Rock Solid Recrap: Tape Measure Home Runs & One Really Dumb Bunt

Athletics 8, Rockies 5 (boxscore)

What Went Wrong: Starting pitching. Jeremy Guthrie. You know the drill.

Jeremy Guthrie's Line: 5 IP, 7 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 3 HR, 102 pitches (66 strikes)

The three home runs traveled nearly 1/4th of a mile put together. Two were hit by Brandon Moss, who was in the minor leagues a few days ago and has been a journeyman pinch-hitter the past six seasons. The other was hit by light-hitting shortstop Cliff Pennington. I wish I could say I was kidding.

Turning Point: Well, Oakland's six-run 3rd inning that erased the Rockies 4-0 lead was certainly the biggest turning point, but there's only so many things I can say about our pitching without getting physically ill.

Another came when the Rockies were hitting in the 6th, trailing 7-5. Wil Nieves led off the inning with his second single. Pinch-hitter Eric Young followed that up with a walk. That brought us back to the top of the Rockies order where their hottest hitter, Tyler Colvin, was penciled in this evening. Colvin was 1-for-2 at this point with a home run (fourth in last three games) and a walk. So naturally, Jim Tracy has Colvin lay down a sacrifice bunt, which to Colvin's credit he did and did well.

Unfortunately, like everybody following along on Twitter (and not following along on Twitter) predicted, the bunt killed the potential rally. Four pitches later (Scutaro groundout, CarGo strikeout), the inning was dead, and Jim Tracy sat alone in the dugout figuring out which player he wanted to bus toss for his own ignorant decision.

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Lineup Card: Rockies vs A's 6-12-12

Sunday's Recrap: Rockies Take Weekend Off, Swept By Angels

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (24-35)

1. Tyler Colvin (CF)
2. Marco Scutaro (SS)
3. Carlos Gonzalez (LF)
4. Michael Cuddyer (RF)
5. Todd Helton (1B)
6. Jordan Pacheco (3B)
7. Chris Nelson (2B)
8. Wil Nieves (C)
9. Jeremy Guthrie (P)

So many things here... like Tyler Colvin starting again in CF. I'm as big a Colvin supporter as you'll find, but Dexter Fowler has been the Rockies second best player for around six weeks. Seriously, I'm all for finding Colvin at-bats, but Fowler should never be out of the lineup for more than one game. And Colvin should be down the lineup a bit hitting 6th or 7th where he can inflict more damage. . 

It would really help if Cuddyer was able to play second or third like he has in the past for Minnesota (at least until Tulo comes back). That would open up right for Colvin, which he'd be better suited for than center and lengthens the lineup. But we'll have to settle for Chris Nelson tonight... and Wil Nieves. 

Also, Jeremy Guthrie is pitching. Buckle your seat belts. 

Oakland Athletics (28-35)

1. Jemile Weeks (2B)
2. Coco Crisp (CF)
3. Josh Reddick (RF)
4. Seth Smtih (LF)
5. Brandon Inge (3B)
6. Brandon Moss (1B)
7. Kurt Suzuki (C)
8. Cliff Pennington (SS)
9. Bartolo Colon (P)

No Yoenis Cespedes (hamstring) today, so Guthrie may be spared from a 500 foot homer. That said, I'm penciling in Seth Smith for three hits with at least one home run in his return to Denver. I think Josh Reddick will hit the longest home run for Oakland. 

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

Rock Solid Recrap: Rockies Take Another Weekend Off, Swept By Angels

Angels 10, Rockies 8 (boxscore)

What Went Wrong: Lousy starting pitching was the biggest problem... again.

The umpires didn't help much, either.

With Carlos Gonzalez representing the tying run in the 9th, the soon to be all-star hit a line drive (not just any line drive, a CarGo line drive) back to Angels' closer Scott Downs that the lefty miraculously snagged cleanly out of the air, and then lost on the exchange from glove to hand as he attempted to double off Marco Scutaro. Only the four-man umpiring crew led by NBA official Joey Crawford and three direct descendants of the Three Stooges ruled that Downs didn't catch the ball.

(OK, the crew was actually Greg Gibson, Gerry Davis, Phil Cuzzi and Manny Gonzalez, but you could have fooled me.)

Gonzalez, who had the best view of Downs making the catch, never took off for first. Marco Scutaro apparently had the second best view, because he retreated to first base. That led to one of the most awkward looking and slowest developing 1-6-3 double plays you'll ever see. And it also led to an animated Jim Tracy outburst that earned him his first ejection of the season.

Watch the madness

It's always rough when a blown call takes an opportunity away from your offense, especially when it's at that point in the game. But again, starting pitching was the real problem today. The offense hit well enough that it should have never come down to the incompetent men in blue. Unfortunately, things aren't about to get better in that regard. By the same token, things aren't about to get better with these umpires either until MLB gets serious about expanded replay.

Fails galore.

PS: This in the fourth weekend the Rockies have been swept in the last six. They're 3-15 over that stretch.

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Lineup Card: Rockies vs Angels 6-10-12

Saturday's Recrap: Death By Singles

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (24-34)

1. Tyler Colvin (CF)
2. Marco Scutaro (SS)
3. Carlos Gonzalez (LF)
4. Michael Cuddyer (RF)
5. Todd Helton (1B)
6. Jordan Pacheco (3B)
7. Wilin Rosario (C)
8. Chris Nelson (2B)
9. Christian Friedrich (P)

Los Angeles Angels (31-29)

1. Mike Trout (CF)
2. Torii Hunter (RF)
3. Albert Pujols (1B)
4. Mark Trumbo (LF)
5. Howard Kendrick (2B)
6. Alberto Callaspo (3B)
7. Erick Aybar (SS)
8. John Hester (C)
9. Ervin Santana (P)

I see those first five names and I'm ready to cry Uncle. Christian Friedrich won't be, however, and this actually qualifies as not only a big test for him, but an equally big opportunity to gain some experience against a high caliber offense. It'll be interesting to see if he responds as well as I thought Alex White did on Friday night.  

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

Rock Solid Recrap: Death By Singles

Angels 11, Rockies 5 (boxscore)

What Went Wrong: The Rockies hit five home runs. The Angels hit one.

How did the Rockies lose you ask?

Well, all of the Rockies home runs were solo shots. Yes, exactly like the Sunday afternoon loss in Cincinnati. The Angels, on the other hand, hit 14 singles, stole four bases, had a number of productive outs, and just played beautiful baseball in general. They're the better baseball team, obviously, and it showed in every phrase of the game this afternoon.

Turning Point: Mike Trout led off the game with a single. Torii Hunter followed with a single and both runners advanced 90 feet when Tyler Colvin missed the cutoff man. Albert Pujols hit a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. Hunter then scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0. That all happened within about 12 pitches.

The Rockies never recovered.

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