State of the Rockies
Hey sports fans. Allow me to introduce myself. This is the newest member of the sports blog community. My name is Daniel Olson, and I know everything about sports. I know the ins and outs, the ups and downs, the nuances, the tricks, the brute force, the finesse, the amazing shots, the great saves, and the blow calls, and I’m here to help understand everything that happens in these fine games we play, and these great teams we love, Denver teams. Speaking of games, we are in baseball season, the best of all summertime games, and speaking of teams we route for the Rockies. So I figured I’d begin with a column on the State of the Rockies.
We’ll start off talking about something good, and nothing about the Rockies has surpassed expectations like starting pitching.
The Starters:
Aaron Cook has got the best arm on the team. His sinker produces more ground balls than any other pitcher, which is key in the wide open spaces and thin air of Coors Field. His ERA is a little high though, but most runs scored on his happen after the 6th inning, meaning Clint Hurdle should pull him sooner. Also, He puts together great 1 run-2 run games that the Rockies lose because they can’t get the bats going. Would somebody please get this guy some runs. Josh Fogg is an oddity. He is on the team because of his durability, he frequently makes it to the 7th. Also, if he gets in groove, he can beat a team by himself (note: Rockies at Mariners 2006-Josh Fogg throws a complete game shutout with 2 hits and faces the minimum[Sorry Jason]). But he trouble with control, especially in the bottom half of the strike zone. I don’t like how he can’t get his mind off the base runners.There is one word that describes Jeff Francis: Balls. The guy ain’t afraid to pitch any pitch to any player in any park in any given situation. This gets him into trouble sometimes (watch Ortiz go yard on him tonight) but gets him out of trouble more often. He is the only true strikeout pitcher in the rotation. He has won 5 out of his last 7 with a no decision against the Royals. He left that game with the lead.Rodrigo Lopez has been a pleasant surprise. He has excellent control and keeps the runs down, not to mention for some reason, our hitters like to hit when he’s on the mound. He give up way to many base runners though. I guess so long as his ERA is below 3.00 I’ll keep me mouth shut. Jason Hirsh is the weak link in the system. He hangs his curve balls to often, and lacks control with the fastball. His last outing, however, he killed it. 9 inning, 5 hits, 1 run. Hopefully, that will get him going.
Bullpen:
Relative to Rockies bullpen’s in the past this one above average. Relative to bullpen’s around the league this year, it’s below. Hawkins has no control whatsoever, just speed. Affeldt been good, but I think it’s an apparition. Buchholz had a good outing last night, but he won’t be that way every night cause his curve ball hangs. Ramon Ramirez has not preformed up to his potential, I think he’ll do better when he heals up completely. Manny Corpas is an amazing. He can bend a 82 mph curve ball 12 inches, or can throw a 94 mph fastball. Manny’s only problem is he has trouble ignoring base runners. He would be the closer if Brian Fuentes wasn’t demolishing team hopes nightly. His curve just moves to much to hit well if you’re right handed. And if you’re left handed you might as well not even walk up to the plate. Brian’s slider is deadly.
Fielding:
Best in league. Most Assists, high fielding percentage, least errors, top five infield outs(thank you Aaron Cook), ton ten Double Plays, top five Triple plays. The only defensive stat we aren’t in the top ten is fly outs, and you don’t want that stat on Planet Coors. If there is a problem with the team it ain’t defense. Both Torrealba and Iannetta keep the ball in front of them. Todd Helton and Garrett Atkins are solid at the corners. Kazuo Matsui has played error free baseball to this point. Troy Toluwitski has been a rookie, but, if he fixes the small mistakes, he’ll win a couple golden gloves before he retires. The kid has got a gun at shortstop. Speaking of guns isn’t as high as we expected it to be, but not because he’s been screwing up. Opponents know you don’t test the canon we keep in right field. Matt Holiday has played better than expected defensively. I was pissed at the
Jennings trade, but not after seeing Willie Taveras play. I’ve believed for years now the most important defensive position at Coors is Center Field. During recent years when we lost alot, our center fielder were good hitters, but brought no speed to the table. Center Field at Coors is the largest surface a single player has to cover by himself in the league and unless we build a pressurized dome it will always be that way. Taveras is the first player in the existence of the Rockies fast enough to play center field. I hope he stays here for a long time.
Batting:
Oh my, what has happened to our once proud batting. I am one of those who believe the humidor did not cause the drop in hitting at Coors, it only exposed it. Our management stopped picking up hitters years ago, thinking Todd would live forever and the wide open spaces of Coors outfield would make up the rest. Fools. Stat wise we don’t look that bad, and I’m willing to concede some injure exceptions. But two stat matter more than any others: On Base Percentage and Batting average with runners in scoring position. Our on base percentage should never be anything but first in league, no ifs, ands, or buts. Between the thin air and extra twenty feet of outfield to cover, there’s no excuse for not getting to first base on the Rockies. Further, with runners in scoring position our Batting Average is in the bottom half of the league. I know we got rookies, but Torrealba is the only one, including big bats Helton and Holiday, who seems unaffected by pressure. Both must change. There are good points though, Helton is back to his old form. Holiday has developed a killer instinct at the plate few can duplicate. Both are looking like strong candidates for the batting title. Out pinch hitting has been pretty good. Both Taveras and Matsui can and do bunt aboard frequently. And the pitching staff is not been guaranteed outs. So there is hope after all.
Base Running:
Torrealba, Toluwitski, and the pitchers suck. Matsui and Taveras rule. Everyone else is average. Although it’s nice to have some Stolen Bases. No more of Clint sacrificing an out to get all the way to second base.
Bench:
At the beginning of the year, the strategy was simple. Half the starters were rookies, so the bench need to be veterans. Their leadership would be invaluable, they’d come through with clutch hit, and they would screw it up when giving the starters a day off. Clint couldn’t have been more wrong. Finley was a disaster. The guy was past his prime last year. He could even get over the Mendoza line (.200 BA). Mabry was worse if you can believe it. Two months in, and ten games down the answer was obvious, the old men had to go. So now our team is entirely rookies and we’re back to .500. Jamie Carroll is awesome. I spoke about we need guy who can get to first base, Jamie can. He can also play all the infield positions. Ryan Spilborghs plays all the outfield positions, and hit .292 from the bench with .500 Slugging percentage. Quintanilla and Baker fill in nicely at there position and hit pretty well in the pinch.
Management:
Manager Clint Hurdle is okay at best. He is billed as a hitting specialist, but what’s happened to the hitting since he took over? The team he and GM Daniel J. O’Dowd have constructed is actually a decent team. Clint need to get is to work. Alan Cockrell took over as fitting coach this year. He has already run my patience out. Get your players to hit well when a run is 90 feet away or clean out your locker. Bob Apodaca is the pitching coach. Don’t dare change what your doing Bob, you kick ass.
Ownership:
Just one thing to say: The Rockies payroll has not been higher than 26th in the league in 6 years. If the player don’t win at low salaries than buy players who win period. Fire the Monforts!
Overview:
The season started terribly, but the injuries are over and the hitting has come back. If we beat the Red Sox tonight, we are back to .500. Considering we were at 10 games under just a month ago, the future looks bright. We need to start knockin em to the wall when runners are at second and third. That how we beat the Sox last night, and Petite is due for a loss tonight.
Tomorrow I will do an overview and highlights of the Red Sox road trip. I see the Rockies just scored so I’m gonna post this and focus on the game. Go Rocks!
Rockies at Mariners 2006-Josh Fogg throws a complete game shutout with 2 hits and faces the minimum[Sorry Jason]).
Hey man, no worries. Just remember that beating the living crap out of the 2006 Mariners wasn’t exactly a big time feat… let’s be honest, there were little league teams that coulda killed the 06 M’s…
nice article… a thorough look at where the rox are right now.
what do you think about the whole ‘trade helton’ debate… do you think the trading deadline will see todd leave town?
Not if the Rockies are winning. If we keep the pace we’re on, the
management will be more interested in bringing talent here, hitting talent
in particular, rather than getting rid of salaries. If we take a turn for
the worse and lose a bunch before the break, Helton will be in black
pinstripes.
then he’ll have to shave his goatee…
“My name is Daniel Olson, and I know everything about sports.”
You need to:
1) Get a t-shirt with this quote, and then
2) Wear it every day.
I don’t need to advertize
No, no… I agree with Jon. You totally need to get that shirt.
Dan, you may have an early Christmas present coming. What do you think of black lettering on a red shirt?
yellow on black?