Rock Solid Recrap: Nicasio's Dominance Not Enough To Overcome Rockies Offensive Woes

Dodgers 2, Rockies 1 (boxscore)

What Went Wrong: I could just copy and paste what I wrote last night and change Chris Capuano to Aaron Harang. Just another one of those typical west coast Rockies game where the offense failed to put pressure on the opposing pitcher. Been there. Seen it 1,000 times. What more can you say?

Turning Point: The entire top of the third was Rockies baseball at its lousy in-game managing, awful execution worst.

Well, maybe not all awful. Juan Nicasio did successfully bunt Wilin Rosario to third after his lead-off double. But that only led to Jim Tracy putting on the dreaded contact play, which predictably failed when Marco Scutaro grounded sharply to James Loney. Loney dove to his right to make the stop and still had plenty of time to gun down Rosario by several feet at home plate. Not close.

Naturally, Jonathan Herrera followed this with a bloop double, putting runners at 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Los Angeles then passed on Carlos Gonzalez to load the bases for Troy Tulowitzki. Tulo fouled off the first pitch before flying out harmlessly to straight away center on the second, meaning his RBI total for May is still the same as yours and mine.

That's not good enough, obviously. And I say that fully understanding Tulowitzki will eventually get it together and put up fantastic numbers this season. But the Rockies really need that to be happening now. There's just no denying or escaping that, and because of it the universal frustration with Tulo is becoming more justifiable by the day.

Juan Nicasio's Line: 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 9 K, 102 pitches (64 strikes)

Nicasio is so much fun to watch when he's on.

Tonight, he was ON... and then some.

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Lineup Card: Rockies @ Dodgers 5-12-12

Friday's Recrap: Rockies Can't Solve Chris Capuano Or Dodger Stadium

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (13-18)

1. Marco Scutaro (2B)
2. Jonathan Herrera (3B)
3. Carlos Gonzalez (LF)
4. Troy Tulowitzki (SS)
5. Todd Helton (1B)
6. Michael Cuddyer (RF)
7. Tyler Colvin (CF)
8. Wilin Rosario (C)
9. Juan Nicasio (P)

Perhaps this is a routine day off for Dexter Fowler, or perhaps Jim Tracy is growing tired of the inconsistent and frustrating approach at the plate, in addition to the sloppy outfield play that possibly cost the Rockies a baseball game last night. One couldn't blame him for citing either reason individually. Put together, he almost has no choice but to start Tyler Colvin to see if he can gain some traction in centerfield. 

Also, slightly surprised Chris Nelson hasn't started either game after his two-hit performance on Wednesday. It still appears his days could be numbered, maybe as soon as Eric Young Jr. returns. We shall see.   

Los Angeles Dodgers (21-11)

1. Dee Gordon (SS)
2. Mark Ellis (2B)
3. Matt Kemp (CF)
4. Andre Ethier (RF)
5. Bobby Abreu (LF)
6. Juan Uribe (3B)
7. James Loney (1B)
8. A.J. Ellis (C)
9. Aaron Harang (P)

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

Rock Solid Recrap: Rockies Can't Solve Chris Capuano Or Dodger Stadium

Dodgers 7, Rockies 3 (boxscore)

What Went Wrong: It's Dodger Stadium. When was the last time something went right for the Rockies at Dodger Stadium?

Exactly.

And while I understand Chris Capuano has been effective so far this season, he's still Chris Capuano. One run on four hits in seven innings against him simply will not cut it for a Major League offense.

Turning Point: I would say this game turned the second Colorado let Mark Ellis walk over the winter, because just like his namesake A.J. Ellis, Mark has quickly turned into a certified Rockies Killer (Hairston Brother Level).

So there you go.

Tonight, Ellis blasted a 1st inning solo home run (1st of the season), added a flyball that Dexter Fowler misread into a two-out, two-run double in the 5th that pushed their lead to 4-0, and walked in his final plate appearance. Expect more of the same annoying production all weekend.

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Lineup Card: Rockies @ Dodgers 5-11-12

Wednesday's Recap: Christian Friedrich Shines In Big League Debut

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (13-17)

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. Ramon Hernandez (C)
8. Dexter Fowler (CF)
9. Jamie Moyer (P)

This appears to be Jim Tracy's A lineup for this week, so enjoy it tonight and possibly tomorrow, but look for something completely different on Sunday and stayed tuned on Monday for Tracy's new A lineup.

Los Angeles Dodgers (20-11)

1. Dee Gordon (SS)
2. Mark Ellis (2B)
3. Matt Kemp (CF)
4. Andre Ethier (RF)
5. Bobby Abreu (LF)
6. Juan Uribe (3B)
7. James Loney (1B)
8. Matt Treanor (C)
9. Chris Capuano (P)

Jerry Hairston Jr. was placed on the DL today, so the Rockies will avoid that headache this weekend. Of course that just opens the door for Juan Uribe, who has also been a thorn in their side since leaving the organization a few years ago. But hey, at least they'll only see half of the dreaded Ellis duo tonight.

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

Rock Solid Recap: Christian Friedrich Shines In Big League Debut

Rockies 6, Padres 2 (boxscore)

Winning Player: Christian Friedrich

Rockies fans have been waiting anxiously for Christian Friedrich's big league. Well, today was the day, and the 24-year-old left-hander did not disappoint one bit. In fact, he managed to surpass even reasonable expectations — even against the Padres in San Diego — with a stellar line.

Christian Friedrich's Debut Line: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 7 K, 93 pitches (60 strikes)

Friedrich pounded the strike zone all day with a fastball ranging between 91-94, and kept Padres hitters off balance with a curveball in the 76-78 range and an effective changeup. I can only think of two pitches San Diego squared up. One was a lead-off single by Will Venable in the 1st that led to their first run. The other was Chase Headley's lead-off single in the 6th on a 3-2 pitch. Friedrich left him stranded.

San Diego's unearned run came after Marco Scutaro committed an error beginning the 3rd. Chase Headley followed that with a bloop single and then Yonder Alonso plated the run on a broken bat bloop double just out of Chris Nelson's reach.

In other words, Friedrich was really, really sharp today, and should have earned himself another turn in the rotation. And honestly, I wouldn't be opposed to several more turns.

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