Ian Stewart's Future

by cofan17 on Jan 20, 2007 11:13 PM MST

I've chosen this topic as my first diary entry because it is a topic that eats at me every time I think about it. I know Stewart still has something to prove in the minor leagues, but I also think that after a full season of AAA he will once again be the Rox top prospect. The numbers that he could put up in the launchpad that is CO Springs could be incredible.

That being said, if Stewart stays healthy this year I'm left to wonder what it's going to take for him to break camp with the big club in 2008. The only two positions he can play are currently occupied by the Rox two best hitters. Is there any chance the Rockies trade Holliday sometime in 2007? Who knows what Stewart's defense would be like in LF, but it sure couldn't be any worse than Holliday's. I just don't want to see Stewart beating balls around CO Springs for the next three seasons while waiting for Rox brass to realize that there is no chance Holliday doesn't go free agent...atleast not while Boras represents him.

If Stewart has another great Spring, and then starts tearing up AAA, could he force his way to Denver in 2007? If so, who goes or where does he play?

I'm curious to know what anyone's opinion on this is, so please answer the poll question and feel free to comment. The poll question is based on the assumption that Helton will be here for the duration since I can't see anyway that he gets traded given his current contract and his desire to stay in CO.

[editor's note, by Russ in NY] Bumping this to the main category.

Poll

Ian Stewart will be an MLB regular when...

he is traded to another team

2 votes

Holliday is traded or lost to free agency

19 votes

Atkins is traded or lost to free agency

2 votes

23 votes | Poll has closed

Eat. Drink. Be Merry. But the above FanPost does not necessarily reflect the attitudes, opinions, or views of Purple Row's staff (unless, of course, it's written by the staff [and even then, it still might not]).

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Comments

how about option 3

Helton traded, Atkins to first, Stewart to first.

This is the option I prefer.

by DenverBears on Jan 21, 2007 7:10 AM MST reply actions

Or

He could go to Right Field as well

by wolf213 on Jan 21, 2007 9:37 AM MST reply actions

Agreed....

I would think with a 3B's arm that Stewart would be able to handle RF.

plus RF at Coors is much smaller than LF so range is less of a factor.

by sg8335aa on Jan 21, 2007 10:34 AM MST up reply actions

agreed...sorta

Looking at my crystal ball:

Stewart is a huge prospect, but at a very crowded situation(s)

I think the Rockies will end up trading Holliday before his final years of arbitration, before his free agency year (which I think is 2009). I would ass-u-me that the Rockies would perfer to unload Helton's bad back and huge contract, but Holliday looks to be easier to move. (younger, on up swing)

I see Stewart getting a call up this year if any of the guys get hurt...unless it's Helton then you have to think about Kolowitski (i'm not even tring to spell it right) is hot. There's a huge step from going from prospect to major leaguer. And it's getting time for Stewart to beat out players.

by Redhawk on Jan 21, 2007 10:54 AM MST up reply actions

I am with DBF (I think)

Helton traded, Atkins to first and Stewart at 3rd (which is what I think DBF meant).

A bat like Stewart's will play. Unlike Ryan Shealy who could only play a low value defensive position (and only one at that), Stewart is able to play a valuable defensive position and still has options to play two outfield positions and potentially first base so the options to get him on the field are significantly greater than they were with Shealy.

by MADness on Jan 21, 2007 10:18 AM MST reply actions

Patience

I'd like to see the Rockies wait on Stewart. He has hype, but is coming of an injury plagued season and has never faced veteran pitching.

If he moves to AAA, he will be facing pitching that is much more seasoned. Some prospects handle it easily, others don't. Let's not rush him.

As for moving positions, remember that this WILL affect his hitting. How long did it take Atkins to become a satisfactory third baseman and what happened to his hitting while he was adjusting? Remember the Helton to left experiment to keep Galaraga?

Let's hold out and see what Stewart does in AAA and how the team is doing. If the Rox are in the pennant race in 2007, you could even look to move Stewart for a veteran needed to get the team over the hump. If not, you might look to move Helton for prospects.

by skysoxn8 on Jan 21, 2007 11:44 AM MST reply actions

I don't think

anybody is suggesting rushing him. As the topic starter said, Stewart's value will rise with the move to the Springs and a year of potentially lofty numbers. Granted he still has to perform, but I like his odds for a comeback in such a hitter's haven.

If you're trying to read into every move management makes in relation to the positional players, I think there's enough evidence to suggest that Stewart is still considered the third baseman of the future. All the talk of moving to the outfield comes more from speculation than concrete statements out of Rockies' brass. The current word now is that he might see "some" time in workouts, but the primary position is third. I think outfield is the fallback in case other plans don't materialize.

As DBF and MAdness have said, the scenario I see is Helton out, Atkins to first, Stewart to third. The Helton trade rumors have grown more and more credible, and the tone out of the FO has started to change on Helton's long term future. The Rockies have bought themselves a year to a year and a half of time to make such a move, and need a Helton rebound to make a trade feasible.

There are other obstacles. For one, Joe Koshanksy is a helluva talent in his own right that should be banging down the door by June, and Atkins has not committed to the team long term, making him a potential candidate to be moved should the team stumble and Stewart jumps back on the fast track. It's also fair to argue that the FO would like Stewart to concetrate more on getting his stroke back, delaying the burden of changing positions until he is settled in at the plate.

I've watched Stewart many times here in Tulsa, and can say that he is a very fine defensive third baseman, one who might not be in the Gold Glove category, but is a major plus defensively no less. I still believe he could be an Eric Chavez in his prime offensively, with a little less defensively. Having him a third base would be the best way to maximize HIS worth. Whether or not it best maximizes the TEAM'S resources is debatable.

by David "ohno" on Jan 21, 2007 11:57 AM MST up reply actions

Let me throw out something crazy...

Trading Helton now would be a huge mistake. He is coming off of one marginal season. Not a bad season, just not what we expect from Helton. Helton being an on base machine helps to drive the rest of the offense. I don't think Hawpe, Holliday and Atkins have great years last year if Helton doesn't have an OBP of .404. That being said he is 33 years old and has never relied solely on power for being an offensive producer. Therefore I don't think we need to expect a huge offensive decline from Helton considering he plays first base and this is the MLB not the NFL. If we were to trade Helton we would be trading the Rockies only legitimate home-grown Hall of Fame candidate. Not too mention a trade right now is selling him very low, coming off his worst season.

A trade of Holliday I wouldn't mind as a baseball move. Being that, it is unlikely we will sign him and that he is quite possibly coming off a career year. However, if Holliday is traded people will freak out and it could very possibly hurt the franchise a great deal at the box office. Because of these reasons it might be good for the franchise if the Rockies bite the bullet and sign Holliday. So then, the question remains what do we do with Ian Stewart.

I think the plan all along was to hope Atkins did well and then trade him. But Atkins outperformed FO expectations, and now trading him might just be downright crazy. Atkins is a better hitter than Holliday but the market does not seem to see it that way, hence he is undervalued. Here is the craziness I mentioned earlier. I have been saying this for some time now. Trade pitching prospects and possibly Barmes for Rocco Baldelli. Then move Atkins to second base and bring up Ian Stewart. I should say that we should bring up Stewart when he is ready which may not be this year, but when he is, put him at third at Atkins at second. To hell with defense let's just get a bunch of bats in the line up. There is no doubt Atkins would struggle at second but would mitigate the defensive loss with the offensive gain you would get.

by RandyMann on Jan 21, 2007 12:36 PM MST reply actions

Atkins at 2nd..

we might as well have Rosie O'donnel shag balls in center. If, however, she hit .308 with 35 HRs I'd bite on it.
I think we can only hope that Todd returns to form and Holliday and Atkins don't drop off too much. At second I think Kaz will do fine so Atkins should be shipped out for a Homer Bailey type.

When O'Dowd and Hurdle get canned I foresee a shake up anyways so lets just hope the hitters do well and raise their stock.

InToddwetrust

by InToddwetrust on Jan 21, 2007 1:52 PM MST reply actions

Stewart

People forget a couple things when they discuss Ian Stewart:

He's only 23.
His last two minor league seasons haven't been anywhere close to what he did at Asheville, making all those "next Mike Schmidt/Scott Rolen" projections seem just a tad silly.

If we could move Stewart right now for a player that would make the big club better, I'd do it. That goes the same for the trading deadline if the Rockies are hanging around.

Helton's here to stay, folks - gee, what a shame we have to keep a guaranteed .400+ OBP in the middle of our lineup. As far as Atkins and Holliday go, I think Atkins is a little more signable, and he's got one more year before arbitration hits. I'm thinking Holliday's probably gone after this season, so for 2008 you can think about plugging in a Stewart or a Seth Smith (who I think might be more big-league ready for '08 than Stewart will be) in the left field spot. I will say this: the blowback from the 'casual fan' regarding the inevitable Holliday departure will be a lot less severe if either Stewart or Smith demolish the PCL this year.

Die-hard Rockies fan. On the bandwagon since 4/2/93. Not giving up my seat. EVER.

by Franchise26 on Jan 21, 2007 2:48 PM MST reply actions

I think you mean

he's 21. We were both born in 1985.

by Russ Oates on Jan 21, 2007 2:58 PM MST up reply actions

Oops

Faulty memory on my part. Must have been thinking of someone else. Anyway, that's all the more reason not to rush the kid.

Die-hard Rockies fan. On the bandwagon since 4/2/93. Not giving up my seat. EVER.

by Franchise26 on Jan 21, 2007 6:34 PM MST up reply actions

Isn't 2007

The year that Helton can opt out of the remaining years on his contract? Yes, it would be silly for him to give up the money, but at the same time, if the Rockies don't do well he might just see if he can't sign somewhere where the chances of a ring are far greater. Isn't that what every pro athelete is after? I think if the Rocks don't finish .500, Helton is out of here.

by Prospector on Jan 21, 2007 3:55 PM MST reply actions

That clause came into

effect this off-season. If he exercised the clause, the '07 season would have been his last season with the Rockies. The deadline was in the middle of November.

by Russ Oates on Jan 21, 2007 6:05 PM MST up reply actions

Thanks...

...for all the comments. It's always intriguing to see what other people's opinions are. Each comment made has merit, and it's going to be interesting to see how it all plays out.

I think we can all agree that every Rox fan is hoping for a HUGE year from Stewart. Atleast that would create a "nice" problem to have. Better to be crowded with talent than devoid of it.

by cofan17 on Jan 23, 2007 11:51 AM MST reply actions