Rockies Lineup April 22, 2012: Sunday Take Three

Wouldn’t it be nice to win a road series against a team like the Brewers? Yes. Is it possible? Well … let’s keep our expectations realistic. One look at the pitching matchup will tell you who has the edge, and it’s not Jeremy Guthrie. The Brewers’ Yovani Gallardo is the bonafide ace in this pairing, and the Rockies will have to hit him early and often. Milwaukee’s lineup is likely to do that to Guthrie. But Ron Roenicke has chosen to put all his best players on the field today, and Jim Tracy, as usual, has not. I’m not as disapproving of this lineup as I ordinarily am on Sundays, because I would rather see Tyler Colvin than Dexter Fowler, and Jonathan Herrera and Chris Nelson are equal enough in my mind that either is fine. Jason Giambi is a worthy substitute for Todd Helton, who can have the day off anytime he wants it. At this point, the problem is less the specific players Tracy puts on the field and more that the drastic change every Sunday keeps hitters from getting into a rhythm. The good news is, Colvin especially has shown that he will produce no matter when he gets the chance to play, rhythm or no.

Marco Scutaro 2B
Tyler Colvin CF
Carlos Gonzalez LF
Troy Tulowitzki SS
Jason Giambi 1B
Michael Cuddyer RF
Ramon Hernandez C
Jonathan Herrera 3B
Jeremy Guthrie P

For the Brewers, only Carlos Gomez gets the day off, replaced by yesterday’s benchwarmer Nyjer Morgan. Rockies pitchers have so far handled this lineup well, but Guthrie has yet to do that with any lineup this season, so this could go either way. And let’s not forget that besides his stellar pitching abilities, Gallardo is a Silver Slugger winner. Do not be surprised to see him hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th.

Rickie Weeks 2B
Nyjer Morgan CF
Ryan Braun LF
Aramis Ramirez 3B
Corey Hart RF
Matt Gamel 1B
Alex Gonzalez SS
Jonathan Lucroy C
Yovani Gallardo P