Brewers - Rockies Series Preview: Cutting Through the Purple Haze With Purple Row
by Rubie Q on Apr 4, 2010 4:00 PM CDT
in Series Previews
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PrintIn our never-ending quest to provide more ways to make you unproductive at school or work, we're going to try something new this year: series previews.
Unless you've been locked in the crawl space for the last three months, you know that the Brewers open the season tomorrow against the Colorado Rockies, the 2009 Wild Card winners in the National League. The start times and pitching match-ups go something like this:
MILWAUKEE BREWERS vs. COLORADO ROCKIES
Monday, April 5, 2010, @ 1:10 p.m. (CDT)
Yovani Gallardo vs. Ubaldo Jimenez
Tuesday, April 6, 2010, @ 7:10 p.m. (CDT)
Randy Wolf vs. Greg Smith
Wednesday, April 7, 2010, @ 12:10 p.m. (CDT)
Doug Davis vs. Aaron Cook
After the jump: Russ Oates of SBN's terrific Rockies blog, Purple Row, stopped by to answer some hard-hitting questions on the Rockies, the evolution of Jorge de la Rosa, and, of course, dinosaurs:
BCB: The Rockies seem to have followed a pattern in the last three seasons. 2007: healthy Tulowitzki has a big year, Rockies win the Wild Card. 2008: Tulo's hurt, Rockies slide to 74-88. 2009: healthy Tulo has a big year, Rockies win the Wild Card. It's not that simple, right?
I don't want to say it's that simple. I will say, however, that an early key to success for the Rockies will be to see Tulo start off hot, or at least temperate. He's been a cold starter, which has led to dismal Aprils and Mays for the Rockies.
BCB: Other than Tulowitzki, which position player needs to have a big year for the Rockies to contend?
Right fielder Brad Hawpe. He went from being an All-Star in the first half of the season to making the Anti-All-Star Team after the break. Which Hawpe will we see in 2010? If it's the latter one, will his decline be as bad as the departed Garrett Atkins' performance was in 2009? Seth Smith is stalking the Coors Field outfield.
BCB: Tuesday's scheduled starter is Jeff Francis, who was outstanding for the '07 Wild Card champs. In '08, he slumped to 4-10, 5.22 and then he missed the entire '09 season due to shoulder surgery. Is he fully recovered, or is this one of those "you can pitch after a year, but you won't be back to normal for 18 months" injuries? How has he looked this spring? What are the expectations for Francis this year?
Not so fast. Jeff Francis will now start the season the DL as a result of left shoulder stiffness he felt on Friday. [Rubie sez: This is what I get for not procrastinating and sending the questions on Friday morning.] A day earlier, Francis looked sharp and ready to start the season. Greg Smith will replace Francis on Tuesday and for the foreseeable future. No word yet on how long Francis will be out, but the team will certainly be cautious with him.
BCB: You owe us for Jorge de la Rosa. May we have Jason Hammel, please?
Sure, but we want Ryan Braun's 2007 RoY award to go to Tulo.
BCB: OK, seriously: after making remarkable improvement during the 2008 season, George of the Rose will start the Rockies home opener on Friday against the Padres. You watched most of his starts (correct me if I'm wrong). For those of us who didn't get the benefit of seeing him pitch every five days and are still skeptical: did de la Rosa's 2009 season look (for lack of a better term) fluky?
It's really all about focus for JDLR. He found a sports psychologist last season and then produced an outstanding season. He'd still have games with 3+ walks, but as long as he kept piling up the strikeouts it didn't matter. De La Rosa has settled in as a middle-of-the-rotation starter who could be even better this season.
BCB: The Rockies mascot, Dinger, appears to be a purple triceratops, which is (1) awesome and (2) kind of confusing. What am I missing? What does a dinosaur have to do with the Rocky Mountains? And why purple? Doesn't Barney have the market cornered on that color?
During the excavation for Coors Field, an unidentified dinosaur bone was discovered. In early 1994, the team announced they also found a dinosaur egg, which then hatched on 16 April 1994. Out came Dinger. Dinger is purple because of the "purple mountain majesties" line from "America the Beautiful." I don't know. Many fans want Dinger to go the way of his ancestors. Unfortunately, it'll take another 65 million years for that to happen.
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"Sure, but we want Ryan Braun's 2007 RoY award to go to Tulo."
Point of information: Ryan Braun was and still is better than Tulowitzki.
Ryan Braun: He loves it.
by SRB on Apr 4, 2010 4:15 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs
^This^
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Apr 4, 2010 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions
To be fair:
Tulowitski has had a better WAR in both his healthy years, 2007 and 2009 (5.4 both years, Braun was 3.2 and 4.8, respectively) because of superior defense and playing a more important position. Braun is no doubt the better hitter, but an argument can certainly be made for Tulowitski to be the better player. I’m just happy to have one of the two.
"Probably won't make a decision until after the decision starts"
Braun also only played part of the season in 2007, has a higher career WAR (in fewer games) and thus a higher career WAR/GS. Plus, Tulowitzki’s terrible 2008 can’t be attributed to a nagging injury, he was just bad during the time he was healthy (most of the season).
Ryan Braun: He loves it.
by SRB on Apr 4, 2010 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Actually
Braun has played in 15 more games the past 3 seasons than Tulowitzki has. The War/g edge there goes to Tulo there. Throw in the cup of coffee in 06 for TT and Braun gets the edge in total WAR.
And outside of Milwaukee, most fans of the game, and serious saber slanted fans at that would take Tulowitzki because of the superior defense at a premium position.
I did a write up on this on Behind the Boxscore earlier this winter. Tulo is the better player overall, but only by a slight margin.
Braun has the edge in total WAR either way
But if you’re throwing out Tulowitzki’s 2006 (23 GS is a cup of coffee?) then why not throw out the failed experiment of Braun at 3B? Assuming he had played in LF instead – which is his position now and going forward – that would give him close to another 2 career WAR.
Braun is a year younger and a more consistent performer; completely ignoring the fact that Tulowitzki was not very good over most of the season in 2008 isn’t really fair analysis.
Ryan Braun: He loves it.
Good point about the 3b and defense
But Braun has been pretty awful in LF as well.
Its a toss up. For me, Id take the up the middle awesome defender with an above average bat.
Tulowitzki had 2 injuries in 08 that hampered him, one being a sliced hand from breaking his bat against a dugout wall.
I’m a big fan of Pecota over at Baseball Prospectus and they have Tulo projected for 5.6 war this year, Braun 5.5. Its kind of like arguing whether you would rather have one Hall of Famer over another. Both great players.
Also
Why would Tulowitzki want a trophy with “Ryan Braun” engraved on it?
Failure is just success rounded down.
It would be worth more than one with "Tulowitzki" on it?
Plus, when he would list it on ebay — Ebay purchasers are more likely to spell Braun correctly than Tulowitzki.
Taking shallowness to new depths -- FtJ's blog
by Fatter than Joey on Apr 5, 2010 7:37 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
Happy Opening Day Eve!
To waste away the hours, enjoy a 90 minute review on just how awful Episode II was.
Bill Hall tripped during Red Sox introductions.
Laughter ensued in my household.
It was just me. It was worth it.
Shruggity
Can we arrange
for a sports psychologist for some of the Brewers? I don’t want to point fingers, but at least for Manny P? Or M. Parra?
More seriously, I’ve wondered for years whether hypnosis or other “mental/emotional” type assistance could help a variety of Brewers (not only Manny) who are generally considered to have talent but seem to keep encountering obstacles.
You've got a couple screws missin' up in your toolbox, if you think that you'll stop this man from hittin' moonshots.
Uh-oh. You may incite the wrath of Jordan by mentioning Manny and mental issues.
"Probably won't make a decision until after the decision starts"
My thoughts are summed up here… I just don’t see why the “mental issues” are always unique to Parra. Among pitchers with over 100 innings last season, Parra had the third-most walks/9. Davis was 9th, Gallardo 10th. Nobody’s suggesting they see sports psychologists.
I think athletes can benefit from seeing sports psychologists. I just think this idea that just Parra specifically has mental issues has spread far too rapidly after one bad season. Let’s not forget he put up a 4.39 ERA the year before.
E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).
Yes, I was about to post the same thing
Anyone who argues that Parra has difficulty handling the pressure of pitching in the majors is ignoring his successful 2008 (when hew as younger with less experience, no less)
Ryan Braun: He loves it.
by SRB on Apr 4, 2010 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Sorry, Jordan
Though I did specify “a variety of Brewers” above.
Given how many people in the general population struggle with “mental issues” (myself included), I sometimes wonder why every team doesn’t have a psychologist on board. For a more specific example, the Brewers could have had someone right there to help Matt Wise cope after he hit that Red in the face a few years back.
You've got a couple screws missin' up in your toolbox, if you think that you'll stop this man from hittin' moonshots.
by hawing on Apr 4, 2010 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
No need to apologize
I actually agree, and you didn’t single out Parra. Noah was just pointing out that I have made that case before and I responded.
E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).
scott schoeneweis is in for the Red Sox
After Beckett stunk it up
And already a wild pitch
Ryan Braun: He loves it.
by SRB on Apr 4, 2010 8:51 PM CDT up reply actions
I thought the Red Sox plan was to play Cameron in LF and leave Ellsbury in CF.
Apparently I was misinformed.
"Probably won't make a decision until after the decision starts"
They changed that plan a couple of months back.
Apparently, someone snuck a note with Ellbury’s UZR numbers into Theo’s briefcase.
I've gotta be honest.
Other than stealing a lot of bases, I don’t really see the big appeal about Ellsbury.
"Probably won't make a decision until after the decision starts"
JJ Effect?
Looking to buy: General Manager Deputy Badge
by Bush League All Star on Apr 5, 2010 1:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Not to be a Pedantic Patty
But the order of the third pitching match-up doesn’t match the first two.
I like the interview.
Failure is just success rounded down.
Hehe. "Pedantic Patty".
I like that.
"Probably won't make a decision until after the decision starts"
1:10 pm?
That seems like an unusual time for a home opener. fortunately, my employer has not yet blocked streaming video from MLB.TV and I have a widescreen monitor so as to be able to (appear) as if I’m working while watching the game.
All the Brewers home games are 10 after the hour this year.
Days games (non-getaways) at 12:10, other day games at 1:10, night games at 7:10, saturday night game at 6:10.
Shruggity
I meant it would be easier for people to come to the park at 7:10
Maybe they didn’t want to compete against the basketball game?
College basketball
The NBA Finals last year finished on June 17th. NHL Finals finished June 12. Sports last forever. Heck, even the curling world championships don’t finish until April 11.
The curling championships should be outdoors
Oh, the ice melted? Well, guess you have to skip the stone instead.
Failure is just success rounded down.
i believe the required response
is this
by Capt Science on Apr 5, 2010 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Good thing they don't play in Toronto this year
People would lose 3 minutes of baseball.
Failure is just success rounded down.
last time I asked him to clarify some inside joke of his
he referred me to lmgtfy.com with a bunch of keywords that weren’t in his initial post. As if I’m supposed to get the reference enough to extrapolate the rest of the situation;)
so…be careful what you wish for:P
by PagsBrewCrew on Apr 5, 2010 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Toronto plays at hh:07, on the dot
I am disappointed the 7/11 deal with the White Sox ended, they always played at 7:11pm.
Failure is just success rounded down.
I think broadcast schedules, you know, adapt
so no one misses 3 minutes unless they don’t turn on their radio/TV until precisely 10 past the hour every game.
by PagsBrewCrew on Apr 5, 2010 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions
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| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cincinnati
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25 | 20 | .555 | 0 | Lost 1 |
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St. Louis
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25 | 21 | .543 | 0.5 | Lost 2 |
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Houston
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22 | 23 | .488 | 3 | Won 4 |
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Pittsburgh
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21 | 24 | .466 | 4 | Won 1 |
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Milwaukee
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19 | 26 | .422 | 6 | Won 2 |
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Chicago
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15 | 30 | .333 | 10 | Lost 10 |
(updated 5.26.2012 at 11:59 AM CDT)
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