Speedy Rock Solid Recrap: Guthrie Leads Bullpen Collapse

Padres 8, Rockies 4 (boxscore)

What Went Wrong: I couldn't see the game! (Expletive) Fox!

Turning Point: The moment Jeremy Guthrie was summoned from the bullpen, this game went from very winnable to just plain winnable. But the Rockies offense failed to get on track against Edinson Volquez, so it was looking less than winnable heading to the late innings. Then Adam Ottavino took the mound in the 8th and had a rare terrible outing, turing the game into a completely unwinnable.

It was a gradual turn, but it definitely started with Jeremy Guthrie allowing a pair of home runs in his two inning relief effort.

Christian Friedrich's Line: 5 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 74 pitches (49 strikes)

Since I can't analyze how he looked, I'll just point out how much I love to see a zero in the walks column. It was just three starts ago that Friedrich walked five Tigers in less than five innings. Since, he's only walked one single batter. Improved numbers across the board will start coming when a pitcher starts locating better, so I'm encouraged by that.

Read more »

Lineup Card: Rockies vs Padres 6-30-12

Friday's Recap:  The Road To 100 Detours Through San Diego

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (30-46)

1. Dexter Fowler (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. Wilin Rosario (C)
9. Christian Friedrich (P)

San Diego Padres (28-50)

1. Chris Denorfia (RF)
2. Logan Forsythe (2B)
3. Chase Headley (3B)
4. Carlos Quentin (LF)
5. Yasmani Grandal (C)
6. Yonder Alonso (1B)
7. Cameron Maybin (CF)
8. Alexi Amarista (SS)
9. Edinson Volquez (P)

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

Rock Solid Recap: Road To 100 Detours Through San Diego

Rockies 10, Padres 2 (boxscore) 

If there's a reason or two to believe the Colorado Rockies will avoid triple digit losses for the first time in franchise history, it's that they still have 11 games remaining with the San Diego Padres (not to mention another 6 with the Chicago Cubs). My God are they awful.

Winning Player: Jeff Francis - 6 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 82 pitches (49 strikes)

Beautiful performance by Francis. And no, I do not care who it came against, it was beautiful and should be recognized as such.

It's also the first win by a Rockies starting pitcher since Christian Friedrich on June 4.

Honorable Mention: The offense was again very productive, backing up an 11-run outburst on Thursday with 10 more against Jason Marquis and others. Marco Scutaro, Michael Cuddyer and Wilin Rosario led the way with two hits each, with Cuddyer and Rosario both hitting their 12th home run.

Highlight of the Night: Rosario's home run was an absolute BOMB. You should definitely watch it again.

Watch Wilin Rosario's two-run BOMB

Read more »

Lineup Card: Rockies vs Padres 6-29-12

Thursday's Recap: Josh Outman Starts Are Fun!

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (29-46)

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

A couple things of note today.

1. Todd Helton sits for that second time in three days to accommodate the Rockies need to keep Dexter Fowler and Tyler Colvin on the field together. I suspect this is something we'll start to see more often, and honestly, it works for me because Fowler and Colvin do need to play, and a fresher Helton likely makes him more effective as well. Those incredibly long innings standing around in the field have to be taking their toll on some level.

2. Tyler Chatwood has been recalled and will piggyback Jeff Francis tonight. I imagine he'll eventually replace Josh Outman as a front end man in the paired pitching system. Edwar Cabrera was shipped out to make room for Chatwood to wrap up his (sarcasm) overwhelmingly positive first experience at the big league level (/sarcasm). 

San Diego Padres (28-49)

1. Chris Denorfia (RF)
2. Logan Forsythe (2B)
3. Chase Headley (3B)
4. Carlos Quentin (LF)
5. Yonder Alonso (1B)
6. Cameron Maybin (CF)
7. Everth Cabrera (SS)
8. John Baker (C)
9. Jason Marquis (P)

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

Rock Solid Recap: Josh Outman Starts Are Fun!

Rockies 11, Nationals 10 (boxscore)

Winning Player: Edwin Jackson

Only kidding. It's Tyler Colvin, who led the Rockies offensive attack with four hits (just a double shy of the cycle) and five RBIs. But he certainly wasn't the lone Rockie to have a productive afternoon. Dexter Fowler, Marco Scutaro, Carlos Gonzalez and Chris Nelson all contributed three hits apiece as Colorado pounded out an even 20 on the afternoon.

But I definitely will give Edwin Jackson an honorable mention. The Rockies absolutely brutalized E-Jax into submission during their glorified batting practice exhibition that would make even Jeremy Guthrie and Alex White cringe. But I guess we shouldn't be too surprised considering Edwin entered the game with a 13.91 ERA against the Rockies in SIX career starts.

Ugly.

Turning Point: The Rockies blew a 7-0 second inning lead and a 10-9 ninth inning lead because winning convincingly and on time apparently bores them. But it's OK, because Marco Scutaro sent the crowd home happy with a two-out, walk-off single in the 11th inning after a seven-pitch at-bat.

Way to go, Marco!

Highlight of the Night: Watch Marco Scutaro's game winner

Josh Outman's Line: 3 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 67 pitches (41 strikes)

Well, Outman should have no beef with the offense. They have staked him out to 11-1 and 7-0 leads over his last two starts, yet all he has to show for that is 7 2/3 innings of total crap, one unintentional shoulder bump with the manager and zero wins.

I vote we replace him with Drew Pomeranz soon, or maybe even one of the youth campers from Tuesday. Frankly, I'll take any replacement aside from Guthrie, White or Guillermo Moscoso.

Read more »