Rocky Roll
By K Rogers
Two years removed from an improbable run to the World Series, the Colorado Rockies seemed to hit rock-bottom, dropping 11 of their first 16, while sitting in last place in the National League West. Things got so bad that manager Clint Hurdle was fired following an 18-28 start, and promptly replaced by former Dodgers and Pirates skipper Jim Tracy. The Rockies responded by winning seven of their last 11, including an impressive four-game sweep of the Cardinals in St. Louis. There are two questions posed moving forward with the Rockies. What’s changed since the insertion of Tracy on the bench? And secondly, can this hot streak continue?
Somehow, Colorado discovered their offense coincidentally away from Coors Field. The Rockies have scored 43 runs during their current five-game winning streak, including three straight games scoring in double-figures. Third baseman Ian Stewart has become an unexpected source of power, knocking out four home runs in the month of June, while hitting at a .480 clip this month. Second baseman Clint Barmes has also delivered offensively, leading the team in hits this month with 13. Colorado mainstays Todd Helton and Brad Hawpe have each pulled their offensive weight, as Helton is batting .314, while Hawpe is hitting .337 with a team-high 43 RBI.
Colorado’s pitching staff won’t wow many, but the Rockies quietly have several right-handed arms that can win bettors money. The well-traveled Jason Marquis picked up his eighth win of the season on Monday in the sweep-clinching victory at St. Louis. Marquis has dominated in the daytime over the last two seasons. Marquis’ teams over the last two years, the Rockies and Cubs, are an incredible 16-3 as a favorite of $1.60 or less, or listed as an underdog when Marquis starts during the day.
Ubaldo Jimenez started the season a bit slow, but the righty from the Dominican Republic has delivered quality starts in seven of his last eight trips to the mound. Jimenez has gone deep into games during this stretch as well, pitching into the seventh inning or later in each of those eight starts. Jimenez has also found his control over the last month, walking 12 batters in his last seven starts after issuing free passes to 19 batters his first five starts of the season.
Aaron Cook comes off a 16-win campaign in 2008, but began the season going winless in his first four outings. Run support has been inconsistent for Cook, as the Rockies have scored at least five runs in seven of Cook's 12 starts, while scoring just one run each in three separate outings. Cook's worst numbers have come against his NL West counterparts, as the Rockies have won only one of Cook's six starts versus division opponents this season.
Following a three-game set at Milwaukee, the Rockies return home for nine games. Colorado has actually struggled at Coors Field, winning nine of 23 games. The Rockies will have some good opportunities for victories over the next week and a half, hosting Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Pittsburgh for three games each. Through the end of July, the Rockies have a favorable home schedule, drawing Arizona for six games, San Francisco for three, Washington for three, and Atlanta for four.
VegasInsider.com