With a 4-3 victory over Roger Clemens this afternoon, the Colorado Rockies completed their 3-game sweep of the New York Yankees, increasing their record since late May to a major league best 20-7 and cooling off the American League’s hottest team before a Coors Field record crowd for a 3 game series.
With the win, the Rockies have climbed to 4 games over .500 for the first time this season, and — though they play in the toughest division in baseball, statistically — have managed to pull within 3 1/2 games of the division leading Padres and Diamondbacks, and 1 1/2 games of the third place Dodgers, pending the outcome of tonight’s Dodger’s / Blue Jays game. This despite being 9 games under .500 in early May.
Next up for the Rockies are the Blue Jays, in a series that will test the Rockies’ mettle: without a day off until July 5, and coming off an emotional series sweep, manager Clint Hurdle is likely to rest regulars like Kaz Matsui, Todd Helton, Brad Hawpe, and Garrett Atkins in order to save them from the wear and tear of playing on Toronto’s artificial turf.
Still, should the Rockies maintain their focus and manage to take at least two of three from the Jays, it will be their 7th straight series win, and will mark a string of 10 series in a row without a loss (their one blemish a 4 game series split against the Cardinals). Following the Jays series, they play 3 in Wrigley, 4 in Houston, and then come home for 3 games each against the NL east leading Mets and the surging Phillies. A 9-7 stretch going into the break wouldn’t be the worst way to go into the break.
The Rockies are playing great ball right now, but this last stretch before the All-Star break could be the key to their season. Last season they let up just a bit before the break and never fully recovered until September, when the season was already over for them.
This season, should they wish to maintain growing fan interest, they have to buckle down over the next 16 games and put this sweep of the Yankees behind them on the plane ride to Toronto.
Worth noting: the Rockies lead the major leagues in fielding, and since mid-May also lead the majors in bullpen era; meanwhile, their starters are working to a tune of a mid-3 era, and consistently carrying games into the 6th and 7th. And they are 3rd in hitting with 2-outs and runners in scoring position.
I’d like to see the Rockies pick up one more starting pitcher (they have a first round pick dominatingin Double A, and a great arm in the bullpen in the person of Taylor Buchholz); and I’d like to see them improve their situational hitting, so that they aren’t forced to rely on two out hits.
But this team is certainly for real — and though they not reach the 85-89 wins I predicted for them before the season, they have proven that they can be competitive every game, which is about all a fan can ask for.
Congrats to the Rockies — and to the Red Sox, too, who most benefit from the sweep. Of course, the Rockies took 2 out of 3 from Boston last week — beating up on Curt Schilling and handing Josh Beckett (10-1) his only loss of the season — so it’s only fair, I guess, that they showed the Red Sox the same courtesy they earlier showed the Yankees by putting their own interleague mark on the standings in the AL East.
Suddenly, the purple in my bruise is a badge of honor.
In case you were wondering where I was all afternoon. Which you probably weren’t.
Congrats to the Rockies  and to the Red Sox, too, who most benefit from the sweep. Yes, and thank you. If we’ve put the June swoon behind us at 10.5 games up, it’s a beautiful thing. I’ll hope that we return the favor by drubbing the Padres next, despite being something of a Padres fan. My second favorite team is generally whoever is playing the Yankees….
An Angels vs. Rockies World Series would be quite welcome in my neck of the woods. (Halos coming out on top, of course.)
Jeff,
How about Jason Schmidt for Hawpe and Atkins?
Lou…
Dodger Fan
I am generally impressed with this young Rockies staff. I caught some of the Sawx games and they looked good. Helton is a beast, and Matsui genuinely frightens me at the plate.
I was hoping them boys would show that it wasn’t a fluke when you took 2 of 3 in Fenway by beating up on the Chokees.
We will definitely try and retun the favor against the Whales Vagina team.
There’s a purple bruise on Jeff’s thigh
That one can plainly see
We don’t know how he got it
(It’s not our business, see?)
It’s shaped like a feather duster
Which is just a little ghey
But since the Rockies swept the
Yanks that purple looks okay.
Any day that the Yankees and Clemens go down is a good one.
See you in hell Roger. Wait till you see the team we got down here.
The NL West is deepest, most talented division in the Senior Circuit. With the exception of the Giants, all the teams in that division has the capability of taking the the division crown. 85 wins might not be enough, but 90 wins surely would win the NL West flag. My personal favorite is the D-backs, because I think they have the more complete team. The Dodgers and Padres have seriously flawed offensives and the Rockies issue is as usual, the pitching. Still, they could do it.
"Ty Cobb asked us if he could play too………we told him no….none of us could stand the son-of-a-bitch when we were alive….."
You know they’ll break your heart again.
Hey, Jeff.
You want Barry Zito?
Not that I have that authority around here.
An Angels vs. Rockies World Series would be quite welcome in my neck of the woods. They’ll have to get past the Tigers first. TV (Harry)
In related sports news, Kobe Bryant’s behavior has finally been judged so offensive that Hillary! has offered him the VP slot…
Headline on 28 October 2007: CARDINALS WIN WORLD SERIES – AGAIN!!! You heard it here first, folks.
All of the rest of the baseball world is fighting for the chance to lose to the Cardinals !
All of the rest of the baseball world is fighting for the chance to lose to the Cardinals !
Not with this pitching they aren’t.
Robin, My son refused to stand for a picture in front of your statue last week. The black and white look is kinda creepy. You are <i>that</i> Robin Roberts, right?
I don’t know if they can keep up this effort over the long haul, but the Pebbles have really impressed me the past couple of months, way beyond what I expected them to do.
I’m not a big Rockies fan, but I admit I was supremely pissed driving by the ballpark Tuesday night and seeing all those fucking Yankee fans going into our home stadium. Nothing makes me happier than seeing those idiots waste their money.
Actually, this weekend, either Chicago team will be thrilled not to lose to the other.
(Responding to one of my favorite internet writers by imitating another:)
Meanwhile, down here we are celebrating Jason Jenning’s first win of the year. Yeee-freaking-ha. What use did the Stros have for a .365 OBP leadoff hitter (not that Taveras ever sniffed that for us) and two good young pitchers because, hey, this guy with a few months left before free agency just got his first win! In mid-June!! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go light myself on fire.
Well, yes, if by "surging Phillies," you mean the team that’s lost its last two series by going 2-4 agains the Tribe and the Tiggers. Although they could easily have been 4-2 if not for bullpen inconsistency, but that’s kind of like saying "If I hadn’t tripped, I wouldn’t have fallen down."
You Phils fans around here might as well get ready for some annoying media coverage, as the Phils are only ten losses away from 10,000, something no other professional sports franchise has ever done. Mind you, they’ve been around since 1883. They’re the oldest, continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in American professional sports. And don’t any of you smartasses bring up the couple of years they had a brain fart and decided to be known as the Blue Jays. Ironic, ain’t it?
The Yankees are the AL’s hottest team? I think these guys would beg to differ.
At least we won one World Series under Mr. K here in KC. Not looking like we’ll see another under the Wal-Mart guy.
Wow… there really are Rockies fans out there? haha… Seriously though… definitely many thanks to the Rockies for the sweep, helping the Sox to increase their lead back into double digits. Funny, but I’m wondering where Murray Chass’s piece on how, at this pace, the Red Sox are going to be 15 up on the Yanks by the Fourth of July is. He must be very busy and forgot to write it.
I can’t believe Kaz Matsui is playing well. Kaz Matsui? I even have him on my fantasy team (temporarily — the man is on permanent double-secret probation).
I live in Chicago, so help me out:
What is this "professional baseball" of which you speak?
I’m thinking that a Rockies-Phillies dustup for the National League Crown would be loads of fun. Let’s start with 2 of the best hitters friendly ballparks and two pitching staffs that have been known to implode at times (although the Rockies are clearly better in the bullpen at this point.) The Stones have a scary lineup as do the Phils. Both teams field well (as long as you agree not to hit any balls to Pat "soles of granite" Burrell in left field) and have have decent team speed. Jeff, you might want to get the word out early to the Rocks: Don’t run on Shane Victorino. He’s currently leading the NL in outfield assists and has a cannon. I’m thinking big time fireworks and a lot of entertainment.
BTW: The Phils problems with the Tigers and Indians (both very good teams and contenders in the AL) can be placed squarely at the feet of the bullpen, with an assist from 2 starting pitchers. Keep in mind that the bullpen get both Brett Myers and Tom "Flash" Gordon back the first week of July. My prediction is that Myers will be the closer and an effective one. Flash is going to have to prove that he isn’t done at 39 years old but if there’s some gas left in the tank and if Alfonseca continues to pitch well, the bullpen will be OK. They will still need an effective lefthander.
It does look as though the Red Sox will be the team to beat in the AL. The NL is up for grabs IMHO.
And … any day that the Richest Team In Baseball gets pounded is a good day.
Jeff, I’d avoid the Schmidt deal and not just because he’s signed for three years and is 400 years old, but, shockingly, he’s on the DL and headed for shoulder surgery.
You found me out, Patrick.
I rented the Karl Rove Mind Control Machine® for the weekend. And I’ve grown tired of the ‘Stros "It’s only April May June early July, so we’ve still got plenty of time" routine. It’s led to complacency and predictably lackluster early play. This post reminded me of my priorities: 1) Set controls to "Drayton McLane" and send following message: Fire Phil Garner. Fire Phil Garner. 2) Replace him either with me or with that smoking-hot Hooters waitress from the one on Highway 290. She really knows her stuff, and would do the boys good, I’d think.
Knock it off with injury the insights, timb. I was about to propose Jeff send some of that fine Rockies bullpen talent to the Phils for Freddie Garcia.
Bastard!
Site bugs:Strikethrough previews, but doesn’t post.
The Yankees were the hottest team in the AL, winning 11 of 12 coming in to Coors.
And the Phils, despite a 2-4 stretch against quality opponents, have still positioned themselves well against the Mets and Braves.
Victorino, incidentally, does have a gun. As does Brad Hawpe, who — after last season — nobody runs on anymore.
But then, Abreu has a great arm as well, and Matzui scored on a scolded one-hop single to right on which Abreu had the ball before Kaz hit third.
Lots of speed up front for the Rockies (Tavares .313, 22 bunt hits; Kaz Matsui .316, hitting over .500 with 2 outs and runners in scoring position; 30 steals between them). Follow that up with R/L/R/L/R (Holliday — league’s leading hitter, second in RBI; Helton — among top 3 in OBP and 5th in hitting; Atkins — finally getting his swing back, with 5 homers in the last week or so, after hitting .329 with 29 120 last season; Hawpe, .291 with 12 and 47 — and one of the major league leaders in 2 out RBI; and the rookie Tulowitzki, at .278 with a mess of game winning hits), and the lineup is hell on opposing bullpens looking for left on left or right on right matchups.
Many teams only carry one lefty specialist in their bullpen. Bring that guy in to face Helton and you have Atkins next; bring in a righthander then to face Atkins and you have Hawpe next.
Still, what worries me about the Rockies is that they’ve relied on 2-out hits; they’ve still been lousy at situational hitting, particularly with a runner on 3rd and 1 out, and a runner on second with no outs.
They need to improve there. If they do, they have a shot at consistently manufacturing runs as they should.
And — though I’d hate to see it — there’s a chance you could see Atkins traded for a front line starting pitcher, with first round pick Ian Stewart ready in AAA, and Jeff Baker available to spell him against tough lefties.
If we trade Atkins, though, we’d better get a true stud starter in return.
Jim in KC – I have only 2 words for you – The only reason KC won the Series was because of the worst call in baseball history by Don “I am bigger than O-Dub” Dekinger !!!!
Okay, maybe more than 2 words.
6 days later and 6 losses later, the rocks have come back to earth. Tomorrow starts the battle of the losing streaks – rocks are 0-6, ‘stros are 0-3.
Go ‘stros!!!