Rock Solid Recrap: I'll Have Another

Mariners 10, Rockies 3 (boxscore)

I'll let you decide if that was a horse racing reference or a reaction to today's Rockies game.

Hint: It's both.

What Went Wrong: I'll take the Gregg Popovich approach here.

*Non-answer because the question is repetitive and the answer is obvious*

Next question.

Christian Friedrich's Line: 5 IP, 8 ER, 9 H, 4 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 100 pitches (56 strikes)

I'm not even annoyed with Friedrich for the first walk. His 3-2 pitch to Jesus Montero was right at the knees and caught the outside corner, but Paul Schrieber plain and simply squeezed him. Of course Kyle Seager's two-run homer followed that, and things predictably unraveled from there with three more walks and some pesky Mariners hitting that saw them using the entire field to their advantage.

So yeah, this certainly was not an encouraging Coors Field debut for Friedrich, but I'm still confident his stuff is plenty good enough to succeed in Coors Field as long as the walks are limited. That's what killed him today. That's what kills everybody.

Turning Point: I'll go with the 3-2 pitch to Montero that I mentioned above. Who knows, maybe if Schrieber rings Montero up there it changes Friedrich's outlook. It really was a perfect pitcher's pitch. To not get that call had to stick with him. Not that I'm making excuses for Friedrich, but there's undoubtedly a fine mental line that young pitchers walk in Coors Field. It doesn't take much to knock them off balance.

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Lineup Card: Rockies vs Mariners 5-19-12

Friday's Recrap: Owned by Kevin Millwood. That's pretty close to Rock Bottom.

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (15-23)

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

Today's big question: Does this lineup have more than two hits in it?

I've going with yes. In fact, I'm predicting at least 15 hits because this will be one of those home games where the offense overcorrects itself after a brutal performance. You know, kinda like they did after Barry Zito shut them out and then they went nuts on Tim Lincecum. One of those deals.

Seattle Mariners (17-24)

1. Dustin Ackley (2B)
2. Casper Wells (LF)
3. Ichiro Suzuki (RF)
4. Jesus Montero (C) 
5. Kyle Seager (3B) 
6. Alex Liddi (1B)
7. Michael Saunders (CF) 
8. Brendan Ryan (SS) 
9. Jason Vargas (P)

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

Rock Solid Recrap: Owned by Kevin Millwood. That's pretty close to Rock Bottom.

Mariners 4, Rockies 0 (boxscore)

What Went Wrong: Kevin Millwood shut the Rockies out on two hits.

Any further questions?

Turning Point: The Rockies first hit didn't come until two outs in the 6th. The game can't turn if one team's offense completely no-shows.

Any further questions?

Alex White's Line: 7 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 7 H, 0 BB, 7 K, 98 pitches (66 strikes)

Jim Tracy publicly pleaded with Alex White to come out firing strikes, to pitch with confidence, and to avoid the tentative style that has become common with Rockies pitchers. White responded to that challenge by pounding the strike zone, walking nobody, and delivering one of the more complete outings we've seen from any pitcher at Coors Field this season.

It just wasn't as good as Kevin Millwood's.

Anyway, White truly was Colorado's lone positive in this game. Hopefully the other pitchers on this staff take note. You can survive at Coors Field if you pitch effectively to contact. You simply cannot survive pitching anywhere if you fear contact.

Highlight of the Night: Watch Alex White's seven strikeouts

Screengrab of the Game: Congrats @RockiesRoad on having your question answered on the air!

Who doesn't love Jenny's purple phone?

What's Next: We're looking at some Saturday afternoon baseball tomorrow with a first pitch of 2:10 MT. Impressive rookie Christian Friedrich (1-0, 1.38) will make his Coors Field debut in that one for Colorado. He'll be opposed on the mound by Seattle's Jason Vargas (4-3, 3.28).

And to avoid any confusion, this game WILL NOT be blacked out in Colorado or anywhere else. The Fox Sports broadcast begins tomorrow at 5:00 MT, meaning Root Sports will have rights to the broadcast.

Final Thoughts: Busy days are ahead. I'm back on the Big League Stew beat as of Friday night with a handful of contributions coming each week. That won't necessarily change the volume of posts here at Heaven & Helton, but on certain nights it will change the timing a bit and perhaps the length of the content. I'll simply ask you for your patience with me when those nights occur.

Thanks, as always.

We'll be back to regularly scheduled baseball thoughts in this space tomorrow.

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

Lineup Card: Rockies vs Mariners 5-18-12

Thursday's Recrap: Blake Street Brutality

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (15-22)

1. Marco Scutaro (2B)
2. Jordan Pacheco (3B)
3. Carlos Gonzalez (LF)
4. Troy Tulowitzki (SS)
5. Todd Helton (1B)
6. Michael Cuddyer (RF)
7. Wilin Rosario (C)
8. Dexter Fowler (CF)
9. Alex White (P)

I'd like to think Wilin Rosario is starting because of those two miserable at-bats Ramon Hernandez took yesterday, but it's not like Rosario's lone at-bat was much better. And beyond that, the two catchers have been playing every other day for about the last two weeks regardless of who's playing well, so this is just a continuation of that. 

Seattle Mariners (16-24)

1. Dustin Ackley (2B)
2. Michael Saunders (CF)
3. Ichiro Suzuki (RF)
4. Kyle Seager (3B)
5. Justin Smoak (1B)
6. John Jaso (C)
7. Mike Carp (LF)
8. Brendan Ryan (SS)
9. Kevin Millwood (P)

Speaking of catchers, I'm going to predict John Jaso will be the random Mariner to kill the Rockies all weekend. 

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

Rock Solid Recrap: Blake Street Brutality

Diamondbacks 9, Rockies 7 (boxscore)

I had a bad feeling we'd be in store for a miserable game this afternoon while writing last night's all positive recap. Sure enough, that bad feeling played out before my eyes. Well, at least until I stabbed them with a fork during the top of the 8th inning.

What Went Wrong: I hope you have some time on your hands. 

Rockies pitching walked nine. Five of those came from starter Juan Nicasio, but only one of his scored. Josh Outman (1 walk) and Rex Brothers (2 walks), on the other hand, were not effective enough to overcome theirs, and while Matt Belisle's didn't score, it forced Jim Tracy's hand and made him use up Josh Roenicke for one batter to finish the 7th.

That's worth nothing because had the game gone extra innings, Colorado would have been out of pitchers.

I also didn't understand Jim Tracy's use of the double switch there since Roenicke didn't return for the 8th. He brought in Michael Cuddyer during that switch to replace Tyler Colvin in right, so I don't think he gained much of anything defensively (a better arm for less range). Of course this comes just two days after Tracy didn't use a double switch when he absolutely should have to avoid Josh Outman leading off an inning, so who knows what the hell kind of logic this guy is using. If any.

PS: The Rockies also ran out of position players forcing Alex White to pinch-hit with the bases loaded in the 9th. Not that the double switch made a difference in that happening. Jim would have found another way to kill his bench I'm sure. In fact, I'm pretty sure Jim would have gone through the whole 40-man roster today if that was available.

Anyway, back to the pitching. Walks are killer as we know. So are two-out runs. Today, the Diamondbacks scored all nine of their runs with two outs. And they all came in the final five innings.

Brutal.

Also brutal? How about Ramon Hernandez's final two at-bats.

In the 8th inning, Diamondbacks reliever David Hernandez had just walked Todd Helton and gone full with Jason Giambi (who singled to load the bases) when Ramon offered at the first pitch and popped out to shallow center. No advancement from the runners there.

Arizona's Hernandez would walk two more in the inning helping Colorado tie it, while further driving home my frustration with Ramon's AB.

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