Colorado Rockies Rundown: Diaz, CarGo, Drafts And Strange Games

Aug 28, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher J. Diaz (47) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Weiss stands by Jairo Diaz

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(via MLB.com)

Jairo Diaz, of course, gave up the go-ahead three-run home run on Thursday afternoon that ended up winning the game — and sweeping a series — for the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.

But, with the great work Diaz has had this season, and the respect and trust he is quickly gaining in Denver, Walt Weiss doesn’t seem too concerned about the homer, or the suggestion that he should’ve brought in lefty Boone Logan to face lefty Pedro Alvarez.

Weiss told MLB.com:

"“Jairo’s been our guy in the eighth inning. He’s been lights-out. The reason why he’s in that eighth-inning role is that he’s done real well with it. He’s been in that role for a few weeks now, and he’s done an outstanding job for us. He’ll continue to do so. It’s a good-looking arm. He gets both righties and lefties out. He’s got the swing-and-miss breaking ball to go along with the power fastball, so he’s got all the weapons. It’s been a great learning experience for him.”"

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I know it’s frustrating to lose a game that looks like its been won, especially so late in the eighth inning like that, but I’m 100% ok with this sound byte and Diaz in the eighth inning as a learning experience in 2015.

This is the kind of thing that rebuilding teams do: they frustratingly lose games they could’ve won, but in the process, they let young pitchers build confidence and develop in tight situations so that when things matter (2017? 2018?) those same young guys are ready to be nearly automatic in the roles in which they’ve been preparing for years.

I know, when you take a short-term look at it, Diaz’s outing Thursday is frustrating. Logan would’ve been a better choice versus Alvarez, and Weiss’ decision not to make the move sucks. But such is life on a rebuilding club; better this than having a 35-year old veteran with no future for the Colorado Rockies blow the game.

Next: Looking at the reverse standings