MLB The Show: Smooth Pancakes' Shortstop RTTS Career

[SmoothPancakes]

Following the sweep of Minnesota and the All-Star break, it was right back into the swing of things as we kicked off the unofficial second half of the season with a three game road trip to Pittsburgh, which some have claimed is as about as exciting as going to the moon (10 bonus points to those who can name the reference). While Goose started hot in his first two games in the majors, he quickly hit ice in the third game of the Minnesota series. Hopefully a trip east would help him out.

Pittsburgh 6, Colorado 2
Pittsburgh 5, Colorado 3
Colorado 13, Pittsburgh 2


First game of the series would see Goose batting seventh in the order. Before even getting to bat, Goose would end up committing a fielding error in the bottom of the first inning, as he would fail to cleanly field a ground ball, bobbling it off his mitt, a mistake Pittsburgh would take advantage of for an early run. He would make his first at-bat leading off the top of the third inning, hitting a soft grounder back to the pitcher for the first out. Goose would get his next shot in the top of the fifth inning with one out and the bases empty. Amazingly, despite fouling off seven straight pitches, Goose would make contact on a fastball left high and send it into right center field, where it would just clear the outfield wall by a couple feet for a very unexpected solo home run. Goose's next at-bat would come in the top of the seventh inning with one out and the bases empty, this time bouncing a curveball into the dirt right in front of home plate for a very easy grab and throw to first by the catcher for the out. That would be all for Goose as he would watch the end of the game from the on-deck circle, as our relief pitching imploded on us late in the game. Final stats for Goose, 1-3 with a solo home run, one run scored and one RBI.

The second game would see Goose promoted to sixth in the batting order. The first at-bat for Goose would come in the top of the second inning with one out and the bases empty, squeaking a fastball up the middle and just out of reach of the diving shortstop for a single. Justin Morneau would fly out to center field for the second out, followed by a line out to the second baseman by Josh Rutledge to end the top half of the inning. Goose would return to the plate to lead off the top of the fourth inning, turning on an 0-2 fastball inside and for the second straight at bat sending up the middle into the gap into center field for a single, but the time on the bases would be short lived as Morneau would ground into a double play. Goose would make his next appearance in the top of the sixth inning with no outs and runners on first and second following back to back singles by Carlos Gonzalez and Wilin Rosario, proceeding to hit into a double play of his own to leave Gonzalez on third and two outs, which would see our rally die an early death. The likely final at-bat for Goose (barring extra innings) would come in the top of the eighth inning with one out and Gonzalez standing on first base, upon which Goose would strikeout on a cutter low and inside. Final stats for Goose, 2-4 with two singles and a strikeout.

The third and final game of the series would find Goose demoted back into the seven hole in the order. Hopefully an omen would not be set, as Goose would have a TERRIBLE batting practice before the game, failing to get even a single ball out of 10 pitches beyond the grass of the infield. Goose would make his first at-bat in the top of the second inning with one out and runners on the corners with Carlos Gonzalez standing at third and Justin Morneau at first. Goose would proceed to kill our run scoring opportunity by grounding into a double play at shortstop.

It didn't take long to see what kind of day this was going to be. Batting in the bottom of the second inning with two outs, Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer would proceed to lay down a bunt down the third base line. Pitcher Christian Friedrich would beat Goose to the ball, only to end up throwing the ball over the first baseman's head and into foul territory in right field, allowing Mercer to advance to second. Then, right fielder D.J. LeMahieu, picking up the ball while Mercer was halfway to second, would wing the ball in from near the first base stands and promptly throw the ball over the second baseman's head and into left field. Thank god, Mercer did not try to advance from second to third, as left fielder Carlos Gonzalez charged in and grabbed the loose ball, quickly throwing it over to Goose at third, nearly sending the ball AGAIN flying free over Goose's head this time, a ballerina leap being Goose's only defense to try and snag the ball and keep it from going into the third base dugout.

Returning to a bit of normalcy, Goose would get his next at-bat in the top of the fourth inning, coming up with two outs and the bases empty, promptly grounding out to the catcher with a soft bouncer in front of home plate. The next at-bat for Goose would come in the top of the sixth inning, digging into the batter's box with no outs and two runners on base with Rosario at second and Morneau standing at first. Goose would play the support role and in doing so crack the hit column and lay down a perfect drag bunt down the third base line, legging it out to first base for a single before the pitcher could get a throw off, loading up the bases with no outs for Josh Rutledge. Rutledge would hit a grounder to the shortstop, causing Goose to be forced out at second base, while Rutledge would beat the throw to first for an RBI fielder's choice. Amazingly, pitcher Christian Friedrich would help his own cause as he would smack a bases clearing, two RBI triple into the corner in right field and would eventually score via a sac fly by Charlie Blackmon as we would explode for four runs in the inning. Goose would make it back up to bat in the top of the seventh inning with one out and the bases empty following a solo home run by Rosario and a ground out by Morneau, only to end up striking out on a slider. Goose would get one final chance at the plate in the top of the ninth inning with no outs and Morneau standing on first base, sending a fastball into right field for a single. A single into center field by Rutledge would advance both Goose and Morneau up a base, loading the bases for starting pitcher Christian Friedrich, who was apparently going for a complete game with no pinch hitter in sight, a mistake as he would end up striking out for the first out. D.J. LeMahieu would get the next crack, flying out to very shallow center field to leave all three runners stuck and two outs with Charlie Blackmon next at the plate. Blackmon would come through with a ground ball single into center field, scoring both Morneau and Goose and leaving runners on first and second. Those runners would come in to score as well as Troy Tulowitzki would smack them home with a two RBI double, leading us onto a double digit ass whooping of the Pirates. Final stats for Goose, 2-5 with two singles, a strikeout and a GIDP.

Final series stats for Goose, he would start in all three games. Goose would struggle throughout the series, though flashing a couple of good moments, batting .417 for the series, going 5-12 with four singles, a home run, two runs scored, one RBI, two strikeouts, one GIDP and a fielding error.

Next up for the Colorado Rockies, we immediately turn right around and head back home to kick off a three game series the very next day against Washington. Wrapping up that series on Wednesday, we get Thursday off and then meet the Pirates once again, this time for a three game weekend series at home.

Washington Nationals (49-49) vs Colorado Rockies (47-52)
July 21-23, 2014
Coors Field - Denver, Colorado

Probable Starters:

Game One - Monday 6:40 PM
Taylor Jordan (5-9, 4.87) vs Rob Scahill (6-10, 4.51)

Game Two - Tuesday 6:40 PM
Stephen Strasburg (9-5, 1.85) vs Rex Brothers (0-1, 4.40)

Game Three - Wednesday 1:10 PM
Doug Fister (5-0, 1.87) vs Franklin Morales (10-6, 3.28)