Tuesday Morning Rockpile:

by Rox Girl on Mar 20, 2007 6:58 AM MDT in Rockpile Comment 16 comments

Delayed Gratification:

The return for the Rockies in trading Joe Kennedy to the A's was a long time coming, but it looks like it may be finally bringing us something back this season. Not only is Omar Quintanilla waking his slumbering bat this Spring, but Kennedy himself is pushing the trade value of Byung Hyun Kim up by being an absolute disaster thus far in his switch back to starterdom. Thank you Joe, I knew you'd come through for us again eventually. Now if only Eric Byrnes would hit for the Diamondbacks all season like he hit for us in that tiny stretch we had him, then the trade would have to be considered a huge success.

Herges

I've got to admit that I've softened my stance this March on the two non-roster invitees I figured I'd be most adamantly opposed to before camp began. Both happen to be the players trying to make their fifth career NL West team. At any rate, with the knowledge now that Ramon Ramirez has a minor league option left, I'm leaning to keeping Matt Herges for depth's sake. The last hurdle to me is the roster spot, and if we can pull off a trade of Kim, then it should be freed up. We had nine relief pitchers throw over 20 innings last season, and ten the season before, so finding work for all three won't be difficult, even if one is sent down to the Springs to start the season.

To me, the real key is limiting the damage Tom Martin can do pitching to right handers by limiting his overall innings as much as possible. Zero would be a nice number there, but I understand that's not likely. Still, another 60 plus innings like he put up last season will spell a lot of trouble for the team.

Colorado Springs is going to have an awesome team:

Rodrigo Lopez, who the Tulsa Drillers hoped would give them some sort of advantage, got drilled yet again this Spring, this time by our own AAA squad yesterday. Thomas Harding at the official site needs to talk to his editors, as I'm presuming his dispatch's original title, "Lopez gets worked in Minors game" was apparently changed. I like how these articles are very non-chalant about it: oh and by the way, Rodrigo gave up seven runs and nine hits in six innings yesterday to a bunch of minor leaguers, but no worries, he's just your typical third starter two weeks away from games that count...

yeah, time's up Rodrigo, we need results now.

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I laughed at that Harding article

especially the "in a prime example of a pitcher getting in his work" line. Yeah, that must be it, all number three pitchers go down and get roughed up by the organization's kids...It's natural...

Also, MLB Trade Rumors (.com) adds to the Kim trade, saying that the Marlins aren't interested on there end, Los Angeles is if Hendrickson goes the other way, and that the Pirates should join the sweepstakes. They also note, like the Renck at the Post, that it's the A's job to lose, but Renck goes further, suggesting that Baltimore is still interested in Fogg.

Personally, I think Kim to Oakland is only a matter of what we get in return. Kim's just good enough, and Hendrickson is just bad enough, that Colorado would be helping a rival while hurting its own cause with an inter-division trade. As for Oakland, the Rockies were interested in Casilla when he was a Garcia, so they could try that route again, but I don't see Oakland offering a number five like Windsor for Kim.

Unfortunately, Lopez's struggles scare me to the point that I think Colorado has to open with Fogg on the roster, with Jimenez ready to fill in for whichever pitcher chokes first. With Baltimore's depth in starting pitching, I can't imagine they'd be offering anyhting worthwhile.

by David OhNo on Mar 20, 2007 9:45 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

There's a there that should be their...

by David OhNo on Mar 20, 2007 9:45 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

and "The Renck" is not a new nickname

but yet another morning typo...

by David OhNo on Mar 20, 2007 9:46 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The only consolation I take

And it's very small consolation, is that Arizona is having at least as much trouble with their third starter, as well as trouble with their fourth this Spring. Doug Davis barely got through four innings yesterday, allowing ten hits and walking four. If you look at their Spring stats, you'll notice they haven't had a starter go over the four inning mark in a game yet without getting hammered. I know these stats are mostly meaningless, but you've got to at least be questioning the Snakes' rotational endurance at this point, if not their tendency to leave pitches hanging high in the strike zone.

by Rox Girl on Mar 20, 2007 10:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why did we trade for this guy?

I'm still trying to figure out why we traded for Rodrigo, and why, if it was necessary, we gave up two pitchers whose arms were still attached to their bodies to get him. If Rodrigo really is our #3 starter, well, O'Dowd Equilibrium has worked. Dan gets raves for trading Jennings, then totally screws things up by trading for Lopez. It all balances out in the end.

The Coors Effect... thinking about changing the name to The Humidor Effect.

by Rox Fan in TN on Mar 20, 2007 9:56 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

the lopez trade

i don't think we really gave up anything of value for lopez, and bringing in a decent veteran pitcher coming off a down year has worked for us so well in the past.

but the part i don't get is annointing him the hands-down, third starter right from the get-go. like it was obvious and his spot was a given.

he's more a fifth starter in my mind.

it should eventually be:

cook
francis
hirsh
lawrence
lopez

with jimenez ready to step in for either lawrence or lopez (whoever is doing worse) after two months.

by Good Ol Larry on Mar 20, 2007 10:42 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Herges

I know I'm beating a dead horse on my end again, but I can't fathom how Tom Martin deserves to make this team. He has shown me little or nothing last season, and nothing this Spring.

I just don't think Herges should make the team at the expense of two of our most valuable and reliable bullpen arms in Ram and Corpas, especially Corpas.

I also read that Martin's job may not be safe, but it lists Mike Gallo as the in the mix. Hopefully Hurdle and O'Dowd see the light and keep Martin off this team.

by avsfan4ever33 on Mar 20, 2007 10:19 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

The more I've seen of Lopez

the more I understand why the Baltimore fans were so happy to see him go. I guess they knew something after all.

I have a problem with him being "annointed" the #3 spot as well. I think Fogg (yes Fogg) has a more legitimet claim to the rotation then Lopez. If Lopez doesn't step up soon, I hope the Rockies have the balls to make the cut with him fast. With Jimenez, Fogg, & Lawrence hanging around we do have a couple of options.

Nice to see a semi-official listing of Martin's spot up for grabs, even if it's just mentions Gallo.

by Redhawk on Mar 20, 2007 10:54 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Greg Reynolds

I took in the AA vs. AAA game yesterday. What the Lopez article failed to mention was that #1 pick Greg Reynolds was the opposing pitcher in the game. He definitely fared much better than his big league counterpart. Final line:

4 Innings
2 Hits
1 Run
0 BB
1 K

Retired the last 10 batters in a row. Only threw about 50 pitches total. Here's to a speedy rise to Coors Field in '07 for Reynolds!!

-NorCalFan

by NorCalFan on Mar 20, 2007 3:32 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the info

That's what you'd expect out of him. Were most outs of the ground variety?

by Russ Oates on Mar 20, 2007 3:50 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the update!

Reynolds is easily our most overlooked top prospect. He's got such polish and maturity out there that I think he's the second closest to the big leagues starting prospect we have to Ubaldo Jimenez. I hope you're right about his speedy rise, the sooner we can unload Rodrigo, the better.

by Rox Girl on Mar 20, 2007 3:51 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

More Info

Most were definitely ground outs until the last inning when there were a couple of hard hit line drives that fortunately were right at somebody (there was also a 1st inning HR off a 1st pitch fastball by a lefty centerfielder, Frye??).

Most impressively, his command was excellent as he just threw nothing but strikes, mostly two seam fastballs that hitters had a lot of trouble getting the barrell of the bat on.

I can't stress how much Reynolds has improved over the past 3-4 years. You wouldn't even recognize the kid from his freshman year at Stanford. Hopefully he can continue this sort of development path right into the big league starting rotation.

-NorCalFan

by NorCalFan on Mar 20, 2007 4:24 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Latest Transactions:

The Rockies signed LHP Orlando Rodriguez to a minor league contract and released 2B Adam Morrissey.

Rodriguez is a former Dodgers relief prospect who sat out the 2006 season after being released in May.

There's also this:

Los Angeles Dodgers minor league pitcher Orlando Rodriguez was involved in a traffic accident late Thursday in which a North Palm Beach man was killed. Rodriguez, a 25-year-old left-hander, has not been charged in the accident, but the investigation is ongoing, law enforcement officials said. They added alcohol was not a factor. Rodriguez suffered minor injuries and was taken to Martin Memorial Hospital in Stuart, Fla. He was later released, and returned to Vero Beach with Dodgers player development director Terry Collins.

R you in?

by malakian on Mar 20, 2007 6:13 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs