Rockies screw their paying customers … and Jhoulys Chacin
On June 16, Fathers’ Day, against the Phillies, Jhoulys Chacin pitched a hell of a game. In fact, he started the ninth inning having allowed no runs. Eighty percent of his pitches were for strikes.
Manager Walt Weiss decided to let Chacin attempt to get a complete game shut-out.
Sadly, it didn’t work out. Chacin allowed a run to Ryan Howard and Weiss made the difficult decision to sit him down. The fans were bummed. Chacin was bummed. But the Rockies won and thousands of Dads went home happy.
Tonight against the Giants Chacin again completed eight innings of shutout ball.
But this time Weiss never allowed him to take the mound in the ninth.
In the bottom of the eighth Chacin knew, like we all knew, that his evening was over, when Weiss pinch hit for him.
Chacin was not given a second chance at pitching all nine. Worse, the fans in attendance were not given an opportunity to witness a Coors Field rarity: a complete game shutout.
The Rockies have an obligation, not only to their player, but to their fans, to let amazing things happen at their ball park. How many managers would have pulled Chacin?
Needless to say, folks weren’t happy – either in the stands or on social media – about being robbed of their chance. Neither was a young pitcher who has earned the right to be special in front of the Coors Field faithful – and to redeem himself for letting one slip away on June 16.
Even thought the Rockies won tonight, I feel like I got screwed.
