Game of the Week: September 16: COL @ LAD

[Commissioner Erick]

Colorado Rockies (77-66) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (88-54)

COL: Chi Chi Gonzalez (11-6, 4.43)
LAD: Gio Gonzalez (11-2, 2.89)


The Colorado Rockies have surged ahead for the Wild Card lead, finally overcoming their abysmal start. The Los Angeles Dodgers have lost 17 of 26 since a 20 game winning streak, killing their chances of home field advantage in all rounds of the postseason.

The two teams going in opposite directions will meet for the Game of the Week.

Dodgers boosters will merely state that their slump is a result of a lackadaisical ballclub with little to play for of note. Injuries have hurt the rotation, so the team is trotting out a number of pitchers who won't make starts during the playoffs. Also, Ian Kinsler hasn't hit since being recalled, so the team is trying out Jurickson Profar's brother Juremi to see if he can handle the role. Troy Allenbaugh has indicated that Profar will have the starting job to close out the regular season.

The move may be made to inspire Jurickson, who is finally hitting a wall. After a blazing start to the year, Profar is hitting .240 in September after posting a .230 mark in August. His tapering off at the top of the order has helped temper the Dodgers ability to score runs. Aside from Profar's struggles, the Dodgers poor play can almost entirely be traced to pitching. The Dodgers as a team posting the highest OPS in the NL in August, they have the highest mark in September, and they don't have any injuries to position players. Once Profar fights through his slump, the Dodgers' beastly offense will reawaken.

Colorado's team has woken up since ditching Elvis Andrus. After trading him in late May, the Rockies have gone 61-38. Andrus was one of the worst regulars in the league, and though his replacements, namely Sergio Alcantara and Dee Gordon, haven't done much with the bat, they've each provided at least .271 averages with some speed and, in Alcantara's case, the ability to play short. Alcantara, to his credit, has improved considerably from the first half of the year to the second, as he posted a .365 average with eight doubles and a triple in August. His .653 OPS in September is his third highest mark in any month this year.

Colorado also boosted itself at the deadline with a trade for Eric Thames for Chad Bettis. The move solidified what had been a weak spot for the Rockies, with Josh Ockimey raw and uneven, and Ian Desmond a disappointment. Thames hasn’t solved Colorado’s issue of not being able to get on base, and his power isn’t as much of a difference on a team with so many power options. However, he’s been a valuable bat at the first base position, something Colorado didn’t have until late July.

Finally, Colorado’s bullpen has been shored up. After injury sidelined him for much of the first half, David Robertson has been excellent in August and September. A.J. Schugel was a waiver addition early in the season, while Dan Jennings was picked up from the White Sox. Both players have ERAs under 3. Greg Holland still walks the world, but despite allowing 14 walks in 15 innings the past two months, he’s only allowed two runs. If he keeps avoiding the long ball, he’s been able to strike guys out and rely on his defense to keep runs off the board. Adam Ottavino has also turned around a dismal first half, working to a 3.60 ERA in the second half. Colorado’s bullpen has been a huge strength in the second half with reinforcements added, and the chaff of the early season sent out.

[Commissioner Erick]

Questions for the GMs:


For Erick Blasco, you've stuck with Sergio Alcantara being blah despite other more talented infield options. Why?

Tonight's starter Chi Chi Gonzalez has done better in Colorado than other places. How has he managed to succeed despite not striking anyone out and pitching in Colorado?

Raimel Tapia looks like he's forcing himself into more playing time. Is he your full time left fielder going forward?

For Troy Allenbagh, Juremi Profar was named the second baseman down the stretch. Why him over other options?

Are you concerned with your recent cold stretch?

Gio Gonzalez comes off the disabled list today. Will he be on any pitch count?

[Commissioner Erick]

For Erick Blasco, you've stuck with Sergio Alcantara being blah despite other more talented infield options. Why?

Options and being a plus shortstop defender. Being a Rule-V guy forces me to have Alcantara on the roster, while Travis Demerette can be stashed as he has options. With Trevor Story and Ian Desmond poor defensive shortstops, and Dee Gordon and Demeritte not good enough for short, I've chosen Alcantara's glove.

Tonight's starter Chi Chi Gonzalez has done better in Colorado than other places. How has he managed to succeed despite not striking anyone out and pitching in Colorado?

I don't really know. He keeps the ball on the ground, and the fly balls he does allow are often tracked down by a good outfield. I try to play Alcantara with Gonzalez on the mound, so my infield defense usually has plus defenders at three positions. Mostly, I think Gonzalez knows how to keep the ball in the park and on the ground, and I can work with the rest.

Raimel Tapia looks like he's forcing himself into more playing time. Is he your full time left fielder going forward?

Oh yes, with how far Ian Desmond has fallen, with no real DH-type among my infielders forcing Charlie Blackmon to play the field, and with Tapia's new power surge, I'm excited to slot him in left field and some backup center and right for a long time.

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA:Which Rockies pitcher is in the Top 10 All Time in Wins.

[rutledge]

Michael Fulmer

[dodgerstroy]

For Troy Allenbaugh, Juremi Profar was named the second baseman down the stretch. Why him over other options? Why not, lol.

Are you concerned with your recent cold stretch? Not at all!!!

Gio Gonzalez comes off the disabled list today. Will he be on any pitch count? Nope, he is getting right back into the groove for the playoffs.

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA ANSWER: Tyler Anderson!

[Commissioner Erick]

Dodgers 5 - Rockies 3


WP: R. Stripling (7-2)
LP: D. Hudson (1)
SV: K. Jansen (29)


With Sam Moll having pitched in back to back games, and David Robertson throwing 53 on Friday and Saturday, Erick Blasco's manager bot opted to save Dan Jennings for a possible save situation, opting to use recently-promoted Daniel Hudson against a wave of Dodgers lefties.

It was the wrong call.

Los Angeles scored twice in the bottom of the eighth when four straight lefties reached against Hudson and Brandon Kintzler, and the Los Angeles Dodgers stopped a slide with a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

The loss was particularly damaging for Colorado as they battled back from a 2-run deficit in the top of the eighth, getting a huge two-run home run from Charlie Blackmon to tie the game. Colorado had won six of seven to take command in the NL Wild Card, but still faced some competition to earn a wild card spot, and fierce competition from Atlanta for who would host the Wild Card Game. After the loss, Colorado's lead over the second wild card was cut to six, but they fell to just two up of the Braves for home field in the Wild Card game.

Gio Gonzalez was activated off the disabled list and picked up where he left up, twirling a fantastic game. He worked 6 innings, allowing just one run on four hits. He walked none, struck out four, and except for Sergio Alcantara improbably hitting his first major league home run, didn't allow a run to Colorado's vaunted offense.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers got their offense going in two innings, which proved to be enough. Justin Turner started off the second by striking a ball down the third base line past Nolan Arenado for a leadoff double. Cody Bellinger drew a walk, and Austin Barnes bounded a ball just inside the line for a run scoring double that gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Juremi Profar, named starter for the season that day, blooped a soft liner past Alcantara into left to make it 2-0. Austin Barnes held before going to third, unable to score. Jurickson Profar followed with a walk, but Barnes tentative running cost the team. A.J. Pollock grounded into a double play to end the threat.

A fat fastball from Gio Gonzales to Alcantara in the third resulted in the light-hitting infielder clearing the fence for his first career home run. It was an opposite field shot, so it was especially shocking, and met with uproarious celebration in the Colorado dugout. Gio wouldn't give them anything else to celebrate. Despite Chi Chi Gonzalez settling down, Cody Bellinger's solo home run in the sixth gave the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.

Colorado tied the game in the eighth getting a single from Alcantara before Blackmon took Jacob Rhame deep for a two-run blast. However, it wasn't to be thanks to not having the platoon advantage on the mound.

Daniel Hudson faced two righties and a switch-hitter in the seventh and set them all down, so he was asked to preserve the tie against the Dodgers' left-handed battalion in the eighth. He struck out Nomar Mazara to start, no easy task, but walked Joc Pederson. The righty Turner was pinch hit for by Willie Calhoun with three lefties to follow. However, with those facts and despite facing five batters, Hudson was was left in, allowed Pederson to steal second, then gave up a double to Calhoun to give the Dodgers the lead. Righty Brandon Kintzler came on and allowed Alex Verdugo to bang a shot off the wall, barely missing a home run, for a double that scored Calhoun to make it 5-3.

Colorado didn't have a final rally in them as Kenley Jansen struck out two in the ninth for his 29th save.


Questions for the GMs:


For Erick Blasco, how do you feel about the manager bot's handling of the bullpen in the eighth?

Alcantara had three hits, including his first home run. How do you feel about his day?

Chi Chi Gonzalez worked 6 innings and was okay. He allowed three runs, but didn't walk anyone. Assess his performance.

For Troy Allenbaugh, Willie Calhoun had a chance to win the second base job this year, couldn't do it, but hit like a maniac in Triple-A and had a big hit today. What will his role be to finish the year?

Speaking of second base, Juremi Profar got the start there. How do you think he looked?

You had no issues pinch hitting for Turner. How secure is his job and his spot in the lineup late in games?

[Commissioner Erick]

For Erick Blasco, how do you feel about the manager bot's handling of the bullpen in the eighth?

Ugh, the curse of the demand for robot umpires. We have Sam Moll and Dan Jennings to retire tough lefties. That's what they're on the team for. Moll was tired so I get it, but why save Jennings? He worked three and two days ago, but he didn't throw a ton of pitches. If he gets through the lefties, then bring in someone else to pitch the ninth, even if it's a save situation. It pisses me off when my bullpen isn't optimized, and it cost us.

Alcantara had three hits, including his first home run. How do you feel about his day?

I feel happy for him! He's made strides with the bat over the second half whereas he's at least competent. To have him hit home run sort of caps off the hard work, and to get it off of the highest paid pitcher in baseball no less. I'm sure he'll never forget the moment.

Chi Chi Gonzalez worked 6 innings and was okay. He allowed three runs, but didn't walk anyone. Assess his performance.

It's kind of typical Chi Chi. He didn't have great stuff, but his location was mostly good. Some of their better bats were able to turn on his pitches and hook them early, but only one home run is a good number. He gave up some balls in play, but the defense was able to flag down most of them. I think Chi Chi knows who he is, has been terrific at owning the lower half of the zone, and our defense has handled the rest. Basically, Chi Chi has some guts and my defense backs him up. It's a winning combination.

[Commissioner Erick]

Trivia Question: Willie Calhoun had a big RBI as a pinch hitter. Which player this year has the most pinch hit RBIs, and what team does he now play for?

[Commissioner Erick]

Trivia Answer: Ben Zobrist, Yomiuri Giants