Rockies ready to kick tires on road test
By Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published July 24, 2008 at 7:12 p.m.
Video: Kip Wells' return to the Rockies rotation was apparently short-lived. The team is looking at a possible trade or tapping Colorado Springs to find a fifth starter next week when the team travels to Pittsburgh. Watch »
The Rockies have avoided pestilence and war on the road this season, but most assuredly not famine.
They are 14-36 away from Coors Field, owners of the worst road record in the majors. A 10-game trek starts tonight against the Cincinnati Reds, followed by stops in Pittsburgh and Florida.
"I think if we can go out and come back with a winning record on the road trip, it'd be awesome," Troy Tulowitzki said. "It would keep us right in the thick of things."
The Rockies are within hailing distance in the abominable National League West. They trail first-place Arizona by six games and are five behind Los Angeles. Still, when asked whether the Rockies can afford another trip such as their previous two, Matt Herges quickly said, "No, we can't."
The Rockies went 0-6 on a June 23-29 jaunt to Kansas City and Detroit. They went 2-5 at Milwaukee and New York from July 7-13. The damage total from those trips has not been much. The Rockies were seven games behind before the first pitch was thrown in Kansas City and nine back when they limped out of Detroit.
They arrived in Milwaukee seven games behind and were 81/2 out after getting swept by the Mets. But at some point, if only for their state of mind, the Rockies seemingly would need to avoid another road swoon.
"The fact is, our road record is terrible," Herges said. "I don't know if there's been one successful road trip, which is atrocious. That being said, we are in it, so this trip, we have to figure out how to win on the road, period.
"It's 10 games. I'm not saying it's do or die, but it's critical that we show up and that we don't repeat what we've been doing on the road."
The Rockies' recent history has been good in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Florida. The bigger picture, though, is far less rosy in these places.
The Rockies won two of three from the Reds at Great American Ball Park last year. But the Rockies are 4-12 there, with losses in 10 of the past 12 games. The Rockies swept a three-game series at Pittsburgh last year, leaving them 11-17 at PNC Park.
And the Rockies won two of three at Florida last year after sweeping a three-game series there in 2006. That two-season turnaround came after losing the season series at Florida in eight of the previous nine years.
"There's some things for whatever reason that are laid out in a good place for us that we need to take advantage of," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Historically, Cincinnati hasn't been a good ballpark for us. Pittsburgh, we can flip a coin. . . . Florida, early in my career here, it was a graveyard to go to, but we've improved over time. Historically, those places haven't been real friendly. I think we've made positive strides in all of them. Cincinnati's going to be an important place; it's the first series. We're going to get Volquez the first day in."
That would be Edinson Volquez, 25, who is 12-3 and leads the National League with a 2.49 ERA. The Reds are 14-6 when he starts. But in what could be a riveting matchup, the Rockies will counter with Aaron Cook (12-6, 3.58 ERA).
When the trip ends, it will be Aug. 3 and the Rockies will have 49 games remaining.
"Everybody's got weaknesses in this division right now," Hurdle said. "And we're confident we can put a good game together and make a run at things. And we got some people coming back, too. We're not waiting on them, but we do have some personnel that we think will be able to be in play that will help us before this all said and done."
A successful trip would do wonders for the Rockies' psyche. Another pratfall would be only mildly deflating, the Rockies having traveled repeatedly down that road, although a calamitous trip would make things harder.
"The division's wide open and we've been dropping games on the road, but we're still in it," Tulowitzki said. "But we want to put ourself in that position where we take care of business and then not have to rely on the other teams."
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
Featured
-
Denver turns 150
Read about the city's history, look at old photos and see a list of influential Denverites.
-
Mount Crushmore
Which four Broncos greats should be immortalized on Mount Crushmore? Vote here.
-
Winter Escapes
Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.
-
Rocky Multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Weekend plans?
Figure out things to do this weekend with the help of our entertainment calendar.
-
Bronco Dean's rant
Listen to Bronco Dean's pregame rant on the Raiders.
-
Season To Share
The Post-News Season To Share campaign provides grants to area nonprofits.
-
The Rocky @ 150 Years
The Rocky was there when Colorado became a state in 1876. Read our coverage.
-
A Dozen on Denver
And the winner is... Robert Ziegler! See the whole fiction series by clicking here.
July 24, 2008
9:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
fjv1026 writes:
The formula for success on the Rox upcoming road trip?
1) Leave Clint Hurdle and Bob Apodaca in Denver.
2) Only start Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez on alternating days.
3) Keep Helton on the DL (Sorry Todd).
4) Alter the schedule so we play in Pittsburgh and Washington during the whole trip. Throw an interleague series against Seattle in there too.
5) Sign Matt Holliday to the contract he wants (nothing to do with the road trip except it shows the Rockies commitment to win).
6) Did I mention leave Clint Hurdle and Bob Apodaca in Denver?
July 25, 2008
12:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
ccash14 writes:
kEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL ROAD TRIP
The Rockies have to believe that they can win. Confidence is very important on the road
They have to continue to play the small ball that proved successful the past 7 games. Base hits leads to wins.
Getting key timely hits will prove vital to team success. They can not afford to leave base runners.
Don't try to over do it. The home run ball can be a cancer instead of a cure. It causes teams to rely on any one player and players to over think the situation and try to do too much. Be patience and take what your given, home runs will come.
Base hits win games! Go Rockies!!!
July 25, 2008
4:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
AZdenverfan writes:
My keys to winning:
-Start Podsednik in CF, and trade Willy.
-Start Ianetta, and trade Yorvit.
-Keep Todd on the bench.
-Get rid of Kip Wells.
-Keep Holliday for forever.
-Only trade Fuentes if we can get a SP and a quality 2nd player.
-Obtain a SP, RP and backup C using the likes of Willy, Yorvit, Q/Barmes, Hirsh, Sullivan, Vizcaino, and possibly Fuentes.
July 25, 2008
6:08 a.m.
Suggest removal
wilburM writes:
my keys to winning:
start Dexter Fowler or Spillborghs in CF and trade both Posendink and Taveras
trade yorvit for a quality backup catcher who knows his role
make todd the pinch hitter deluxe upon his return
Kip who?
Sign Holliday.
put Fuentes and Atkins in the same boat: trade only if you can get a quality SP and more P prospects. I don't want any more corner prospects who are major-league ready. the already have, what, 7, at the MLB level
ditch the dead weight for quality role players. starting pitching, bullpen, and role players... that's what the rocks need to get in return. a couple of draft picks or low prospects with upside... sure.
July 25, 2008
6:10 a.m.
Suggest removal
warrengfunk7 writes:
I'm sorry, but Clint Hurdle should have won coach of the year last season; he inspires and teaches dignity, integrity and responsibility to each other. He knows these players better than anyone (yes, better than you). The Rockies problems this season have nothing to do with bad coaching. I know, because I have watched every game the Rockies have played that last 4 seasons.
Bob Apodaca has done wonders with Colorado's pitchers and we finnally have good pitching. Apadaca has put emphasis on throwing strikes and not walking batters, while keeping the balls down and with breaking paths; by not throwing too hard. It is a winning formula. This is why Colorado has the NL's lowest team ERA in the 2nd half both last season and the season before last. Look for more of the same this second half. Colorado will emerge as a dominant pitching staff and win the division.
July 25, 2008
6:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
Hambone writes:
If you watch every game then you need to watch better. Does the first half of the season mean nothing?
Trade Yorvit to who? I'd love to see the club get something for him but his salary next year is a bit high and he doesn't throw runners out or present much of a threat at the plate. Maybe you could package him or Taveras with Fuentes to make it more realistic.
I'm also starting to think that they should keep Fuentes unless they get a very good offer. If he doesn't sign then they get two high draft picks.
Atkins is not going anywhere since Helton went down.
Hopefully the starting pitching can string together some good innings. The lineup is finally hitting so hopefully that gives the staff a bit of leeway.
July 25, 2008
10:01 a.m.
Suggest removal
fastnloose writes:
Warrengfunk7,I've watched the Rockies probably as much or more than you have.The way you describe this team are you sure you are not watching Boston or another team play? We have two strong starting pitchers,the rest is a crap shoot.Hurdle is a wonderful manager in 7 to 2 ballgames,as we have had in our last seven games.But if you need strategy in a one run game, the coach offers nothing.This team has no Idea what small ball is.That being said,Go Rockies you are my team!
July 25, 2008
11:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
Armchair_Pundit writes:
This roadtrip is very critical mostly because of who Arizona and LA get to play. LA play Washington and San Fran., AT HOME before hosting the D-Bags. Meanwhile, the aforementioned D-Bags, while at least on the road, play San Fran. and San Diego before going to L.A. I guess one can only hope that Arizona and LA split their 4 game series, but either way the Rockies basically need to have a winning record for the next, LONG, roadtrip to stay at 6 games back. Then we get Washington and San Diego at home before hosting the D-Bags. Hopefully the Rockies will still be threatening at that point.
So I know it's not 2007, but doesn't this season seem eerily like last season? Rockies pretty much stunk it up all year, but yet somehow find themselves in the hunt with 2 months to go (and I know the "scale" was different, with the Rox actually near .500 for most of the season, but still around 5 games out this time last year)? Obviously a wild card is out of the picture, and they aren't going to start putting together huge win streaks. But after last year, I can't say I haven't seen stranger things happen.
July 25, 2008
11:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
1somelikeithot writes:
wilburM, your ideas make the most sense to me. Two all-star pitchers tonite. Should be a good game. The Rockies have the better offense, hope their hot streak continues. Go Rockies.
July 25, 2008
12:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
dakar writes:
Hurdle and his staff deserve some blame, but when several of your pitchers are so bad they wouldn't even be able to get a job on another team, its hard to be successful. That along with Francis, Helton and Tulo all bombing out most of the year. Now we can blame them for sticking Morales in there like that and thinking Nix was the answer at second. They needed more time. And they should have some blame for the poor road record. The Rockies hitting woes extended thruout the lineup this year and worse on the road.