Box Score Bytes - Game 55

- 16 strikeouts pretty much tells you everything you need to know about Rox dismal offensive output last night. 16 K is a rare event.  Chart below shows total number of games per Ks since 2008.

- While D-Backs starter, Ian Kennedy, has rediscovered his pitch, Rox starter, Guthrie, has not.  In another awful outing Rox starter allowed seven runs on 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings.  Now the owner of a 6.35 ERA, Guthrie has been a big disappointment.  Another questionable deal by our front office.

- On Monday night Helton collected his 952nd extra base hit, moving him into a tie with Mickey Mantle.

Box Score Bytes - Game 54

- Rox get their first pitching performance of the year.  Friedrich goes 7 innings of four hit baseball and pitches a shut out.  His game score of 71 is tops this year for the Rox.  Rox, last team to get a shutout.  First Rox to win 4 of his first six games.

- Rox are within a half game of taking over 3rd place in the division.  Rox are 4-2 against D-Backs so far this year.  Rox are 13-13 against the division so far this year.  Not too bad considering since 2000 Rox have a .456 winning percentage against division foes (vs .476 against rest of league and interleague).

- Dex has a nine game hitting streak.  Let the game off again with a triple.  Dex is so tantalizing but can Rox really deal with a player who doesn't start hitting until June every year?

- It will be interesting to see if Rosario can get any ROY consideration.  I believe he leads all rookies with 9 home runs.  Can a Rox catching prospect actually live up to expectations?

- Interesting oddity last night and that was Friedrich who did not have one swinging strike last night.  He has averaged 11 up to last night's game

Rox Talk - Week 9

The Week That Was

A 6-1 week against the Astros and Dodgers. The Rox currently stand at 23-30.  Nine and half games behind the Dodgers for the division lead in fourth place. Currently 15-15 at home and 8-15 on the road, the Rox have been outscored by its opponents 290-281 (expected wins is 26 versus historical wins at 24). On pace for 70 wins with 859 runs scored and 886 runs against. Playoff indicator (Runs Scored/Runs Against ratio) is 0.97 (1.16 indicates high playoff potential).

Rox have scored their runs in bunches this year.  Because of this, their runs scored versus runs against would suggest they should have about 26 wins.  Therefore through 2 months of the season, Rox theoretically could be sitting with a record of 26-27 which sounds a whole lot better than 23-30.  If Rox were in fact flirting with .500 what would then be the current thought on this team?  In the real world, because of the record and the dismal starting pitching, a clear finger has been pointed to both the management that put together this rotation and those on the mound.  If Rox could have had a couple of breaks and were in fact even then would we consider these starters as serviceable?  I ask these questions because regardless of record we have four more months of this rotation to look forward to and to be realistic Rox need to lay the groundwork for 2013.  If this year was simply a "bridge" year to next year then the importance of the next 4 months can't be understated.

Last year's collapse in September really was just a preview of what to expect this year?  If 2012 is a preview of 2013 then what do Rox need to do this year?

1)  Decide the fate of third base.  If Arenado is going to be next year's starter than he needs to start learning at the next level.  Not a September call up but a June/July call up so he can see true pitching.

2)  If Arenado is the future at third then is Pacheco the future at first?  I realize this is sacrilegious but Helton is not an everyday first baseman anymore.  Major league teams should get huge production from their first baseman (Pujols and Fielder anyone?).  While Pacheco isn't going to have Pujols numbers his production would be better than Helton.

3) Trade Giambi to a NL contender and let him have one last shot.  Start transitioning Helton into the Giambi role.

4) Trade Guthrie and Colvin.  Maybe try and get an up and coming first baseman.  Start thinking 2014.

5) Test the waters on Betancourt.  While Brothers has faltered and we have no real closer candidate I think Rox should trade their closer especially this year when so many teams have loss their number one shut down guy.

6) Anyone who is ready to pitch in the majors should be doing it now.  Pomeranz should be working it out against major league hitters.  No questions next Spring should exist on who will be the starting five in 2013.

7) Owner, management, and coaching staff need to address the media and either move forward with what is in place or make changes now so that a new team can evaluate what is on the field and make the necessary adjustments so that all is on the same page on Day 1, 2013.

8) Look beyond the humidor to see what can be done to fix Coors.  Disparity between home and away is so great that Rox should consider everything and anything.

9) Make 2013 a make or break year.  Put all the chips in and gun for a Championship.  If it doesn't happen start a fire sale.  Make it clear to the team that if it can't play with expectations then it won't be playing together.  Sell everything of value and build for future years.  Maybe it is a major selling point that Rox have never had a 100 loss season but wins in the 70s year in and year out don't bring confidence to the Fan base. If the model is to build through the draft then Rox need to make a definite no holds bar run every few years.  It either works or doesn't and if doesn't blow up the team and start over.  Paying guys in their 30s might be nice for the fan base but doesn't help to win.

10) Bottom line:  Expectations and accountability.

Where Will it End?
Below shows projected wins through games played.  Rox are going in the right direction.  Let's hope we keep trending higher!

Box Score Bytes - Game 53

- The wonders of baseball never cease to amaze me.  After an offensive firework display, Rox quiet down for the last two games of this series.  Craziest was today when two rookies pitched a normal 3-2 game at Coors.  Have to wonder if someone remembered to turn the humidor back on?

- White pitched shut out ball through 7 innings on Sunday.  Provided some much needed rest for the bullpen before a short road trip to Arizona before interleague starts again this weekend.

- Rox completed another series win against the Dodgers at home.  Rox are 4-5 against the division leaders.  Now if they only could figure out a way to win in LA?  Rox don't see the Dodgers again until August.

- Brothers appears to still be pressing.  He had such a good start in April.  Good thing Betancourt has been reliable with 9 saves out of 10 chances this season.

- Rox return to .500 at home at 15-15.

Box Score Bytes - Game 52

- Have to wonder if Nicasio has a big target on his back.  He continues to get peppered on the mound.  Wonder if he could pitch in Catcher's gear?

- Colorado had 53 runs, 71 hits, and 13 home runs during the previous five wins but had only six hits in today's game.  Rox did have bases loaded at one point so the potential was there once again...and with Dex's lead off triple things appeared to be rolling again...have to credit LA's starter, Harang, for not letting this game slip out of hand.

- Rox were 1 for 8 with RISP

- Cuddyer is on pace for 56 doubles this year.  Todd Helton holds Rox single season record of 59 in 2000.  Dex is on pace for 15 triples which would tie his club record.

Box Score Bytes - Game 51

- Nice little 5 game winning streak, of course the Rox still stand at 22-29 but let's stay positive and look amazingly at the fact they have score 53 runs in that span.  That is a healthy offense which kind of makes your starting pitching look surprisingly good although only 2 starters got wins in those 5 games

- One of the stranger at bats I have seen was in the bottom of 6th when Rox relief pitcher, Ottavino, was at the plate.  He started his at bat against Capuano, a leftie, and then for some unknown reason, in the middle of the at bat Dodger Manager, Mattingly, brought in the rightie, Jamie Wright.  Ottavino had a count of 2-2 and was batting right handed and then with Wright in, he switched sides and batted leftie and promptly struck out.  How often does a switch hitter get the opportunity to bat from both sides of the plate in the same at bat let alone a relief pitcher!

- When this homestand began CarGo was batting .302.  He is now batting .335.  Pretty impressive 5 game run for the Pony.  Quick facts:

2012 League Ranks:
 • 5th in NL in BA (.335)
 • 2nd in NL in HR (14)
 • 1st in NL in RBI (45)
 • 1st in NL in R (44)
 • 1st in NL in SLG (.649)
 • 3rd in NL in OPS (1.052)

Would be neat to see a run for the triple crown.  Of course Coors would play a prominent role in that.  He is batting .400 at home, .266 on the road.  Slugging .790 at home and .500 on the road.

- According to High Heat Stats, LA grounded into 2 DPs, the Rockies 1. Team W% by GIDP, since 2011: 0 – .513 (1541-1462); 1 – .504 (1188-1168); 2 – .460 (381-447); 3 – .474 (83-92); 4 or more – .308 (12-27).

Box Score Bytes - Game 50

- Carlos Gonzalez homered in four at-bats in a row between yesterday and today.  Amazingly this is a first for any Rox player.  Last time it was done was in 2006 when Pujols did it. It was the 22nd time a major league player has homered in four consecutive plate appearances and the 38th time for four straight official at-bats.

- The Astros have a better record than the Rockies.  Astros had 55 hits, scored 23 runs, and get swept by Rox.  By the way Rox only had 56 hits in the sweep but scored 40 runs!

- This is the Rox 4th four game series at home against Astros. They are 2-2-0. All time, against all teams they are 31-22-35 in four game series at home. Of course they are 0-6-2 on the road against Houston in 4 game series and 17-52-25 all time on the road in 4 game series

- Tulo goes on the DL.  Rox historically haven't been very good without their All Star short stop.  In 2007 and 2009 when Rox made playoffs, Tulo played in 155 and 151 games respectively.  In the other years, when Rox not so good, he has played 101, 122, and 143 games.