Friday Morning Rockpile: ". . . embrace those challenges of greatness"

by Russ Oates on Feb 15, 2008 8:24 AM MST in Rockpile

With pitchers and catchers reporting today, the Rockies now embark on their greatest enterprise yet: a return to the World Series. As Clint Hurdle says in this RMN article:

"The next step for us is to embrace those challenges of greatness [...] This is still new ground we are exploring together, but it all goes back to us having a belief in ourselves and our organization. Now we have some tangible evidence for others to see."

So a D'Backs fan believes his team has a better chance of getting back to the playoffs than the Rockies? What else would you expect? He's supposed to doubt the Rockies.

But it's all about accountability and confidence. Whether it's Aaron Cook ("That means knowing myself, knowing what I do well and what I don't do well. I think I have really turned the corner.") or Matt Holliday letting us know (in the RMN article) that everyone will be held accountable from day one of the season. The Rockies can no longer be an afterthought in baseball circles. The Rockies are here to stay!

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A decision in the arbitration case with Brian Fuentes should come this morning, and Brad Hawpe's one-year deal was finalized. Update [2008-2-15 13:50:18 by Russ]: Rockies win case; Fuentes to make $5.05M in '08.

Don't blame Coors Field and expansion for the increase in home run rates starting in '93, according to Tom M. Tango. What did? He doesn't know, but juicing the ball may be one answer.

Might Joe Torre do something good with Juan Pierre? Like, uh, having Andre Ethier ahead of him in left field? Or not, since Torre likes his veterans. According to this poll over at True Blue LA, Dodgers fans want Kemp/Jones/Ethier on a regular basis in the outfield. Maybe the fans should manage the outfield instead.

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A great story on Rockies hero...

Tony Gwynn Jr. and his relationship to the Padres before and after that infamous triple is at ESPN. I liked it at least.

by Rox Girl on Feb 15, 2008 9:14 AM MST reply actions

Right on...

the ESPN piece on Gwynn Jr. is one of the best I've read in a long time (and I spend far too much time reading articles and columns online).

Let's hope there are enough knowledgable fans for the first AB for "Little T" at Coors this season that he gets a well-deserved and appreciative standing ovation. It's the least we can do.

by moose14 on Feb 15, 2008 11:44 AM MST up reply actions

Thanks

for the link! That was a fabulous article. You really couldn't have scripted anything better than what actually happened.

And I agree with Tony Sr. I think Little T gets a standing ovation at Coors this season.

by holly96 on Feb 15, 2008 12:12 PM MST up reply actions

That was

a really stunning article. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it; I had no idea of the connections between Tony Gwynn Jr and Hoffman. And, to top it all off, there was the surprise of a very well-written article from ESPN. Thank you for sharing that link, Rox Girl.

by oo_nrb on Feb 15, 2008 2:38 PM MST up reply actions

Gwynn

Give him an ovation. That was very interesting. Thanks Rox Girl.

GO ROCKIES!!! JFK

by jrockies on Feb 15, 2008 7:00 PM MST up reply actions

Fuentes Loses

his hearing and the arbitrator ruled in favor of the Rockies $5.05M as opposed to the requested $6.5M. He will have to try to "feed his family" for $1.45M less.

Good news. I think Morales is being groomed for his spot. If he can do it, Fuentes will be trade bait come July.

by PinchHitLancePainter on Feb 15, 2008 10:10 AM MST reply actions

Short term or Long Term?

I'm hoping any move of Morales to the pen is just to get his feet wet in the bigs. I REALLY hope he's a front of the Rotation kinda guy. In fact I'm really hoping he's our #5 starter out of Spring Training this year.

I'd rather hope he's Johann Santana or Fransico Liriano (from 06)(both of whom Morales reminds me of), then Hideki Okajima. Sure Okajima is very valuable, but front line aces are well...aces.

I'll even go so far and say how well Franklin Morales does as a starter, goes a long way in the Rockies bid to contend in 08. If we get a stud/or even solid starter out of Morales we have the potential to match up rotations with the rest of the NL West. If we have Hirsch #4, and Wells, Tower or Redman #5, I think we are fighting up-hill.

I miss Kaz! He really could Rock-a-Rhyme, even if it was Tricky

by Redhawk on Feb 15, 2008 12:19 PM MST up reply actions

Corpas

I hope Corpas stays as the closer, especially the way he pitched last year. If he continues to dominate the opposing hitters and finish games the Rockies will win more games. Other starters are coming up will be able to take the last spots later; Greg Renyolds, Brandon Hynick. He must remain a closer.

GO ROCKIES!!! JFK

by jrockies on Feb 15, 2008 6:19 PM MST up reply actions

Corpas and 08

I totally agree that Corpas is the closer for 08, and not Fuentes. And there should be NO question about that job going into and coming out of Spring Training. It's nice to have a shut down guy in the 8th like Fuentes, but Corpas proved himself as the closer.

That said, Closers tend to have a VERY short shelf life. I like the fact we have another one in Weathers coming up. I also think closers are a very over-rated position, but realize it takes a special arm and head to do the job.

And long set-up reliever/6th starters to be an under-rated position, which if they really don't think Morales is ready, He could be huge in this roll....but he better get to start in 09!

I miss Kaz! He really could Rock-a-Rhyme, even if it was Tricky

by Redhawk on Feb 15, 2008 7:30 PM MST up reply actions

I think

$5 million set up men are more overrated than closers.

The Rockies don't have the fiscal wherewithal to spend a significant amount of their payroll to a freakin' set up guy.

Hopefully someone's closer struggles early and we can pawn him off for a 2B.

by arosenthal on Feb 15, 2008 10:33 PM MST up reply actions

2B

WE DON"T NEED A SECOND BASEMAN! THERE ARE ALREADY THREE LEGITIMATE CONTENDERS. NIX WILL WIN!

GO ROCKIES!!! JFK

by jrockies on Feb 15, 2008 10:46 PM MST up reply actions

Having a dominant...

Closer and setup guy basically shuts down the other team from the 8th inning on. This causes a change in managing philosophies for opposing managers. They start to press in the 6th and 7th, including burning the best pinch hitter earlier in the game, because team's feel like they don't have a chance late in the game.

There's only one Rocktober!!

by Charlie77 on Feb 15, 2008 10:52 PM MST up reply actions

Hey Red,

It's nice to see you slowly moving away from your Kaz addiction. Just think by the end of March you'll be getting your fix from the Nix.

There's only one Rocktober!!

by Charlie77 on Feb 15, 2008 10:57 PM MST up reply actions

Nix

already has one point against him, and that is He's Lance's brother. Lance really stunk up the place in Texas, and he was sold as the next big thing for 3 straight years, all to end up back in OKC.

Now I get to hear how great little bro is. I hope he really is all that.

Actually the 2ndbaseman I'm rooting for is Jeff Baker. If he can hit the 20 hr area that's a big bat in the 7th or 8th hole. He'll never be Kaz though.

I miss Kaz! He really could Rock-a-Rhyme, even if it was Tricky

by Redhawk on Feb 15, 2008 11:31 PM MST up reply actions

Regarding the D-Backs- Rockies comments

I don't think anyone was that annoyed about the idea of the D-backs having a better chance of making it back to the playoffs. It's purely subjective and we have the next 162 games to find that answer.

I think what annoyed many, myself included was the idea of topping that off with calling the club a mediocre team that got lucky was a little unnecessary, especially on our own board. That's the way I see it anyway.

by raoulduke1977 on Feb 15, 2008 10:28 AM MST reply actions

Yep...

I actually agree, that one still makes me bristle and it's the kind of statement I wish we could get an admission of wrongness from them after we prove (like so many teams have done before) that we're here to stay this season.

by Rox Girl on Feb 15, 2008 11:02 AM MST up reply actions

Exactly

More likely they'd just blow it off as being a fan, which still leaves the insult out there. Only real way to hold them to it is making them put their money where their mouth is an shake on it. Still, it's up to the guys to deliver on the faith we have in them.

by raoulduke1977 on Feb 15, 2008 11:35 AM MST up reply actions

But

Can't fault them, though.

I mean, it's tough to think clearly when you live in a state that is full of 90-year-olds.

by arosenthal on Feb 15, 2008 5:49 PM MST up reply actions

No no no.

John McCain is out campaigning. He doesn't count anymore. Everyone else that old is dead or something.

by azdb7 on Feb 16, 2008 1:32 AM MST up reply actions

Just out of curiousity...

Who is the highest paid set-up man in baseball?

by belt on Feb 15, 2008 11:29 AM MST reply actions

From Cot's Baseball Contracts:

Relief pitchers
The highest-paid relief pitchers, by average annual value:

1. Mariano Rivera, $15,000,000 (2008-10)
2. Francisco Cordero, $11,500,000 (2008-11)
3. Francisco Rodriguez (2008)
4. Billy Wagner, $10,750,000 (2006-09)
5. Eric Gagne, $10,000,000 (2008)
6. B.J. Ryan, $9,400,000 (2006-10)
7. Jason Isringhausen, $8,000,000 (2005-08)
8. Todd Jones, $7,000,000 (2008)
9. Brad Lidge, $6,350,000 (2008)
10. Danys Baez, $6,333,333 (2007-09)
Trevor Hoffman, $6,333,333 (2006-08)
11. Chad Cordero, $6,200,000 (2008)
12. Tom Gordon, $6,000,000 (2006-08)
13. Brian Fuentes (2008) ed- obviously this is wrong as of right now, it looks like they were guessing a midpoint
14. Kyle Farnsworth, $5,666,667 (2006-08)
15. Octavio Dotel, $5,500,000 (2008-09)
16. Joe Nathan, $5,000,000 (2006-08)

From this list, Farnsworth is the highest set-up man, obviously Fuentes is pretty close.

by Rox Girl on Feb 15, 2008 11:42 AM MST up reply actions

scratch that...

whoever's not closing in Philly between Gordon/Lidge would be higher than Farnsworth.

by Rox Girl on Feb 15, 2008 11:43 AM MST up reply actions

Yikes

Thanks for that.

I guess you could also make the argument that Fuentes is one of the best set-up men in baseball so it's not really surprising.

by belt on Feb 15, 2008 2:07 PM MST up reply actions

Baez isn't the Orioles' closer

Chris Ray is. That makes Danys Baez the highest paid set-up man.

Every day is a Holliday!

by free7694 on Feb 15, 2008 2:29 PM MST up reply actions

But neither will pitch much or at all this season.

Ray underwent Tommy John surgery in August, as did Baez a month later. Ray may pitch at the earliest in August, but Baez probably won't pitch this season since he's suffered a setbback in his rehab. George Sherrill has a good chance at being the closer for the O's this season.

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

by Russ Oates on Feb 15, 2008 3:14 PM MST up reply actions

Coors Field Effect in '93?

I assume Mr. Tango meant the Mile High effect.

by jlikesrockies on Feb 15, 2008 6:39 PM MST reply actions

I'm assuming, baseball in LoDo wasn't

quite the same in '93 as it was in '95.

Since Tango's research wound up taking Denver out of the picture entirely it became kind of moot that he got the name right but it was fascinating research that almost proves the baseballs in the early nineties were as juiced as Jose Canseco.

by Rox Girl on Feb 15, 2008 6:44 PM MST up reply actions