Somethings got to change!

This is Thursday May 28, and the Rox just dropped 3 in a row to the Dodgers! What makes matters worse is that Tulo is now 3 for 38 with runners in scoring position. The entire team is self destructing with runners in scoring position.

I, personally, attribute this to what Hurdle has done. I think that Hurdle has become the cancer in the clubhouse. "Oh, the players aren't playing for me"..."the team has turned on me"..."why can't we commit to excellence"..."I don't get what is happening"...woe is me"...
Here is what my take on what is happening. Hurdle has shown the propensity (wow, a big word!) to daily shuffle the lineup around. He sits players as punishment. He changes set up and closers more than I change socks! The team needs consistency!

When I'm coaching my 7-year olds tee-ball team, I need to make sure that each player has a chance to play each position and gets at bats. When I coached Freshmen ball, I tried to give playtime to each player. This is not tee-ball or even High School ball, it is the Major Leagues! Stick with a line up for more than 2 games. Quit shuffling around the batting order! Let the players find a groove in a spot.

Let's take Tulo for example (yes, he is one of my current favorites). Some games he is hitting in the 2 spot, some games he is in the 6 spot, and God forbid he swings at the first pitch, he will be benched. Tulo is struggling, but putting more pressure on him is not going to help! Sending the message hit or be benched is not going to help...especially when Atkins (who I think is Hurdle's little pet) is doing even worse and yet has not been "punished" like Tulo has.

I don't think that the team (as a whole) trusts Hurdle! They don't know what to expect from him. He is not he leader that is needed right now...he is very ineffective as a leader.
"What about the 2007 run that he lead?" He had NOTHING to do with that! He sat back and rode the Helton, Holliday, Tulo train for the majority of the playoffs. When he did take back the reigns, we fell apart! He has even admitted to "letting the players play" for the majority of "the streak".

I'm not necessarily calling for the firing of Hurdle...okay I am...since I don't really see anybody who is available to step in. Baylor...been there, did that, no thanks! Vinny...maybe, but I feel he would just be an interim. Walt Weiss...he turned down the Bench Coach job, I don't think he'd want this mess. So, I don't know, keep the Turdle for the rest of the year, but definitely DO NOT renew his contract! Hurdle is done, that is for sure!

Don't get me started on the bullpen...

Until next time...

the Lockedawg

Bandwagon

Okay, I am officially on the Nuggets bandwagon. It's not that I've never been a Nuggets fan, I just don't enjoy basketball all that much (unless it is my munchkins games...okay even then, i just tolertate the game). If I was forced to pick a team to root for, it would have always been the Nuggets...anyway, on to the rant.

What is the difference between teams in the past and this year, Chauncey, plain and simple. Carmelo is a great player, but he is not a leader. He isn't very inspiring, he's not one to guide, he is not one to "rally the troops". He can single handedly win a game, he can take the team on his back and carry them, just not lead them. Chauncey on the other hand is a GREAT leader. He can do all thoes things and more. The addition of Chauncey has freed up Carmelo to do what he does best...win basketball games (I said that I didn't enjoy the game, I never said that I didn't follow it...)!

I found this picture and thought it was the funniest. I looks like Karl is saying "Okay, Jack is pissed, now I know your doing a good job!"

Until next time...

the Lockedawg

The Todd-father

Congrats to my personal favorite Rockie, Todd Helton! Yesterday, he hit a major milestone, getting 2000 hits. What makes it even more impressive is that he got all his hits with his original team (my other favorite player did it too...Derek Jeter).

I still remember being thrilled when the Rockies brought Todd up. He had the sweetest swing. Every time he came to bat, there was an excitement...he was a game changer. Todd didn't come up to get a home run each time (like the original BlakeStreetBombers did), he just wanted a hit. He craves hits! I'll never forget being at a game in Aug. 2007 (the Rocktober run) we (the Rox) were losing to the Dodgers by one run, down to our last out, a man on second, and Todd comes up. The optimism was tangible, "Helton is up...we have a chance!" At this point in the season, the Rox were very much out of the playoff picture. Then with one swing...CRACK...we win the next 20 games and go to the World Series!

As great of a hitter that the Todd-father is, he is a better fielder! Watching him play firstbase is like butter! He is poetry in motion. One of (if not the) best firstbase men that I have seen since Mr. Baseball (Don Mattingly...who was also a fantastic hitter...hhhmmmm....).

Todd, Mr. Baseball Jr., my hat is off to you (and with the sun and my bald head, that is a lot!) here's to 2000 more!

Until next time...

the Lockedawg

Panic Button!

I know it is only May, but my finger is hovering over the panic button right now. How in the name of Homer J Simpson do you give up 9 runs in the 7th...
My blood pressure is going up as I type...
ARRRGGG!

Maaaaaannnnnnnnyyyyyyyyy...

The AP just released that my favorite, Manny Ramirez, is going to be suspended for 50 games for testing positive for "performance enhancing drug".

All I can say is "MAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!! Nah nah nah nah, hey hey hey goodbye!"

(Yes, I AM that immature!)

Until next time...

the Lockedawg

Best of Times/Worst of Times...

Okay, really? Last Friday the Rox allowed Randy 'Captian-K' Johnson to do what he does (or really did) best, throw strikes. Johnson looked like the Johnson of old, dominate, over-powering, unhittable. He absolutely stymied the Rox. Only problem is that he is over-the-hill, a has been, a should have retired, a...um dare I say Bret Favre...there I said it (I feel better now!). During that game last Friday, Jimenez looked great. He only gave up three runs, and with our line up that should be a Rockie win. My guess is that Hurdle sat the team down Friday afternoon and tried to "pump up" team.
"Remember, this is Randy Johnson we are going to face tonight. He holds about every record for strikes know to man. I don't really expect you to get a lot of hits tonight, so just go out and have some fun thats what matters...okay?"
Now last night (Wednesday the 6th) the Rox faced Randy Johnson again (and again, Jimenez for the Rox). This time, we demoloshed him, he (Johnson) looked like the "old man" that he is, the "on the back end of my carreer" pitcher that he is. We (the Rox...yes it is we...) shelled him for 7 runs while Jimenez did the same as last week, this time only giving up 1 run. The difference, I believe that this time the Toddfather gave the pre-game speech.
"Remember, this the Randy Johnson we are going to face tonight, he was in his prime my rookie year, now he is an old man trying to keep up. Let's go out there and make him wish he had retired this year!"

Side note, Tulo still struggling at the plate, still looking good on the field (although a smokin' triple in the 8th!)

Oh, by the way...cheap tacos night...yeah!

Until next time...

the Lockedawg

Tulo part 2...

Just a quick note of follow up on Tulo. I mentioned yesterday that he is having another rough April, like he had last year. This time last year, Tulo was not only sucking at the plate, he is sucking in the field. He was letting his poor hitting get him so frustrated that he was second guessing himself on the field. This time last year, Tulo had already committed 5 errors (which is 4 more than he committed his whole rookie year). Fans were questioning his big contract, questioning if he would be the heir of the "face of the franchise" (who were Helton and Holliday). About this time Tulo was also having some "health" issues. His torn hamstring (which I still put a sizable amount of the blame on Hurdle!) and then in frustration, he "lacerated" his hand. When he came back from the DL, he was the Tulo I came to know and love!

This year, Tulo, again, was showing signs of struggling. The big difference from last year to this year is that Tulo is remaining stellar in the field. He is not letting Hurdle in his head. He is not questioning himself as the "leader" in the clubhouse. He knows he will eventually work his way out of his hitting slump (which he actually is as of now).

As a side note, I was reading an article on another blog that was talking about Tulo, Innetta, and Atkins struggling at the plate lately. After the game last night (Monday the 4th) and Innetta hits a grand slam, Tulo was talking about how he and Innetta were talking about hitting and how Tulo took some of his own advise. Hhmmm...teach to be taught?! Does Tulo read this blog? I wish!

Until next time...

the Lockedawg

Teach and be taught...

After losing on Sunday, my boy Tulo, said "Things have got to change..." referring to the hitting, especially with runners in scoring position (0 for 5 on Sunday alone!). Thank you Captain Obvious! (and remember, I like Tulo!) This is the third season of Tulo's career and the for the second year in a row, he has had an abysmal April! I am quite sure that he is putting too much pressure on himself, in fact I know he is. He is too tense at the plate. He is striking out, he is pounding the ball into the ground, all signs of being too tight. I have a feeling that my favorite manager (that was meant to be sarcastic) Hurdle is not helping. He threatens to "rest" Tulo (translated--start producing or your benched), he more than likely is sicking the new hitting coach, Don Baylor, on him (yeah, that's worked out nicely) and just not letting him work things out.
I say what Tulo needs to do is this...he needs to take some time teaching some under privileged kids the art of hitting. Let him take some kids from the area to the batting cages, just him, no Baylor, no Hurdle, no other coaches. Maybe he can have Hawpe, or Atkins, or even Smith, but definitely no coaches. Have him work with these kids on their swings, on watching the ball on...having fun at the plate. Then have Smith video Tulo instructing these kids. Then Tulo needs to watch that instruction himself.
This idea, while seeming out there, has worked! Just ask Seth Smith. He has done just this. In the off season, he is a hitting instructor at one of the batting cages where he lives in the winter. Earlier this season, when he was starting to struggle, he sat down with one of the tapes of his instructions and took his own advise to heart. He is now hitting above .300 (.324 at the time I wrote this).
The best way to learn something is to teach it your self!

Until next time...
The Lockedawg