Rockies SP Jorge de la Rosa

As I sit to compose this, it’s still the top of the 8th. I know it’s bad form to start writing the obituary before the guy is dead… but to say the Rocks are on life support in this game, and by extension the division title race, is being kind at best. I won’t press the “publish” button until the game is actually over, just to be safe, but I think we all know how this is going down.

What started out to be a pitcher’s duel, has turned into an old-fashioned drubbing. De La Rosa started solid, and Contreras did a fine job holding down the fort when Jorge left early with “tightness” in his groin.

Enter Franklin Morales. I’m not really sure what happened, other than the Dodgers sending 10 to the plate, and 5 of them rounding the bases and putting a tally on the board, with 2 more stranded. Franklin clearly is not pitching like he was when Street was down. Even the closeout game against Milwaukee was an adventure in the 9th – Morales just can’t help but get into trouble, then struggle to work out of it. This is something to be considered when the playoffs roll around.

Here’s the other thing though. I know this is easy to say after the fact, but I was talking with someone the other night mentioning that I wasn’t so sure that a sweep of LA on the heels of the Milwaukee sweep and heading into the playoffs was the best thing for this team. On a long streak, you know you’re going to honk a game at some point. That’s what made 07 so remarkable, was the length of the streak. But in reality, you just don’t win that many in a row without dropping one at some point. I would rather the Rockies drop this one, take the wild card and head into the playoffs with a bit of a wound but ready to play, than on an emotional high that gets deflated by dropping game 1 or 2 of the NLDS. They have to play a very good team in the NLDS, regardless of the outcome. Home field would have been nice, don’t get me wrong, but you have to love that dropping this game is not the end of the world for this team. It’s a pretty easy spin to say it’s not a big deal. Shake it off, enjoy the fact that Game 162 is the first game of the year that is truly meaningless, take the bonus day off, then head off to Philly or St. Louis (hopefully STL) and hit the ground running in Game 1.

This loss stings, because the division title was so close in reach after such a long journey to get there. But it’s not a season-killer, and it will not sap this team’s confidence. Let this town focus on the Broncos tomorrow, then this Wednesday let the second season begin, because once again, our Boys of Summer are playing Autumn Baseball, and that alone is a special kind of sweet.

Articles similar to this:

• October 1, 2009 -- Rockies hope math plays out (0)
  With the magic number at ONE - today's game looms large...
• October 2, 2009 -- Batter up: Iannetta, Helton, Atkins take turns playing Rockies Hero (0)
  Having locked up the Wild Card spot with a total team e...
• October 10, 2009 -- Early Winter Blast Blankets Rockies Game (0)
  **UPDATE: Happ scheduled to start Game 3.** Major Leagu...

The Rockies wrap up the 2009 NL Wild Card

Out of the doghouse and into the dogpile, Chris Iannetta made a thunderous contribution on Tuesday night, starting the Rockies on what would be a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers.

The game should have been over in nine innings.  Usually unflappable Colorado closer Huston Street gave up a three-run home run in the top of the 9^th to give Milwaukee hope of a comeback win.  Chris Iannetta, pinch hitting in the bottom of the 11^th, took one back for the Rockies.

Iannetta has been in Jim Tracy’s doghouse since his bat went cold in late August, and Yorvit Torrealba has been a stud both at and behind the plate in his absence.  But pinch-hitting with six undecided games left in the regular season, Chris would take a full-count fastball over the right field fence for the win.

Iannetta did not so much cross the plate as leap into the pile of Rockies surrounding it.  His walk-off heroics may not return him to a predominant starting job as catcher, but these Rockies don’t play for ego.  These Rockies, just as with the 2007 version, play for each other member of their clubhouse.

And so it came to be that Wednesday night brought a more familiar hero to the plate.  Todd Helton came to the plate in what looked to be a back-and-forth slugfest.  His two-run home run to right field turned a tie game into an eventual blowout for the streaking Rockies.

But this game was less about Helton’s home run and more about consistent production throughout the lineup.  Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki also connected for two-run shots that took the wind out of each attempt by the Brewers to stay in the game.

Catcher Yorvit Torrealba responded to Iannetta’s game-winning heroics by logging three hits and an RBI, and scored a run himself on a wild pitch that tied the game at two apiece in the second.  As a team, the Rockies would register six extra-base hits in the game.

Which brings us to Thursday night, and the 90-win Rockies looking for one more to sew up the National League Wild Card with a win or an Atlanta loss.  , the Rockies would not disappoint.

Garrett Atkins knocked in a third of the Rockies nine runs, playing Hero on the two-year anniversary of The Tiebreaker that capped Colorado’s amazing 2007 run to the playoffs.  This after a disappointing season where Garrett went from starting third baseman to bench jockey thanks to the strong offensive and defensive play of Ian Stewart.  With Atkins’ timely reemergence, the Rockies look to be the deepest team heading into the playoffs.

Consider that the Rockies backup 1^st baseman is the deadly Jason Giambi.  Like Giambi, the speedy Eric Young Jr. is a pinch-hitting threat, and also backs up Clint Barmes at 2^nd.  Carlos Gonzalez and Dexter Fowler split time in Center Field, but Cargo can also play Left when Seth “Doombringer” Smith doesn’t get the start.  (Smith is probably the most dangerous pinch-hitter in the league when he doesn’t start the game.)  Throw in utility outfielder and occasional Rockies Hero Ryan Spillborghs, and there is no outfield more crowded with talent than Colorado’s.  The aforementioned time-share at catcher offers two quality players that can match up with any pitcher on the team.

And the return of Aaron Cook to ace form (4-hitting the Brewers in eight solid innings yesterday) means that the Rockies have five reliable starters going into the playoffs.  In fact, All-Star pitcher Jason Marquis may find himself at the bottom of that rotation fighting Jason Hammel for the honor of starting a playoff game.

Having locked up the Wild Card spot once coveted by a half-dozen realistic competitors, the Rocks will try to keep on rolling.  With three games left, all in LA, and trailing the Dodgers by two games, Colorado has a chance to win their first ever NL West Pennant.

The Rockies once again control their own destiny.  The rest of the league ought to be shaking in their cleats.

Articles similar to this:

• October 9, 2009 -- Rocktober 2: Bring in Da Cold, Bring in Da Snow (2)
  [caption id="attachment_676" align="aligncenter" width=...
• October 3, 2009 -- Game 162: First Meaningless Game of the Year (2)
  As I sit to compose this, it's still the top of the 8th...
• October 1, 2009 -- Rockies hope math plays out (0)
  With the magic number at ONE - today's game looms large...

photo by rfiallo

With the magic number at ONE – today’s game looms large. Not just because a win today propels the Rockies into the NLDS for the second time in three years without having to watch the scoreboard from Atlanta tonight, but because it keeps alive a mathematical possibility that the Rockies could win the division. Imagine going into Sunday with the NL West on the line!

If the Dodgers win just one of the first 2 games, they have nothing left to play for, since their place is wrapped up. But as of today, the LA lead on the division is a mere 2.5 games. A Rockies win not only puts them in the big dance, but opens the door to 3 must-win games, which would give the Rocks the division. The flag would be nice, but this would set the Rockies in position for a possible home field advantage series.

So let’s not get ahead of ourselves, and simply pull for the clincher today, on a chilly October afternoon in the Mile High City. After that, anything can happen.

Viva ROCKTOBER!

Articles similar to this:

• October 3, 2009 -- Game 162: First Meaningless Game of the Year (2)
  As I sit to compose this, it's still the top of the 8th...
• October 2, 2009 -- Batter up: Iannetta, Helton, Atkins take turns playing Rockies Hero (0)
  Having locked up the Wild Card spot with a total team e...
• October 9, 2009 -- Rocktober 2: Bring in Da Cold, Bring in Da Snow (2)
  [caption id="attachment_676" align="aligncenter" width=...

Barmes has come a long way from his days with the Triple-A Sky Sox

Colorado Rockies Manager Jim Tracy summed it up nicely Sunday night at Coors Field:

“There’s been pitches of the year, innings of the year — that’s the defensive play of the year,” Tracy said.

Clint Barmes’ diving catch turned into a game-ending double play when Ryan Spillborghs, charging in from deep right, instructed his second baseman to throw the ball to Todd Helton at first base.  The St. Louis Cardinals’ Albert Pujols had taken off on contact as the flare pop-fly drifted over the streaking Barmes in short right field with one out in the top of the 9^th inning.  The aggressive base-running decision would prove costly for Pujols and his Cardinals, as Colorado found yet another exciting way to win a crucial baseball game.

The awe-inspiring individual effort combined with trademark Colorado teamwork kept the Rockies 2.5 games ahead of the surging Atlanta Braves in the NL Wild Card race.

After a forgettable week of pitching from various Rockies starters, Colorado ace Jorge de la Rosa and closer Huston Street combined with Barmes to keep the Rocks’ playoff train on-track.  The 4-3 win kept the Rockies close enough to think about catching the LA Dodgers to win the division, but the Colorado clubhouse was undoubtedly dominated by the sentiment that Tuesday’s game versus the Milwaukee Brewers was the only one that mattered right now.

Barmes’ play Sunday night capped another dominant year of infield defense for the Rockies.  For those (like myself) who grew impatient with Clint’s batting woes, Sunday’s clutch play was a poignant reminder of how important an A-list group of fielders is to any team’s playoff hopes.

Said Manager Tracy after the game, “I kept playing him through times when there were some offensive shortcomings.  I will never ever give up on Clint Barmes.”

A noteworthy managerial decision that appears to have paid off in spades for the Rockies this September.

Articles similar to this:

• April 15, 2010 -- Thursday Afternoon Meltdown: Rockies get trounced by Mets (2)
  After an emotional game that went extra innings last ni...
• January 18, 2010 -- Rockies Roster Moves – De La Rosa, Spillborghs get deals (0)
  The Rockies 2010 roster is starting to shape up, with S...
• September 23, 2009 -- Close Call, Near Miss Define Wild Card Chase (0)
  After a forgettable outing by usually Rocktastic starte...

Pitcher Matt Belisle with the Reds before joining the Colorado Rockies

On a night when the Rockies could have easily rolled over, the little-known and under-heralded Matt Belisle threw up a brick wall and Colorado held on for a crucial win.

A half hour later the Giants, desperate for a road win to stay in the playoff hunt, scored three ninth inning runs but fell just short of filling out the comeback.

And there you have it; the perfect metaphor for this Wild Card Race between divisional opponents… now in its fourth month.

It began on June 17^th with Colorado coming off a brutal streak-breaking loss to Tampa Bay at home, and San Francisco coming back to earth via a home-series sweep at the hands of the Angels.  The Giants lost that night to drop to three games above .500, and the Rockies pulled out a win against those pesky Rays to climb within a single win of breaking even after an atrocious start to the season.

Colorado won its next six games, and continued their defiant march to the front of the Wild Card field.  San Francisco stayed consistent, keeping Atlanta and Florida at bay… but not the Rockies.

And therein lies the most glaring difference between these two teams.  The Giants; steady, flush with solid pitching, amazing in their home park (which resembles a miniature version of a real ballpark.)  And the Rockies; hot and cold, always dangerous, ever the Comeback Kids.

But when it comes to September baseball the smart money is on the team with the hot bats, and last night’s win over a recently impressive San Diego squad was a great one for Colorado.

After a forgettable outing by usually Rocktastic starter Jorge de la Rosa (2 1/3 IP, 6 ER), the forgotten Matt Belisle came in and pitched four very solid innings.

That was all the Rockies batters needed, scoring in every inning except the 5^th.  San Diego would press on, nearly forcing a bottom of the ninth with a four-run outburst in the top of the inning.  Even closer Franklin Morales had trouble putting down the suddenly hit-happy Padres, the final out coming on a sharply hit line drive to Seth Smith in left field.  With the tying run stranded on third base, the three hour & forty five minute rain-soaked affair over, Rockies fans turned to watch the Giants who had narrowed a formidable gap to five runs in the top of the 8^th at Arizona.

But the Giants are not Rocktastic, and they will have no Rocktober.

San Francisco petered out just shy of staying in the hunt, because their ace, Matt Cain, had a very rare bad game.  And because their clutch hitters run three deep while Colorado’s lineup is flush with game-changers, game-winners… and the demon-force known as Jason Giambi.

And there you have it; end of story.  The Rockies can survive an implosion by their best pitcher during the most critical part of the season, and the Giants cannot.  Now Colorado can focus on staying hot, winning one game at a time, and getting damaged pitchers back into the lineup and the bullpen.  It’s starting to smell a lot like October.

Articles similar to this:

• September 28, 2009 -- Another crucial game, another Rockies hero lights up Coors Field (3)
  Colorado Rockies Manager Jim Tracy summed it up nicely ...
• October 3, 2009 -- Game 162: First Meaningless Game of the Year (2)
  As I sit to compose this, it's still the top of the 8th...
• October 2, 2009 -- Batter up: Iannetta, Helton, Atkins take turns playing Rockies Hero (0)
  Having locked up the Wild Card spot with a total team e...