Rockies Outhit Cards, Still Don’t Win

Rockies 2, Cardinals 6

This is another series that I’m just glad is over and thankful it wasn’t a sweep. The potential was certainly there. At this point, everyone coming out alive is pretty much a victory in my book.

Same story as usual for the Rockies tonight: too many walks, mostly at the wrong time, shoddy baserunning, no hitting in the clutch. Blah blah blah. Starter Christian Friedrich allowed the Cards to get on the board in the 1st when Rafael Furcal led off with a single, advanced on a sacrifice bunt (why does that work for other teams but not ours?), moved to 3rd on a wild pitch, then scored on a groundout. He likely would have scored anyway, given that the next batter singled, but I’m so tired of all the wild pitches and the bad defense behind the plate, which is giving way too many guys the chance to get closer to home plate. NO MORE PLEASE.

As for the baserunning, well, technically nobody was caught stealing, but Dexter Fowler was nearly picked off about nine times in the 1st inning, and one time when diving back he banged up his hand enough that the trainers had to take a look. He remained in the game but that’s just a case in point. I’m not going to harp on Fowler for running like I did last year, because he certainly has improved, but why does he still not know how long a lead to take? And why isn’t anyone doing their homework and telling him that he should stay a heck of a lot closer to the bag when Yadier Molina is in the house?

Don’t get me started on the bad clutch hitting. The Rockies outhit the Cardinals 9-7 and still lost 6-2. That’s pathetic. Eleven runners total reached base for the Rockies, and nearly all of them were stranded. In the 2nd, there were two runners in scoring position with no outs and nobody scored. To be fair, the second out was made by Friedrich, but then Fowler came to the plate and swung at the first pitch, which resulted in an easy groundball. Why?

Once again it was Tyler Colvin who produced the Rockies’ only offense, and he gets the award for saving this series from complete disaster. He drove in 7 of the 9 runs we scored against the Cards this week. It looks real bad without him. It was a home run again tonight, with Michael Cuddyer on base. Of course, Colvin also stranded a few, so missed opportunities for him as well.

The wheels came off the whole operation in the 5th when Friedrich loaded the bases with nobody out on a single and two walks. He was close enough to his pitch limit that Jim Tracy probably should have pulled him, but he didn’t, and Friedrich skillfully got Furcal to strike out. But then he walked in a run (cringe) and Matt Holliday hit an RBI single. So Tracy replaced him with Tyler Chatwood, just so not the guy I want coming in with runners on base, and he promptly allowed all 3 of Friedrich’s runners to score.

It’s too late at night for me to want to wax philosophical on the problems with this team. You already know what they are anyway. I hope we can just keep winning one game per series so we can preserve a tiny shred of dignity. Can I tell you a secret? Usually I dislike the All-Star break, because it’s too many days with no Rockies games. This year, I am thrilled for it.

The Rockies’ final series before the break will be against the Nationals this weekend.