18 half thoughts, Colorado Rockies game reviews

 After losing both sides of a split squad game on Monday by at least touchdown each, the Rockies needed a good Tuesday. At least the fans needed a good Tuesday.  Kyle Freeland was handed the ball for the first time since February 28th. It ended up feeling like Buddy Black "Buddy Blacked" and left the lefty in too long. Freeland breezed through the first three innings of action. He would have a hiccup in the 4th inning and the only thing faster than a hiccup is Elly De La Cruz. De La Cruz would single to start off the inning, get advanced to second base when the next batter got plunked. A double steal got called, the Rox threw to second and De La Cruz made it all the way home. While the Rockies have a 23-year-old shortstop of their own, that's a highlight that should frustrate the Rockie fan in you but delight the baseball fan in you.  The Reds would score two in the inning, you would think Freeland's day was over at 66 pitches but nope, out for the 5th inning he comes...

 Ezequiel Tovar led off the top of the 4th with a double, making it two games in a row he has hit a double after going 0-9 the first three games of the month. Nolan Jones singled to bring him home as he raises his average to .172. To be fair, at this point he is hitting .333 in March. Starting pitcher Ryan Feltner made it to the fourth inning only allowing one baserunner. He would issue three consecutive walks in the fourth, albeit the first walk issued was thrown out trying to steal. Zach Agnos came in to relieve Feltner with 2-on and 2-out in a 1-run game (building up the pressure of the moment). Agnos got Rowdy Tellez to fly out, crisis averted! Agnos came back out for the 5th inning and with 1-out gave up his 3 home run of the spring. It is now a hat-trick of appearances giving up at least one run. The fantastic interview he is, Agnos is quickly returning to longshot status. Scott Alexander had himself an interesting day on the Rox mound in the 6th inning. While Alexander is ...

 Living in the moment that is baseball in the first week of March, Saturday's game broke a lot (well at least mine) of Rockies fans hearts. The belief among many Rox fans is that Chase Dollander has been pencilled into the starting rotation beginning this season against Tampa unless he played his way out of that spot. He was pulled in the second inning with two out and the bases loaded. Dollander walked four batters in the outing, three of which were in the second inning. He also gave up two doubles. One of the feel good stories of camp has been Bradley Blalock, used exclusively as starter until he came in relief of Dollander today. The relief effort did not go well as four runs would cross the plate making it 6-0 for the Athletics. Blalock did come out for the third and was in and out in four batters. The collective we will just presume he is not the guy to call into the game with runners on base and move on from this experience. The irony is for the hope that Dollander would fill...

Ezequiel Tovar was hit by a pitch in the first inning, played defense until his at-bat in the third then was pinch hit for. A panic search of Google shows, " Tovar  left Wednesday's spring game against the Padres due to a left triceps contusion, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports".  Presumably precautionary as it is still only the first week of March. To add the proverbial insult to injury, the Rockies would leave the bases loaded as Thairo Estrada and Nolan Jones could not navigate the runners home. Antonio Senzatela got the start for the Rockies. The presumed number 3 or number 5 starter in the regular season rotation( if healthy) Senza survived the first inning aided by a double play then put together back-to-back 3-up, 3-down innings. He now has a total of 8 shutout innings under his belt allowing only 3 hits and 1 walk. Gabriel Hughes took over the mound in the 4th inning. The Tommy John rehabbing former first round draft pick walked the first batter he face...

 Bradley Blalock's two final appearances in 2024 during his proverbial "cup of coffee" in the bigs featured 6 walks issued at Atlanta and 5 walks issued at Detroit. He is a warm body to put into a spring training rotation, fodder if you will. Except maybe he is more? Blalock had his third consecutive strong showing today (granted it brings his total innings to 7) despite giving up his first run of the campaign. The 24 year old has only issued one walk thus far and should have your attention (even if it cynical). The Rockies put up 5 in the bottom of the second inning which was bookended by Kris Bryant outs. Ryan McMahon hit the only extra-base base hit with double to cap off of the scoring. Zac Veen drawing a walk is nice to see. Jake Woodford's final three starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024 were not good. His spring training has gone along the lines of someone serving as a warm body to put in the rotation so the organization can decide where to send him on the...

Remember when the Angels that acquiring C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk at the 2023 trade deadline would propel them into the playoffs? The pitchers the Rockies acquired in that deal - Mason Albright and Jake Madden are still working their way through the depth chart. Albright spent last season with the double A Hartford Yard Goats finishing with the most innings pitched sitting third in strikeouts. Jake Madden finished up with the Single A Fresno Grizzlies. In 28 appearances he collected 44 innings of work and experience. Speaking of old friends, Tyler Anderson took the mound for the Angels and he was feeling friendly. Sean Bouchard extended his hitting streak to three with a double. Hunter Goodman extends his spring long hitting streak to 6 games and his RBI streak to three games with a double of his own. Jordan Beck collected his first RBI giving the typically slow starting Rockies a 2-0 lead after the top of the first. Ryan Feltner took the mound for the Rockies. After retiring the fi...