Barmes, Sullivan optioned to AAA

by Rox Girl on Mar 23, 2007 5:07 PM MDT in Rockpile

Along with two of last season's opening day starters in Clint Barmes and Cory Sullivan, Matt Herges and Ubaldo Jimenez are being sent down to Colorado Springs as well. Danny Graves was released in the Rockies' latest moves. Troy Tulowitzki's now the official opening day shortstop, and the last roster battle to be determined is between Alexis Gomez, John Mabry and Ryan Spilborghs for the final bench spot.

Corpas and Ramirez are on the twenty-five man roster as well, as along with Herges, Mike Gallo gets reassigned to minors camp. All of that meaning we're also stuck with Tom Martin for now. Infielder Erick Almonte was also reassigned to minors camp.

The move doesn't necessarily rule out trades for Cory or Clint, but it makes it clear that they aren't major factors in the Rockies plans for this season. The moves haven't been unexpected, given the play of Willy Taveras and Tulowitzki this Spring, and the emergence of veteran Steve Finley as a capable backup in center field.

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Update [2007-3-23 23:6:18 by Russ]: Jim Callis tackles a question about Kyle Hancock in today's ASK BA. If you've been following the Row since the story first broke in '05, you won't find out any new info.

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Whew...

Hopefully the post's less muddled than the first try, I should have just copied malakian's comment in the thread below verbatim.

by Rox Girl on Mar 23, 2007 5:26 PM MDT 0 recs

Question

Anyone know if Matt Herges has an out-clause in his contract? I assume he does, but I don't remember reading about one when he was first signed.

It'd be nice to have a veteran reliever like Herges down in the Springs for insurance purposes.

R you in?

by malakian on Mar 23, 2007 5:35 PM MDT 0 recs

Tracy Ringolsby didn't think he did

In an e-mail response he had sent me last week, but he didn't know for sure either. I usually think the same as you given a player with Herges' service time. I agree that he'd be as good an option to have as a plan B as anybody we have down there until Bautista proves ready.

by Rox Girl on Mar 23, 2007 5:47 PM MDT up 0 recs

It might not be as easy to trade Clint to the Cubs

If Ronny Cedeno continues playing like this. It seems Cedeno came to AZ with a little more luck in his bat than Barmes.

by Rox Girl on Mar 23, 2007 6:11 PM MDT 0 recs

Martin?

Is it a guarantee he's going to be on the opening day roster? I guess that depends on whether or not Hurdle feels like he needs two non-closer lefties in the 'pen. I'm counting fourteen pitchers on the active roster so at least two more will be cut, possibly three. Of course, since seven of the pitchers are ostensibly starters, the seven relievers will probably all be on the roster, unless Hurdle gets the idea to move Lopez or Kim to the bullpen.

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

by Rox Fan in TN on Mar 23, 2007 6:33 PM MDT 0 recs

B.K. in the pen?

This is surprising

Right-hander Josh Fogg was named the fifth starter and Byung-Hyun Kim, the subject of persistent trade rumors, was moved to the bullpen.

I didn't think Kim would be willing to accept a relief role. If he really has agreed to move back to the bullpen, then this should greatly increase his trade value.

R you in?

by malakian on Mar 23, 2007 6:38 PM MDT 0 recs

In place of who?

Kim in the bullpen? If he doesn't get traded, what role is he suppose to play and who is he replacing? Buchholz has already been named the long reliever so Kim would have to be a middle relief option. Unless, of course, he will be the co-8th inning set up guy which is a scary thought. He would also have to take the spot of either Corpas or Ramirez, both of whom are better options for relief than Kim. This makes no sense.

by lgh77 on Mar 23, 2007 6:58 PM MDT up 0 recs

I see a few possibilities

Takes the place of Corpas/Ramirez, as you said.
Takes the place of Tom Martin.
A trade is in the works/nearly complete.

by avsfan4ever33 on Mar 23, 2007 7:01 PM MDT up 0 recs

It makes perfect sense.

Kim will be traded for sure. I'm sure the Rockies have no intention of using Kim out of the bullpen.

The A's were the only team to show any interest in Kim as a starter. However, there was around 4 or 5 teams that were interested in Kim as a reliever. The move was made to increase the interest in Kim.

R you in?

by malakian on Mar 23, 2007 7:04 PM MDT up 0 recs

Ringolsby

agrees that moving Kim to the pen might help drum up the trade market. Also, he says Lawrence and Veres are likely to open the season in extended spring training.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/mlb/article/0,2777,DRMN_23924_5438932,00.html

by Knepster on Mar 23, 2007 7:48 PM MDT up 0 recs

That answers that question

Ringolsby just answered my question as to the role Kim would take and who he would replace if he's not traded. Let's just hope that Kim shows well out of the bullpen so that someone will want to get him. I hope we get someone to take him because going into the season with Kim in the bullpen instead of Corpas or Ramirez is just scary.

by lgh77 on Mar 23, 2007 8:03 PM MDT up 0 recs

Barmes to the minors?

Then Tulowitzki has taken a small lead in the battle for the Starting Shortstop job after all.....but there is a week to go in spring training.

note sarcasm

by Redhawk on Mar 23, 2007 8:45 PM MDT 0 recs

I hate Jeff Green.

Totally unrelated.

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

by Rox Fan in TN on Mar 23, 2007 9:07 PM MDT 0 recs

And on another unrelated note

I thought TMNT was all right but guys in suits worked much better.

by Russ on Mar 23, 2007 9:19 PM MDT up 0 recs

Opening Day roster almost set

My comments on the latest roster moves:

Barmes being sent down to AAA and Tulowitzki becoming the Rockies starting shortstop was expected with the progress Tulo has made. Plus Tulo totally outplayed him. He'll probably be the Sky Sox starting shortstop with Quintanilla moving to utility infielder to increase his value (unless of course Clint gets traded). Glad to see we won't be seeing Barmey much.
Sullivan being sent to AAA also was expected with his decline last year and how the other outfielders (mainly Finley, Spilborghs) outplayed him this Spring. He'll probably be the 4th or 5th outfielder for the Sky Sox due to his ability to play all 3 outfield positions. Seth Smith, Salazar, Barker, and Spilborghs (if he doesn't make the 25-man roster) would probably start ahead of him as OF/DH. Finley has made the team as the back-up to Willy T (although it hasn't "officially" been anounced that he's made the club).
Ubaldo Jimenez had a great spring, but will benefit with some more seasoning in AAA as probably their #1 starter. If he does well and 1 of the Rockies starters falters, don't be surprised to see him back in the majors.
Matt Herges looked to have an inside edge to making the team a week ago, but a couple poor outings late did him in. Hopefully he'll stay in AAA and not opt out (if that's in his contract) to give us some veteran insurance if needed.
Mike Gallo, who was reassigned to AAA, had an up-and-down spring. I'd rather have him than Martin. The only reason Martin made this team is because they wanted to honor their commitment to Martin even though he was roughed up all spring and the club said they would send the BEST to Denver. According to the official site "In Tom's case, I think it's a veteran presence and guy that has done it. We're giving him every opportunity to reacquire the command that he has shown and to play this thing out as long as we can until we decide to go in a different direction." It will just be a matter of time before Gallo or someone else replaces Martin.
Erik Almonte reassigned to the minors - given
Danny Graves released - yeah he sucks and should be released.
Josh Fogg being named the 5th starter was pretty much a certain with the struggles of B.K. and Fogg being more consistant. Brian Lawrence pitched well but needs some more work in Extended Spring before making the club. He'll probably be with the team before the All-Star Break.

All that's left to be determined is:

Final bench spot between John Mabry, Ryan Spilborghs, and Alexis Gomez. Although both the Post and Rocky Mountain News say it's between Mabry and Spilborghs assuming Gomez is on the outside looking in. All 3 have played well this spring but my guess is it will be Mabry with his veteran experience and being an extra LH bat off the bench. Plus he's provided some pop here late in the spring. I really like Spilborghs and hope he makes the team. I do remember Hurdle saying this spring (don't remember if it was in the papers or tv interview or both) about having duplicate bench players that can play the same positions with both Mabry and Baker only playing corner OF and corner IF.
Last 2 spots in the bullpen between B.K. Kim, Ramon Ramirez, and Manny Corpas (although the official site says Kim has made the team barring a trade and the last spot is between Rami and Manny). Ramirez has had a little rough spring but was a major factor in the bullpen last year. Corpas was pitched scoreless ball all spring but he also had a great year last year. Hopefully Kim pitches well out of the bullpen this last week, gets traded, and both Ramirez and Corpas make the team.

by RoxFanSince1993 on Mar 23, 2007 10:26 PM MDT 0 recs