paul Phillips is the first out recorded.  
• Rockies 6, Dodgers 0  
• Good start for Jhoulys Chacin.  Only needed 13-14 pitches.  

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