Lackluster Recrap: Back to reality

Well that should be pretty much empty out the 2011 hopewagon for good. I know some fans were ready to (or already had started to) buy this team's playoff chances after the strong homestand, but reality has settled in once again with the Rockies back on the west coast. 

Dodgers 7, Rockies 6 in 11 (boxscore)

Even the best Rockies teams struggle on this west coast swings. There should be little question how a not good Rockies team will do.

That's the bad news. Here's some good news that's also depressing news. When the Rockies two legitamite superstars are rolling, this offense is just one consistently productive and impactful bat away from being unstoppable.

Todd Helton has been good, but he doesn't fit that description anymore. That guy should have been Ian Stewart, or could have been Chris Iannetta,but they fell short. Could have been Michael Young, but that was never very realistic.

It's just so frustrating to watch (in today's case listen to) Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez playing out of their minds at the same time, and not getting any sort of help.

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Lackluster Recrap: Balk, balk, puke

Dodgers 6, Rockies 1 (boxscore)

Let's just cut to the chase.

Were the two balks called in the 7th inning legitimate?

To the letter of the law, yes they were. Any type of flinch, movement, awkwardness is going to be called. Meant or not, those are all in some way or another a method of deceiving the runner

However, when left open for interpretation by the umpires, you'd hope they would be smart enough to understand Esmil Rogers had no intention whatsoever to deceive a baserunner (no chance in Hell with Bob Davidson). The baserunner was actually deceiving Rogers, which is perfectly within the rules, but what a pain in the ass for a pitcher to have to divide his attention like that. I guess that's his problem for loading the bases.

It's also Rogers' problem for not staying composed and finishing the inning. He got beat by Justin freaking Sellers. That can't happen.

But up to that point he had his best outing of the season by a country mile, so hats off for that.

The Matt Reynolds balk was an easy call. No problems there.

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Rock Solid Recap: Business is taken care of

It wasn't always pretty, but the Colorado Rockies completed a sweep of the lowly Houston Astros Wednesday afternoon and finished their cupcake homestand with the 7-2 record they needed to not completely fall off the map. That's all you can really ask of them at this point. Regardless of how (walk-off wild pitch), just beat the teams you're supposed to beat.

Inch towards .500.

And then pray for miracles.

Rockies 7, Astros 6 in 10 (boxscore)

Talk about a fast start. Colorado's first four batters reached and scored - capped by Troy Tulowitzki's two-run home run - putting Wandy Rodriguez (their recent waiver claim), on the ropes early. But Wandy quickly battled off those ropes, allowing only a Carlos Gonzalez two-run homer in the 4th in his next five innings.

It actually reminded me a lot of a typical Esmil Rogers start (whose spot he would have likely taken in the rotation had the deal materialized), but Rodriguez is better than that nine times out ten.

Aaron Cook was very 2010-2011 Aaron Cookish today. Slow start. Rockies come right back and give him the lead. Then he gives it right back. It is what it is with Cook. Some days it's there. Most days it isn't.

And then Jason Hammel took the hill in his first relief appearance of the season. You could hear the groans from Colorado all the way here in Illinois; but guess what, Jason Hammel worked two very good innings and kept the score even at six. I can almost guarantee you Hammel is not liking this current arrangement, but I can also definitely guarantee you he's going to handle it professionally and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it were a success.

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Rock Solid Recap: Mixed results for White in ugly Rockies victory

With three exceptions...

1. Carlos Gonzalez's ridiculous catch (Watch) 

2. Seth Smith's 478-foot home run (Watch)

3. Jonathan Herrera's game-winning two-run home run (Watch)

... every other piece of footage from this game should be doused in gasoline and burned.

Rockies 8, Astros 6 (boxscore)

The Colorado Rockies did not play good baseball. In fact, they were pretty horrible. The infield defense suffered from several lapses. The baserunning was atrocious... again. It just wasn't something you'd show to a group of little leaguers hoping to learn the basic fundamentals of baseball.

And then you have the Houston Astros, who could probably learn things by watching little leaguers on tape. Heck, maybe that's where manager Brad Mills got the idea to move relief pitcher Wesley Wright to right field for one batter and then back to the pitcher's mound. Hey, it worked. Give him that much.

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Lineup Card: 8-23-11 Rockies vs Astros

The Rockies have been awarded a waiver claim on Houston Astros left-hander Wandy Rodriguez. That means the Rockies have 48 hours from the time the waiver was awarded to work out a trade with Houston, or the Astros can just hand him to the Rockies and make them pay his entire contract. 

I honestly don't see either happening at this point. The Rockies are unlikely to want to part with what Houston needs, and Houston is unlikely to lower their asking price just for a salary dump. Plus they can move him in the offseason when the demand will likely be higher.

It's an interesting move for the Rockies to try to make, but this will likely become a non-story quickly.

Links

• Yesterday's Recap: The Astros are really bad
• Denver Post: Rockies acquire Kevin Kouzmanoff

Colorado Rockies (61-68) 

1. CF Dexter Fowler
2. 3B Chris Nelson
3. RF Carlos Gonzalez
4. SS Troy Tulowitzki
5. 1B Todd Helton
6. LF Seth Smith
7. C  Chris Iannetta (he's hitting higher than 8th!)
8. 2B Jonathan Herrera
9. P   Alex White

Houston Astros (42-86)

1. CF Jordan Schafer
2. 2B Jose Altuve
3. LF J.D. Martinez
4. 1B Carlos Lee
5. RF Brian Bogusevic
6. 3B Jimmy Paredes
7. SS Clint Barmes
8. C   Humberto Quintero
9. P   Bud Norris