Morning Dump — Miserable Night in Pittsburgh and Manny the Crack-head

Jason Giambi’s first-inning three-run blast was a thing of beauty.  The swing was vintage Giambi, a powerful, whip-like stroke that sent the ball deep into the night.  At contact, everyone watching  knew it was gone.  The Giambino was a last second fill in for Todd Helton, who was scratched due to lower back stiffness — more on this in a bit.  It was only Jason’s second at-bat of the season and it was very encouraging to see the former MVP already in mid-season form.  However, Giambi’s dinger was all the offense the Rockies were able to generate last night.  In fact, I deeply wish I had turned the game off the second he crossed home plate.

For the next five hours and thirteen and half innings, the Rockies offense turned back into the woeful road group that slogged through 2010.  The dreary Pittsburgh night served as the perfect back drop for a game that the Rockies seemed destined to lose.  The previously hot CarGo and Bull Hurley Iannetta had awful nights at the plate, combining to go 0-12 with six strike-outs.  To make matters worse, the Rockies burned through their bullpen.  Huston Street went three innings and pretty much every other arm in the pen threw at least an inning’s worth of pitches.  If they had won, I suppose it would have been worth it, but these kind of games put extra stress on the Rox pitching depth — especially this early in the season.

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Games like last night’s are going to happen.  It’s a reminder that the season is long and we all need to temper our excitement a bit.  Injuries are inevitable.  Hopefully, Helton’s back isn’t much of an issue.  It was a nasty night in Pittsburgh and we did see him pinch hit late.  However, his defense was definitely missed.  Giambi and Wigginton both made poor plays at first.

Jorge De La Rosa wasn’t sharp.  He labored through five innings, walking three hitters and giving up a home run to Jose Tabata.  Still, De La Rosa only gave up two runs and left the game in position to pick up the win.  The Rockies need more innings out of Jorge, but he kept them in the game despite not having great stuff.

It was a miserable night, but it was just one game.  They get back at it tonight.  Hopefully, Greg Reynolds will give them some good innings.  The bullpen may not have much left in the tank.

Manny Ramirez once again tested positive for steroids, but chose retirement over a 100 game suspension.  I once liked Manny, but I grew tired of his disrespectful act long ago.  This is pretty much the most un-shocking news ever.  When you look at the numbers, he is one of the most dominant right handed hitters to ever play the game, but he will forever be known for being a self-entitled jackass.

Since winning the World Series in 2007 (still makes me want to puke), Manny has systematically destroyed his legacy.  Watching his fall from grace has been like watching the deterioration of a meth addict.  The comparison fits.  After all, Manny is a junky.

Speaking of crack-heads…

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