Monday Morning Rockpile:

by Rox Girl on Jan 28, 2008 8:56 AM MST in Rockpile

Five years ago, Thomas Harding wrote this Rockies Spring Training preview at the Rockies official site. Our projected starting lineup:

2B Pablo Ozuna
LF Jay Payton
RF Larry Walker
1B Todd Helton
CF Preston Wilson
3B Jose Hernandez
C Charles Johnson
SS Juan Uribe

And our projected rotation:

Denny Neagle
Jason Jennings
Denny Stark
(and 5)Aaron Cook, Shawn Chacon or Scott Elarton

Yikes.

Harding's last paragraph, touting the "larger-than-usual group of prospects" indicates how everybody knew that the 2003 team was adrift before it even set sail. Even that large group of prospects we had weren't considered that promising at the time outside of Aaron Cook and Chin-Hui Tsao (Petrick and Freeman's star had already fallen, Hawpe, Atkins and especially Holliday were underrated) and Tsao would obviously experience another setback that season.

So, obviously we've come a long way. Rather than five open positions in the lineup heading into Spring, we have one. That rotation wound up having all of our starters give only bottom of the rotation work, with the exception of Shawn Chacon who could have been considered #4 worthy in the limited innings he gave. This season we seem to be in vastly better shape with our starters. The aptitude of our bench and injury backups is superior, as is our bullpen. What's similar to 2003 is that where we'll be five seasons from now seems to rest largely on the development of the young arms in camp, Jimenez/Hirsh/Morales/Reynolds seem to be a significant upgrade from Cook/Stark/Tsao/Young/Vance but I'd like 2008 to have a few more arms show high promise in the system to add to our chances.

It's interesting to note Harding's change of perspective on the matter of veteran leadership as well, this is what he had to say then:

C J.D. Closser -- An effective switch hitter, Closser's defensive development could accelerate during a camp around a veteran like Charles Johnson.

Whereas, here are his thoughts on the subject now:

The traditional story of the veteran serving as a mentor to younger players often is simply untrue. Sure, the veteran can give tips about the big league lifestyle. But to what degree is anyone in any business responsible for mentoring the person who could render him unemployed?

It seems we've all grown wiser with the team over the last five years. Let's hope the wisdom we gain over these next five doesn't require as many seasons like 2003 and has a few more like 2007 instead.

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Jose Hernandez

sure did work out well for the Cubs later in the season.

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Jan 28, 2008 9:49 AM MST reply actions

2007 revisited

I watched the Rockies sweep of the Yankees from June this weekend. I laughed at a couple of the comments Drew Goodman made back then. I don't remember the exact quotes but in reference to the sellout crowds and the Rockies playing great "these fans have a chance to see something great from the Rockies this season" - uh yeah, how about a 21-1 stretch at the end of the year, a NL pennant and an appearance in the franchise's first World Series. Goodman also said in reference to Tulo's great game in Game 3 (the one when he hit a HR off Clemens) "Tulowitzki can be something special if his numbers really improve in the second half" - yeah how about runner-up to Rookie of the Year (he was hitting in the mid .270s and had only 3 homeruns at the time)

It's good to watch these games again with Spring Training just around the corner. Last weekend I watched the tie-breaker game. I am going to watch the Helton homer off Saito game today.

Rocktober is the best month!

by rockin randy on Jan 28, 2008 10:37 AM MST reply actions

where did you get those games

I have the tie breaker. but i really really want todds walk off. that game will always have a special place in my heart. cause it was the first time i tackled a field jumper and it was in front of my family. i really would like to buy it. where can i get it?

At least the broncos dont totally suck

by roxfan4life on Jan 28, 2008 11:56 AM MST up reply actions

i have them

i recorded them on dvd.

Rocktober is the best month!

by rockin randy on Jan 28, 2008 1:33 PM MST up reply actions

damn i forgot!

i am watching the Saito game right now and realized that i had recorded the replay the next day that FSN usually does. Because of that, a lot of missed action due to "time constraints" but it's better than nothing i guess.

Rocktober is the best month!

by rockin randy on Jan 28, 2008 2:38 PM MST up reply actions

I don't know about anyone else

but I'm watching the last game of the regular season against Arizona on mlb.com.

Every day is a Holliday!

by free7694 on Jan 28, 2008 12:57 PM MST up reply actions

i was there

i went to both of those weekend games against the D'backs with my dad and they were awesome. we had pretty good seats. the energy of the crowd was unbelievable as they were into every at-bat, the "m-v-p" chants for holliday and "tu-lo" chants, watching the scoreboard of the brewers-padres - big cheers everytime the brewers scored or won. they were probably the 2 best games i have been to since the bomber days if not better.

Rocktober is the best month!

by rockin randy on Jan 28, 2008 1:40 PM MST up reply actions

I was there too

so I wanted to hear the play-by-play.

Every day is a Holliday!

by free7694 on Jan 28, 2008 3:00 PM MST up reply actions

I was there at those last two games as well...

The energy was amazing. I couldn't believe it was the same Coors Field that I had went to back in April and May. The last game in particular was amazing.

So many things will stick with me from that game. How the crowd went absolutely nuts eveytime they put up a score for the Brewers, or the mad dash to the Ticket office right after the game to buy tiebreaker tickets. It was pretty amzing just to see the place have a near sellout while the Broncos were playing.

I hope the fair-weather fans stick around this season because that level of energy was awesome. I had almost forgot what Coors Field felt like when the fans were into it. Waiting 15-20 minutes in line to pay six bucks for a beer, on the other hand, I could live without.

It's amazing how much free time I have during the off-season.

by jcd823 on Jan 28, 2008 3:15 PM MST up reply actions

I went to all the home nlds and nlcs

games as well as game 3 of the world series, definately games I'll never forget. Still though, one memory I cant forget from Coors this last year when I was at the Phillies game in early July and the wind whipped the tarp up and Latroy and the Phillies players had to hold it down. It was one of the weirdest things I had ever seen!

by 4atjc4 on Jan 28, 2008 6:03 PM MST up reply actions

You should've bought club level seats...

Then they bring the refreshments right to your seats!!

That last regular season game of 2007 had a much different feel than the last game of the past few years. There was just such a transition over the entire season. I attended the Memorial Day game against St. Louis when Coors was filled with Cardinals fnas and remember looking around at the sea of red and mentioning to my wife that it used to be a sea of purple. We were heckled by Cardinal fans all game-long making fun of the Rocks because they had never even played in the World Series. Then watching them all trudge back to their Missouri plated cars in agony after Francis shut them down was pretty sweet. Then against the Dbacks I have video on my phone of Holliday walking around the field after the game passing out tshirts. The stands were rocking so hard I thought the bricks were going to crack. What an amazing year.

There's only one Rocktober!!

by Charlie77 on Jan 28, 2008 10:49 PM MST up reply actions

A Day to Remember

I was at the last game as well. We had Rockpile seats, and it was just too hot to sit there in the sun. We discovered that you could see the game perfectly well from the picnic area under those stands, and it was nice and shady there. The fun part of that day was that the FSN studio guys were covering the game from the little set they have built there. They had a TV feed from the Padres game, and kept yelling out the scoring to us as it happened. Jeff Huson was hysterical to watch. I think he wanted the Brew Crew to win worse than I did! As jcd823 noted, the energy in the place was just amazing. A day I won't soon forget.

2007 NL Champions, baby!

by rockhead on Jan 28, 2008 5:36 PM MST up reply actions

forgot to mention....

i miss charissa thompson. she's so hot!

Rocktober is the best month!

by rockin randy on Jan 28, 2008 3:03 PM MST up reply actions

Single Game Ticket Sales

Are set to begin on Saturday, Feb. 16th, 10 a.m. Mountain Time, according to the email I just got from the Rockies site. About dang time, I you ask me!

That means I'll have to get up a little earlier than usual for a Saturday, but I think I can manage for this event.

2007 NL Champions, baby!

by rockhead on Jan 28, 2008 1:50 PM MST reply actions

tv schedule?

Has anybody seen what games are on tv for spring training and the regular season? i know that they showed like 95% of the regular season games last year and like half of last year's spring training games.

Rocktober is the best month!

by rockin randy on Jan 28, 2008 2:41 PM MST up reply actions

TV schedule

I wondered about the spring training TV schedule a few days back as well - haven't seen anything, but I expect we'll hear something soon. Hopefully they'll add even more games this year.

As for the regular season schedule, I expect most games to be televised, aside from some of those mid-week afternoon games. And the Rockies should be in line for some nationally televised games finally too.

by avsfan4ever33 on Jan 28, 2008 4:08 PM MST up reply actions

WGN?

Does anybody know if WGN still shows Cubs games? I have WGN on my cable system now, which I didn't used to, and I'm hoping that's another chance to catch a handful of games (except for those midweek day games). Usually I only get to see games when they play the Giants or Braves (though not anymore, as TBS won't show Braves games anymore, if I remember correctly) or interleague if they play the A's. And of course those national games that didn't exist last year, though hopefully will this year.

by holly96 on Jan 28, 2008 7:05 PM MST up reply actions

As far as I know they still do.

They did last year as well as White Sox games. I forgot about TBS not airing Braves games anymore after agreeing to a contract to broadcast other regular season and playoff baseball games throughout the major leagues.

So Holly, what made you be a Rockies fan being out near the bay area and how long have you been a Rockies fan? I remember seeing some of your comments last season. Do you get the MLB.com tv package or how do you follow them? I am glad that I get FSN-Rocky Mountain and Denver's My20 so I can watch all the broadcasts. Also just curious but what does the 96 in holly96 stand for?

Rocktober is the best month!

by rockin randy on Jan 28, 2008 10:09 PM MST up reply actions

Thanks for the info

Hopefully I can catch some games that way.

As for being a Rockies fan, I'm originally from Colorado. I moved out here after I graduated from college for work. So I've been a Rockies fan since they were born, but don't get to many games because of geography. My mom is also a big fan, though, and is planning on coming to visit me sometime this season when the Rockies visit the Giants.

I don't have MLB.com tv, but I do get Gameday audio. I listen to any day games while I'm at work and occasionally other games. For games I'm not listening to I follow online via MLB Gamecast, which I actually really enjoy.

Oh, and the 96 is the year I graduated high school. For some reason that's become my screenname in multiple places.

by holly96 on Jan 28, 2008 10:22 PM MST up reply actions