KTE the Rockies at Coors Field 9/1-9/3

[smg58]

The Colorado Rockies, take two

We're off to Coors Field to face the Rockies. The calendar flips over to September, and these games are quite meaningful, at least to our opponent. I guess we have to start taking solace in playing spoiler.

72-59, .550
2nd place in NL West, 6 games behind the Dodgers
tied for the wildcard lead with the Giants

A week ago, the Rockies had a clear lead in the wildcard and would get within two games of the Dodgers for the division lead. But five losses in a row, including three to the Giants to put them back even with them, have sent them reeling.

probable lineup:
........................................AB.....HR..RBI...SB....AVG..OBP..SLG
Carlos Gonzalez............CF..176......8....19.....9... .290 .359 .528
Seth Smith, or..............LF...247....11....38.....4... .296 .387 .506
Ryan Spilborghs.................303......8....45.....9... .254 .321 .419
Todd Helton.................1B..448.....13....70.....0... .326 .412 .502
Troy Tulowitzki.............SS..440.....24....73...16... .284 .366 .536
Brad Hawpe.................RF..429.....19....76.....1... .298 .383 .531
Ian Stewart, or.............3B..355.....19....59.....7... .231.319 .462
Garrett Atkins....................311......8....39.....0... .225 .308 .334
Clint Barmes................2B..452.....21....68....11... 243 .295 .454
Yorvit Torrealba.............C...126......2....14.....0... .278 .350 .365

Since we last left them, Tulowitzki has been red hot (1.006 OPS in August), and Carlos Gonzalez had been scorching (1.146 OPS) before a couple of minor injuries took him in and out of the lineup last week. Dexter Fowler had to go on the DL, but the Rockies have more than enough outfield depth to absorb the loss over the short term. Hawpe has cooled off some, although the Mets could use somebody for whom an .814 OPS in August would be considered cooling off. Barmes has had a power surge even though his average has dropped 20 points. Yorvit Torrealba has been hitting better than Chris Ianetta lately and has been getting most of the starts behind the plate lately as a result.

bench:
........................................AB.....HR..RBI...SB....AVG..OBP..SLG
Chris Ianetta.................C..269.....14....49.....0... .219 .331 .431
Omar Quintanilla.........INF....51......0......2.....0... .157 .271 .176
Eric Young, Jr...............OF....19......0......0.....0... .263 .263 .263

Eric Young Jr. is the son of the journeyman player. Like his dad, he plays second base and the outfield. The recent call-up has seen some action in center as Gonzalez and Fowler nursed their injuries, but it's possible he might get a start at second as well in this series.

the rotation:
.......................................IP......W......L.......ERA.......K.......WHIP.......SV
Tuesday vs. Pelfrey:
Jorge de la Rosa L.........148.2....12......9......4.72....152........1.41........0
Wednesday vs. Redding:
Ubaldo Jimenez R..........181.1....12.....10.....3.33....158........1.22........0
Thursday vs. Misch:
Jason Marquis R............131.1....14......9......3.60......86........1.28........0

we'll miss:
Jason Hammel R...........137.0......8......7......4.40......93........1.48........0
Aaron Cook R...............145.0....10......6......4.47 ......75........1.47........0

the pen:

Huston Street R..............53.2......3......1......3.02......62........0.93......33
Rafael Betancourt R.........43.1......1......3......3.12......47........1.25.......1
Matt Daley R...................38.1......0......1......3.76......36........1.17.......0
Juan Rincon R.................28.2......3......2......6.28......28........1.50.......0
Franklin Morales L............29.2......3......0......3.03......30........1.15.......0
Adam Eaton R................49.0......3......5......8.08......35........1.88.......0
Josh Fogg R....................43.0......0......2......3.35......25........1.12.......0
Joe Beimel L...................49.1......1......5......3.47......33........1.34.......1

People have been using the word "ace" lately to describe Ubaldo Jimenez. He certainly held his own this past week splitting a pair of pitchers' duels with Tim Lincecum. Cook has actually been on the DL, although the MRI was favorable and he might be back relatively soon. Josh Fogg got a recent start in his place, but they've been working with four starters whenever the schedule allows.

Otherwise, the pitching has tailed off a bit, especially in the bullpen. To be fair, they've had to plug in a lot of holes, and the deadline pickups of Beimel and Betancourt have given them some badly needed depth. But the seven runs the pen gave up yesterday to the Giants, especially the grand slam that Edgar Renteria hit off Betancourt, hurt.

September call-ups: Their main prospects were Gonzalez and Young, and both are already here. The most intriguing call-up is likely to be Jason Giambi. He probably won't do more than pinch hit, but as spare bats off the bench for the stretch run go, they could do worse.

X-factors: Still none on their end. With Livan departing we're down to Cory Sullivan.

Park differences:
....................W L ERA OPS oppOPS
home:..........36 26 4.61 .844 .769
away:...........36 33 3.89 .734 .715

The Rockies have started to struggle a bit on the road, and are probably very glad to have most of their remaining games in Denver. Still, Coors Field is a good place for the Mets' bats to stay relatively hot.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

What a relief - a KTE that provides current, relevant, detailed information, and not just a bunch of snarky crap like that mess about the Cubs last week. Nice job, SMG.

[TransMonk]

I always forget how consistently good Todd Helton is.

One of my favorite non-Mets players in the league.

[Gwreck]

Fun Todd Helton fact: It was only because of his injury that Peyton Manning got the starting QB job in Tennessee.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

My general impression-- even before the weekend's sweep by the Giants* -- was that they were petering out a bit, en route to a slow fade... nice to have empirical evidence behind my Cassandra-ing.

*Full-disclosure: they're my pennant-race romance this year. Yay Panda, Teenage Girl with the Golden Arm, WrightKiller and the Old Dudes!

Edited August 31, 2009 by Guest

[TransMonk]

Fun Todd Helton fact: It was only because of his injury that Peyton Manning got the starting QB job in Tennessee.

[Frayed Knot]

Add Jose Contreras to the list of current Rockies.
They apparently felt the need to also pick up a lousy pitcher in order to match the Giants acquisition of Brad Penny earlier in the day.

[smg58]

The Rockies will need another starter on Friday, and they figure Contreras is still a better bet than Josh Fogg. They're hopeful Cook will be back by the end of the regular season.

The call-ups, in addition to Giambi, include catcher Paul Phillips, LOOGY Randy Flores, and formerly valuable setup guy Joel Peralta.

[Guest themetfairy]

Thanks SMG - Excellent knowledge!

[seawolf17]

Todd Helton is definitely on my all-time favorite non-Mets team. (New thread, anyone?) I drafted him first in the first fantasy baseball league I ever played in, many years ago, and he was on my team until last season.