Running Thoughts: Hammel vs. Latos

Preview

The "A" lineup returns.  Iannetta is back in for Olivo.

1st Inning

• San Diego already utilizing their third different lead-off man.  That says a lot.  
• Jason Hammel channels Greg Smith by nibbling around Tony Gwynn Jr.  Please attack him... it's not the old man.  
• That sneaky Tulowitzki gets in behind Gwynn and the Rockies execute a perfect pickoff.  Gwynn hated the call.  No one cared.  
• What a play by Chase Headley to throw out Fowler after he lined one off Latos' backside.  Looked like a sure hit.
  

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Looking Ahead: Game 5 (vs San Diego)

Jason Hammel vs. Mat Latos

In four starts against San Diego last season, Jason Hammel averaged under five innings per, with an ugly 5.79 ERA.

Of course there's always a little caveat to these numbers, and in Hammel's case it's that his first two starts, which lasted a total of 6 1/3 innings, both came shortly after his move to the rotation, and also while the Rockies collectively sucked. So we'll just throw those two starts out.

That leaves him with a 6 inning average and a 2.25 ERA. Mhm... that's much better.

Hammel's gameplan tonight should be a rather simple one: Don't let anyone other than Adrian Gonzalez on base.  That way, when Gonzalez hits his inevitable home run, it won't kill you.

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Rock Solid Recap: Best Pitching Performance In Team History?

Rockies 7, Padres 0

A record crowd of 49,509 witnessed arguably the Rockies greatest pitching performance, ever.

Let's get right into it.

Official Scorer

Winning Player: Jorge De La Rosa (1-0)

Duh.

Not enough cliches and adjectives in the world to describe how special he was today. About the 5th inning I said he had close to no-hit stuff. I don't know, looking back now I'd say that's the closest we've seen a Rockies pitcher come to never being touched. The lone hit he gave up in seven innings would have been a routine grounder had it not been for the hit-and-run call.

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Running Thoughts: De La Rosa vs. Richard

Preview

The usual lineup with the lone exception being Miguel Olivo getting a second straight start behind the plate.  It's early, but the pressure may already be mounting on Chris Iannetta.

1st Inning 

• Baseball is back in Denver.  What a beautiful day.  
• De La Rosa breezes through the first, capping it with a strikeout of Adrian Gonzalez.
• Clayton Richard returns the favor, shutting the Rockies down 1-2-3.  

2nd Inning

• San Diego's Kyle Blanks is one impressive specimen.  A large man of 6'6" 275 LBs, and he nearly beat out a fairly routine grounder to Stewart.  Great athlete.
• DLR is dealing through two innings.  
• First and third situation results in nada as Stewart GIDP.  That's 0-for-1 with RISP today.
  

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Looking Ahead: Game 4 (vs San Diego)

Well, now that we've lost our chance for a perfect season, lost our first series, and fallen into a three-way tie for last place in the NL West, there's only one thing I can say right now...

It's Good To Be Home

Unless you're the Washington Nationals and you're hosting the Philadelphia Phillies, nothing beats the home opener!

The Rockies open the home schedule with one of their most favoritest opponents: the San Diego Padres.

It seems the Padres always show up when the Rockies need them most.  If you recall, it was the season opener of 2005 when the Rockies rallied off Trevor Hoffman in the 9th inning to steal a victory.  Everybody remembers the series in San Diego and the amazing Game 163 in 2007.  And then, in 2009, it was the Padres who supplied the opposition as the Rockies began to right the ship under Jim Tracy.

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