The fans and the media have jumped on the Rockies 2010 bandwagon, because, on paper they look like a shoe-in to go all the way to the World Series. Everyone is also assuming that emotional maturity would eliminate some of the thoughtless mistakes that cost them games in the past. Not on the night of April 10, at least, because "Tulo" showed that he doesn't have what it takes when the chips are down. The scene: bottom of the 14th inning with Colorado trailing 5 to 4, and Todd Helton standing on first base after drawing a hard-fought walk. Troy has one purpose, and one purpose only; that being to move Helton over to second base. How he does it is his own business, it can be via a walk, a hit, a bunt, or just a ground ball hit behind Helton so he can get to second. Even if Tulo strikes out trying, it would only be one out and there would still be a runner at first. The one thing Tulo cannot do is hit a double play grounder to the left side of the diamond, which would leave the Rockies with two out and nobody on. What does he do? You guessed it, he hit a grounder to the left side, specifically to the third baseman, who started a 5-4-3 double play. The next batter, Brad Hawpe, hit a double that would probably have scored even old slow-footed Helton with the tying run.
The Rockies may not be good enough to overcome these kinds of lapses. There is hope, however, because the Phillies got frequent poor quality at bats from Jason Werth last year, and they still won the pennant and made it to the World Series. As a Baseball Observer, you really want to know the answers to questions that reporters never ask. They are, among others: Did the coaches talk to Tulowitzki before he went to bat to remind him how critical it was to move Helton over? Did he ignore them? Or did they trust he would do the right thing because he should have known what it was? Does Tulowitzki even realize what he did? We will never know.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Another Troy Renck Lame Quote
5/3/2009 "It takes two hands and two feet to list the number of hitters he's helped revive." Troy E. Renck, joking about Clint Hurdle, we hope, because there is no indication that Hurdle has ever revived the career or batting stroke of any major or minor league hitter, including himself. But maybe Renck, who has never been known for his accuracy or clarity, is referring to Clint's CPR prowess, which enables him to revive hitters that may have fainted or been knocked out by a pitch while following Rockies' hitting coach Don Baylor's technique of "using your head" to hit the ball. Or maybe when Troy writes "helped revive", he means by referring them to a competent hitting coach. More likely, Troy doesn't mean the fingers and toes on two hands and two feet, just two hands plus two feet, or 4. Hurdle may have "helped revive" four hitters who have passed out. That is possible, if not likely. But not nearly as unlikely as the claim that Clint Hurdle has revived the batting stroke of 20 hitters, not counting little leaguers.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Rockies Rip Off Fans, City by Giving Away Naming Rights to Stadium
"In 1995, Adolph Coors Company paid $15 M for the naming rights to Coors Field. The deal is for an indefinite period of time. This was Major League Baseball's first open-ended naming rights arrangement."
Even though they paid for the whole shebang, the taxpayers of the metro Denver area got nothing in return for Coors Brewing permanently stamping their name on Denver's baseball stadium. Not only that, but Coors, now Miller/Coors, got the deal of the century. First, the Rockies sold them the naming rights for 15 million dollars for FOREVER! Second, newspaper articles claim that the Rockies were supposed to share the revenue with the Stadium district (consisting of Denver and surrounding cities), but NEVER DID. Let us compare that to other stadiums, shall we? Citizens Bank named Philadelphia's stadium for $95 million over 25 years, or $3.8 million per year. Since the Phillies opened the stadium in 2004, they have already earned $19 million before this year started. CitiCorp is paying the Mets $20 million per year for 20 years, or $400 million! In fact, even the lowest priced naming deal is almost DOUBLE the amount Coors paid the Rockies! Many of the other stadiums are in much smaller market areas with far less attendance, too! And remember, the average annual price goes down every year, because it is FOREVER!
One other small detail should be disclosed in connection with this travesty. Namely, that Coors is a part owner of the Rockies! Can you say "conflict of interest"? If Coors and the Monforts wanted to show their fans, as well as the taxpayers, that they are not greedy and dishonest, and are grateful for the support of local government and fans, they would renegotiate the deal for a reasonable price and SHARE THE MONEY with the people that made them possible in the first place. Don't hold your breath, though.
Stadium Name Sponsor Home Teams Avg. $/Year
Coors Field Coors Brewing Colorado Rockies $882,353
Tropicana Field Tropicana Tampa Bay Devil Rays $1,500,000
PNC Park PNC Bank Pittsburgh Pirates $2,000,000
Safeco Field Safeco Corp. Seattle Mariners $2,000,000
Miller Park Miller Brewing Milwaukee Brewers $2,100,000
SBC Park SBC Communications San Francisco Giants $2,100,000
Chase Field JP Morgan Chase Arizona Diamondbacks $2,200,000
Comerica Park Comerica Detroit Tigers $2,200,000
Citizens Bank Park Citizens Bank Philadelphia Phillies $2,300,000
Ameriquest Field Ameriquest Capital Corp. Texas Rangers $2,500,000
Great American Ball Park Great American Insur. Cincinnati Reds $2,500,000
Petco Park PETCO San Diego Padres $2,700,000
U.S. Cellular Field U.S. Cellular Chicago White Sox $3,400,000
Progressive Field Progressive Insurance Cleveland Indians $3,600,000
Minute Maid Park Coca Cola Houston Astros $6,000,000
Citi Field CitiCorp New York Mets $20,000,000
Data from ESPN and ballparksofbaseball.com, as well as independant research.
©Copyright 2009, The Baseball Observer
Even though they paid for the whole shebang, the taxpayers of the metro Denver area got nothing in return for Coors Brewing permanently stamping their name on Denver's baseball stadium. Not only that, but Coors, now Miller/Coors, got the deal of the century. First, the Rockies sold them the naming rights for 15 million dollars for FOREVER! Second, newspaper articles claim that the Rockies were supposed to share the revenue with the Stadium district (consisting of Denver and surrounding cities), but NEVER DID. Let us compare that to other stadiums, shall we? Citizens Bank named Philadelphia's stadium for $95 million over 25 years, or $3.8 million per year. Since the Phillies opened the stadium in 2004, they have already earned $19 million before this year started. CitiCorp is paying the Mets $20 million per year for 20 years, or $400 million! In fact, even the lowest priced naming deal is almost DOUBLE the amount Coors paid the Rockies! Many of the other stadiums are in much smaller market areas with far less attendance, too! And remember, the average annual price goes down every year, because it is FOREVER!
One other small detail should be disclosed in connection with this travesty. Namely, that Coors is a part owner of the Rockies! Can you say "conflict of interest"? If Coors and the Monforts wanted to show their fans, as well as the taxpayers, that they are not greedy and dishonest, and are grateful for the support of local government and fans, they would renegotiate the deal for a reasonable price and SHARE THE MONEY with the people that made them possible in the first place. Don't hold your breath, though.
Stadium Name Sponsor Home Teams Avg. $/Year
Coors Field Coors Brewing Colorado Rockies $882,353
Tropicana Field Tropicana Tampa Bay Devil Rays $1,500,000
PNC Park PNC Bank Pittsburgh Pirates $2,000,000
Safeco Field Safeco Corp. Seattle Mariners $2,000,000
Miller Park Miller Brewing Milwaukee Brewers $2,100,000
SBC Park SBC Communications San Francisco Giants $2,100,000
Chase Field JP Morgan Chase Arizona Diamondbacks $2,200,000
Comerica Park Comerica Detroit Tigers $2,200,000
Citizens Bank Park Citizens Bank Philadelphia Phillies $2,300,000
Ameriquest Field Ameriquest Capital Corp. Texas Rangers $2,500,000
Great American Ball Park Great American Insur. Cincinnati Reds $2,500,000
Petco Park PETCO San Diego Padres $2,700,000
U.S. Cellular Field U.S. Cellular Chicago White Sox $3,400,000
Progressive Field Progressive Insurance Cleveland Indians $3,600,000
Minute Maid Park Coca Cola Houston Astros $6,000,000
Citi Field CitiCorp New York Mets $20,000,000
Data from ESPN and ballparksofbaseball.com, as well as independant research.
©Copyright 2009, The Baseball Observer
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Humidor Redux
Back in May, the Baseball Observer published this observation:
According to this article in NewsOK.com , the Humidifier was a failure from the beginning, contrary to what the full-time nut case and part time sports reporter for the Denver Post, Troy E. (the “E” is for epistemologist) has been vociferously claiming for years:
Rockies’ experiment with baseballs backfires
By Bill Sones and Rich Sones, Ph.D.
Strange but True
Q:What was the point of the Colorado Rockies baseball team placing balls in a high-humidity chamber for several months before games? Were they trying to cheat?
A:It was actually done in the name of fair play, New Scientist magazine says. The Rockies play in high-altitude Denver, where the thin air means batted baseballs travel up to 20 feet farther than at sea level. So, the humidity chambers were an attempt to tame down the overexuberant orbs. Then a team of University of Colorado researchers reported that the Rockies may have gotten things backward: Moisture may make the balls fly even farther. They found that two months in humidity of 30 to 50 percent increased the diameter of the balls by 0.24 percent and their mass by 1.6 percent. While it’s true the bigger, heavier, “squishier” balls come off the bat slightly more slowly and experience more drag, the extra mass more than compensates for these effects as the balls “take longer to decelerate,” and so carry farther. Moreover, the moist balls are harder for pitchers to curve and thus easier for sluggers to hit.
This proves, once and for all, what the Baseball Observer has said from the very beginning: there is no scientific or empirical evidence that storing baseballs in a humidifier makes the slightest bit of difference, except, obviously the psychological one.
Since then, a little more information has come afloat from newspaper articles and television reports. It turns out that Major League Baseball decided, in the interest of fairness, that all baseballs, in all parks, should meet minimum requirements for size, weight, and other, less obvious characteristics. Though neither side will admit it, this caused a change in the humidifier procedures at MillerCoors Field. In the above article, you will notice that they talk about storing the balls in the humidor for months (you may also note that we referred to it as a “humidifier” whereas the Rockies insist it is a “humidor”). What is happening now, at the direction of MLB, is that all balls are required to meet factory specifications. So, the heavier, “squishy” balls referred to above, would not be allowed today. Neither would the balls the Rockies used in the first few years at what used to be called Coors Field, because they were improperly stored and too old, dried out, and light weight to meet the standard.
Ideally, the teams should use balls that are as fresh as possible from the manufacturer and store them in a manner that does not change the condition of the ball in any way. If any team stores the balls such that moisure is added or removed, it is illegal. So, the humidor, when it is used legally, has no effect on the baseballs. The widely varying effects we saw in the Rockies first 10 years were likely a result of improperly buying and rotating the balls, then over-humidifying them when they began using the humidor. The Baseball Brass had to step in because of complaints from other teams, so now the Rockies are not altering the baseballs, with more normal results. Which of course means losing. The Baseball Observer wishes they would go back to the hard, dry, slick balls of the early years. They shouldn’t try to think, because they are not good at it. Things were good in those days, they should have left it alone.
According to this article in NewsOK.com , the Humidifier was a failure from the beginning, contrary to what the full-time nut case and part time sports reporter for the Denver Post, Troy E. (the “E” is for epistemologist) has been vociferously claiming for years:
Rockies’ experiment with baseballs backfires
By Bill Sones and Rich Sones, Ph.D.
Strange but True
Q:What was the point of the Colorado Rockies baseball team placing balls in a high-humidity chamber for several months before games? Were they trying to cheat?
A:It was actually done in the name of fair play, New Scientist magazine says. The Rockies play in high-altitude Denver, where the thin air means batted baseballs travel up to 20 feet farther than at sea level. So, the humidity chambers were an attempt to tame down the overexuberant orbs. Then a team of University of Colorado researchers reported that the Rockies may have gotten things backward: Moisture may make the balls fly even farther. They found that two months in humidity of 30 to 50 percent increased the diameter of the balls by 0.24 percent and their mass by 1.6 percent. While it’s true the bigger, heavier, “squishier” balls come off the bat slightly more slowly and experience more drag, the extra mass more than compensates for these effects as the balls “take longer to decelerate,” and so carry farther. Moreover, the moist balls are harder for pitchers to curve and thus easier for sluggers to hit.
This proves, once and for all, what the Baseball Observer has said from the very beginning: there is no scientific or empirical evidence that storing baseballs in a humidifier makes the slightest bit of difference, except, obviously the psychological one.
Since then, a little more information has come afloat from newspaper articles and television reports. It turns out that Major League Baseball decided, in the interest of fairness, that all baseballs, in all parks, should meet minimum requirements for size, weight, and other, less obvious characteristics. Though neither side will admit it, this caused a change in the humidifier procedures at MillerCoors Field. In the above article, you will notice that they talk about storing the balls in the humidor for months (you may also note that we referred to it as a “humidifier” whereas the Rockies insist it is a “humidor”). What is happening now, at the direction of MLB, is that all balls are required to meet factory specifications. So, the heavier, “squishy” balls referred to above, would not be allowed today. Neither would the balls the Rockies used in the first few years at what used to be called Coors Field, because they were improperly stored and too old, dried out, and light weight to meet the standard.
Ideally, the teams should use balls that are as fresh as possible from the manufacturer and store them in a manner that does not change the condition of the ball in any way. If any team stores the balls such that moisure is added or removed, it is illegal. So, the humidor, when it is used legally, has no effect on the baseballs. The widely varying effects we saw in the Rockies first 10 years were likely a result of improperly buying and rotating the balls, then over-humidifying them when they began using the humidor. The Baseball Brass had to step in because of complaints from other teams, so now the Rockies are not altering the baseballs, with more normal results. Which of course means losing. The Baseball Observer wishes they would go back to the hard, dry, slick balls of the early years. They shouldn’t try to think, because they are not good at it. Things were good in those days, they should have left it alone.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Rockies Miss Chance
The Dodgers beat Arizona to move to 3.5 games behind, and the Rockies blew a golden opportunity to creep up to 5 back by losing to the Padres Saturday night. The contest was over in the 4th when Ubaldo Jimenez fell apart and gave up 6 runs before Hurdle could get up off his bench and pull him out of the game. Rube should have figured out that Baldy was done when he sandwiched a wild pitch between two walks to load the bases with 1 out. But no, old Clint sent the pitching coach out to impart some advanced wisdom, thinking that might solve the problem. This was followed by a single, plating one run, then a force out bringing in another. Then, the wildness resumed as Ubaldo walked two more batters, the second forcing in the third run. Then Clint finally moved, but his choice of relief pitchers, Glendon Rusch, gave up back-to-back singles, allowing all three of the runners Jimenez left him to score, before finally getting an out. The final score was 9-4.
Now the Rockies are still 6 games out, with only 25 games left to play. They only have 3 left with the Dodgers, so they may be harder to pass then the D'Backs, with whom they have 6 left. Their record against Arizona is 2-10, so they will have to reverse their fortunes against them in a hurry. They have fared much better against LA, currently 7-8. They will need to clean up on the Giants, with whom they have 6 games, but they are only 6-6 so far. Bottom line, if they fall back any further, they probably don't have a chance. If they are going to have another streak, it is about time to start.
Now the Rockies are still 6 games out, with only 25 games left to play. They only have 3 left with the Dodgers, so they may be harder to pass then the D'Backs, with whom they have 6 left. Their record against Arizona is 2-10, so they will have to reverse their fortunes against them in a hurry. They have fared much better against LA, currently 7-8. They will need to clean up on the Giants, with whom they have 6 games, but they are only 6-6 so far. Bottom line, if they fall back any further, they probably don't have a chance. If they are going to have another streak, it is about time to start.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
LAST PLACE!!!
Clint Hurdle had to have fallen asleep last night, the last day of June, 2008, because there is simply no other explanation for what happened to the Rockies.
It was certainly hot enough, the temperature nestled in the high 80's at game time, with no breeze to cool Miller/Coors Field. Besides, the Rockies had an 8-3 lead in the top of the sixth, what could happen?
Clint must have gone to the happy snoring place and didn't notice that De La Rosa and Speier gave up 5 runs to tie the game.
He surely could not have been awake when some knucklehead sent in the closer, Brian "Tito" Fuentes, in the ninth with the game knotted at 8 runs apiece.
He had to be snoozing, of course, because no Major League manager would ever put his closer into a tie game, so one of the players, probably Troy Tulowitzki, must have picked up the phone and pretended he was Clint calling for Tito.
Fuentes must have been shocked and not properly warmed up, because he was three runs down before he even knew what was happening.
Somebody must have awakened Vizcaino and sent him out in a daze, because he dished up two tantalizing gopher balls to Gerut and Gonzalez which were promptly smashed out of the park.
Former Rockie farmhand Jody Gerut's blast came with two runners on base while Edgar Gonzalez' solo shot was his 4th hit of the night.
Clint couldn't have awoken for the bottom of the ninth, because he never would have pinch-hit for legendary slugger Todd Helton, and if he did, he certainly would not have substituted Scott "Poodle" Podsednick, the light, almost imperceptibe-hitting outfielder, especially with Todd going 2 for 4 on the night with a ringing RBI double off Greg Maddux in the fourth.
There is just no way Clint would have done that, no way. No way he would let San Diego slip past Colorado, leaving them mired in last place, no way.
Way.
It was certainly hot enough, the temperature nestled in the high 80's at game time, with no breeze to cool Miller/Coors Field. Besides, the Rockies had an 8-3 lead in the top of the sixth, what could happen?
Clint must have gone to the happy snoring place and didn't notice that De La Rosa and Speier gave up 5 runs to tie the game.
He surely could not have been awake when some knucklehead sent in the closer, Brian "Tito" Fuentes, in the ninth with the game knotted at 8 runs apiece.
He had to be snoozing, of course, because no Major League manager would ever put his closer into a tie game, so one of the players, probably Troy Tulowitzki, must have picked up the phone and pretended he was Clint calling for Tito.
Fuentes must have been shocked and not properly warmed up, because he was three runs down before he even knew what was happening.
Somebody must have awakened Vizcaino and sent him out in a daze, because he dished up two tantalizing gopher balls to Gerut and Gonzalez which were promptly smashed out of the park.
Former Rockie farmhand Jody Gerut's blast came with two runners on base while Edgar Gonzalez' solo shot was his 4th hit of the night.
Clint couldn't have awoken for the bottom of the ninth, because he never would have pinch-hit for legendary slugger Todd Helton, and if he did, he certainly would not have substituted Scott "Poodle" Podsednick, the light, almost imperceptibe-hitting outfielder, especially with Todd going 2 for 4 on the night with a ringing RBI double off Greg Maddux in the fourth.
There is just no way Clint would have done that, no way. No way he would let San Diego slip past Colorado, leaving them mired in last place, no way.
Way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
