Rox Recap 4/8/08

“We won yesterday and we won today, that’s two in a row. If we win tomorrow, that’s a winning streak. It has happened before.”
-Lou Brown, Major League

The Rockies offense has finally started to wipe the cobwebs off their lumber and swing them forcefully at that little ball of cowhide being hurled at their heads. Is it too early in the season to say it’s about time? They did finally eclipse their high water mark of runs in a game for the season (4…..yeah, I know) and while I’m not quite to the point of streaking through the quad in a foam dome and some sweet Pumas in celebration, I’m pretty damn pleased with the way our boys played last night.

1) Though not as impossibly efficient as Aaron Cook was the night before, Ubaldo Jimenez found a way to get through 6 innings of solid work which has been a trouble spot for him in the past. His stuff is absolutely electric, but at only 23 years old, it’s sometimes been a struggle to harness his immense talent into throwing meaningful strikes in important spots. In his first start against the Cardinals, he only gave up 2 runs in 5 innings but needed over 100 pitches to do so. His first inning yesterday had déjà vu written all over it as he went single, walk, single to the first three hitters to put the Rox in an early 1-0 hole. After a fortunate double play and another walk, Clint Hurdle came out to talk some sense into his young gun. After Hurdle’s pep talk, Jimenez settled down and largely held the Braves powerful offense in check giving up 3 runs and notching 4 k’s. His immaturity reared his ugly head at times however as he inexcusably walked the pitcher Jair Jurrjens twice. That’s something that can’t happen and won’t as he gains experience at the big league level, but the important thing for Jimenez is he lasted 6 innings by only throwing 93 pitches, something Hurdle had only dreamed about before yesterday’s performance. He looked like the Jimenez of the playoff run last season which can only be a boon to the Rockies’ hopes in 2008.

2) Now playing at a theater near you, Big Daddy 2: Return of the King. Holliday finally busted out for the first time this season in going 3-4 and racking up a couple of big rbis. He showed great patience at the plate in the 5^th inning when his two out two strike opposite field single scored Wily T, plating what turned out to be the decisive run in the game. In the 8^th he lashed a high and outside pitch down the right field line for a double, evoking fond memories of 2007. Not only has he shown to be clutch the last few games, he’s showing more selectiveness and is making better contact. When he hits a ball square, it’s a thing of beauty.

3) As encouraging as our 10 hits and 4 runs were last night, the Rockies finally caught some lucky breaks last night for the first time in this short season. In the 4^th inning a blooper by Atkins with Helton on first took a wicked hop off the turf in right field past the Gold Glover Jeff Francoeur allowing Helton to come all the way around to score and Atkins to lumber his way to second. The next batter Brad Hawpe laced a shot to left that eluded a horribly awkward dive by leftfielder Matt Diaz. Atkins scored and Hawpe wound up with a double. Real men make their own luck and the Rockies finally made some of their own last night.

4) Another great sign for the Rockies success this year was the performance of the late inning bullpen guys: Taylor Buchholz, Brian Fuentes, and Manny Corpas. Together the trio combined for 3 innings of no hit baseball while striking out 3 and walking only 1. Buchholz ought to be our 7^th inning man all year because he has shown not only command and confidence but the overpowering stuff to get a strikeout when he needs it. Manny also struck out 2 guys looking in the ninth for his third save of the season, a nice rebound from Sunday’s blown opportunity.

Mark Redman will try to keep his spot in the rotation tonight but if you ask me (and I really hope that you do), Kip Wells performance in the makeup of the Opening Day rainout was extremely impressive and Redman will have to use his changeup and cutter effectively if he’s going to have any chance against the Braves tonight. He should just study the tape of Tom Glavine’s performance on Monday night because he blew away the Rox hitters with similar stuff. Let’s keep the streak alive.