has hit and has stolen bases, but last year, was a big drop off. He’s had several seasons of 50 plus steals, but last years drop worries me that he’s lost that important step out of the box as he is 27. If so his value drops a bunch as well. It makes sense from Tampa’s side to dump his contract for Holliday’s contract for one year. It only makes sense on the Rockies side, if the real value is in prospects added to the deal, but Crawford would be the lead off hitter the Rockies need (assuming Tavares is gone as well). He doesn’t have the arm to play CF in Coors Field though, so he would have to play LF (I assume)

Carl Pavano talk…again? Ok, ok, bring him in as a non-roster invitee, minor league contract I guess is ok, but I don’t see how he makes the team, or stays on the field. Hell, while we are on this road, why not bring in Mark Prior, to make head lines, but never pitch?

I do like the idea of Chacin in the bullpen, to start his career. Actually I think a lot of young pitching stars would benefit from seeing the bright lights, and the atmosphere, with out the pressure of starting every 5th day. It’s a way to rush a kid, while limiting the damage done by rushing them.

And on those lines, I think one big key the Rockies in 09, will be the long reliever/6th starter spot, (which I personally think may be the most under-rated position on a big league team) and I’m really hoping F. Morales will step up to fill that position next year.

He never walks, he has a career OBP of .330, career OPS+ of 101 (very deflated due to this year’s dropoff) – but he’s not really that good. Stolen Bases do not a leadoff hitter make.

If we don’t have a traditional High-On-Base-High-Steals kind of guy to bat leadoff, then we bat the guy with the best OBP first who isn’t a blatant 3 or 4 hitter.

Scott Olsen is a terrible addition for the Rockies, he’ll give up 50 HR this upcoming season.

Pavano wouldn’t be a bad experiment, if we don’t have to pay a lot for him.

I figure let Chacin start in the minors. It might be a waste of conditioning and development to dump him in our pen.

The Rays need to fill a hole in RF. We have sufficient pieces already in place, so the Rays aren’t desperate. Why would the Rays fill a hole in RF, if only for a year, just to cause another hole in LF? Does that make sense to anyone else here?

For Matt Halliday, a one year rental player, I would give up Jackson, Niemann, and Dale Thayer. That’s three arms for a one year stellar player, which I am not sold on his numbers away from Coors. Maybe I am still jaded about Vinny Cash-stealer.

Good luck to you boys in ’09!

Just looked it up on BBR and he is posting similar stats (at his age) that Roberto Clemente was at his age.

Hey guys, I’ve been very excited about this offseason for the Rockies. First off, I think they should trade Holliday, Atkins, and Taveras. My whole thinking is that next year should be a year for the young guys to really get acclimated with the majors and that not next year, but in 2010 the Rockies would begin to be a powerhouse. If we keep Holliday and Atkins, yes, next year the Rox will be a contender but if they don’t win, Holliday is gone and that leaves a gaping hole in the lineup not to mention the pitching woes haven’t been addressed.

Hawpe, Helton, Tulo, Iannetta, Stewart, and Fowler would be a pretty solid lineup in 2010 but it would lack a true big bat. We also aren’t entirely sure how good Stewart or Fowler will be. I think the Rockies should trade Holliday for a solid hitter (like Sabathia for Matt LaPorta) and a prospect close to the majors who looks like a bonafide #2 starter. Also, trade Atkins for a #2 starter. Then trade Taveras for a quality bullpen arm.

That way in 2010 along with Francis, Cook and Jimenez, those two #2’s are pretty much ready to contribute and the bullpen will consist of Buccholz, Corpas, Weathers and the solid arm acquired for Taveras. The offense of Hawpe, Helton, Iannetta, Tulo, Stewart, Fowler and the big bat received from dealing Holliday should be a solid lineup. I also wouldn’t worry too much about 2b just yet since we still have Barmes around and Quintanilla as a utility inf.

Going back to Crawford, I like him a bunch but I think it would be a big mistake to trade for him. The Rockies really don’t need him and his obp as Rockiesmagicnumber stated is just too low to give up a guy like Holliday for. The Rockies have a very solid core right now and need to trade these guys so that 2009 is a learning/maturing year and that 2010 they will be dominant

Considering where he’ll bat in the lineup, I don’t care about any of his other tools. I’m looking at only 1 number: OBP. He doesn’t have it.

If we’re looking for a guy with massive defensive prowess, good speed to make plays a slower guy would have to play on the hop, can bat in the leadoff spot with multiple tools, may have some trouble actually getting on, but can take 2nd consistently when on:

Why don’t we just keep Willy Taveras? Crawford peaked in OBP in 2007, getting on at a .355 clip. Taveras was getting on at .367 in 2007. They can both steal a pile of bases. They both play outstanding defense. Sure, Crawford has more power than Taveras, but we could be trading Holliday to another team for pitching.

I hate to say it, but Resolution has the best idea. Holliday and Atkins are gone, but we control Hawpe for a while, Spills for a while as well, same with Barmes, and we have Tulo, Stewart, and Iannetta under team control. We let Spills play CF, and bring in someone like :shudder: Jim Edmonds to keep up the idea of “HEY WE’RE COMPETING” and then in 2010, Dexter Fowler will be the Tulowitzki of Rocktober II: Blake Street Strikes Back, and we might just get some heroics from guys like Lindsay, Chacin, Roe, Hynick, or hell, maybe even Franklin Morales again!

With Holliday being a giant douchenozzle, I figure we’re not in a spot to compete next year. Although Tulowitzki might win his first of many Gold Gloves.

Seriously, this team is just too fun to watch even if we are losing.