Reminiscent of anytime the Chicago Cubs visit Denver, the Colorado Rockies lineup piled on the runs behind bad starts from San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum and the Rockies’ Jeremy Guthrie for a 17-8 win. This game followed a 7-0 complete-game shutout by Barry Zito for the Giants, spoiling the Rockies home opener.
The Rockies capitalize on opponent errors one night, give up their own set of errors the next, blow a quality start by Juan Nicasio, lay an egg on their home opener, and then blow the scoreboard up for 22 runs the next. What’s going on here?
The Rockies found a way to hit on Wednesday, thankfully, but this is not a “preview of things to come.” The Rox will return to business as usual as they always manage to manufacture a couple blowouts each season. They bottle the lightning and ride it to a convincing victory, only to follow it up the next day by losing in a very low scoring game; but what a fun night it is when the bats catch fire. I can only hope some of the victory lingers in their bats, because they are going to need it.
Unfortunately, the only holdover from the 17-8 victory, in the mean time, will most likely be inflated season batting averages on the scoreboard.
If the Rockies can hit half as good as they did Wednesday night, this season can be successful because the pitching rotation isn’t going to carry this team like the Giants’ rotation has to in San Francisco.
What is troubling to see, yet very correctable, is the poor glove work. The errors have piled up quickly, and part of it is due to rustiness and laziness. “Easy” plays have led to Carlos Gonzalez and Dexter Fowler dropping routine flyouts — it’s embarrassing to watch them drop what are supposed to be easy catches. I am more than sure the team is going to get an earful for its poor glove work and overconfidence in its fielding ability. The players have to tighten it up and stop taking easy catches for granted by limp-wristing them.
Moyer couldn’t get his first win despite a respectable outing on Thursday, and the Rockies dropped the Giants series 1-2. Coming into town next are the defending NL West champion Arizona Diamondbacks followed by the San Diego Basement Dwellers … I mean Padres.
