Hey there, Rowbots!

 

Now that we know Jim Tracy will be back in 2012, but not extended (which means he's on at least fairly thin ice), it's time to start the Jim Tracy Firing Pool. So, here's the big question, on what day will Jim Tracy officially no longer be the manager of the Colorado Rockies? This can be via firing, resignation or non-renewal of his contract. Also, as a bonus bit of fun, who will be the man to replace him when he's gone? The prize for the winner is this: bragging rights and not having to watch Jim Tracy manage the Rockies any more.

 

As for my picks, I'll go with May 18, 2012 with a dark-horse, Joe Mikulik as his replacement.

 

Let the games begin!

Normally, Phillies fans are obnoxious and I can't stand them, but one of them summed up my thoughts on sabermetrics almost perfectly in Bill Simmons' Mailbag today.

 

Wanna know why sabermetrics still hasn't caught on with some baseball fans? Some of us hook up with girls. Do I think Ryan Howard is the best hitter in baseball because he gets 140 RBIs every year? No, but he's a damn good first baseman and I don't need some nerd running lab experiments to tell me so. I'd rather spend my time drinking beers in the parking lot and shouting obscenities in Spanish at passing Mets fans. That's what baseball's all about. If I wanted to do math and science I wouldn't be watching baseball.

Even though the people involved probably won't read this, I thought it would be good to share the story of a good deed done by some fellow Rockies fans at Coors Field today and thank them if they do come across this.

My brother, a friend and I, all college students, headed down to the doubleheader yesterday. We were supposed to go last night after getting Rockpile seats for College Night, but alas, it was not to be. As we were waiting in line to exchange our tickets from last night for tickets for the doubleheader, a couple, season ticket holders, came up and offered us their tickets from last night to exchange instead. Needless to say, it was quite the upgrade! We eneded up sitting 20 rows up right behind first base.

So to those folks, I say a sincere thank you, and I hope you enjoyed the day of baseball as much as we did.

 

Oh, and GO ROCKIES!

 

I've been having dreams that my beloved Vikings will select Tim Tebow in the first round tonight. I really want to see this happen for a number of reasons:

1. The Vikings are a Super Bowl caliber team RIGHT NOW. With veterans like Favre, Phat Pat, and Winfield, the window of opportunity may be very short. While not an every down starter, Tebow could be an effective offensive weapon at times. He could be a part time, Wildcat-type quarterback like he was for Florida's national championship team in 2006. The Vikings are solid on both sides of the ball, so building depth and addressing long-term issues are key in this draft. Tim Tebow would do that.

2. I  think Tebow will be a high-quality NFL player. He says he is driven to be a successful quarterback in the NFL, and I think he has the potential to do so. He is working on his mechanics and has shown he is coachable.A year with an all-time great like Brett Favre will only speed his development. Many commentators have speculated on this, and opinions are varied, but I think he will go to several Pro Bowls.

3. I really like Tebow as a person and will appreciate the media attention he will get. I admire Tebow's evangelical christian background and incredible work ethic. He is exactly the kind of player and person I want to be drafted by my favorite team. It's as simple as that.

4. T-Jack ain't the answer, folks. Sorry.

 

Conclusion: I think drafting Tebow is as high-risk and high-reward as we've seen, but I think he could enhance our Super Bowl aspirations this year and next year and get us our first ring. I really hope the Vikings draft Tebow!

There is no doubt that some bad calls have gone against the Rockies in the last few games, but the question is why. Is MLB trying to get a bigger market in the playoffs? Are umps holding a grudge over the SpillySlam incident? Are we not getting respect? Or is it just plain human error that we're noticing more in the pennant race. Many opinions have been expressed on the issue, so I thought a formal poll was in order.

Poll

Are we getting the shaft?

8%

Yes, because MLB wants someone else in the playoffs

12 votes

22%

Yes, it's a grudge from the SpillySlam incident

31 votes

28%

Yes, but it's unintentional

39 votes

16%

Yes, but I'm not sure why

23 votes

22%

No

31 votes

136 votes | Poll has closed

Like everybody around here, I have loved the national attention the Rockies have gotten over the last week or so. But it frustrates me a bit because the national media is acting like we've been mediocre until the last couple weeks and have come out of nowhere. When the Dodgers got off to their hot start in the first half, they were lauded as clear NL favorites and something of a juggernaut.

The Dodgers were 51-30 in their first 81 games, or half a season, on pace for a 102-60 full season record.

The Rockies have gone 55-26 in their last 81 games, also half a season, a pace for a 110-52 record for a full season.

This is not some three week or one month fluke type thing in 2007, the Rockies are one of the best teams in baseball and should be treated as such, instead they are treated as some sort of Cinderella story because they got off to a slow start.


It's just a bit insulting, IMO.

In last night's game thread, I believe, It was brought up that Stephen Drew was someone's favorite non-Rockie. That got me wondering who everybody's favorite non-Rockie players were around here. I think we should eliminate former Rockies from the conversation, so no picking Matt Holliday or Brian Fuentes. It should be interesting to see who the other popular players are among the Rowbots around here. A why to your selection would be nice too.

By the way, my favorite non-Rockie is Chipper Jones. I've got family in Atlanta and the Braves have pretty mych always been my second favorite team.

And I've got the stats to prove it.

Since Jackson took over for Frerotte against Detroit, here are his numbers compared to McNabb's:

Jackson: 64.0% completions, 740 yards, 8 TD, 1 INT, 115.4 QB Rating

McNabb: 62.9% completions, 886 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT, 91.9 QB Rating

Too small of a sample size you say, let's take a look at their season stats:

Jackson: 59.1% completions, 1,056 yards, 9 TD, 2 INT, 95.4 QB Rating

McNabb: 60.4% completions, 3,916 yards, 23 TD, 11 INT, 86.4 QB Rating

Also, if you project T-Jack's numbers out to the same number of attempts as McNabb, it gives him 4,047 yards, 34 TDs and 8 INT, better than McNabb. So, everyone saying that Jackson will cost the Vikings the game today should look at the numbers and realize that McNabb is just as likely to screw things up for Philly. 

 

The first official playoff game at Coors Field since 1995 saw a little bit of everything. But, the important part was that the Rockies were up 2-0 on the Phils, and only needed one win to get to the NLCS.

Ubaldo Jimenez struggled a bit in the first inning, but struck out Aaron Rowand to escape a jam with runners on 1st and 3rd.

In the second, it got weird. With Ubaldo facing Shane Victorino to leadoff the inning, all of the field lights at Coors shut off for 14 minutes. Giving Ubaldo much needed time to clear his head. Once the lights came back on, Ubaldo set the Phillies down in order in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings.

The problem for the Rockies was that Jamie Moyer was doing the same thing. The Rockies threatened in the bottom of the second, getting 2-out singles from Hawpe and Spilly. Moyer then walked Yorvit to load the bases...for Ubaldo, who grounded out to end the inning.

No one really threatened to score again until the fifth when Yorvit got a one out single and was sacrificed to second by Ubaldo. That brought up Game 2 hero Kaz Matsui, who tripled down the left field line, scoring Torrealba and giving the Rockies a 1-0 lead.

The Phillies answered in the 7th, when Victorino hit a solo shot off a tired Ubaldom tying the game, 1-1.

The game stayed tied until the bottom of the 8th, when Atkins and Hawpe each got 2-out singles, putting runners on 1st and 3rd for the pitchers' spot. Jeff Baker came in to pinch hit and dropped a bloop single into right field, scoring Atkins and giving the Rockies a 2-1 lead with Corpas ready in the 'pen to face the heart of the Phillies order.

Corpas did his job in the 9th, striking out Ryan Howard and getting weak ground balls from Rowand and Victorino, and the Rockies were headed to the NLCS!

The brooms were everywhere that night, I was there with my brother and family and we had a silver and black broom with a Rockies logo on it. I'll try and post a pic of it later tonight with some more of the story of my day that day.

On Sunday, Aaron Cook was selected to the All-Star Game. Most Rockies fans were very happy for him, and while I was as well, I was also a little nervous. Why, you ask? Cook is the third Rockies pitcher, after Mike Hampton in 2001 and Shawn Chacon in 2003, to be selected to the All-Star Game. For Hampton and Chacon, the selection spelled doom for their Rockies careers. Some numbers to digest:

Mike Hampton:

Before the All-Star Break in 2001: 9-5, 4.02 ERA

Rockies Career after 2001 All-Star Game: 12-23, 6.56 ERA

Shawn Chacon:

Before the All-Star Break in 2003: 11-4, 4.27 ERA

Rockies Career after 2003 All-Star Game: 2-20, 5.53 ERA

Combined, the two men were 20-9 with a 4.14 ERA in the seasons before their All-Star appearances and 14-43 with a 6.16 ERA in their Rockies career afterwards. There is also the fact that Hampton hasn't made a Major League appearance in three seasons with arm injuries and Chacon recently went Latrell Spreewell on his GM and his career is likely over. Let's hope that Cookie can break the Curse of the All-Star Rockies pitcher.

I took all of the Jeff Baker jokes from the last couple days and put them in one place. Here they are:

Jeff Baker once saw a cow on the road. He punched a hole through it so he could see the other side.

 

God's ideal golf foursome is two Jeff Bakers and Tiger Woods... and Woods is only thrown is so God could get some of the money he loses to Bake back.

 

Jeff Baker doesn’t worry about changing his clock twice a year for daylight savings time.

 

The sun rises and sets when Bake tells it to.

 

Jeff Baker is what Willis was talking about.

 

In Soviet Russia,  Jeff Baker plays you.

 

Jeff Baker can sneeze with his eyes open, AND get a hit while doing so.

 

Jeff Baker went to church today... the preacher paid him 10%.

 

There is no theory of evolution, there is only what Jeff Baker allows to live.

 

The world shuts down when Jeff Baker fails.

 

Jeff Baker once caught a pop up. With someone else’s prosthetic hand.

 

Jeff Baker doesn't catch fly balls, he squeezes them into submission.

 

On the 7th day God rested...and Jeff Baker invented baseball.

 

Jeff Baker ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one.

 

When you say, “no one is perfect” Jeff Baker takes it as a personal insult.

 

Jeff Baker doesn’t fail. He waits.

 

Jeff Baker bowled a 300. In one frame.

 

Jeff Baker's chin is so strong...it could knock out Kimbo Slice.

 

Jeff Baker does not own a house. He walks into random houses and people move.

 

Jeff Baker doesn't take batting practice...he takes moonshot practice. The upper deck shudders everytime Jeff Baker swings the bat.

 

Jeff Baker doesn’t say “Who’s your daddy?” because he knows the answer.

 

Jeff Baker doesn't sleep with women...he impregnates them with his smouldering eyes.

 

When Jeff Baker wants an egg, he cracks open a chicken.

 

Jeff Baker can play Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. By himself. With nothing but his penis and a drum set.

 

Eric Byrnes is allowed to live because Jeff Baker doesn’t kill women.

 

Jeff Baker discovered the meaning of life. Too bad he didn’t want to share it with anyone.

 

There is no such thing as global warming. Jeff Baker was cold, so he turned the sun up.

 

Jeff Baker doesn’t use facts. If he thinks it, it becomes fact.

 

In the beginning there was nothing. Then Jeff Baker hit a ball off it and said, “Get a job.” That is the story of the universe.

 

Jeff Baker put laxative companies out of business. He scares the shit out of everyone.

 

There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq...Jeff Baker plays in Colorado.

 

Jeff Baker understands Hurdle’s managerial decisions. He just doesn’t believe in sharing.

 

Outer space exists because it’s afraid to be on the same planet as Jeff Baker.

 

The dead-ball era was named after every one of Jeff Baker’s at-bats. Because he kills the ball when he hits it. He literally kills it.

 

Jeff Baker can bend the space time continuum, turning strikes into balls and giving Willy only 20’ to steal second.

 

Jeff Baker uses a night light. Not because Jeff Baker is afraid of the dark, but because the dark is afraid of Jeff Baker.

 

Behind Todd Helton's beard is Jeff Baker’s fist.

 

 

 

 

4-5, 94 1/3 IP, 82 H, 61 R, 50 ER, 49 BB, 82 K, 10 HRA, 4.77 ERA, 1.39 WHIP

1-1, 17 2/3 IP, 17 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 10 BB, 9 K, 2 HRA, 4.07 ERA, 1.53 WHIP

Those two lines are both for the same pitcher, Ubaldo Jimenez. The first line is his numbers in games caught by Yorvit Torrealba, the second line is his numbers in games caught by Chris Iannetta. We are constantly being told by "the powers that be" that Torrealba is in there because of his excellent mentoring of our Latin pitchers.

With Ubaldo at least, there seems to be no big difference between his performance with Torrealba and Iannetta behind the plate. His walk and strikeout numbers are a little better with Torrealba, but his ERA is nearly a full run lower with Iannetta behind the dish. So, it doesn't seem to matter to Ubaldo who his catcher is. Franklin Morales, however, is a different story.

With Torrealba: 2-3, 41 1/3 IP, 37 H, 16 R, 16 ER, 23 BB, 22 K, 1 HRA, 3.48 ERA, 1.45 WHIP

With Iannetta: 2-1, 18 IP, 20 H, 16 R, 16 ER, 8 BB, 9 K, 2 HRA, 8.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP

Morales, unlike Ubaldo, seems to actually benefit from having Torrealba catch him. His ERA more than doubles with Iannetta behind the plate. But Frankie's in the minors now, so if you look at the numbers the club currently has no excuse for keeping Iannetta on the bench. If/when Franklin comes back, though, get Yorvit behind the plate when Morales is on the mound. 

Here are the team and some individual rankings from the new game Major League Baseball 2k8:

1. New York Yankees
   
2. Detroit Tigers
   
3. Boston Red Sox
   
4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
   
5. New York Mets
   
6. Los Angeles Dodgers
   
7. Cleveland Indians
   
8. Minnesota Twins
   
9. Chicago Cubs
   
10. San Diego Padres
    
11. Toronto Blue Jays
    
12. Atlanta Braves
    
13. Philadelphia Phillies
    
14. Tampa Bay Rays
    
15. St. Louis Cardinals
    
16. Colorado Rockies
    
17. Chicago White Sox
    
18. Milwaukee Brewers
    
19. Cincinnati Reds
    
20. Seattle Mariners
    
21. Oakland Athletics
    
22. Arizona Diamondbacks
    
23. Houston Astros
    
24. Baltimore Orioles
    
25. San Francisco Giants
    
26. Washington Nationals
    
27. Pittsburgh Pirates
    
28. Texas Rangers
    
29. Kansas City Royals
    
30. Florida Marlins

Some individuals:
Helton: 88 Overall (10th best 1B)
Tulo: 82 Overall (9th at SS)
Atkins: 85 Overall (9th at 3B)
Holliday: 90 Overall (5th in LF)
Hawpe: 80 Overall (14th in RF)
Corpas: 84 Overall (20th best Closer)

Nobody else is in the top 20 at their position, unless you count Marcus Giles who is better than Kaz for some reason.

Catcher:
Yorvit Torrealba-Rockies: Torrealba's main strength is the way he handles the Rockies' young pitching staff and calls games. While he has come up with some key hits in the postseason, Torrealba is a below average hitter overall.
Jason Varitek-Red Sox:  Boston's captain is an above average hitter, with 17 home runs and 68 RBIs in the regular season. He is just average defensively.
Edge: Varitek is the heart and soul of the Red Sox. That and the pop in his bat give the edge to Boston.

1st Base:
Todd Helton-Rockies: Like Varitek, Helton is the heart and soul of his team. While not the player he once was, Helton is still outstanding defensively and above average at the plate.
Kevin Youkilis-Red Sox: Youkilis is very similar to Helton. He is above average defensively and has been solid hitting second for the Red Sox with a .288 average in the regular season.
Edge: These two players are very similar, but Helton's defense gives the Rockies the edge.

2nd Base:
Kazuo Matsui-Rockies: Playing in just 104 games for the Rockies, Matsui was just average at the plate. Where he had a big impact was on the basepaths, with 32 stolen bases this season. He has also been above average defensively.
Dustin Pedroia-Red Sox: The likely AL Rookie of the Year, Pedroia hit .317 for the Sox in the regular season, striking out just 42 times in 139 games. He was also solid at second base defensively.
Edge: Because of the spark he provides for the team, the edge goes to Matsui and the Rockies.

Shortstop:
Troy Tulowitzki-Rockies: Tulowitzki has been the catalyst for the Rockies' late season run. He hit 24 homers and drove in 99 during the regular season and played outstanding defense.
Julio Lugo-Red Sox: Lugo is above average defensively, but is easily the weakest bat of any starter in the series. Lugo hit just .237 in the regular season and .219 in the AL Playoffs.
Edge: Big advantage for the Rockies and Tulowitzki here.

3rd Base:
Garrett Atkins-Rockies: Atkins has a very good bat, with 25 home runs and 111 RBIs in the regular season. He struggles defensively, often being pulled for Jamey Carroll late in games.
Mike Lowell: Lowell had a very good year offensively, hitting .324 with 21 homers and 120 RBIs. He is also very good defensively at the hot corner.
Edge: Lowell would likely be the AL MVP if not for A-Rod's performance this season, so Boston gets the edge here.

Left Field:
Matt Holliday-Rockies: The NLCS MVP hit .340 with 36 home runs and 137 RBIs in the regular season. He has also hit four home runs in seven postseason games and has improved his defense significantly.
Manny Ramirez-Red Sox: While he has more name recognition than Holliday, Ramirez was not significantly better in 2007. He hit .296 with 20 home runs and just 88 RBIs in the regular season. He is also noted for his defense, but not in a good way.
Edge: America, get ready to meet Matt Holliday, advantage Rockies.

Center Field:
Willy Taveras-Rockies: Taveras played in just 97 games for the Rockies this season, but led the team with 33 steals. Taveras also hit .320 on the year and played a very good center field defensively.
Coco Crisp/Jacoby Ellsbury-Red Sox: Crisp and Ellsbury have platooned in center throughout September. Ellsbury has the better bat, but Crisp is very good defensively.
Edge: The edge goes to the Rockies because they won't use a platoon.

Right Field:
Brad Hawpe-Rockies: Hawpe hits far better against righties than against lefties. The Red Sox will start four righties in the series. Hawpe hit .315 with 24 homers against righties in 2007 and has a cannon for an arm in right field.
J.D. Drew-Red Sox: Drew has been a $70 million disappointment for Boston this season, hitting just .270 with 11 home runs. On the positive side, he will not be a liability defensively.
Edge: The edge easily goes to Colorado here, Hawpe has been very solid.

DH:
Ryan Spilborghs-Rockies: Spilborghs played very well as a pinch hitter and as Taveras' replacement in 2007. He had 11 home runs and 51 RBIs to go with his .299 average in 97 games in 2007.
David Ortiz-Red Sox: Ortiz was Boston's best hitter this season, hitting .332 with 35 home runs. Ortiz has also been very good in the playoffs, with 11 home runs in 47 postseason games.
Edge: Spilborghs is a good hitter, but he's no Big Papi. Boston gets the edge.