Sunny side to Rockies’ loss
| August 27, 2009 | 9:21 AM
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Obviously, it would have been better if the Colorado Rockies had won Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. But as losses go, this wasn’t a terrible one.
- All six runs the Dodgers scored were charged to Josh Fogg. Maybe he doesn’t have enough in him to be a starter any more or maybe he was just rusty, but it was Fogg’s pitching that cost the Rockies the game. When you can pinpoint the cause of a loss, it’s easier to shrug off.
- Fogg might not be needed again for more than a week. His spot in the rotation comes up again Monday, a day off before the Rockies start a 10-game homestand. The Rockies can skip Fogg’s turn in the rotation, and he probably would be needed for only one or two more starts before Aaron Cook returns.
- Carlos Gonzalez was able to sit the whole game and give his hand a full day to heal. He likely will be in the lineup for the series finale Thursday.
- The Rockies did not use Huston Street, Rafael Betancourt, Joe Beimel, Franklin Morales or Matt Daley in the game. After back-to-back extra inning games, the Rockies bullpen was getting worn down. The heroes of the game — if losses have heroes — were Juan Rincon, who was perfect for four innings, and Matt Herges, who added two scoreless innings after getting the win Tuesday night. Now, the rest of the bullpen should be fresh going into the finale with the Dodgers and this weekend’s three-game series in San Francisco.
- Dodgers starter Randy Wolf has been pitching well and he pitched well against the Rockies. There’s no shame in getting beaten by a pitcher who’s on his game. Disappointment, sure, but no shame.
Thurday’s matchup is a good one for the Rockies, at least on paper. Left-hander Jorge De La Rosa might have some luck cooling off Andre Ethier and James Loney, and with a right-hander back on the mound for the Dodgers in Vicente Padilla, the Rockies lineup is likely in include Gonzalez, Seth Smith and Ian Stewart.
The Rockies have four games left this week against the two teams they’re fighting directly for a playoff spot. If they can split these final four games, the Rockies will be in a strong position. They need to finish the weekend at worst tied for the wild-card, but preferably still leading the wild-card by a game or two and be within two or three of the Dodgers. The 10 games following their trip to San Francisco this weekend heavily favor the Rockies: three against the New York Mets, three against the Arizona Diamondbacks and four against the Cincinnati Reds — all 10 games at Coors Field and played with September reinforcements like Jason Giambi.
Journals, Sports, Steve Foster
carlos gonzalez, colorado rockies, franklin morales, huston street, joe beimel, jorge de la rosa, josh fogg, juan rincon, los angeles dodgers, matt daley, matt herges, rafael betancourt
