Mile High Magic Returns: A Rockies Dynasty Is Born

[DaBull_33]

Rox fall to Giants, winning streak snapped

ARIZONA -- The Rockies saw their second longest win streak of spring training come to an end this afternoon, losing to the Giants 5-2.

Michael Cuddyer provided the entire offense for Colorado with a two-run shot in the 2nd. The home run gave Cuddyer 2 home runs in as many days, and 10 RBI. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for the Rockies to move their streak to 8 games.

Jorge De La Rosa was strong through 5 innings, giving up 1 run on 3 hits. As it stands, De La Rosa is expected to make the start in game 2 of the 3 game set against Milwaukee to open the season.

Madison Bumgarner was equally tough, giving up the home run to Cuddyer in his 5 innings of work. Javier Lopez garnered the win with clean inning out of the 'pen.

UP NEXT: The Texas Rangers will welcome the Rockies to town as the Cactus League season winds down. Juan Nicasio will start things off for Colorado. He'll be opposed by lefty Matt Harrison.

Colorado Rockies at San Francisco Giants
Mar 21, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Colorado (15-6)	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	5	0
San Francisco (8-8)	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	3	x	5	9	2
W: J. Lopez L: E. Escalona S: S. Romo

Colorado Rockies
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
BATTING: HR: Cuddyer RBI: Cuddyer 2
BASERUNNING: SB: Herrera

San Francisco Giants
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
BATTING: 2B: Sandoval, Kieschnick HR: Pence, Adrianza RBI: Sandoval, Pence, Nooman, Adrianz 2
BASERUNNING: SB: Arias
FIELDING: E: Scutaro, Belt

Colorado Rockies
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
De La Rosa	5.0	3	1	1	1	3	1	3.52
Nicasio (BS, 1)	1.0	1	1	1	1	0	0	2.86
Belisle	1.0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0.00
Escalona (L, 0-3)	0.2	2	2	2	0	1	1	9.34
Chatwood	0.1	2	1	1	0	0	0	10.38

San Francisco Giants
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Bumgarner	5.0	3	2	2	2	3	1	1.89
Lincecum	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2.51
Affeldt	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	6.75
Lopez (W, 1-0)	1.0	0	0	0	1	1	0	2.70
Romo (S, 3)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	3.60

[DaBull_33]

Rox bounce back offensively in win over Rangers

ARIZONA -- There's an old saying in sports, "You can't win 'em all." It's true that no team will go undefeated, but it's how you respond to a loss that determines how successful your team will be. The Rockies saw their 7 game win streak ended yesterday, yet they didn't dwell on the defeat. Instead, they came out and asserted themselves at the plate and on the mound, beating the Rangers by a score of 10-1.

All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki led the offense with a double, a home run, and 4 RBI. Ryan Wheeler, in the conversation for a backup infielder spot, added a homer and a pair of RBIs.

And, while the conversation may turn to how well the offense performed, it was the domination shown by the Colorado pitching staff that grabbed people's attention. Juan Nicasio was superb through 5 innings, giving up a run on 2 hits in his final frame. Nicasio has 6 wins this spring, leading all Cactus League pitchers. The bullpen was equally dominant, throwing 4 no-hit innings to seal the win. Adam Ottavino tossed a perfect ninth inning to keep his spring ERA at 0.00.

Matt Harrison, who will get the start for Texas on Opening Night against Houston, went 4 and two-thirds, giving up 7 runs (4 earned) on 3 hits and 2 walks. The loss moved his spring record to 2-2.

UP NEXT: The Rockies will welcome the San Diego Padres to Scottsdale. Jeff Francis will open the game on the mound. Matt Belisle and Adam Ottavino will look to keep their perfect spring efforts going. Clayton Richard will start for the Friars.

Colorado Rockies at Texas Rangers
Mar 22, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Colorado (15-7)	0	1	0	0	6	1	0	2	0	10	11	1
Texas (11-6)	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	1
W: J. Nicasio L: M. Harrison S: None

Colorado Rockies
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
BATTING: 2B: Tulowitzki, Torrealba HR: Wheeler, Tulowitzki RBI: Wheeler 2, Gonzalez, Tulowitzki 4, Pacheco 2 HBP: Rosario
FIELDING: E: Colvin

Texas Rangers
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
BATTING: HR: Berkman RBI: Berkman GIDP: Murphy, Kinsler
FIELDING: E: Berkman

Colorado Rockies
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Nicasio (W, 6-1)	5.0	2	1	1	1	5	1	2.66
Garland (H, 3)	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3.25
Lopez (H, 2)	1.0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0.87
Brothers	1.0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1.58
Ottavino	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00

Texas Rangers
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Harrison (L, 2-2)	4.2	3	7	4	2	6	1	4.11
Lowe	1.1	4	1	1	0	0	0	3.08
Soria	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	1.68
Tepesch	1.0	3	2	2	0	0	1	3.68
Ross	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2.16

[DaBull_33]

Culberson plays hero in Rox walk-off win

ARIZONA -- When the Rockies traded veteran 2nd baseman Marco Scutaro to the Giants last season, it appeared that San Francisco got the better end of the deal. It was easy to feel that way, seeing how successful Scutaro was once he moved to the city by the bay, and helped lead the Giants to their 2nd World Series title in 3 years.

But, the Rockies are hoping the player they got in return will prove that the move was more balanced than people are giving them credit for. Charlie Culberson was a highly thought of prospect in San Francisco, and now he'll get a chance to go from prospect to performer at the big league level. In all reality, Culberson will begin the year at AAA, but a strong showing there, and with the help of some injuries, he could have a chance to flash the potential that made him a sandwich pick back in 2007.

Cluberson gave the Rockies a glimpse of that potential, with a walk-off three run home against the Padres for an 8-5 victory. The Rockies did a good job of battling back with three runs in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game at 5, and setting the stage for Culberson's heroics in the bottom of the 9th.

Colorado fans may be wondering what team their watching lately. This group has a new passion, a new fire inside, that was absent last season in route to a 98-loss season. The clubhouse culture has certainly transformed this spring, and it's very obvious on the field. Fans just hope this swagger will carry over into the regular season.

Tyler Chatwood was perfect in the ninth, picking up the win. Joe Wieland took the loss for San Diego, giving up the two-out, three run shot to Culberson.

UP NEXT: The Indians head to Scottsdale to face the Rockies at Salt River Fields. Jon Garland will make his final start of the spring for Colorado. Justin Masterson will get his last tune-up for Opening Day for Cleveland.

San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies
Mar 23, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
San Diego (8-12)	0	0	0	4	0	0	1	0	0	5	12	1
Colorado (16-7)	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	3	3	8	9	2
W: T. Chatwood L: J. Wieland S: None

San Diego Padres
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
BATTING: 2B: Guzman HR: Forsythe RBI: Guzman, Hundley, Forsythe SAC: Decker
BASERUNNING: SB: Venable CS: Guzman
FIELDING: E: Decker

Colorado Rockies
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
BATTING: 2B: Pacheco, Young Jr. 3B: Pacheco HR: Gonzalez, Culberson RBI: Fowler, Gonzalez, Pacheco, Young Jr., Culberson 3 SF: Fowler
FIELDING: E: Helton, Rosario

San Diego Padres
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Richard	5.0	3	2	2	0	2	1	2.25
Luebke (H, 1)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2.84
Gregerson (H, 3)	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.12
Thatcher	0.0	2	2	2	0	0	0	6.84
De Paula (BS, 1)	1.0	1	1	0	0	0	0	2.70
Wieland (L, 1-2)	0.2	3	3	3	0	1	1	11.91

Colorado Rockies
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Francis	5.0	7	4	3	1	4	1	3.91
Belisle	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
Escalona	0.1	2	1	1	1	0	0	10.00
Ottavino	0.2	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Brothers	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	1.45
Chatwood (W, 1-0)	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	6.43

[DaBull_33]

Arenado goes deep as Rox blank Tribe

ARIZONA -- Rockies fans will have to be patient, but it won't be easy. Long touted third base prospect Nolan Arenado has become the focus of discussion and debate the last two years during spring training. He is the third baseman of the future for Colorado, but when exactly the "future" will begin is still up in the air.

Last year, people gave Arenado an outside shot of making the big league roster coming out of camp, but a slow finish to the spring and questions about his maturity on, and off, the field forced the Rockies to send him to Double-A Tulsa. There, Arenado grew up, battled through some difficult stretches for the first time in his professional career, and emerged a different player.

This year, it seemed as though he may once again surprise everyone and skip Triple-A on his way to the big leagues. But, it appears as though he will begin the season in the minors again in 2013. While the move makes sense for several reasons, it hasn't kept the fans from clamoring for the organization's #2 prospect to get his shot in The Show.

Arenado gave fans even more reason to be excited today when he homered in the Rockies shutout win over the Indians. Many expect Arenado to provide plus defense at third while hitting for a high average, and providing 20-25 homers in what is already a young, stout Rockies lineup.

But, it wasn't just the performance of Arenado that had people second guessing. Experts and fans alike questioned, and openly mocked at times, the team's decision to sign veteran righty Jon Garland after he was released by the Mariners early this spring. They felt that relying on a 32-year-old pitcher coming off of shoulder surgery wasn't worth the risk and took opportunities away from some of the young pitchers who could be developing at the Major League level.

Yet, the Rockies felt it was better for their young stars to get the regular work they need in the minors and develop the confidence they'll need at the next level. And, following Garland's outstanding performance against Cleveland, and the rest of spring training, this appears to be the best under-the-radar signing of the year. Granted, it's only spring training, and there's a long way to go until October, but if Garland can stay healthy, he could provide close to 200 innings at the back end of the Rockies' rotation and bring a stable veteran presence to a young team.

UP NEXT: The Rockies are off tomorrow before taking on the A's in the second to last game of the Cactus League season. Jhoulys Chacin will get his final start before Opening Day, when he'll face the Brewers in Milwaukee. Tommy Milone will get the start for Oakland.

Cleveland Indians at Colorado Rockies
Mar 25, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cleveland (12-9)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
Colorado (17-7)	1	0	0	0	1	2	1	2	x	7	9	0
W: J. Garland L: J. Masterson S: None

Cleveland Indians
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
BATTING: SAC: Masterson 2

Colorado Rockies
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
BATTING: 2B: Nelson, Le Mahieu HR: Fowler, Helton, Arenado RBI: Fowler, Pacheco, Cuddyer 2, Helton, Arenado, Nelson

Cleveland Indians
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Masterson (L, 2-2)	5.0	2	2	2	1	5	1	3.00
McAllister	1.0	1	2	2	4	0	1	6.42
Bauer	1.0	3	1	1	0	1	1	2.53
Smith	1.0	3	2	2	0	1	0	5.40

Colorado Rockies
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Garland (W, 3-0)	5.0	3	0	0	2	3	0	2.58
De La Rosa (H, 3)	1.0	1	0	0	1	1	0	3.57
Belisle (H, 5)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Lopez	1.0	1	0	0	0	3	0	0.79
Brothers	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	1.35

[orion523]

I can't believe it's been 20 years. I still remember the Phillies very first series ever against Colorado, it was Memorial Day Weekend 1993, and everyone was just starting to believe that this Phils club could be special(they'd been bad for a long long time). Anyway we went into old Mile High and swept the Rockies easily(I don't remember the scores) to go 20 games over .500, wound up one of the most fun Phillies season's ever.
Great thread!

[DaBull_33]

Quote: Originally Posted by orion523

I can't believe it's been 20 years. I still remember the Phillies very first series ever against Colorado, it was Memorial Day Weekend 1993, and everyone was just starting to believe that this Phils club could be special(they'd been bad for a long long time). Anyway we went into old Mile High and swept the Rockies easily(I don't remember the scores) to go 20 games over .500, wound up one of the most fun Phillies season's ever. Great thread!

Thanks! I know, it's hard to imagine that it's been 2 decades already. And, I completely understand having a team that stinks for a long time. I've been a Rockies fan since day 1!

[DaBull_33]

Rumblings in the Rocky Mountains?

According to individuals inside the Rockies organization, it appears that a shake up in the front office might be eminent. This, of course, would come as a major surprise to pretty much everyone, given the team's success in Spring Training, and the fact the regular season is just days away.

Troy Renck of the Denver Post says he's spoken with people close to the situation, and it seems as if Colorado ownership feels like the personnel decisions and player development the last few years have grown stagnant and ineffective. Why these decisions weren't made in the offseason, no one knows.

It's common knowledge around baseball that the Monfort Brothers tend to march to the beat of their own drum. A surprising decision like this wouldn't be all that surprising given the guys in charge. Who knows? Maybe a change would lead to Dick and Charlie loosening the purse strings a little.

As of right now, the Rockies lead the Cactus League with an 18-7 record. Their offense has been absolutely explosive this spring, and their pitching staff has performed above expectations. Whether that success can carry over into the regular season, we'll have to wait and see. But, for the time being, it appears as if the action on the field will have to take a back seat to the action in the front office.

Stay tuned for more, and we'll keep you posted on the latest details.

[DaBull_33]

Chacin struggles in final spring tune up as Rox fall to A's

ARIZONA -- Jhoulys Chacin found himself in a unique position as he faced the Oakland A's in his final start of spring training. Chacin will be making the first Opening Day start of his career on April 1st against the Brewers in Milwaukee. It's something he's never had to prepare for up to this point.

"I didn't want this start to be any different than any other spring start," Chacin said after finishing up 4 and a third innings of work. "I just tried to execute my pitches and work on my command."

The command and execution probably weren't where Chacin wanted them. He gave up 6 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks. He labored for most of his time on the mound, unable to spot his fastball or throw is breaking pitches for strikes. On a positive note, Chris Volstad finished Cactus League play on a positive note, going an inning and two-thirds without giving up a run, bringing his ERA down to 0.75. The move to the bullpen has been a revelation for Volstad who has seen his command improve and the velocity on his sinker jump by a couple MPH.

Tommy Milone pitched 5 innings for the A's giving up all 3 of the Rockies' runs. He picked up his first win of the spring.

UP NEXT: The Rockies head to Salt Lake City, UT to face the Brewers in the final exhibition game of Spring Training. Jorge De La Rosa will get the start for Colorado. He'll be opposed by Milwaukee's Marco Estrada.

Colorado Rockies at Oakland Athletics
Mar 27, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Colorado (18-7)	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	10	1
Oakland (9-15)	0	5	0	0	1	0	0	2	x	8	10	0
W: T. Milone L: J. Chacin S: None

Colorado Rockies
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
BATTING: 2B: Fowler HR: Cuddyer RBI: Cuddyer 3 GIDP: Rutledge, Rosario 2, Pacheco
BASERUNNING: CS: Rutledge
FIELDING: E: Herrera

Oakland Athletics
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
BATTING: HR: Lowrie 2 RBI: Moss, Jaso 2, Lowrie 5 GIDP: Freiman
BASERUNNING: SB: Cespedes

Colorado Rockies
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Chacin (L, 3-2)	4.1	7	6	6	2	1	1	5.12
Volstad	1.2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0.75
Escalona	1.0	0	0	0	1	0	0	9.00
Ottavino	1.0	1	2	1	0	3	1	0.71

Oakland Athletics
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Milone (W, 1-2)	5.0	8	3	3	2	2	1	4.50
Colon (H, 3)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	3.13
Cook (H, 4)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.72
Scribner (H, 5)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	4.29
Rodriguez	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.31