Cold Brewed Baseball: Living on a Prayer - mkilcNYR's Dynasty

mkilcNYR's Dynasty Blog

Cold Brewed Baseball: Living on a Prayer

Posted on July 30, 2015 at 05:03 PM.

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Hey all, before we recap the Padres/Rockies series just a trade announcement to go through that happened the night of the Dodgers v. Rockies game.

Trade Alert 4/19 The Tigers and Royals have agreed to swap players. The deal is:

Royals- Getting CF Rajai Davis (34 years old, 79 overall, B ) on the Kansas City Royals

Tigers- Getting 1B/DH Kendrys Morales (31 years old, 76 overall, C ) on the Detroit Tigers

This deal went down in the late hours of April 19th with the two AL Central rivals swapping players looking for a way to improve their bench more or less. Morales was having a horrible start to the year for the Royals sitting with a .164 average through the first 2 weeks of the season. He was mainly getting pinch hit AB's as the DH duties had fallen to Erik Kratz who has had a rebirth in KC hitting .250 as a backup catcher/DH on the team. Davis is still speedy and is a true speed threat off the bench or backing up Cain which is why KC made the move.

The Tigers meanwhile had Rajai Davis who was in decline as far as attributes go (everything -1 with Contact R and Vision at -2) to begin the year. That combined with a CF platoon of Gose/Bernard and the contract status of Kendrys Morales (under contract for 1 more year giving them a competent player to use in a rebuild) gave the Tigers that final push to make a deal.

Now on to the games!

Game One: The Padres rolled into town for a 4 game set against the Rockies who were looking to try and build upon the solid performance that was turned out in LA over that 3 game series. Unfortunately it was not to be in Game 1. Ian Kennedy looked like he did in his days as a prospect for the Yankees as he went 8 innings striking out a season high 13 (!!!!) Rockies while scattering only 4 hits and walking 2.

Kyle Kendrick meanwhile was manhandled giving up 8 hits over 6 innings before being relieved by Adam Ottavino who threw a great 3 innings in relief striking out 2 and giving up 0 hits to keep that ERA at 0.00 in these few appearances since coming up from AAA.

San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies
Apr 20, 2015	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
San Diego (5-8)	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	4	8	0
Colorado (5-6)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1
W: Kennedy (2-0) L: Kendrick (0-1)

Game Notes: Wil Myers extended his hitting streak to 8 games for the Padres with a hit in the 8th inning. Rookie Kyle Parker didn't collect a hit but had a good day going 0-1 while walking 2 times (only walks Kennedy allowed). LeMahieu bobbled a ball in the 5th committing his 6th error already on this young season.

Game Two: The Rockies have so far gotten off to a disappointing start to being the 7 game homestead against San Diego and there was a lot of fear in the air as David Hale took the ball for the Rockies, his 8.59 ERA and all. Surprisingly Hale quieted the haters in the crowd throwing 8 strong innings and having quite a rebound game scattering 4 hits, getting 6 K's while only walking 2.

While Hale performed well so to did his opposite Brandon Morrow. Morrow went 7 innings picking up 8 K's and scattering 4 hits while only walking 2 before turning the game over to his bullpen.

It would take 10 innings before Upton crushed a Eddie Butler fastball in the top frame to give the Padres a 1-0 lead that would stand. Butler took the rare loss this season (and made a rare mistake out of the pen) as Craig "BlitzCraig" Kimbrel closed it out for his 3rd save of the season.

Padres at Rockies \|
Apr 21, 2015	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Extras	R	H	E
San Diego (6-8)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	6	0
Colorado (5-8)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
W: Kelley (1-0) L: Butler (3-1) S: Kimbrel (3)

Game Notes: The Rockies have now not scored a run in 28 innings dating back to the last game of the Dodger/Rockies series. The absence of key offensive figures is absolutely being felt now. Will Myers singled again to push his hitting streak to 9 games. LaTroy Hawkins pitched the 10th after Butler allowed the solo homer. Hawkins has lowered his ERA to exactly 1.00.

Game Three: With the Rockies now mired in a scoreless streak that feels like it's been a lifetime, they turn to their veteran starter Jorge De La Rosa to get the job done and pick up a win in the 3rd game of the series. He went to work right away and delivered an 8 inning gem scattering 4 hits while only surrendering 1 run and getting 6 K's. As good as he was the Rockies had not yet scored going into the bottom half of the 7th and the fear was palpable going up and down the Colorado lineup of suffering yet another shutout. To this point James Shields was firing darts but this would be the inning that pushed him from the game.

Nick Hundley doubled with 1 out and with Shields pitch count nearing 100 Bud Black called Troy Vincent out of the pen to come and deal with the weakened bottom of Colorado's order, assuming that a fresh arm could easilyy dispatch with Parker and Barnes. While Parker struck out swinging on 4 pitches, Brandon Barnes took a 0-2 fastball and launched it into left field giving the Rockies a 2-1 lead. The Rockies faithful were ecstatic and the thin air was blamed (or celebrated) for having obviously caused the homer. Morneau would later drive in Blackmon in the 8th to give the Rockies a 3-1 victory and snap a 3 game losing streak.

San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies
Apr 22, 2015	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
San Diego (7-8)	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	4	0
Colorado (5-9)	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	X	3	9	1
W: De La Rosa (1-1) L: Vincent (0-2) S: Axford (5)

Game Notes: This was the 2nd straight game that a Colorado starter went 8 innings. Oxford picked up his 5th save and lowered his ERA to 1.92. Will Myers once again went 1-4 and extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

Game Four: The Rockies sent staff ace (defacto ace really) Jordan Lyles to the mound in the last game of the longest home stand series yet to try and even out the series 2-2. He did ok for himself throwing 7.1 innings while only giving up 1 run on of all things an Andrew Cashner single that scored pinch hitter Will Venable. The Rockies however answered in stile in the bottom of the 8th with back to back up home runs by Tulowitzki and Morneau to make it 2-1 Colorado.

John Axford came out of the pen to try and get his 6th save of the year but would promptly give up a 2 out, 2 run homer to Yangervis Solarte that made the score 3-2 Padres. In would come Craig Kimbrel to try and stave off the Rockies in the bottom half of the inning and he too suffered and struggled. Willin Rosario singled home Brandon Barnes from 3rd to tie this one all up at 3-3 and forcing extras. It would be Drew Stubbs who would hit a sac fly in the 11th that scored Mike McKenry from third to give the Rockies a 4-3 walk off win!

Padres at Rockies \|
Apr 23, 2015	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Extras	R	H	E
San Diego (7-9)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0 0	3	9	2
Colorado (6-9)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	0 1	4	11	0
W: Brothers (1-0) L: Kelley (1-1)

Game Notes: Rex Brothers came out of the pen to throw the 10th and 11th innings getting the win. He struck out the side in the 10th. Will Myers continued his hitting streak to 11 games now going 1-5 with a single in the 7th. The blown save in the 9th was the first for Kimbrel and the first for Axford this season.

The San Francisco Giants are waiting deck as there is no rest for the weary in this Colorado ball club. The matchups will be:

Game 1: Matzek (1-2, 716 ERA) vs. Hudson (1-0, 2.07 ERA)
Game 2: Kendrick (0-1, 4.67 ERA) vs. Lincecum (0-0, 4.08 ERA)
Game 3: Hale (0-2, 4.11 ERA) vs. Peavy (2-0, 3.26 ERA)

Side Note: After the end of each month I'll update the divisional and wild card standings.

Hope everyone comes out to see the Rockies take on the division leading Giants to end this 7 game home stand and close out the last home series of April!