Just Plain Ugly

No excuses for the Rockies last night--if that was even the Rockies. It looks more like the Cubs stayed behind and the Rockies left town. 3 errors and several misplays led to an ugly 7-3 loss to the Pirates. Jhoulys Chacin making his first major league start didn't do himself any favors by walking 6 (one intentionally), and hit a batter (but he swung at the pitch).

The good news? The Rockies got through the game only using 4 pitchers as Josh Fogg came in and pitched 4 1/3 innings. And it's a new game tonight.

Todd Helton got two hits to move his second longest hitting streak to 16 one short of his all-time record of 17.

Troy Tulowitzki homered in the 2nd inning, but grounded out in the 4th to end his consecutive hit streak at 6.

Back to Chacin's HBP--As Tracy Ringolsby pointed out on the post game show, the ball should have been dead, and the runner could not advance. Had he not swung and was hit by the pitch the ball is dead, the fact that he swung at it doesn't make it a live ball. At the very least when Jim Tracy came out to argue, the home plate umpire should have checked with the rest of the crew to see whether they saw a foul ball or the ball hit him.

Relevant Rule is 6.08(b)

6.08 The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when—

(b) He is touched by a pitched ball which he is not attempting to hit unless (1) The ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or (2) The batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball;

If the ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a strike, whether or not the batter tries to avoid the ball. If the ball is outside the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a ball if he makes no attempt to avoid being touched.

APPROVED RULING: When the batter is touched by a pitched ball which does not entitle him to first base, the ball is dead and no runner may advance.

This is just one the Umpires should have made sure they got right.

There have just been so many crazy plays the last few days, including Todd Helton's "wedgie" on a foul ball, Brad Hawpe's misplay of the ball off the foul territory along withe Hit By Pitch. Baseball just never gets old, even in the losses.