Miscellaneous Ramblings
Well, another bad outcome to a game that the Rox could have won. The bullpen will get the loss but it was really Miles' boot of a routine grounder that opened the gates for the snakes. Despite the loss, there are some positives to focus on. First of all, Chacon delivered only the third strong outing by the rotation this season. After giving up a run in the first inning, Chacon settled down and was impressive. He was efficient, throwing 88 pitches over six innings, an average of about 15 per inning. He is obviously much more comfortable back in the rotation than he ever was as the closer last season. Second of all, the Rox pitchers did not allow a single walk. Before last night's game, the Rox had been giving free passes at a staggering rate of 6.84 per nine innings. Last season, the league average rate was 3.38. Clearly, the Rox must reduce their walks allowed dramatically if they are to have any degree of success at all.
Once again, being a high profile columnist has it's advantages. My contact within the Rockies clubhouse tells me the number one injury being treated in the trainer's room is whiplash. This injury has been experienced primarily by members of the relief corp, but some members of the rotation have had flare-ups also.
The bullpen at Colorado Springs appears to be ready if the Rox' relievers continue to falter. Chiasson, Witasick and Anderson allowed four runs in three innings last night for the Sky Sox.
Last week, Dan Lucero at Up in the Rockies, mentioned that Allan Simpson did something that happens every season, but not usually this early. That is, each season some pitcher for the Rox plays his way off of the team, back to CS. In fact, Simpson not only pitched his way off of the parent club, but completely out of the organization. Now that's not easy to do in the first week of the season.
It's becoming obvious to me that the bullpen was considered the wildcard for this team by Dealin' Dan and Clint. How else do you explain the number of moves that have been made already. DD was preaching patience to the media and fans every chance he got, but has demonstrated very little when it comes to the bullpen.
Apparently, the traditional June/July swoon has been moved up to April this season. Hopefully in 2006 it will be moved up to March and we won't have to worry about it anymore.
Once again, being a high profile columnist has it's advantages. My contact within the Rockies clubhouse tells me the number one injury being treated in the trainer's room is whiplash. This injury has been experienced primarily by members of the relief corp, but some members of the rotation have had flare-ups also.
The bullpen at Colorado Springs appears to be ready if the Rox' relievers continue to falter. Chiasson, Witasick and Anderson allowed four runs in three innings last night for the Sky Sox.
Last week, Dan Lucero at Up in the Rockies, mentioned that Allan Simpson did something that happens every season, but not usually this early. That is, each season some pitcher for the Rox plays his way off of the team, back to CS. In fact, Simpson not only pitched his way off of the parent club, but completely out of the organization. Now that's not easy to do in the first week of the season.
It's becoming obvious to me that the bullpen was considered the wildcard for this team by Dealin' Dan and Clint. How else do you explain the number of moves that have been made already. DD was preaching patience to the media and fans every chance he got, but has demonstrated very little when it comes to the bullpen.
Apparently, the traditional June/July swoon has been moved up to April this season. Hopefully in 2006 it will be moved up to March and we won't have to worry about it anymore.
posted by Todd Nikkel | 8:00 AM
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