Rock Solid Recap: Jeff Francis Continues To Embrace Weird Pitching Gimmick

Rockies 4, Nationals 2 (boxscore)

Winning Player: Jeff Francis - 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 66 pitches (48 strikes)

Francis pitched a terrific game tonight. He even HIT for himself in the 5th inning, which further cements how good and efficient he was to that point. 

Only, it really didn't, because Francis never took the mound in the 6th despite being nine pitches under the limit. 

I guess the whole Josh Outman thing backfiring so epically in Texas will now lead to more erring on the side of caution, rather than sending a guy out there with his pitch count and a potential win in the back of his mind. That's fine, I guess. As long as they're consistent with it, I can't bash that specific thought process (that lies within a bigger thought process that is indeed the lamest thing ever) too much. 

Also, still not a big fan of giving away free outs to a guy like Stephen Strasburg, but I can actually see the logic in not burning a pinch-hitter that early with a two out, non-scoring opportunity. 

I just used the word logic to describe a Rockies strategy. I may need a moment to collect myself. 

Done. 

I also think the only two people in the world embracing this pitching gimmick right now are Dan O'Dowd and Jeff Francis. Seriously, Francis has excelled in his three outings since the plan was put in place. And the Rockies are 3-0 in those games (1-6 in the others). 

Good for him. Good for the Rockies. They've actually managed to maximize (kind of) the talents of a starting pitcher. 

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Lineup Card: Rockies vs Nationals 6-25-12

Sunday's Recrap: Alex White Falls Apart, Marco Scutaro Extends Lead In Mental Gaffes

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (27-44)

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

Washington Nationals (41-29)

1. Danny Espinosa (2B)
2. Bryce Harper (CF)
3. Ryan Zimmerman (3B)
4. Michael Morse (RF)
5. Adam LaRoche (1B)
6. Ian Desmond (SS)
7. Tyler Moore (LF)
8. Jesus Flores (C)
9. Stephen Strasburg (P)

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

Rock Solid Recrap: Alex White Falls Apart, Marco Scutaro Extends Lead In Mental Gaffes

Rangers 4, Rockies 2 (boxscore)

What Went Wrong: 11 more hits for the Rockies tonight, raising their series total to 39. Unfortunately, this game resembled the one on Friday where they left 10 men on base (Tonight the number was 11), which is sad because they absolutely had a chance to win Friday's game with a couple well timed hits. They also had a chance to compete tonight with a couple well timed hits... and less bone-headed baserunning.

Turning Point: Speaking of which, the Rockies didn't break through against the Rangers until the 9th inning when they snapped Joe Nathan's long scoreless streak (since May 13). And it appeared they were right on the cusp of evening the score when Nathan uncorked a wild pitch. But of course, the Rockies screwed this up, because lead runner Eric Young decided he couldn't advance to third safely. Trail runner Marco Scutaro kept on moving, causing a traffic jam at second and a rundown that Texas pretty much botched in epic Rockies style, only the Rockies out botched them almost immediately.

How? Well, Scutaro started heading back to first, which drew the throw from catcher Mike Napoli. This allowed Scutaro to turn tail and scamper into second base just ahead of the second throw and tag. But Scutaro, for whatever reason, thought he was out, so he LEAVES the base and then is tagged out for real to kill the rally dead.

Watch the play here

So in the span of five days we had a Gold Glove first baseman lose track of the base in the 9th inning. Now we have this latest bone-headed play from Scutaro, who has honestly looked like the dumbest player to come through Colorado in 20 years. It's one unexplainable mental gaffe after another. And yes, the last two series in Philadelphia and Texas were there for the taking. But the Rockies are far more interested in giving.

Pathetic.

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Lineup Card: Rockies @ Rangers 6-24-12

Saturday's Recap: Rockies 11, Rangers 7. Let It Sink In.

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (27-43)

1. Eric Young Jr. (RF)
2. Marco Scutaro (2B)
3. Carlos Gonzalez (LF)
4. Jason Giambi (DH)
5. Wilin Rosario (C)
6. Todd Helton (1B)
7. Jordan Pacheco (3B)
8. Jonathan Herrera (SS)
9. Dexter Fowler (CF)

Alex White (2-5. 6.06)

It's always refreshing when Jim Tracy figures out something new about making lineups. Of course I'm referring to the catcher, Wilin Rosario, hitting higher than 7th. He'd let Ramon Hernandez do that every now and then. Rosario may have done it once or twice already, but it's not often. And of course Chris Iannetta never hit higher than 8th, so congrats to Jim there.

Oh, and there's Dexter Fowler hitting 9th again. Guess we can't win them all.

Texas Rangers (44-28)

1. Ian Kinsler (2B)
2. Elvis Andrus (SS)
3. Josh Hamilton (LF)
4. Adrian Beltre (3B)
5. Michael Young (1B)
6. Nelson Cruz (DH)
7. David Murphy (RF)
8. Mike Napoli (C)
9. Leonys Martin (CF)

Matt Harrison (9-3, 3.41)

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

Rock Solid Recap: Rockies 11, Rangers 7. Let It Sink In

Rockies 11, Rangers 7 (boxscore)

Winning Players: The Offense

On Friday, the Rockies collected 12 hits and only managed one run. Today, they collected 16 hits and turned that into 11 runs.

That's a much more efficient day at the office, and it helped that all nine spots in the order contributed at least one hit (six had multiple hits, Dexter Fowler was the lone Rockie with three). Also, all nine either scored at least one or drove one in, but no single player had more than two of either.

Excellent balance up and down the lineup card.

Turning Point: 3rd inning, Rockies were leading 1-0 and had the bases loaded with one out. Michael Cuddyer popped up for the second out, leaving us wondering if this was going to be a replay of last night. But Tyler Colvin quickly squashed that, blooping a two-run single into short left field. That was a relief. And then the red hot Chris Nelson followed right up with a two-run single of his own, pushing the advantage to 5-0.

It's a lot more fun to deliver two-out daggers than it is to receive them.

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