In last night’s All-Star Game, which saw the American League cruise to a 3-0 victory, the Colorado Rockies made up a third of the National League’s starting lineup. On the one hand that was outstanding news, simply because it is fun to see Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki, and Michael Cuddyer recognized for their outstanding work so far in 2013. It also meant that there was a good chance the Rockies could make a meaningful contribution to an NL victory.
Tulowitzki turns a double play against American League catcher Mauer of the Minnesota Twins during the 2013 All Star Game at Citi Field. Image: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
On the other hand, this placed pressure on the players from the Rockies to pull their weight and contribute. It increased the likelihood of a Rockie coming up in a key spot, not coming through in said key spot, and therefore receiving some of the blame for the NL loss. It was a two way street, as they say.
None of the Rockies did much of anything, but in the end it did not matter because nobody on the National League roster did much of anything. The American League’s pitchers held the NL squad to a mere three hits in the entire game.
Gonzalez went 0-2, striking out against Chris Sale and grounding out against Matt Moore. The offering from Moore looked like a pitch to handle, but CarGo caught it on the end of the bat and rolled it to second base. Considering that CarGo faced two ridiculously tough left-on-left match-ups, there is no shame in his 0-2 line.
Tulowitzki went 0-2 with a strikeout on a vicious back-foot slider from Sale and a first-pitch-swinging pop-out against Moore. Tulo also awkwardly tumbled to the ground after failing to backhand a shot from Joe Mauer. He still doesn’t quite look right since coming off his rib injury last week, and unfortunately it showed at times last night (although he had some nice defensive plays as well).
Cuddyer went 0-1, grounding out weakly in an at-bat against Sale and then drawing a four pitch walk from A’s closer Grant Balfour.
The Rockies resume play Friday night with a home series against the Chicago Cubs.
As a kid, I once crouched down like a catcher, held a colander over my face, and declared: "I am Damon Berryhill." I think most people would find that to be an early sign of an obsession with the game, if not a somewhat peculiar taste when it came to picking a favorite player.
I was born and raised in Colorado Springs and now live in Rochester, Minnesota. I have been with Fansided since November of 2011.
Michelle Hoag
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