Same Old RISP-less Rockies?

The Rockies changed a lot over the winter, but the result of the first weekend of the 2012 Season, wasn't that much different than the past couple of seasons.

1 for 13

The Rockies managed to only get 1 hit with Runners in Scoring Position--that being a Todd Helton Double in Friday's game.  

Of course the Rockies started out 2011 with 3 for 16--but that was in the first game alone!  In the first 3 games, they were 6 for 29.   In 2010 they were 4 for 30.

The startling number isn't the 1 for, it's the 13.  Not many chances in the new look offense and the Rockies only scored 10 runs...in Houston!

On the positive side, Jeremy Guthrie's debut and Juan Nicasio's return were tremendous starts, and even the ageless Jamie Moyer, didn't do badly giving up 4 runs (3 Earned) in 5 innings.

The 2012 Schedule

Ever since MLB introduced inter-league play in 1997 it seems that the Rockies and the NL West have gotten screwy schedules.  From the 2 game series of the early years, to the random assigning of opponents in the later years, much of it has never made sense.

In 2013, Inter-League plays takes on a new format with the Astros moving to the NL West, but in 2012, the schedule finally makes some sense.

For instance, the Rockies have no opponent that they play only 2 games against at home or Road.  They will play every NL opponent at least 6 times (3 home, 3 away).  Their "compensatory" opponent is the Phillies this year after having Milwaukee the last couple of years.  This is the opponent that NL Teams have to play during inter-league play because of the uneven number of teams in the NL vs. AL.

The Rockies once again have 81 home games and 81 road games, and for the first time the Rockies have scheduled a home double header on Memorial Day against Houston although it is two separate admissions.

In order to succeed this season, the Rockies will have to win early, or win on the road--or both.  Their home schedule is heavily overweighted with their first 2 home stands each being 9-games and playing 13 of 16  at home from Memorial Day through June 14.  

The flip side is that they will play heavily on the Road from August 20 to October 3.  One third (27) of their road games will be played in those 6.5 weeks with only 16 home games.   Worse, the Rockies will only have 2 off days between August 9th and the end of the season, while they are doing the heavy travelling.  It would be against a lot of odds, for the Rockies to make a comeback during this stretch.

Their individual road trips don't look too bad, the longest being 9 games in late June to Detroit Philadelphia and Texas.  The only other 3 city trip is San Diego, LA and SF 8 games in May.

Long home stands are against SF, Arizona and San Diego, in April; New York Mets, LA Dodgers and Atlanta April 27-May 6; Cincinnati, St. Louis and San Francisco (10 games) July 27-August 5.

A good start will be needed and then hold on tight in September.  Not the usual formula, but the one that is needed.