Loss doesn't do Rockies any favors

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 31, 2008 at 4:54 p.m.

Text size  

• 4 Comments
• Email
• Print

Photo by Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

Rockies starter Jeff Francis worked seven innings, giving up one earned run and six hits while striking out six and walking none.

Rockies quick links

Drew on Baseball

Scores and statistics

• Rockies statistics
• Rockies schedule
• Rockies roster
• NL standings
• AL standings
• MLB scoreboard

SAN DIEGO — The Rockies are in the dark when it comes to playing in daylight.

As a disappointing season winds down, Colorado has a series of questions to answer in an attempt to get back on track in 2009.

There is one question that hangs over the Rockies with no reasonable answer - why are they so inept when the sun is out?

Chalk up a 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday as an overdose of overpowering Jake Peavy at Petco Park. Peavy left with a no-decision when the Rockies tied the score in the top of the ninth, only to see the Padres pull out the victory in the bottom of the inning.

He did, though, work eight shutout innings, allowing only three singles and no runners past third in the final five, even if he now is winless in his past nine starts against the Rockies.

But what the powers of Peavy can't explain is why the Rockies are 14-26 in day games, leaving them with the worst daytime winning percentage in the National League.

It is a big part of why, with 24 games remaining in the season, they found themselves 61/2 games back of NL West-leading Arizona, pending the outcome of the Diamondbacks' game with the Dodgers late Sunday.

And the challenge isn't about to change. The Rockies return home to start a three-game series against San Francisco at Coors Field - this afternoon. It's one of seven day games remaining on the schedule.

"I don't think there is a profound answer," left fielder Matt Holliday said. "It is just one of those things in baseball where one year you are good and the next year you aren't."

Last year, the Rockies were 26- 21 in day games. This year, they will have the worst day-game record in franchise history and a losing record in daylight for only the sixth time in 14 years.

"I wish we had an answer," shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said.

The numbers are glaring. There's not much difference for the Rockies pitching staff, except the wins and losses, which are even more glaring when the Aaron Cook factor is mixed in. Cook is 8-1 in 10 daytime starts - the Rockies are 8-2 in those games - meaning they are 6-24 when someone other than Cook is pitching.

Yet, the team ERA is slightly better in the daytime - 4.70, 13th in the NL - compared with 4.79 at night, 15th in the league.

Offensively, though, the Rockies go from the top-scoring team in the NL in night games, averaging right at five runs per game with a .277 average that ranks second in the NL, to a team that ranks 14th in hitting in daylight (.239) and runs scored (four per game).

"It is an age-old question, and I have no idea," said Brad Andress, Rockies strength coach and quality control administrator, who works on figuring out ways to combat issues such as the altitude challenges and travel problems the Rockies face.

"There are so many variables, I don't know. There could be some personal preference. Some guys may not like day games, and it could have a residual effect."

Not many hitters like facing Peavy, including the Rockies, even if he is 0-4 in his past nine starts against the Rockies.

The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner has quality starts in 12 of his past 15, and he provided an offensive lift for the Padres against the Rockies, blooping a one-out single over second baseman Clint Barmes in the fifth and scoring the game's first run when he was breaking to steal and Luis Rodriguez delivered a two-out double to right-center.

Jeff Francis was good for the Rockies, too.

In his fourth consecutive quality start, and the fourth consecutive effort to ease concerns about the left-shoulder inflammation that forced him to miss six weeks this season, Francis allowed that lone run in seven innings.

He got off the hook for a loss when Chris Iannetta bounced a two-out, tying single up the middle in the ninth off Trevor Hoffman, scoring Brad Hawpe, who had singled with one out and moved to second on a walk to Garrett Atkins.

Rodriguez, though, got the Rockies again in the ninth, delivering the one-out single off Taylor Buchholz that scored Will Venable.

But then, it was a day game. What else could the Rockies expect?

They are coming off back-to- back winning months, their only winning months this season, but were 6-9 in day games in July and August.

It's not like they are a worn-out bunch of veterans who have that Animal House hangover look when they show up at the park for a day game. And it's not like they take a laid-back morning approach to the games.

"We've tried to change things up," manager Clint Hurdle said. "A lot of teams don't take batting practice before day games, but we've been doing that. (Lack of day wins is) one of the sore points in our season."

• August 31, 2008

  5:03 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  RDenver writes:

  Pa-thetic……lose to a team that is 30 games under .500 and has the second worst record in the Majors. And the Rockies are a team that is supposed to be fighting for a playoff spot? I just got my request for postseason tickets from the Rockies last week and I think it is time to not worry about the playoffs this year. I am sure the Clintster will have some spin about how the ‘boys’ fought back and played hard but the fact is that they lost to a terrible team when they themselves are in the hunt for a playoff spot. A 3-3 roadtrip ain’t gonna cut it Clintster….! Your team had a chance to go 4-2 and even 5-1 on the trip but didn’t. Chalk this year up to a team that underachieved. But hey Clint…you gotta another year on your contract and the Monfarts are too cheap to let you go. This team has way to much talent to be 10 games under .500!

• August 31, 2008

  5:07 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  1somelikeithot writes:

  That's gotta hurt for Peavy who goes eight scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts and Hoffman gets the win.

• August 31, 2008

  5:17 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  SDcat writes:

  The Rox aren't done. This hurt but now its time to come back swinging and but good. Padres have been playing over their heads lately. They nearly swept the Dbacks. Its good to see Francis back. Clearly there was a big ole mixup on the Tulo throw out at second. Somebody thought it was hit and run, and somebody didn't. And why did Stewy go for 2? Was the coaching or his decision? I felt bad for Taylor, who has been rock solid this year. Well, its a new month and I still am hopeful for this year. We all know they are a better team than showed the past 2 games. Now they have to believe it too! They'll turn it around....

• September 1, 2008

  6:41 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Hambone writes:

  Stewart would have been safe at second had he been hustling.

Featured

• Legislature Blog

  

  Read live updates from the opening of the 2009 legislative session.

• Rocky multimedia

  

  The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.

• Who's next?

  

  Complete coverage of the Broncos' search for a new coach.

• Rocky year in photos

  

  View an audio slide show of staff selections from 2008.

• Winter Escapes

  

  Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.

• Sam Adams' Open Mic

  

  Open Mic: Two-man advantage with Avs

• Shanahan's career

  

  See photos from Mike Shanahan's career as Broncos coach.

• 12 days of Drew

  

  Look back at the year that has been with Drew Litton.

• A dream fulfilled

  

  A Rocky Mountain News and MediaStorm production