Between now and the All-Star Break the Rockies play all of their games against the NL West. All 4 Teams and 16 games total. Perfect time to get on a winning streak. Since Troy Tulowitzki went out on June 14, the Rockies are 2-9 during that stretch, and now have had 6 losing streaks of 3 or more games since late May.
For the first time this season, the Rockies are 2 games under .500 at 39-41. Tonight marks the halfway point of the season with the Rockies playing nearly the entire half above .500 but will end the first half with a losing record.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Somehow Staying in it
The Rockies are 11-11 in June continuing a wild ride that they have been on for the first half of the season. San Diego has been 14-9, but Arizona is 11-10 and San Francisco 9-13. This has kept the Rockies in 2nd place and only lost 1/2 game on Arizona overall.
Since May 7th, the Rockies have had 5 separate losing streaks of 3 or more games (including a 4-game and a 5-game streak), while only having 2 winning streaks of 3 games (the last ending on May 24th). During that time their record is 20-25.
Once again, nobody else in the west has taken advantage of this sluggishness, which is why it could be a positive that they are only 3.5 games out at this point.
Odd fact of the week: The Rockies and Blue Jays have met in 15 times in 5 series playing 9 games in Toronto and 6 at Coors Field. The home team has won in each of the 15 games.
Since May 7th, the Rockies have had 5 separate losing streaks of 3 or more games (including a 4-game and a 5-game streak), while only having 2 winning streaks of 3 games (the last ending on May 24th). During that time their record is 20-25.
Once again, nobody else in the west has taken advantage of this sluggishness, which is why it could be a positive that they are only 3.5 games out at this point.
Odd fact of the week: The Rockies and Blue Jays have met in 15 times in 5 series playing 9 games in Toronto and 6 at Coors Field. The home team has won in each of the 15 games.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
NL West: Strong or Weak
Don't look now, but the San Diego Padres are in contention in the NL West. After sweeping the D-Backs this weekend, the Padres closed to within 2 games of the division leading Snakes. The Rockies meanwhile in a 3-3 week, managed to close to within 1/2 a game of Arizona.
So at this point in the season, it's a fair question to ask: Is the NL West a strong division or weak? It's easy to say that the NL Central is the strongest division in Baseball with 3 teams 10 games or more over .500. Or maybe it's the AL East with 4 teams above .500 and the Toronto Blue Jays only 4 games under .500. Perhaps the NL West is a little bit weaker than the NL Central, and certainly have not held up well against the AL East. (collectively the NL West is 9-15 vs. the AL East so far). But the NL West does have a collective 37-27 vs. the NL East and a 35-34 record against the NL Central.
Over 90 games left to go but it could be the NL West could be the most competitve and strongest division in the National League. The Padres emergence as a competitive team, means there are 4 possible teams that could take off shortly. Since May 1, the Padres are 25-18, Arizona is 22-20, Giants 20-21, and the Rockies 20-22.
Since the Rockies are headed on the road for 9 Games and 19 of their next 26, so I wouldn't expect the Rockies to make a move on the leaders in the next month especially with Tulowitzki out. Their best hope would be to stay with the leaders and not fall too far behind before the All-Star break. But then again stranger things have happened.
So at this point in the season, it's a fair question to ask: Is the NL West a strong division or weak? It's easy to say that the NL Central is the strongest division in Baseball with 3 teams 10 games or more over .500. Or maybe it's the AL East with 4 teams above .500 and the Toronto Blue Jays only 4 games under .500. Perhaps the NL West is a little bit weaker than the NL Central, and certainly have not held up well against the AL East. (collectively the NL West is 9-15 vs. the AL East so far). But the NL West does have a collective 37-27 vs. the NL East and a 35-34 record against the NL Central.
Over 90 games left to go but it could be the NL West could be the most competitve and strongest division in the National League. The Padres emergence as a competitive team, means there are 4 possible teams that could take off shortly. Since May 1, the Padres are 25-18, Arizona is 22-20, Giants 20-21, and the Rockies 20-22.
Since the Rockies are headed on the road for 9 Games and 19 of their next 26, so I wouldn't expect the Rockies to make a move on the leaders in the next month especially with Tulowitzki out. Their best hope would be to stay with the leaders and not fall too far behind before the All-Star break. But then again stranger things have happened.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Hanging In There
I have to admit, I turned the Rockies game off in the 7th inning yesterday after the Padres took a 7-4 lead. After watching them squander opportunity after opportunity offensively to score runs for the past few weeks, I figured a 3 run deficit was going to be hard to overcome.
But somehow they did it in the bottom of the 9th and the 10th managing a split over the Padres for the weekend giving them a 4-3 record for the week and actually gaining a game on the D-Backs.
The Rockies sorely missed Michael Cuddyer who was out for the final 3 games, but is hopeful of returning Tuesday against the Nationals. With Cargo, Tulo, and even Wilin Rosario starting to hit again, this lineup could be formidable in the warm weather joining Cuddyer, who has hit pretty well all year.
I grew up watching Mike Schmidt play. I consider Schmidt the greatest defensive third baseman I have ever seen (slightly ahead of Brooks Robinson). I have spent the past 16 years watching the Rockies third basemen play including Vinnie Castillo, Garrett Atkins, and Ian Stewart. But Nolan Arenado has the chance to surpass all of them and maybe--just maybe surpass Schmidt. Arenado has crazy quick reflexes, a great arm, and a head for the game which was on display when he tried to create a double play on a ball down the line. He definitely saved the Friday night game with his diving stop to his left, before he won it with his bat.
Speaking of fielding the Rockies have made quite a few errors lately, but they have also come up with some spectacular catches. Cargo made 3 catches yesterday including one that would have been a home run. The Padres were no slouches as well with some amazing grabs that kept the games from getting away from them. All in all, a pretty exciting series.
But somehow they did it in the bottom of the 9th and the 10th managing a split over the Padres for the weekend giving them a 4-3 record for the week and actually gaining a game on the D-Backs.
The Rockies sorely missed Michael Cuddyer who was out for the final 3 games, but is hopeful of returning Tuesday against the Nationals. With Cargo, Tulo, and even Wilin Rosario starting to hit again, this lineup could be formidable in the warm weather joining Cuddyer, who has hit pretty well all year.
I grew up watching Mike Schmidt play. I consider Schmidt the greatest defensive third baseman I have ever seen (slightly ahead of Brooks Robinson). I have spent the past 16 years watching the Rockies third basemen play including Vinnie Castillo, Garrett Atkins, and Ian Stewart. But Nolan Arenado has the chance to surpass all of them and maybe--just maybe surpass Schmidt. Arenado has crazy quick reflexes, a great arm, and a head for the game which was on display when he tried to create a double play on a ball down the line. He definitely saved the Friday night game with his diving stop to his left, before he won it with his bat.
Speaking of fielding the Rockies have made quite a few errors lately, but they have also come up with some spectacular catches. Cargo made 3 catches yesterday including one that would have been a home run. The Padres were no slouches as well with some amazing grabs that kept the games from getting away from them. All in all, a pretty exciting series.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Home for 11 Days
The Rockies completed their last short road trip before the last weekend of the season by taking two of three games against Cincinnati, who has the best Home record in the Major Leagues. Correction HAD the best home record which now belongs to the Atlanta Braves.
With the Cincinnati Trip, the Rockies completed all but 3 of their road games against the NL Central. The remaining series is in Pittsburgh Aug 2-4. They have yet to play an NL Central team at home. Their first game at Home is against the Cubs on July 19 following the All-Star Break. The Rockies are 6-6 vs. the NL Central for the season.
On the flip side the Home stand that the Rockies are about to embark on will see two NL East teams come in, leaving them with only games against Miami July 22-25, and the makeup game with the Mets on June 27 as NL East home games. The Rockies first visit to the NL East is on the next Road Trip June 20th at Washington, the remainder are in Late July and August.
Quirky schedule to be sure, but not the quirkiest thing I've found in any schedule. In an unbelievable scheduling quirk, AL Central Teams Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox have their first meeting of the year on July 9, which is the 89th game for Detroit, and 88th for the Sox. How does it happen that a two division opponents never meet in the first half of the season? Keep in mind that the 4 division opponents of each team account for 76 of the 162 games. In fact the AL Central schedule overall is overloaded in the second half of the season for Intra-Division games. For example 57 of the White Sox final 75 games are vs. Detroit, Kansas City, Cleveland and Minnesota. Another oddity: Detroit has played Minnesota 10 times but the rest of the division 4 times (although there were two rainouts which would have made it 10-6).
The most games that anyone in the AL Central has played in its own division is Minnesota with 22. The other 4 teams have played either 16 or 17. In the rest of the Major Leagues, The Cubs have the fewest games in their own division with 22. For the NL West, no team has less than 28. The Rockies and Toronto have the most with 32 although the Rockies will be alone at 33 after tonight's game.
For the Rockies overall they play 37 NL West games in the first 81 games and 39 in the 2nd half.
With the Cincinnati Trip, the Rockies completed all but 3 of their road games against the NL Central. The remaining series is in Pittsburgh Aug 2-4. They have yet to play an NL Central team at home. Their first game at Home is against the Cubs on July 19 following the All-Star Break. The Rockies are 6-6 vs. the NL Central for the season.
On the flip side the Home stand that the Rockies are about to embark on will see two NL East teams come in, leaving them with only games against Miami July 22-25, and the makeup game with the Mets on June 27 as NL East home games. The Rockies first visit to the NL East is on the next Road Trip June 20th at Washington, the remainder are in Late July and August.
Quirky schedule to be sure, but not the quirkiest thing I've found in any schedule. In an unbelievable scheduling quirk, AL Central Teams Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox have their first meeting of the year on July 9, which is the 89th game for Detroit, and 88th for the Sox. How does it happen that a two division opponents never meet in the first half of the season? Keep in mind that the 4 division opponents of each team account for 76 of the 162 games. In fact the AL Central schedule overall is overloaded in the second half of the season for Intra-Division games. For example 57 of the White Sox final 75 games are vs. Detroit, Kansas City, Cleveland and Minnesota. Another oddity: Detroit has played Minnesota 10 times but the rest of the division 4 times (although there were two rainouts which would have made it 10-6).
The most games that anyone in the AL Central has played in its own division is Minnesota with 22. The other 4 teams have played either 16 or 17. In the rest of the Major Leagues, The Cubs have the fewest games in their own division with 22. For the NL West, no team has less than 28. The Rockies and Toronto have the most with 32 although the Rockies will be alone at 33 after tonight's game.
For the Rockies overall they play 37 NL West games in the first 81 games and 39 in the 2nd half.
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