All right it might be time to panic.

I sat at the bar watching this game, bored out of my mind.  What a terrible ball game.  The Rockies just never challenged.  We could get to first base but past that we couldn’t hit for the life of us.  On the other side of the plate it was a different story.  Right off the bat Francis gets taken deep on a 0-1 fast ball to cap a 4 run 1^st.  Fontenot had a career game going 5 for 5 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs.  And that about covers it for highlights.  I was so bored I made conversation with other people I didn’t know.  Very out of character for me.  But then came the 9^th inning, and came with it the all the reasons why I’m a baseball fan.  In Football (which I love), there is a rigid time system and as time winds down, the losing team’s hopes begin to vanish.  You can even get to a point where winning is impossible.  The same goes for Hockey (which I love), though it is not as rigidly timed.  In Basketball (which I can tolerate), the better team takes control over the course of a game, and if no team can take control, the clock is an arbitrary stopping point for whatever team can maneuver themselves into the lead at the right time, but basically the clock doesn’t effect the game play.  Baseball isn’t decided by time, it’s decided by outs.  This causes two distinct aspects that are absent from all other sports.  1.  It gives each team equal failure limits and the team that produces the most runs before said failures enact wins. You cannot take away another teams opportunity.  2.  Time does not hold sway in baseball, meaning: so long as you have a single out remaining and a player who can stand in the batters box the game goes on, no lead is safe. 

Which brings me back the 9^th inning. Eyre pitching, Rockies up, down 3 runs to 8, a near insurmountable lead considering statistical analysis of baseball, especially on the road, but all it takes is one bad pitcher.  Leadoff Matsui slapped a full count fastball into right.  Holiday up (left handed Eyre decides it’s to dangerous to pitch to him even though he’s up by 5 runs?) and Holiday walks on four straight pitches.  Helton up, he works his way to 2-2 and then slams a fastball to the wall for a double.  One run scores.  Piniella wisely pulls Eyre in favor of right handed Howry.  Atkins up, he takes the first pitch to left. One run scores.  At this point I raise my eyebrow, the Rockies want to make a game of it.  Tying run Hawpe comes up and smacks one into right. One run scores.  So now the Rockies have the lead taking run at the plate, and I’m paying full attention as one pitch can change the game.  It only took one pitch.  First pitch fastball, and Tulo was ready for it.  He crushed it over the 410 foot center field wall.  The Rockies had come back from certain death to take the lead.  But then there’s that “every team gets an equal opportunity” thing. 

Fuentes ready to make amends for the blown save three days earlier, let their leadoff, DeRosa, on base with a slider that didn’t slide.  But then he righted the ship and got a K out of Pagan.  Bowen hit into a fielder’s choice, one out to go.  The Cubs tried a pretty desperate move by putting in Koyie Hill to pinch hit.  Before I go on, I’ve received some criticism that I’m an apologist who doesn’t stick it to our players who make mistakes.  So for those of you who want blood, and you know who you are, pay attention.  Hill is a catcher who can’t hit, the only reason he’s in is because he’s right handed and a left hander batter’s as good as out against Fuentes.  Feuntes goes up him 0-2 pretty quickly, and then starts doing the right thing by using his lead to force a ground ball, right.  Wrong, the guy was crowding the plate like crazy.  Players who crowd the plate have trouble hitting fastballs inside, which is why it’s rare to see a guy crowd the plate when he’s down in the count.  0-2, fastball inside, K; that’s your pitch Brian.  Inside he goes, curve ball giving up yet another soft single.  Next batter, Theriot, but this time Fuentes get his ground ball.  Hit to 2nd, Matsui merely has to glove it and flip it to Tulo for the win, but Matsui takes his eyes off the ball to look to where he needs to throw a moment too soon, error, all safe.  Kaz, field first, throw second, fundamentals.  I know the games not over yet but after two bad plays like that back to back I felt like it was, and I bet at least Soriano felt the same.  He ended the game two pitches later.  Coupled with the fact that the hot girl I was talking to at the bar shot me down, it was a very disappointing night all around. 

Game 2:

Cubs 8, Rockies 5 

One thing to say about our defense and the pitching of Rodrigo Lopez: Too many base runners.  In hitters parks, like Wrigley, base runners will kill you.  Get them out at the plate.

On the other side some interesting things happened.  Rockies 3^rd, bases loaded, no outs, Iannetta up.  He hit into a double play at 3^rd base. 3^rd basemen, Ramirez picked up the bal,l stepped on the bag and threw to first, one run scored.  I ask myself, “Why didn’t he throw home, and save the run?”  Helton’s running in from 3^rd, he’s not exactly grease lightning.  And remember, home plate is a force out, and Iannetta ain’t fast, the double play is still a possibility.  Even if you don’t get the double, Carroll’s up next; that should be an easy out.  I don’t like the decision; giving up free runs is a bad idea until you’ve got a good lead in the 9^th.   In the 4^th, the Rockies cashed a walk, a single, a sacrifice, and a double for two runs.  The interesting part is that Atkins was the walk, and the two hits and the sacrifice were by bench players, Spilborghs, Iannetta, and Carroll.  It’s nice when the little guys get together for a few runs. In the 7^th Weurtez pitching to Holiday, struck him out with 4 strait sliders.  Matt Holiday, if they’ve stopped giving you fastballs, don’t swing until 2 strikes.  I love your killer instinct, but other teams definitely see what I see.   In the 9^th, the Rockies looked like they might come back again.  Carroll(who went 3 for 4 with 2 runs, 3 RBIs and 1 Homer), Doubled. Sullivan singled him home.  Taveras bunted aboard.  And then Tulo, Holiday, Helton, when K, K, popout.  It tough to win when the big bats can’t hit.

Game 3:

Cubs 6, Rockies 4 

I didn’t get to see this one because FSN didn’t show it.  That’s a rant for another day though.  The stat sheet wasn’t too telling.  Two big stats: Zambrano 6.0 Inning, 8 Ks; Cubs Bullpen, 3.0 Innings, 4 Ks.  So I also looked at the play-by-play and as this stat suggests we just couldn’t get to first base.  It’s tough to score when you can’t get to first base, my dating record is proof of that.  Also, Hirsh gave up two more home runs.  That’s 5 in two games.  I’ll know at least 3, and I’ll bet all 5, were on sliders that didn’t slide.  This guy is a liability.  We need Dontrel Willis fast.

Next Series:@
Houston Astros 32-46 

A team with a losing record that’s on a losing streak! Thank God! Game 1: Aaron Cook vs. Roy Oswalt, it doesn’t get easier for Aaron.  Aaron better at least keep it close, if not smoke ‘em, though or he’ll be joining Hirsh’s club.  The ‘stros can’t hit.  Josh Fogg vs. Chris Sampson, your guess is as good as mine.  They’re both on again off again pitchers (hit or miss if you will).  Game 3 is the game I’ve been waiting for all year:  Jeff Francis vs. Jason Jennings.  Who will prevail, master or pupil, the betrayed former leader or the boy wonder that took his place.  People in New York won’t care, but Texas and Colorado both watch FOX more anyway.   Game 4: Rodrigo Lopez vs. Wandy Rodriquez.  We’ll see how the best surprise of the year bounces back after his worst game of the year.  Wandy ain’t that good though, we can hit him.  Lucky for us their two best hitters are 3^rd basemen so they can’t both play. 

Prediction:Tie 2-2 

I love ya Francis, but Jennings is the man.