The Dbacks began their 10-day, 9-game, 3-city road trip by dropping 2-out-of-3 versus the lowly Houston Astros. Next up are the 16-22 Rockies who are in last place in the NL West, 3.5 games behind the 4th place Dbacks and 7 games back of the front-running Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dbacks have thus far earned a split (3-3) versus their long-standing inter-division foe from the Mile High City.
Coors Field could be the cure for the Dbacks impotent bats. The high altitude could be the Dbacks very own Viagra in trying to help revitalize their anemic bats. However, the youngsters must grasp the concept that they don't have to constantly pull the ball. By just spraying the ball to all fields can generate enough power to carry the ball out at a far distance. It's a concern that they will be so transfixed on hitting HRs that they will strike-out at quite an alarming rate.
Game 1 of the series features are very intriguing match-up pairing 2 pitchers that easily can be playing for the Suns and Nuggets alone, just based on height. 6'10 Randy Johnson vs 6'8 Jason Hirsh. Also, the sage-veteran vs. the relative-inexperienced. Here's a look inside the numbers:
RANDY JOHNSON
0-2 6.00 (28/7)
vs.
JASON HIRSH
2-3 4.10 (35/22)
Here's a scouting summary I found on Hirsh:
http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2006/01/2006_wtny_75_75.php
It appears that Hirsh has extreme control issues (judging also from 22 walks in 41.2 innings) I hope the Dbacks aren't fixated on swinging for the fences (especially on the first pitch). They must exhibit patience and obviously work the count. They of course would get the count to the best of their advantage and select the better pitches to drive/spray all over the place. I anticipate Chris Young to have a field-day versus Hirsh.
Randy Johnson was his vintage self for the first 6-innings in his last outing, however, it was more apparent that fatigue was settling in and should have been removed from the game a lot sooner.
The Rockies have been lead by Matt Holliday, who has been a thorn in the Dbacks side this year. Todd Helton has gotten off to an amazing start as well, but let's hope that Johnson will win the lefty/lefty match-up here. Willie Taveras has done what the Rockies expected from him and then some.
It promises to be a very exciting series versus the 2 bottom feeders in the NL West. If the Dbacks so happen lose this series, then I expect some rumors to circulate regarding Melvin's future..especially if they got massacred all over the place.
The Dbacks have thus far earned a split (3-3) versus their long-standing inter-division foe from the Mile High City.
Coors Field could be the cure for the Dbacks impotent bats. The high altitude could be the Dbacks very own Viagra in trying to help revitalize their anemic bats. However, the youngsters must grasp the concept that they don't have to constantly pull the ball. By just spraying the ball to all fields can generate enough power to carry the ball out at a far distance. It's a concern that they will be so transfixed on hitting HRs that they will strike-out at quite an alarming rate.
Game 1 of the series features are very intriguing match-up pairing 2 pitchers that easily can be playing for the Suns and Nuggets alone, just based on height. 6'10 Randy Johnson vs 6'8 Jason Hirsh. Also, the sage-veteran vs. the relative-inexperienced. Here's a look inside the numbers:
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RANDY JOHNSON
0-2 6.00 (28/7)
vs.
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JASON HIRSH
2-3 4.10 (35/22)
Here's a scouting summary I found on Hirsh:
http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2006/01/2006_wtny_75_75.php
69. Jason Hirsh - SP - Houston Astros - 24 (AAA)
Introduction: Besides Jon Lester and Francisco Liriano, no pitcher broke out in 2005 more than Jason Hirsh. A 2003 second-round choice, I had Hirsh circled on a list before the 2005 season of guys that could be drafted in the '05 Rule Draft, if left unprotected. However, he then proceeded to have a season in which he was named as the Texas League Pitcher of the Year, and was promptly added to the Houston 40-man roster. The key for Hirsh seemed to be a decline in his walk rate, as the big right-hander shaved his BB/9 almost in half. There is a good argument, in my mind, for both Nieve and Hirsh atop the Astro food chain.
Skillset/Future: Coming out of college, Hirsh was a pitching coach's dream. He had the pitcher's body at 6-8, 250, and was blessed with velocity in the mid-90s. However, there was little control and little secondary stuff. A year later, neither of that is true. Hirsh's curve was raved about in 2005, and as I said, his control was much improved this year. He was unable to average a strikeout per inning, but that's nitpicking. I went with Hirsh over Nieve because I thought the former had a better chance to be a good reliever if starting didn't work out, given his frame and velocity. If the Astros continue to implement young players onto their roster, look for Hirsh to get his chance in 2007.
It appears that Hirsh has extreme control issues (judging also from 22 walks in 41.2 innings) I hope the Dbacks aren't fixated on swinging for the fences (especially on the first pitch). They must exhibit patience and obviously work the count. They of course would get the count to the best of their advantage and select the better pitches to drive/spray all over the place. I anticipate Chris Young to have a field-day versus Hirsh.
Randy Johnson was his vintage self for the first 6-innings in his last outing, however, it was more apparent that fatigue was settling in and should have been removed from the game a lot sooner.
The Rockies have been lead by Matt Holliday, who has been a thorn in the Dbacks side this year. Todd Helton has gotten off to an amazing start as well, but let's hope that Johnson will win the lefty/lefty match-up here. Willie Taveras has done what the Rockies expected from him and then some.
It promises to be a very exciting series versus the 2 bottom feeders in the NL West. If the Dbacks so happen lose this series, then I expect some rumors to circulate regarding Melvin's future..especially if they got massacred all over the place.