Box Score Bytes - Game 1

- Todd Helton started his 16th straight opening day.  Will be strange when he probably won't be there next year...

- Saw this quote from Weiss, ''This is a job that I'm going to have to figure out on the fly.''  Umm that really doesn't give me a whole lot of warm fuzzes...

- Rox were 193-168 when both CarGo and Tulo play.  After today 193-169

- CarGo launched his 100th homer.

- Rox are now 11-10 in openers and 7-7 on the road.

- Well if anything we can consider a nice start by Chacin.  Rox scored some runs but did leave 7 RISP.

- Always find it interesting how the big free agent deal over the winner, and the Rox really only had one, and they are one of the reasons for the team's loss.  Lopez didn't provide that middle shut down relief today.

Rox Talk - 2012 Bed Rox Prediction Review

My incredibly optimistic view of the 2012 preseason with my 10 predictions!  Hope usually springs eternal...but...Yikes!

10)  This one is easy...Rox will score the most runs in the National League this year.  The baseball talking heads will call it the return of Nintendo Ball and dismiss the humidor.  Stats will simply say the offensive prowness has returned to pre-steroid days and that Coors is just a good place to hit.

Rox finished 3rd in the NL this year behind the Brewers and Cardinals with 758 runs scored.  If Tulo had been healthy I am sure we would have scored 18 more runs and topped the Brewers.

9)  The Tulo/Scutaro combo will be the best double play tandem in MLB.

Well before the disabled list and Scutaro being traded to the Giants the great combo played all of 37 games with each other.

8)  Buoyed by early season run support the Rox young pitchers will gain some confidence and pitch satisfactory throughout the year keeping the team in Wild Card contention.

Boy was I wildly optimistic.  In fact the complete opposite happened as the veterans got rocked and no one over gained any traction.

7)  Nicasio, our number 3 starter, will lead the team in wins through the All Star break (Chacin and Gutherie will pitch well but our offense will struggle with team's better pitchers and tee off on the lower half of opposing team's staffs).

Nicasio was 2-1 before exiting with a knee injury that ended his season on June 2.  Friedrich actually led the team with 4 wins before the All Star break.

6)  Casey Blake will be a liability at the plate from Day One.  He will play a decent third base but will find himself released by May.

Actually never it made it to the opening day roster.  Was released before Opening Day.  Third base was a work in progress all year between Pacheco and Nelson.

5)  Helton won't play in more than 100 games this year but will collect 100 hits.

Played in only 69 games and collected 57 hits.

4)  Betancourt will struggle at some point during the season and Brothers will save at least 10 games this year.

Betancourt was fairly consistent throughout the year.  Brothers struggled out of the gate and recorded no saves.  Belisle actually stepped in and got 3 for the team.

3)  Pomenranz will garner some rookie of the year consideration as he will win 10 games.

Oops...pitched in 22 games finished with a 2-9 record and was dismal all year.

2)  Tulo will finish in the Top 3 for MVP considerations.  He will lead the league with 40 homers and 125 RBIs.  He will finish with the Top WAR in the National League.

Collected 8 home runs and 27 RBIs in 47 games played.  

1)  Rox will sneak into the playoffs with 85 wins.

Did I really think this was possible?  I mean there was a second wild card but yikes I must have really been sipping the Rox Kool Aid all Winter!

Rox Talk - Welcome Walt

The Rox welcomed their 6th major league manager last week, naming Walt Weiss as theri new manager.  He is now the unlucky winner of managing a team with a pseudo general manager in an office next to you and a pitching staff in search of.  As previously mentioned I don't wish this job on anyone.  With front office in disarray, a team beseeched with unknowns, and no clear path forward, the soul who takes on this journey must be glutton for punishment

What will make next year especially tough on me is Walt Weiss is one of those ballplayers I love.  Decent glove, a grinder, no flash, just a love for the game.  He was Rox pre-Scutaro back in 1994.    If the team was just missing a spark, I would think this hiring would be great.  Unfortunately this is such a reclamation project I find it difficult to think even the tough as nails Weiss making it work.  Throw in that he has a one year contract and this all suggests that the Organization continues to run this baseball team unlike any other in major league.

In some respects Rox were hoping that lightening might strike again following the league in hiring Weiss much like the White Sox did with Ventura and the Cardinals with Matheny and hoping that such a move might make the team competitive.  And in the usual Rox move they don't go with a proven commodity with some big league experience in a front office (i.e. scouting) but just figure that making the transition from High School coaching to the Bigs should be as easy as crawling to riding a bike.

Maybe it will work, maybe one day they will tell us "told you so" but this unlikely candidate is just more timber for the fire.  In one respect it might be good for stability that the Rox have only had 5 managers in their 20 seasons (compared to 13 with our brethren expansion team, the Marlins).  The opposite is that results were expected in Florida and they have two titles to show for their 13 managers and we have one World Series trip.  In the end I hope this all works out for Weiss.  In addition to the unknown he really has no expectations.  Starting next Spring, I think most pundits will simply give the Rox an over/under of 75 games.  With the division foes all with strength, Rox might have the potential to surprise someone but playoffs are most likely out of the question until pitching stabilizes.  It will be interesting to see who Weiss brings into these coaching roles.  Giambi is probably a favorite for the hitting coach but I'd prefer Bichette.  For pitching focus I'd like to see Ritz or Astacio.  Two starters who survived the experience and pitched to keep the Rox team in games while playing in Denver.  With Weiss I'd really like to see the days of the Blake Street Bombers II, with Tulo, CarGo, Cuddyer, and Rosario bashing our way to victory and making teams scared of Coors Field again.

Wrapping this up I think Weiss will bring some perspective.  Having played in the ballpark and understanding its effects on players there might be something there.  Throw in that Weiss played for two of the greatest managers of the late 20th century and early 21st century in LaRussa and Cox and maybe that mix might make an interesting coaching offspring.  Next year with the unusual schedule and interleague throughout the season might help the Rox.  Throw in some healthy players which should benefit Weiss.  Now will the players listen and play for him?

Rox Talk - Hot Stove In Full Effect

Having watched the Rox for 20 years, this past season was the first one that I actually gave up on.  I had no connection with this team.  At no time did I feel this organization was really giving 100% to put out a product worth my time and effort.  This pains me greatly.  I love this team.  I love Coors Field.  I love baseball, but for once my fun factor for the game was just sucked out of me.  The joy was gone.   Even now I struggle to even bother caring for this off season.  Management, with its head stuck in the mud, still thinks they are only a player away from making a run.  I have always tried to be optimistic but with $81 million last year they couldn't get it done.  In addition they were only 2 losses away from 100!  With the season now over, the owners are attempting to spin things again for 2013.  The following are the ten reasons or whines or really (#$%#) whys that this team will once again underachieve and finish last in the Division (and the current reasons why I most likely will not renew my season tickets):

10)  OK first off.  2013 and twenty year anniversary?  Ummm, hate to break it to you but last year was the 20th playing season.  2013 will be the 21st season and while Rox started playing in 1993...20 years was actually last year.  Just another notch highlighting the cluelessness of the Organization.

9) NL West isn't getting easier.  Giants pitching, after winning their second world title in three seasons, are back.  Dodgers will simply win because of their payroll.  D-Backs have a good core.  Padres are young and growing.  Rox are clueless and still have no pitching, see 3) and 1) below.

8)  Managers in the NL West:  Bochy (impressive), Mattingly (gutsy), Gibson (legend), Padres (yeah whoever), and Rox?  Really the best you can do is to trot out a guy who was part of the problem the last few years in Giambi.  Don't get me wrong, I love the guy as a player, but we need someone with a backbone.  Weiss is a nice person but again has ties with the organization that got us here.  Plus he is too nice, I wouldn't  wish this job on anyone right now.

7)  Retirement.  Helton please just retire.  I know you love the game.  You want to fulfill your contract.  You are great player.  I love you, but come on, you're killing us.  Look at the best first baseman in the league and they are home run power guys.  Rox need to return to the Blake Street Bombers days and this isn't going to happen  with a broken down 39 year old.  

6)  Rox let Roenicke get away?  OK maybe this is a wash.  Sure he had a breakout year.  Next year he will probably return to the mean but this guy suffered through the piggyback system.  Made the 4 man rotation at least viable for half the season.  To just let him get away by putting him on waivers tells me someone was doing their homework.  In a real Organization you would have seen value and tried to trade him for something instead of just letting them get stolen.

5) PR grumblings.  Frankly this team has never recovered from the World Series ticket snafu in 2007.  For whatever reason the Organization has taken a very "personal" view of outside media.  Organization needs to be more open and honest with itself.  People put a lot of their money into the Organization.  It isn't charity, we expect something in return.  I don't need playoff teams year in and year out but I do demand accountability and effort from not only the team on the field but the Organization itself.

4)  Stop taking Coors Field for granted.  One of these days people are going to put their hard earned cash somewhere else.  Don't think that another 68 win season won't get you closer to being irrelevant in the minds of Colorado residents.  We love baseball but we need something to root for...I liked to think we haven't become jaded like Cub fans.

3) Who are we?  What exactly is this Organization trying to put out on the field.  Fans have suffered through 14 years of O'Dowd tinkering with baseball at altitude.  Are we a low or mid market team?  Are we an offensive juggernaut or a ground ball desiring pitching staff.  Do we build from within or do we test the free agent market.  My problem is that you can't be everything.  Rox need to find their niche and stick to it.  The Cuddyer signing is my example.  Why bring in a guy similar to Seth Smith and pay big dollars when you could have just stayed with what you had.  Were you trying to make a splash?  Another example?  Last year at FanFest O'Dowd had the audacity to tell fans that last's year decision to go with fly ball pitchers had validity because of the "type" of fly ball pitcher these guys were.  Give you a hint Dan-O flyballs in places like Baltimore and Oakland become home runs at Coors!

2)  Trade Tulo.  Why not?  Get prospects, build for the future.  With our pitching this team is nowhere close to winning.  Tulo is entering that magic year (27-28 year old).  Why hang on to him and end up with another Helton.  Let him go to NY and become the next Jeter.

1)  Pitching Woes.  20 years of major league baseball and can we please just admit pitching at altitude sucks (and move on)?  The problem I have with this pitching thing is now it has become an excuse.  Bad season, objectives not meant, well it's the pitching.  Not enough snow this year, blame pitching.  Coors Light not tasting up to snuff, blame pitching.  Who wouldn't love to have an excuse year in and out.  68 wins, blame pitching.  Watch enough baseball to know that to win you have to have pitching.  Can't deny Rox greatest year was when they had competitive pitches.  Just look at the Giants...no offense but great pitching and two World Series rings in the last 3 years.  Let's move beyond the excuse and just move on.  Denver Bears were successful.  Find the right kind of pitcher through the draft or off the scrap heap and they will appreciate being in the Bigs and getting the opportunity.  Accepting that you have a problem and moving beyond it is the first step, please Rox Organization just excise it from your excuse book.  

Rox Talk - Week 26

Week 26

A 4-3 week against the D-Backs, Cubs, and Dodgers. The Rox currently stand at 62-97 (second half record at 29-45). Thirty-one games behind the Giants for the division lead in last place. Currently 35-46 at home and 27-51 on the road, the Rox have been outscored by its opponents 879-746 (expected wins is 68 versus historical wins at 76). On pace for 63 wins with 760 runs scored and 896 runs against. Playoff indicator (Runs Scored/Runs Against ratio) is 0.85 (1.16 indicates high playoff potential).

Rox Talk - Week 25

Week 25

A 0-7 week against the Padres and D-Backs. The Rox currently stand at 58-94 (second half record at 25-42). Thirty and half games behind the Giants for the division lead in last place. Currently 31-46 at home and 27-48 on the road, the Rox have been outscored by its opponents 849-718 (expected wins is 64 versus historical wins at 73). On pace for 62 wins with 765 runs scored and 905 runs against. Playoff indicator (Runs Scored/Runs Against ratio) is 0.85 (1.16 indicates high playoff potential).

Rookie of the Year
With the season finally coming to an end (thankfully), Rox need to look back on their dismal season and at least take away some positives.  The biggest has to be the bat of Wilin Rosario (let's forget the defense for now).  With 26 homers (through Sunday), he leads the rookie field.  Unfortunately Rosario has no chance of gaining Rookie of the Year honors due to the presence of a strong East Coast candidate in Bryce Harper.  Plus even if Rosario didn't play in the media black hole of Colorado his 20 passed balls would probably preclude him from any honors.  Either way with Rosario's power and a healthy CarGo, Tulo, and Cuddyer, who knows maybe we will have Blake Street Bombers Part II.  Here are Rosario's stats compared to past offense ROY winners:

My guess is that he will finish in 4 or 5th place.  But hey Helton and Tulo both finished 2nd so who really cares...

Box Score Bytes - Game 149

- Giants take the season series 14-4.  Giants should give the Rox a share of their playoff money as I don't think it would have been this easy without us laying down for them...27-9 over the last two seasons as well

- Welcome back to the BIGS de la Rosa...hard to figure why the Rox bothered but it was his first start since May 24, 2011.  Maybe next year will matter...

- Another catcher interference call, this is the season's 6th for the Rox.  In the past this has been extremely rare but Colvin does something...

Box Score Bytes - Game 148

- Maybe it's just when we play the Giants but Rox just look horrible.  Besides a nice little run in late August this team doesn't look any better.  It has seemingly regressed to what we saw in May and June.  I really thought we'd see some growth, some excitement, something.  At this rate what we are seeing this month is what is going to start next April.  Frankly I have no confidence that what is fielded next year will be any better.  Seasons like this just suck the joy of baseball out of me...

- Giants have all of 24 homers in their own ballpark and yet are closing in on another division title...pretty much sums up what it takes to win in baseball, yup a little thing called PITCHING!

- Rox sit at 58 - 90 with 14 games remaining.  They need to go at least 9-5 to match their worse record ever.  With the way they are playing losing 100 is back in play.  Rox bottom my friends 

Box Score Bytes - Game 147

- Not for sure what it is about San Fran but they completely own us right now.  San Fran owns a 12-4 record against Rox this year.  Last year they took 13 games against the Rox.  In every aspect they are complete opposites of our Rox.  Awesome pitching with weak hitting, it is just confounding.

- Rosario hit his 25th home run and is now tied with Helton for the Rox rookie record.  My guess with 15 games remaining and seven of those at home he will be the all time leader.  As Troy Rench twittered, he is a 20/20 man in his own way with 25 homers and 20 pass balls.

- Giants batters have a .457 batting average against Francis this year...yikes

- Game had a little bit of everything with catcher's interference, field interference, a baseball ricocheting off a helmet, and a flipped bat which sort of led to a player being tossed but not really.

Rox Talk - Week 24

Week 24

A 2-4 week against the Giants and Padres. The Rox currently stand at 58-87 (second half record at 25-35). Twenty-four and half games behind the Giants for the division lead in last place. Currently 31-43 at home and 27-44 on the road, the Rox have been outscored by its opponents 792-692 (expected wins is 64 versus historical wins at 69). On pace for 65 wins with 773 runs scored and 885 runs against. Playoff indicator (Runs Scored/Runs Against ratio) is 0.87 (1.16 indicates high playoff potential).

Physiology @ Altitude
This past weekend the Denver Post had an interesting tidbit on how the Rox management are now looking more closely at the effects of playing at altitude and its effects on human body.  After reading this I just have to say wow, it took management this long?  How a team that spends this sort of coin doesn't look at everything just amazes me.  Rox are paying $80 million in salary this year to big league players.  How something as simple as nutrition and training aren't more closely watched just goes to show you that it ain't the Monforts fault they are raking in the dough, it's our fault for not calling them on it.

As a runner myself I know that working out at altitude is not easy on the body.  Recovery suffers, aches and pains aren't as quick to leave but I also now there are some benefits.  Cyclist, swimmers, and runners all know the philosophy of "Live High, Train Low".  Studies conducted in the 90s showed performance gains by following this regiment.  Could baseball training make a difference?  Should our starter's throw on home games and then immediately head for sea level to allow for recovery?

Frankly it would be nice that all possible alternatives are looked at.  At this point the Rox are a bottom rung team and it would be nice if management exhausted all possible reasons for the failure to do better on the field!

Box Score Bytes - Game 145

- With the recent announcement in yesterday's Sunday Denver Post the great experiment appears to be over.    In reality with the addition of Chacin to the rotation at Game 121 the experiment was effectively over as the rotation effectively since then has been Chacin, Francis, Chatwood, Pomernanz, and White.  This has been steady over the last 25 games.  Although through these 25 games, starter's have still averaged 76 pitches and average 4.1 innings of work so although the 4-man rotation experiment was done it appears we've morphed into a 5-man pitch limited piggyback rotation which I believe is theoretically still limiting the starter from getting seen a third time around in the rotation.

- 643 games have been played at Petco.  This is the first time both teams scored 10 plus in a 9 inning game.

- Homer milestones galore in this game as McBride hit his first homer, Rutledge hit his first grand slam, and White hit his second homer in as many games.  White is the first pitcher to homer in back to back games since 2009.

- History repeats?  This time Padres won the game on a throw to the plate...maybe!

Box Score Bytes - Game 142

- Game 77 of the Great Tracy Experiment (Train Wreck): Record 32-45.  Francis struggles through 3 innings.  He is know 5-5.  Rox one true pitching star in the this otherwise dismal season is probably showing his age.  Will he be back next year?  Starter's record is now 12-32 with 33 no decisions and bullpen record of 20-13.

- San Fran owns us again this year.  They hold a 10-4 edge and finished 7-2 at Coors.  Ever since the Lincecum comment a few years back about the humidor the edge that Colorado once had is noticeably gone. Maybe there was something to it...

- Rosario tied Tulo's record for rookie homers and is now within one of Helton's rookie record.

- For a team going no where and on a cold chilly night 24,000 crazy fools showed up or at least that was the paid attendance?

- Giants once again used 7 relief pitchers to get 9 outs last night.  That is just plain silly

2013 Schedule

Here is the Colorado Rockies 20th Season Schedule for 2013.

Quick thoughts - Monforts are going to buy themselves a couple of new cars with both the Yankees and Red Sox coming to town!  Interesting having a home and away series against Houston in May.  Lovely June trip to Toronto, Washington, and Boston.

Box Score Bytes - Game 141

- Game 76 of the Great Tracy Experiment (Train Wreck): Record 32-44.  Chacin struggles and Rox piggyback can't stop the bleeding.  Rox might have false hopes due to a 20-13 bullpen record.  Is this truly sustainable over an entire season?  Starter's record is now 12-31 with 33 no decisions and bullpen record of 20-13.

- With White hitting a home run yesterday helping the Rox win, tonight Rox loss because we gave up a home run to the opposing team.  Just another strange chapter in the book that is Coors Field.

- Rox almost came back with a Colvin homer in the bottom of the ninth but then Giambi lined out to the end the game.  

Box Score Bytes - Game 140

- Game 75 of the Great Tracy Experiment (Train Wreck): Record 32-43. Too bad White wasn't more efficient otherwise he might have gotten the win.  Starter's record is now 12-31 with 32 no decisions and bullpen record of 20-12.

- White did homer for himself so that is a good thing.  Second homer this year from a Rox pitcher.  Last one was Pomenranz's on May 7.

- Rox finally beat Vogelsong.  In his previous six starts against us he was 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA.

- Tracy got ejected for the third time this year when he felt that Giant's Scutaro had missed a tag...

Rox Talk - Week 23

Week 23

A 1-6 week against the Braves and Phillies. The Rox currently stand at 56-83 (second half record at 23-31). Twenty-two games behind the Giants for the division lead in last place. Currently 30-41 at home and 26-42 on the road, the Rox have been outscored by its opponents 750-654 (expected wins is 61 versus historical wins at 66). On pace for 65 wins with 762 runs scored and 874 runs against. Playoff indicator (Runs Scored/Runs Against ratio) is 0.87 (1.16 indicates high playoff potential).

Rox ran into a buzz saw this past week.  Up until this point they had been playing fairly well and the real rub on this past week is that they lost two very winnable games.  To see some pitching success but then not take advantage is a real bummer.  Then of course Rox run into Philly with the Phillies finally playing up to their standard.

In addition to the losing of winnable games something else that that this year's record suggests is that Rox have not only had historically bad pitching and field but also have had some bad luck.  Their expected win percentage is closer to 61 games.  Now I'm not suggesting that if the Rox were sitting at 61-78 this season would be any better but perhaps it is something to lean on for next year.

Four Man Rotation
With Chacin's return to the rotation, the experiment is effectively over.  Since his return all pitchers have returned to their normal days of rest although the 75 pitch limit still appears to be in effect and the bullpen is still taking over once the opponent's line up goes through the third time.  My guess is that this will be the legacy of the experiment and that is giving pitchers fewer pitchers and the advent of a new bullpen piece, the piggyback.  Hopefully a better name is found but continues the obvious movement away from 9 inning starter and the further specialization of the bullpen.  Below is the data, not for sure if anything really jumps out.  I was hoping something would be seen but realistically I just don't think the data set is large enough to matter.  The first data points is the whole staff not just starter's.  Further down is starter's only.

Box Score Bytes - Game 139

- Game 74 of the Great Tracy Experiment (Train Wreck): Record 31-43. Starter's record is now 12-31 with 31 no decisions and bullpen record of 19-12.

- With 83 losses Rox should look at this game to wonder maybe it is something more than pitching.  Rox committed 5 errors today.  Two by Nelson, one by Pacheco, and two by Herrera.  Four runs were unearned and of course if these runs didn't score than Rox win by one...

- Phillies take the season series 7-2 (Yikes!).

- Why I hate September baseball?  Phillies use 7 pitchers to get through the game.  How the most important month of the season gets the expansion of rosters which changes how games are managed is beyond me...

Box Score Bytes - Game 138

- Game 73 of the Great Tracy Experiment (Train Wreck): Record 31-42. Nice start by Chatwood.  Goes 5 innings and throws 75 pitches.  Everything Rox expect from a starter ;)  Starter's record is now 12-31 with 30 no decisions and bullpen record of 19-11.

- Double header due to the rain out last night.  

- Bullpen struggling a bit.  Have to wonder if the innings are starting to wear on the arms.  Importance of pitching stands out on the road when runs aren't as plentiful.  Rox lose another one in the bottom of the ninth...

- Rosario is making a name for himself and his bat but he is also making a name for himself as a terrible catcher.  He allowed four pass balls in the game and has a total of 19 for the season.  The all time record is 6 pass balls in a single game...

Box Score Bytes - Game 137

- Game 72 of the Great Tracy Experiment (Train Wreck): Record 31-41.  Francis does his job going 5.2 innings and allowing no runs.  Probably best start of the season limiting Phillies to just 6 hits and striking out seven. Starter's record is now 12-31 with 29 no decisions and bullpen record of 19-10.

- Francis made his 200th career appearance.

- Two quick runs in the first then nothing from the offense.  They were 1 for 8 with runner's in scoring position.  

Box Score Bytes - Game 136

- Game 71 of the Great Tracy Experiment (Train Wreck): Record 31-40. Chacin gets the embarrassing loss (see below).  Pitched well although not as efficient compared to his other starts.  Starter's record is now 12-31 with 28 no decisions and bullpen record of 19-9.

- Rox continue to find new ways to lose a game.  Today's was more embarrassing than most as Chacin misplayed the return throw from the catcher and allowed a pass ball resulting in the runner from third taking home.  As this season goes this run was enough and Rox loss another 1-0 decision...the second in as many days!

- In the crazy world of stats this is the first time in 28 years that a team won consecutive 1-0 games with both runs being unearned.

- With as bad as Rox pitching has been, it has seemingly masked the fact that the defense behind those pitchers as also been truly awful.  Not only do we lead the league in errors but almost all the advanced defensive stats also suggest that our fielding this year as been bad.  

- Elias also reports this is the just the second time in Rox history they have played three straight games where one team failed to score.  Last time this happened was 2009.

- Braves trounce the season series by taking six of seven games.