Friday Rockpile: DePo Needs some edumacatin'

by Rox Girl on Dec 12, 2008 8:17 AM MST in Rockpile Comment 35 comments

A certain pet peeve of many baseball nerds (and as a blogger I have to say this with loving familiarity) as well as baseball media has to do with an understanding that there aren't really many Roman numerals involved, anywhere in the sport. In particular, a certain December event that frequently gets misrepresented with a Roman numeral drives them kind of batty. So I'm just waiting for somebody to have the guts to call out Padres assistant GM Paul DePodesta on this. Seriously people, when I started blogging about what the Rockies did in the RULE V draft a few years ago, there was somebody there to point out what an idiot I was talking about an event that didn't exist. So sure, you let it slide because it's your hero DePo? I think his penalty should be to have to give Everth Cabrera back. I mean it. Give him back.

Not that I'm above reproach anymore:

Telemachus (Milwaukee): What is the story with Franklin Morales? Rockies plans for him? Is he available, change of scenery like Bailey? I believe he was in your top 10 prospects to start the year.

Keith Law: He was, but I don't think his arm is 100%. His velo was down and his command was in the tank. I do remember writing about him after seeing him in March, only to have a Rockies fan tell me that the reduced velo was part of the Rockies' pitching coach's plan for Morales. That worked out. It also sounds like the excuses for K-Rod's velo drop.

Pbbbthtththttt.... Yeah, that's about all I can do on that, when he's right, he's right. Congrats to Mr. Law on his inclusion to the BBWAA...

Willy Taveras is expected to be non-tendered and become a free agent today, looking at other potential non-tenders that could match up with the Rockies needs shows there are a few intriguing names. A couple of September and Todd Helton flashbacks aside, Takashi Saito tops my list, which means he probably tops every GM's list, which means he's probably unaffordable to the Rockies, but there are a few guys I wouldn't mind pulling in on a minor league invite and a couple more that I'd even go so far as offering a big league contract to.

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some pretty decent names on that list

Saito is def. tops on the list…Chad Gaudin isn’t too shabby either

Jiri Hudler...our underrated MVP

by TuLoRocks2008 on Dec 12, 2008 8:50 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

So now we are looking at Fogg again

Is this going to be a repeat of last year where we blow $5 million on 5/6th starters and then cry poverty? I mean we already have enough 5 ERA guys between Smith, Hirsh, Morales, and Reynolds.

Second half run?

by moomacher on Dec 12, 2008 9:09 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

I don't like the Fogg rumors at all.

I know he did well here, and I’m appreciative of that, but I think if we’re looking to fill that slot, it’s best to put it off until just before camp and target a better pitcher that’s sliding down to that 5th starter price range rather than going after the guys like Fogg who already know that they’re 5th starters and priced accordingly. If worse comes to worst, there will still be a few of those guys looking for work come late February. We signed Kip Wells too early and for too much by doing this last season, let’s not repeat that mistake.

by Rox Girl on Dec 12, 2008 9:15 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

It would seem like we have enough arms there to wait…I still hold out hope that one of my list above will turn in a decent spring.

Second half run?

by moomacher on Dec 12, 2008 9:33 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not a Fogg hater

really…but signing him makes no damn sense at all. This team seemingly has no plan/vision whatsoever right now. Not rebuilding, not competing…what is the strategy? I would love to hear what DOD thinks would be the ideal (realistic) team for next year and in 2010. If its anything close to what the team will likely look like right now…I don’t know what to say.

I can’t help but think all the NL West owners/GMs have entered into some bizarre suicide pact whereby they have all promised not to make consequential moves and just wait to see who’s mediocrity is best.

by Teekalong on Dec 12, 2008 12:39 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Sound question

I’m with you.. what is the strategy?

It appears as though they want to compete by talking about holding back Fowler and CarGo in AAA and giving veterans Spilly and Hawpe the spots and also spouting off about rotation help. However, when we read names like Redding, Fogg and Rausch.. well, is that really competing?

Then again it looks like they are rebuilding.. trading Holliday for younger players… letting Fuentes go for draft picks… etc..

Going into this winter, the Rockies were just a few players away from a 90-95 win team. And now I’m not sure this team in its current configuration can win 81. Maybe they aren’t sure either and that is why they seem to be going in 2 different directions at once. Which is a bad strategy for hope in the future.

by roxhead on Dec 12, 2008 3:56 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I can’t help but think all the NL West owners/GMs have entered into some bizarre suicide pact whereby they have all promised not to make consequential moves and just wait to see who’s mediocrity is best.

I think you might be right…… ARGH…… UGH….. BLARGH…. AGKHEIUHSLGHLEHGLKSHEGLEHLSINLDSZ……..

That is all.

Fire Vinny Cerrato, the raquetball partner.

by DbacksSkins on Dec 12, 2008 4:13 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Mediocrity? Psshaw!

This is an all-out arms race. We get Alan Embree, You get Scot Schoenweis. You get Felipe Lopez, we go after Tim Redding. This is the sort of intrigue that whole books could be written about, like Kissinger in China or Churchill at Yalta or something.

by Rox Girl on Dec 12, 2008 6:41 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, that comment was an expression

of pure exasperation at our FO — that pretty much started with their refusal to offer RJ more than $2 mil, and their refusal to offer arbitration to Dunn.

I tend to think this is more a sideshow arms race — like India vs. Pakistan, Iraq vs. Iran, or even Columbia vs. Venezuela.

Oh, and you forgot Skelton.

Fire Vinny Cerrato, the raquetball partner.

by DbacksSkins on Dec 12, 2008 9:14 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

You don't think the rest of the MLB is riveted by this?

Where were you during the winter meetings? Rosenthal couldn’t help posting about what the NL West was up to every thirty minutes. Dierkes’ site crashed when the Embree news broke and there was even a notable lull in trading on the NYSE when Felipe Lopez signed. And yeah, Skelton… how could I forget about Skelton? Whoaboy.

by Rox Girl on Dec 12, 2008 9:28 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Skelton? Damned right.

It’s almost like you forgot Poland.

Fire Vinny Cerrato, the raquetball partner.

by DbacksSkins on Dec 13, 2008 1:54 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

And which of those

countries actually have nuclear weapons? It’s just that they don’t have duds, unlike the NL West.

"Never Surrender Dreams" - Inscription on J. Michael Straczynski's bench

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on Dec 12, 2008 9:37 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Jerry Crasnick

I always thought he was one of the good ones, but this recap is just stupid:

Since the Matt Holliday trade came down, it’s been all about pitching upgrades in Denver. The Rockies made runs at Tim Redding and Aaron Heilman for the rotation. They’re about to add Alan Embree to the bullpen. And they’re still looking for a Josh Fogg type to provide insurance at the back end of the rotation. Just wondering, but why not sign Josh Fogg? We heard he’s still out there.

Tim Redding IS Josh Fogg. At age 30 (‘08 for Redding, ’07 for Fogg), they had pretty much identical seasons.: 10 wins, 4.90+ ERA, ~1.8/1 K/BB. Maybe the only thing that’s kept Redding from having an identical career tack is having not been healthy. Redding is the better investment, and he’d be worth a swap for Taveras and Morillo, but neither deserves a major league contract as a free agent.

by deacs on Dec 12, 2008 10:28 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Why not sign Josh Fogg?

Because he sucks. He sucked before. He sucks even worse now. Signing Josh Fogg sucks.

It's Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time It's Tulowitzki!...Tulo-witzki-witzki-witzki ..... rockiesmagicnumber.blogspot.com

by Andrew Martin on Dec 12, 2008 2:18 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Fogg

Is the suckiest buch of suck that ever sucked.

by denver_sc on Dec 12, 2008 3:19 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Along those lines

What about trading [worthless player] for Daniel Cabrera? The O’s want to dump him. Say they pay some salary, the Rockies give up some guy from the Cal Penal league? He’s a bit more lively than Fogg and Redding combined.

by deacs on Dec 12, 2008 4:24 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Crap

I came here to post this.

He has a good GB%, but he’s a FB/SL pitcher, no change or sinker to speak of. I think we should kick the tires.

It's Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time It's Tulowitzki!...Tulo-witzki-witzki-witzki ..... rockiesmagicnumber.blogspot.com

by Andrew Martin on Dec 12, 2008 4:35 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll jump on this bandwagon

If we just look at the final result and not how they get there, the output from Cabrera last year was almost no different than that of Redding, and other pitchers in the non-tender basket. However, that’s still the low end for Cabrera, and there’s still a chance he puts it together in a low stress environment in a weaker (weakest?) offensive division. You have to like the latin influences in the clubhouse too. Cabrera is the best gamble out there left for Colorado, but do you risk waiting for the non-tender, or can you budget in the expected 4 mil in arb if you acquire him in trade?

by David OhNo on Dec 12, 2008 6:54 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I wait for the non-tender, unless they want a Taveras/Morillo type of offer

The Orioles seem like the Rockies tonight in that they are waiting for the last minute for the hard decision, but if any team really thought he was worth four million, something would have already happened by now. I do like him considerably more than Redding.

I also think Chris Capuano would be an upgrade over Rusch in the LHP version of that insurance role, but I don’t know how ready he would be at the start of the season, and I think that’s when we’ll really need it.

by Rox Girl on Dec 12, 2008 7:09 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Let's

offer him a minor league contract with an ST invite. If he is ready he can always make the team out of ST. I think he has the possibility of being better in 2009 than he was in 2007.

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby
JFK

by jrockies on Dec 12, 2008 7:15 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Capuano

there’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. He started ’06 off so well and then fell off the face of the earth. Poor guy

by Resolution on Dec 12, 2008 7:38 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Well now Cabrera is open game

I highly doubt the Rockies even sniff, though. Same for Capuano. It looks more like they’re crushing on Redding and believe the feeling is mutual.

by David OhNo on Dec 12, 2008 9:09 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Capuano?

You’d better hope that he’s in the Brad Penny strain of ex-Dbacks farmhand pitchers, rather than the John Patterson strain.

Or else somewhere in between, like JDLR.

Fire Vinny Cerrato, the raquetball partner.

by DbacksSkins on Dec 12, 2008 9:11 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

On a minor league contract it wouldn't hurt to find out...

That’s what Rusch was offered, but I’m pretty sure Capuano will get an MLB guarantee from somebody, however, so my wish there is probably moot. Cabrera, I wouldn’t mind giving an MLB contract to begin with.

by Rox Girl on Dec 12, 2008 9:23 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I honestly

can’t really believe that they’re giving up on Cabrera so easily. The guy’s got some big league stuff, and there’s gotta be SOME trade interest for him. Just because he’s got lousy control now doesn’t mean he’s a lost cause.

Fire Vinny Cerrato, the raquetball partner.

by DbacksSkins on Dec 13, 2008 1:58 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

At least

Keith Law didn’t call you “info making its way around the internet.”

"Never Surrender Dreams" - Inscription on J. Michael Straczynski's bench

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on Dec 12, 2008 11:23 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

"Rockies fan" is a definite upgrade on that

We almost sound downright respectable now.

by Rox Girl on Dec 12, 2008 1:20 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Gads

Respectable? Say it ain’t so, Row!

/wink.

I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better. -Georg C. Lichtenberg:

by rockhead on Dec 12, 2008 5:49 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I still think

Taveras could net a bullpen arm. How much would he be in line to make via arbitration? While I don’t think Taveras will help the Rockies much, I do know he’s better than he was last year (unless last year was his collapse year and he’ll never post decent numbers again). That said, I don’t think letting him start the season as the CF, hope he regains some value and then trading him for something a little better than Tim Redding is a crazy idea. Especially if the price is right…

by Resolution on Dec 12, 2008 11:44 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

More to Willy T than just the money

I think Hurdle wants him out of his clubhouse. He has been labeled a whinner and they would rather dump him than pay him one more dime.

That’s my opinion anyways..

by roxhead on Dec 12, 2008 11:57 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Thomas Harding wrote something that aggravates me tonight:

More even than putting Bucky on the trade block.

The Rockies are looking for a pitcher to join Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis and Ubaldo Jimenez in the pitching rotation. As things stand, they have left-hander Jorge De La Rosa, who had a strong final 6 1/2 weeks of 2008, left-hander Greg Smith, acquired last month from the Athletics, lefty Franklin Morales and right-handers Jason Hirsh and Greg Reynolds competing for spots.

The editorial intent of the italicized phrase in Harding’s piece is that JDLR’s a flash in the pan compared to the staid and true Redding, who was the “top pitcher in the Nationals rotation” and “was 7-3 with a 3.85 ERA in 20 starts before the All-Star break, but 3-8, 6.82 in 13 starts after the break.” This makes it look like Redding had a half a season of decent performance compared to JDLR’s mere “six and a half weeks”. The fact is that you could cherry pick just as easily to show that JDLR just had four bad weeks and then four solid months with the Rockies:

May: 1-3, 8.39 ERA, 24.2 IP, 24/13 K/BB

June-September: 9-5, 4.10 ERA, 105.1 IP, 104/49 K/BB

The real truth is that JDLR’s surge probably started after that first demotion to the bullpen in June, but the team lost confidence in him as he was gaining his consistency. How many wins we lost because of this is hard to say, and it hardly matters in the grand scheme of things since we were going to finish out of the playoffs anyway, but calling it a strong final six and a half weeks doesn’t do JDLR justice and whitewashes management’s missing the boat. At the very least Harding could have used the same pre-All-Star break and Post All-Star break split he gave to Redding.

by Rox Girl on Dec 12, 2008 8:06 PM MST reply actions 0 recs