Sweep
On May 2, 2005, I posted an article about the Rox being swept by the Dodge Ball Boys. Given the way the Rockies had started the season, and the way the pitching staff was performing, this was no surprise at all. The primary difficulties of the pitching staff as a whole were control and big innings. As I documented in the earlier article, at the time the Rox had a BB/9 rate of 5.60. Through 22 games, they had walked 10 or more in a ballgame three times and seven or more nine times. The BIS index, which measures the effects of big innings, stood at a nearly season-high 5.21. The team ERA stood at 6.34, by far the highest in baseball. The Rockies’ record was 6-16 and talk was running rampant about how bad this team would be.
Times have changed, somewhat. This weekend, the Rockies were the ones who delivered the three-game sweep to L.A. As a contrast, the pitching staff has settled down considerably, both from the standpoint of control and big innings. In the 114 games since the May 2 article, the Rox have walked ten or more batters only once and seven or more another nine times. The team BB/9 rate is down to 3.97 for the season. After a big inning on Sunday, the BIS index sits at 1.90. The team ERA is now at 5.21, pretty much in line with previous seasons and only the third worst in baseball, behind Tampa Bay and Kansas City. The Rockies’ record is 55-81, but talk is beginning to trickle about how good this team might be in the seasons to come.
After yesterday’s games, the Rockies are tied with Pittsburgh for the worst record in the NL. Suddenly within reach are the mighty Snakes of Arizona. Wouldn’t that be a great way to finish the season, by putting the Snakes in the NL West cellar?
The “Bullpen Watch” stands at 20 losses and 24 blown saves. This puts the team on a pace for the end of the season at 23 losses and 28 blown saves. These are still league highs, but a far cry from the record-setting 39 losses and 39 blown saves in 2004.
The Designation Committee met over the weekend and, with the recent success on the road and a sweep of the Dodge Ball Boys, decided to restore the capital “R”. Hopefully the Rockies can keep it the rest of the season.
Times have changed, somewhat. This weekend, the Rockies were the ones who delivered the three-game sweep to L.A. As a contrast, the pitching staff has settled down considerably, both from the standpoint of control and big innings. In the 114 games since the May 2 article, the Rox have walked ten or more batters only once and seven or more another nine times. The team BB/9 rate is down to 3.97 for the season. After a big inning on Sunday, the BIS index sits at 1.90. The team ERA is now at 5.21, pretty much in line with previous seasons and only the third worst in baseball, behind Tampa Bay and Kansas City. The Rockies’ record is 55-81, but talk is beginning to trickle about how good this team might be in the seasons to come.
After yesterday’s games, the Rockies are tied with Pittsburgh for the worst record in the NL. Suddenly within reach are the mighty Snakes of Arizona. Wouldn’t that be a great way to finish the season, by putting the Snakes in the NL West cellar?
The “Bullpen Watch” stands at 20 losses and 24 blown saves. This puts the team on a pace for the end of the season at 23 losses and 28 blown saves. These are still league highs, but a far cry from the record-setting 39 losses and 39 blown saves in 2004.
The Designation Committee met over the weekend and, with the recent success on the road and a sweep of the Dodge Ball Boys, decided to restore the capital “R”. Hopefully the Rockies can keep it the rest of the season.
posted by Todd Nikkel | 10:10 AM
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