Just Say No To Theriot!

It's the name that won't go away.  

Ryan Theriot.

Rockies interested in Theriot.

Theriot a fit in Colorado.

Dan O'Dowd has a man crush on Cubs Theriot.

Make.  It.  Stop!

Let me put this into a perspective that will capture your attention right away.  Chicago Cubs fans dislike Ryan Theriot more than Colorado Rockies fans dislike Franklin Morales.  That is not exaggeration, that is absolute fact.  Not only is it fact, but they are completely justified in doing so.

Theriot is not a smart baseball player.  You think some of the nonsensical base running we've seen from the Rockies lately is awful?  Ryan Theriot, when he does reach base, runs into outs more than anyone I've seen.  No instincts and no fundamental understanding of situations.

That doesn't just include base running.  He's a notorious first pitch swinger.  Batter before him walks on four pitches?  Theriot swings at the first pitch and pops up.  It's actually a major story among Cubs fans when Theriot doesn't swing at the first pitch.  He's just so set in his ways that he refuses to adjust his style.  Every situation is the same to him.

I don't know how the Rockies view him defensively.  I assume they're thinking he's a multi-position type player.  That's total BS.  Theriot is an awful SS.  He's a less that good 3B.  He's a decent 2B, but that's all he is.

He's an awful fit for this Rockies baseball team.  AWFUL.  It makes no sense on any level.  Whoever it is that actually sees value in him is seeing something so completely obscure or meaningless that it's not registering with me.

With Troy Tulowitzki, Clint Barmes, Johnny Herrera, Chris Nelson, EY, all in the mix for this Rockies team... no, don't want to hear Theriot's name in conjunction with the Rockies or Coors Field again after this weekend series with the Cubs.  Let him go to San Diego or somewhere where we can actually benefit from him.

NL West Recap: 7-27-10

While the Rockies continued their free fall on Tuesday, the rest of the NL West was in action all across the country.

Dodgers 2, Padres 0

Big win for LA to start a crticial road series.  They stole this game for two reasons.

1) In a rare pinch-hitting appearance, Andre Ethier delivered the only two runs of the game with a single in the 7th inning.  The guy is about as clutch as it gets.

2) Pitching, pitching, and more pitching.  Chad Billingsly six shutout innings.  Hong-Chi-Kuo strikes out FIVE in two scoreless innings.  Big Brozton closes the door in the 9th. That's a nice formula for the Dodgers.

Your top offensive guy gets a night off and he still manages to deliever the biggest hit of the game.  Your pitching makes that hit stand up.  That's winning baseball.  And that's also a manager that truly pushes the right buttons.

San Diego got another nice start from Jon Garland: 6 2/3, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K.  They also received two hits from Yorvit Torrealba, who raised his average to .310.

Tonight's pitching matchup features Hiroki Kuroda vs Clayton Richard.  I'm taking LA to steal another and to really start position themselves for their run.

Giants 6, Marlins 4

The Josh Johnson/Matt Cain pitching matchup proved to be as even as it looked on paper.  Each man lasted seven innings, walked three, and allowed three runs.  Neither man factored in the decision.

San Francisco won the battle of the bullpens behind Sergio Romo (win) and Brian Wilson (save).  Juan Uribe launched the go-ahead HR in the 8th.  I swear all of his homers mean something.  Edgar Renteria tacked on two more with his own HR.  That was important because Dan Uggla hit his 2nd (solo) HR of the game in the 9th.

Cody Ross added a two-run blast for Florida.

Potential Rockies trade target, Jorge Cantu sat this game out.  The beat writers indicated the team is quite displeased with Cantu's defensive effort lately, and are concerned he's distracted by the trade rumors.

Poor defense and lack of focus actually seems like a good fit for the Rockies these days.  I can see why they would be interested.

Game 3 of this 4 game set takes place tonight.  Alex Sanabia goes for the firsh, the predictably unpredictable Jonathan Sanchez will be San Fran's counter.  I like Florida and their right-handed power to take this one and get back over .500.

Phillies 9, Diamondbacks 5

Thank God for Arizona.  Always there to make us feel better about the Rockies predicament.

Philadelphia will imrprove their winning streak to seven tonight with Roy Halladay on the mound.

Rock Solid Recrap: Free Fallin'

For those who didn't believe this to be true, believe it now. The Colorado Rockies cannot be fixed by the return of an all-star, a trade, or even home cooked meals. The problems here are much deeper than that.

All you really needed to see to confirm that was the awful baseruning play by Ryan Spilborghs in the 8th inning, making the first out at third base in a 4-2 game. There are no excuses for mistakes like that. None.

Pirates 4, Rockies 2

And now we welcome in Tom Petty to bring you the rest of tonight's recap.  Take it away, Tom.

Lineup Card: Rockies vs Pirates

Troy Tulowitzki returns to the lineup from his broken wrist, yet the injury list doesn't get any smaller.  That's because Huston Street was struck somewhere (right leg, right hip, groin, torso have all been rumored) by an Ian Stewart line drive during BP and left the stadium in an ambulance.  Apparently we can confirm Huston lost consciousness twice because of the pain.

Not good.

Obviously everyone's thoughts are with Huston as we await what we hope will be news of the best case scenario.  Doesn't sound like it'll be good news, but we'll just hope it's nothing extensive.

On to the lineups.

Rockies Lineup (51-48)

• CF  Fowler
• RF  Spilborghs
• LF  Gonzalez
• SS  Tulowitzki
• 3B  Mora
• C   Olivo
• 1B  Hawpe
• SS  Barmes
• P    De La Rosa

Pirates Lineup (34-64)

• CF  McCutchen
• LF  Tabata
• 2B  Walker
• 1B  Jones
• 3B  Alvarez
• RF  Milledge
• SS  Cedeno
• C    Krutz
• P    Duke

Read more »

NL West Recap: 7-26-10

I think we're getting to the point where we need to take a closer look at the direct competition in the NL West. You know, before they get too far out of reach.

San Diego Padres: Idle

After taking care of business in Pittsburgh, the Padres receive their second day off since the all-star break. The Rockies? Still no days off until next Tuesday. Thanks for that, Bud.

San Diego will host the Dodgers for three starting tonight. I guess we pull for the Dodgers? Or do we pull for the Padres because the Dodgers are a more direct threat in the wildcard race?

See that's the problem when you go 2-9 on a road trip and allow 3-4 teams to pass you in the standings. You have to start pulling for everyone to lose and unfortunately they all start playing each other and the scenarios start becoming impossible.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Idle

The pitching matchup tonight in San Diego is Chad Billingsly vs Jon Garland.  I think LA will take that one.

Marlins 4, Giants 3

Ricky Nolasco outloasted Barry Zito in a matchup of pitchers that absolutely dominate the Rockies. Yes, it's true there have been a ridiculous amount of pitchers that have dominated the Rockies this season, but these two have doing it for years. And doing it big.

Mike Stanton is really starting to standout for Florida. He impressed me a lot in the Rockies series down there. Last night he crushed a solo HR in the 5th inning, and then he provided some insurance with an RBI double in the 8th. Dan Uggla also hit a solo HR off Zito.

Those two teams will rematch tonight with an even better pitching matchup: Josh Johnson vs Matt Cain. I know where I'll be tuning as soon as the Rockies game concludes.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Idle

They're headed to Philadelphia. Looks like the Phillies win streak could reach at least eight, possibly more.