Rox Talk - Week 17

A 1-5 week against the D-Backs and Reds. The Rox currently stand at 37-63 (second half record at 4-11). Seventeen and half games behind the Giants/Dodgers for the division lead in last place. Currently 20-32 at home and 17-31 on the road, the Rox have been outscored by its opponents 564-471 (expected wins is 42 versus historical wins at 47). On pace for 60 wins with 763 runs scored and 914 runs against. Playoff indicator (Runs Scored/Runs Against ratio) is 0.84 (1.16 indicates high playoff potential). 

Now that the season is in the trash can and we go back and try to figure out what happened, the "experts" will probably declare that we really shouldn't have expected anything else but a really bad year. Rox rolled the dice on pitching, hoping for some average starts, and basically nothing worked out. I mean when old man Moyer came out of Spring Training as one of our starters we should have waved the white flag immediately. 

The offense has been great. If we had just an average rotation we probably would have had at least had a respectable season but to be frank the starting pitching has been the worse staff in Rox history (which is saying a whole lot because pre-humidor we had terrible staffs). Also Rox pitching is on pace for the worst staff ERA in the history of the game! And the saddest part in all this is that this is when pitching in baseball has been the strongest it has been since the end of the Steroid era. How bad is it comparatively speaking?  At High Heat Stats a few notes on this season's MLB seasonal averages:

1)  Run scoring is the 2nd-lowest value since 1992.  Rox are giving up 5.64 runs a game versus the 4.33 average.

2)  Strikeouts are up to 7.5 per game with walks down to 3.06 per game (lowest since 1968).  Average K/BB ration is 2.43.  Rox ratio is 2.15 overall but the starters are at 2.08.

3)  Hits per game are at 8.65 per game, the lowest value since 1989 and yet our Rox are giving up 10.24 hits per game!

So should we expect (maybe even demand?) changes in the head office? You would think when you send out and create the worse staff in the history of baseball that someone would be looking for a new job but this is the Rox we are talking about. The owner, who earlier this year, claimed that O'Dud was the greatest GM in the game is just clueless and could care less if a winning product is put on the field. Why should he when Coors Field is a cash cow. I mean when the Pirates were in town 2 weeks ago, in a mid week July game, over 40,000 people showed up!  Heck even when we embarrass ourselves when 9 fielders can't even remember how many outs there are in an inning and have to be reminded by the umpire that it is OK to leave the field the Rox manager continues to get a free pass.

As an aside I am also an avid Rapids fan.  In addition to the Rox, their season has been a disappointment as well.  They are currently on a 0-6-0 run in July.  But I will take what the Rapids are trying to do because when I watch them on the pitch they are giving an A effort.  Results might not be there but they care.  Their winless July streak was frustrating as a fan but their passion and desire was there even if wins weren't.  Plus their staff understand our frustration and give honest outlooks.  Look I love our Rox and I think in the end this year would have been more acceptable if the team had just been honest with itself.  The fact that it came up with a lot of BS and made a bunch of excuses just bothers me.  It will be an interesting off season to say the least!

Box Score Bytes - Game 100

- Game 35 of the Great Tracy Experiment: Record 12-23.  Sanchez's new uniform doesn't appear to make much difference.  Faced 22 batters didn't get out the fifth and got the loss.  Starter's record is now 5-18 with 12 no decisions and bullpen record of 7-5. 

-  Game 100 and Rox are now 37-63. On pace for 102 losses.  After yesterday somebody has to make some hard decisions.  In the bottom of the 5th, Rox reliever Torres strikes out for what was the third out in the inning but at this point all 9 players on the field were completely unaware of that fact.  Rox catcher threw it to the third baseman and only after the umpire related to the clueless Rox that was in fact the last out did the Rox leave the field.  Really?  Rox are not only bad but they have become an embarrassment.  Someone's head should roll for that.  Tracy obviously has lost the clubhouse, the team obviously doesn't care, and basically they are thinking that October 4th can't get here soon enough.  I am getting close to be done with team.  If they can't respect the game and at least try then I'm not bothering to waste my time going to see them...

- Rox lose the season series to the Reds 5-1.  Rox get swept at home again.  Truly amazing how quickly this team has just gotten bad.  Hate to break it to management but in the last 162 games, dating back to around the Ubaldo trade, Rox are 62-100.  For a team of young stars, this baptism by fire had better work otherwise it won't be just a bad 2012 but a bad 2013 too.

- On a positive note, CarGo has hit safely at home for 28 games, two game shy of Walker's 30 game record!

Box Score Bytes - Game 99

- Game 34 of the Great Tracy Experiment: Record 12-22.  Friedrich trial by fire continues.  After getting off to an OK start he now finds himself 5-8.  His ERA stands at 6.17 and either the 4 man rotation doesn't suit him or the book is out on him and he needs to make adjustments.  He gave up 7 runs with 55 pitches.  Hopefully all of this is a great learning experience cause otherwise this could be considered a cruel and unusual punishment.  Starter's record is now 5-17 with 12 no decisions and  bullpen record of 7-5.

- Colorado outhits the opposition and still loses.  Just another night of frustrating baseball.

- Hard to believe but this was the first game this season where the Rox surrendered 5 homers.

Box Score Bytes - Game 98

- Game 33 of the Great Tracy Experiment: Record 12-21.  Pomeranz continues to be that starter that shows some potential but still is lacking that veteran umph to gut through those rough innings.  He has started 10 games, going 1-6, with an ERA of 4.99.  He has averaged about 5 innings a start.  He went 5.1 yesterday throwing 87 pitches.  In the end I hope this kid finds whatever it is that makes pitchers be good because when all is said and done he will always be tied to our greatest starter, the one we traded away.  Starter's record is now 5-16 with 12 no decisions and  bullpen record of 7-5. 


- At this point I have given up trying to get Troy Renck and anyone else to listen that it isn't Coors Field that is the problem for the Rox pitchers.  Time after time pitchers come in and can tame the beast.  Tonight it was Bronson Arroyo who pitched into the 7th and got the win without giving up a run, despite having an 0-2 record with an 8.84 ERA in three career starts up to this point.  Regardless of the ball park a mature hurler can survive the Beast...something to think about before we trot out a bunch of Rookies next year...


- After the game, Marco Scutaro was traded to the Giants.  After a slow start and Tulo's injury, Marco was a steadying influence.  Batted .271 with 102 hits in 95 games and scored 47 runs, It is too bad the tandem of Scutaro and Tulo never really got to show off.  Good luck and thanks for being a professional.

Box Score Bytes - Game 97

- Game 32 of the Great Tracy Experiment: Record 12-20.  Scrap Heap Francis prevents the sweep and pitches a great 6 innings.  He actually started the 7th but then promptly gave up a home run and was shown the showers.    He threw 97 pitches (!) and gave up two runs.  I imagine he got a little more of a leash due to an off day and an extra day's rest.  Starter's record is now 5-15 with 12 no decisions and  bullpen record of 7-5.  What is the secret of Francis?  Stats below show the average for Francis and the combine average for the other starters since the experiment begain.  His stats are fairly comparable to the other average starters with the sole exception being strikes called looking.  For whatever reason what Francis throws deceives or keeps the batter off balance perhaps looking for one pitch but getting something else.

Pitcher	IP	GS	BF	K	Pitches	Strikes	Contact	Swing K	Look K	GB	FB	LD
Francis	42	52	21	3	78	50	27	7	16	9	8	2
Other	102	41	20	3	77	46	28	7	12	7	8	3

- Since Francis was signed on June 9, the Rockies are 8-2 when he starts and 5-25 with everyone else.


- Another nice night for Fowler who collected his 49 career triples for the Rockies, tying Neifi Perez for the franchise record. 


- Rox are 5-6 against the D-Backs, 4-5 against Dodgers, 5-7 against the Padres, and 2-3 against the Giants.  With a 16-21 against NL West opponents I would normally be excited but 2-13 against the AL and 19-26 against the rest of the NL makes it just one of those years...

Box Score Bytes - Game 96

- Game 31 of the Great Tracy Experiment: Record 11-20.  Rox AA prospect, Edwar Cabrera, got his second start of the year and basically showed that he is not ready for the BIGS.  He went 3.1 innings giving up two runs.  Starter's record is now 4-15 with 12 no decisions and a bullpen record of 7-5.


- Rox fought and loss against another lefty.  D-Backs Saunders went seven innings giving up 3 hits, one to reliever Josh Roenicke and two homers to Cuddyer.  Rox are 9-20 against south paws.


- Cuddyer accounted for both runs.  Second time this year he has had multiple homers in one game. Eighth time in his career.  


- If Rox can salvage at least one game in this series then the season series would be 6-5 in favor of the D-Backs.  Not bad considering...

Box Score Bytes - Game 95

- Game 30 of the Great Tracy Experiment: Record 11-19.  New comer Jonathon Sanchez was thrown into the mix going 4 innings giving up 5 runs.  Hmmm jersey changed but same results.  Starter's record is now 4-14 with 12 no decisions and a bullpen record of 7-5.

- Rutledge hit his first career HR and since being called up has had eight extra-base hits along with four singles.  Drafted in the 3rd round in 2010, he is the third member of that draft round to reach the bigs.

- This season just seems like a broken record.  Every game seems to be a carbon copy of what we continue to see.  When will this team find anything to build on?