My, Oh My!
The only blemish for the Rox last night was a missed extra point.
The Rox tied the franchise record for runs and had a season high in hits. As is sometimes said in a game with a lopsided score, it wasn't even as close as the score indicates. The Rockies had seven runs before the Padres recorded the second out and had 15 runs with one out in the third. Bochy pretty much emptied the bench in the fourth inning, replacing all but two of the Padres' starters. Holliday matched the club record for rbi in a game at eight and launched two blasts, one that landed on the concourse in left field and another that hit three quarters up the left field foul pole. Sean Burroughs pitched the eighth for San Diego, tossing up 75 MPH fastballs. I must admit, it was fun to watch.
If someone had told me before the game that one team would score seven in the first, I would have guessed the Padres against Wright. Williams, though, has struggled mightily at CF over his career, posting a 15.75 ERA over six games. Wright may have very well started his last game as a Rockie and he made it count.
Although there were many last night, the top highlight for me had to be having Jim Johnson, the Rockies' roving hitting instructor for the minor leagues, in the booth for an inning. He talked about the state of the hitters the Rox have in the minors and their progress this season. He also told a story about when he was in Casper this summer and the Rockies started a game with three straight bunt singles, something he had never seen in his 32 years in baseball.
I noticed in the boxscore from Monday's game that Fuentes has a lower ERA, 2.50, than Hoffman, 2.96. If the Rockies achieved only one thing this season, it was that they discovered their closer, something that has eluded them the last few seasons.
An article in the Arizona Republic over the weekend stated that the Rockies may be the team to beat in the NL West in 2006. As Mark with TGTBATB has repeatedly mentioned lately, when the national and east coast media stop assuming the Rockies are terrible and start to actually pay attention, then maybe that thought will spread. Unless major improvements are made somewhere in then NL West, the Rockies may have as good a chance as anyone else.
While seeing various possibilities for NL ROY, Atkins name was not among the candidates. Granted, his average and power have not been there, but he does lead all NL rookies in rbi. Even if he doesn't end up hitting the home runs, Atkins will be an rbi machine for years to come.
After all of Helton's struggles at the plate this season, he is fourth in the NL in batting average at .316 after Tuesday. Imagine what this team could do next season if he is on all year and has his power back.
My thoughts and prayers are with Jorge Piedra and his family. Due to give birth soon, his wife experienced problems and their newborn baby may require open heart surgery.
Fever Pitch is in the mail from Blockbuster Online. I'll give my thoughts on it in a future posting.
The family vacation was good. Five days filled with fun, relaxation and refreshment. Watching a three year old play miniature golf is a hoot.
The Rox tied the franchise record for runs and had a season high in hits. As is sometimes said in a game with a lopsided score, it wasn't even as close as the score indicates. The Rockies had seven runs before the Padres recorded the second out and had 15 runs with one out in the third. Bochy pretty much emptied the bench in the fourth inning, replacing all but two of the Padres' starters. Holliday matched the club record for rbi in a game at eight and launched two blasts, one that landed on the concourse in left field and another that hit three quarters up the left field foul pole. Sean Burroughs pitched the eighth for San Diego, tossing up 75 MPH fastballs. I must admit, it was fun to watch.
If someone had told me before the game that one team would score seven in the first, I would have guessed the Padres against Wright. Williams, though, has struggled mightily at CF over his career, posting a 15.75 ERA over six games. Wright may have very well started his last game as a Rockie and he made it count.
Although there were many last night, the top highlight for me had to be having Jim Johnson, the Rockies' roving hitting instructor for the minor leagues, in the booth for an inning. He talked about the state of the hitters the Rox have in the minors and their progress this season. He also told a story about when he was in Casper this summer and the Rockies started a game with three straight bunt singles, something he had never seen in his 32 years in baseball.
I noticed in the boxscore from Monday's game that Fuentes has a lower ERA, 2.50, than Hoffman, 2.96. If the Rockies achieved only one thing this season, it was that they discovered their closer, something that has eluded them the last few seasons.
An article in the Arizona Republic over the weekend stated that the Rockies may be the team to beat in the NL West in 2006. As Mark with TGTBATB has repeatedly mentioned lately, when the national and east coast media stop assuming the Rockies are terrible and start to actually pay attention, then maybe that thought will spread. Unless major improvements are made somewhere in then NL West, the Rockies may have as good a chance as anyone else.
While seeing various possibilities for NL ROY, Atkins name was not among the candidates. Granted, his average and power have not been there, but he does lead all NL rookies in rbi. Even if he doesn't end up hitting the home runs, Atkins will be an rbi machine for years to come.
After all of Helton's struggles at the plate this season, he is fourth in the NL in batting average at .316 after Tuesday. Imagine what this team could do next season if he is on all year and has his power back.
My thoughts and prayers are with Jorge Piedra and his family. Due to give birth soon, his wife experienced problems and their newborn baby may require open heart surgery.
Fever Pitch is in the mail from Blockbuster Online. I'll give my thoughts on it in a future posting.
The family vacation was good. Five days filled with fun, relaxation and refreshment. Watching a three year old play miniature golf is a hoot.
posted by Todd Nikkel | 7:35 AM
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