Wednesday Morning Rockpile:

by Rox Girl on Jan 2, 2008 7:00 AM MST in Rockpile

Marcus Giles is gaining momentum as a candidate to be brought in to add to the second base muddle. In citing the interest in Marcus and pitcher Josh Towers, the Troy E. Renck article states that:

Creating competition will be a common thread as the Rockies iron out their final roster wrinkles before the start of spring training.

but believe me, by signing somebody like Giles the Rockies aren't trying to create anything as much as they're trying to eliminate risk as cheaply as possible. Giles and Josh Towers would be classic insurance signings, and while their MLB pedigrees might make East Coast types put to much into these moves -I suspect the team will get mocked for trying to turn the clock back to 2005- it would be wise for Rockies fans not to fall into that trap.

Giles, in particular -as long as he's not promised anything- would be a strong play for the Rockies at this point as he doesn't have nearly the downside of our other possibilities at the position, even if he lacks the upside potential of Nix, Stewart and Baker. Pretty much the worst we could expect is what he gave San Diego last season, plus a Coors Field boost. Towers seems like a AAA safety net, and that's a role he's well suited for right now and something the Rockies need given the uncertainty and unreliability of young pitching in general. The dream scenario for all involved, obviously, is that these two players can produce at the level they did three seasons ago, but we shouldn't anticipate it.

These moves actually make me kind of excited for another reason, as last season you might remember the team looked to guys pushing forty, or past it in Steve Finley's case, for this kind of bench help. Finley, John Mabry, Javy Lopez and Brian Lawrence were our big depth moves. This season, we got Kip Wells, we're going after Giles and Towers. All are much closer to their peaks, or further away from debilitating surgeries than the group we brought in last year. And after years of even worse stinkers to fill out our bench, I actually thought that bunch was okay.

"But Rox Girl," you say, "why don't we go after real upgrades at these positions like Brian Roberts or Erik Bedard?"

I'm going to get into that this afternoon in a separate post, I think it's interesting what the Rockies and other teams in the NL West are saying about their futures with the moves they've made or haven't made this winter, and it's not that terrible.

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Giles and Towers

Giles: If he rebounds, great! If he doesn't, who cares? We are prospect-rich at second.

Towers: Sweet depth move. He needs a big ballpark and good defense behind him. Voila, we have both. Plus, again, we have great young pitching for now and for later so if he doesn't pan out, - say it with me - who cares?

As for Bedard, Blanton, Kazmir et al. Let the debate begin! (Oh, it already has?)

by Since1993 on Jan 2, 2008 9:41 AM MST reply actions

Bedard, Blanton, Kazmir

Bedard- Yes please.
Blanton- Meh. Not worth giving up what they're asking.
Kazmir- Would do it IF he signs long-term with us. If he's a rental, I'd have to pass.

President of the Kazuo Matsui Fan Club

by MattTheRock on Jan 2, 2008 1:53 PM MST up reply actions

Well...

totally, completely agree about Blanton. But remember, Kazmir actually has more arb years (3) than Bedard (2). I'd welcome a trade for either one, depending on what we give up, of course ;)

Also, while I agree that the Rockies shouldn't be looking to bring in high-priced free agent pitchers, I think it's a little different when you're trading for low cost ones. With either Bedard or Kazmir, you could wait a year, see how they take to Coors, before you sign them to any long term expensive deal.

"I want to live forever or die trying" Yossarian in "Catch-22"

by Dieb on Jan 2, 2008 2:27 PM MST up reply actions

Pitching vs. Hitting

I'm not a believer in bringing in expensive pitching from outside of the organization. There are just too many variables that get exploited at CF that it becomes a crapshoot.

By developing organizational pitching we get to know what the make up of the person is and if they have even a chance of being successful at altitude. Then trade for or sign quality hitters to fill holes we weren't able to develop on the farm.

TGFPR!!

by jlot10 on Jan 2, 2008 10:21 AM MST reply actions

The front office

seems to agree with jlot10. They really haven't brought in anything but retreads in terms of pitching at all since the Hampton debacle, and I don't see that changing.

I was surprised when some of the posters here said that we were involved at all in the Haren trade for that reason.

I've been in this game a hundred years, but I see new ways to lose I never knew existed before. - Casey Stengel

by Behrens on Jan 2, 2008 2:17 PM MST reply actions

Offense

We should always be able to find decent offensive players when Coors Field is factored in, much as the Padres can always find decent pitching because of Petco. By decent I mean above average. Add to that our scouts ability to find overlooked or flawed (but fixable) college bats (Hawpe, Koshansky, etc.) and pouring most of our player acquisition resources (foreign FA signings, high draft picks, players returned in trades) into pitching definitely makes sense.

by MADness on Jan 2, 2008 4:46 PM MST reply actions

Hurdle

If veteran re-treads are really brought in for organizational depth, rather than to steal time from more talented young players, then I am all for it.

My fear, and that of many others, is that we spend a significant chunk of the season waiting for Giles to turn back the clock and stop sucking before Hurdle is finally forced to dump him (ala Finley, Mabry, Hawkins in the 8th, etc.).

by MADness on Jan 2, 2008 4:48 PM MST reply actions

Dear Colorado Rockies,

Please sign Giles.

Love,

-The rest of the NL West.

Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies - 2008 NL West Champion and 2008 NL Wildcard, in some order.

by DbacksSkins on Jan 7, 2008 12:39 PM MST up reply actions

Kazmir

is a serious stud. I went to a Rays game last year while on travel at Tampa and he made the Jays lineup look like garbage.

Love to have him but we all know the Rockies never go after these Tier I guys. Especially at the expense of prospects.

by PinchHitLancePainter on Jan 2, 2008 7:10 PM MST reply actions

You're more than likely right but...

God, what if we did it?

by Since1993 on Jan 2, 2008 9:44 PM MST up reply actions

Oh, and BTW

ESPN.com's "Hot Stove" package had Jamey Carroll listed as our second baseman up until a day or two ago - though they did report we'd traded him and even also had him in our "lost" column. It finally bugged me enough to complain via email and I got a nice email back saying that they'd take a look. I just checked and lo and behold, they did in fact, change it. ESPN now has Omar Quintanilla as our 2008 2nd sacker. Ah well, at least he is actually still on the team.

by Since1993 on Jan 2, 2008 11:18 PM MST reply actions

Exactly, as soon as we sign Giles

You know he'll be listed as the starter and it won't be until we release him or Opening Day that they realize that there are other possibilities there.

by Rox Girl on Jan 3, 2008 7:36 AM MST up reply actions