Thursday Morning Rockpile:

by Rox Girl on Apr 10, 2008 8:43 AM MDT in Rockpile Comment 49 comments

Even though they weren't the first to use it, the Rockies are close to securing key trademarks for the term "Rocktober", which amounts to a nifty coup and adds a lot of value to the Rockies brand. Since better branding equals greater revenue, which equals greater chances for building championship teams, I'm actually as excited for this news as I am for our current three game win streak. Now let's get back to the playoffs so the team can cash in from this some more and re-sign Matt Holliday.

Speaking of playoffs, I'm also excited for Joe Sakic and the Avalanche, if anybody hasn't had the chance to check out our excellent bloggers at Mile High Hockey, I encourage you to take the opportunity right now. Woot. Corporate Thursday, see how I just built our SBN brand right there? Yeah, I'm all about selling out today apparently.

It looks like Jeff Baker will get another chance at starting at second today (weather permitting) and Taylor Buchholz is feeling fine in his relief role. Those are two of the several notes from the Denver Post this morning.

I know there's some disagreement here on the merits of Micah Bowie, as should normally be expected for the last guys in the bullpen on any team. I still think we made the right decision with him over Josh Newman this Spring, as Jack Etkin points out, he's stranded all seven baserunners he's inherited. Of course, thanks to his three run tenth inning outing against Arizona, he's drifted to the bottom of the pack in Rockies WXRL (it's as complicated as the acronym makes it sound, but it's as decent a way of measuring relievers as I've seen) so the debate must go on. It's still early, we'll see if his smoke and mirrors act remains as successful as it's been up to this point.

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Most decidedly

not baseball weather this morning in Denver. Snow, rain, wind, yuck. Looks like everybody gets a day off, which probably never hurts.

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~ Earl Wilson

by rockhead on Apr 10, 2008 8:47 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't be surprised if the game was cancelled already.

Give both teams a chance to get to the airport and get out of here. The weather here sucks.

by Prospector on Apr 10, 2008 8:58 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't understand why they don't do that either

I guess they really believe in that old adage about waiting around ten minutes if you don't like the weather. But in this case, it seriously looks like they could wait all day without the change needed.

by Rox Girl on Apr 10, 2008 9:07 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Weather

The Coors Field camera shows no or very little accumulation so far (and also that Denver drivers still don't respect the crosswalks). Maybe the precipitation will ease up by this afternoon. I hope so, anyway.

At the same time, it looks like that big cloud is just sitting on the Denver area, not going anywhere.

by dogs on Apr 10, 2008 9:28 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The field

is heated, so that helps. Really they have heat coils under the sod...it's what makes the grass so green so early. Same at Mile High (I hate calling it Invesco).

However here in Parker....we have about 6 inches already. It's deep and heavy, and not letting up.

What am going to do with all these "Jeff Baker for 2nd" bumper stickers?

by Redhawk on Apr 10, 2008 9:49 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Question

I was at the game so didn't get to hear any of the commentary. Can someone tell me why Hurdle let Redman bat in the bottom of the 5th with a runner on, when he had Speier coming in to pitch the 6th?

by Hizilla on Apr 10, 2008 9:14 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Because that's what Hurdle does

It's his signature move. That's all we can figure out.

by Rox Girl on Apr 10, 2008 9:22 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Redman

His swings were the worst hacks i've seen in a while last night, everyone (all 7 people) in my section was making fun of him at the plate.

by Hizilla on Apr 10, 2008 9:35 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's so smart

the rest of us fans can't understand him.

Manager of the Year!

What am going to do with all these "Jeff Baker for 2nd" bumper stickers?

by Redhawk on Apr 10, 2008 9:46 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can only guess

that he is trying to keep the bench deeper for a situation more important at the end of the game, like a defensive switch or something if the game tightens up. I don't understand that decision most of the time either, but we do have 1 less bench player than many teams.

by smokinRox on Apr 10, 2008 10:11 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can see that in this instance

as the Rockies had a pretty good lead at the time. BUT....It's still a stupid move. Especially in a tight playoff game (no I'm not over it yet)

And most teams carry 12 pitchers, and 13 hitters. Early in the season, with the extra off days you'll see 11/14 splits more often, especially in the American League. But the Rockies don't have many off days in April this year oddly.

What am going to do with all these "Jeff Baker for 2nd" bumper stickers?

by Redhawk on Apr 10, 2008 11:09 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I told

My Dodger-fan friends about this move and they flat don't believe me.

by Teekalong on Apr 10, 2008 1:40 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what I am going with.

At that point we had a (fairly) decent lead, and I imagine that Hurdle simply wanted to save some of his bench. With 2 outs already and the top of the order coming to bat next inning after the guaranteed Redman out, I can see what he was thinking.

Either that, or he just was using some special ClintLogic (r) to keep the Braves on their toes.

by oo_nrb on Apr 10, 2008 4:47 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shh...

We don't want to give the franchise ideas of other trademarks that might be a little less profitable to the brand.

by Rox Girl on Apr 10, 2008 4:50 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I assumed...

That Redman was going to pitch next inning, but perhaps his foot was swelling from the ball strike back in the 1st, and rather than risk further injury, they pulled him.

But....I've seen Hurdle pull this move so many times that I can't possibly explain it.

by GreeleyRoxFan on Apr 10, 2008 11:13 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The day you understand managers moves

Is likely the day AFTER youve been certified... ;o)

All the best Brits support the Diamondbacks!

by AZDarkKnight on Apr 10, 2008 11:42 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Any updates

on the staus of some of the CLE pitchers we might be getting as the PTBNL for Carroll

and

potenital 1st rnd draft pick possibilities?

Thanks

TGFPR!!

by jlot10 on Apr 10, 2008 9:16 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Anyone,

feel free to respond, but I'll be able to get the draft coverage really going the week of the 21st.

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

by Russ Oates on Apr 10, 2008 9:20 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Everything's still pretty fluid,

I've had to make a lot of changes to where I project players to get picked this year, as some guys I thought would be available around our pick (Gordon Beckham, for instance) have moved up and out of reach, while others have dropped (Tyson Ross) who might be available to us after all. I'm starting to like how our breadth of choices is shaping up.

by Rox Girl on Apr 10, 2008 9:58 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Scheppers for me if it's a pitcher

by David OhNo on Apr 10, 2008 10:14 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

BA has Scheppers #9 right now

If he was still available twenty-five picks in, he'd be a good choice, but I think he's one of those guys that's maybe seen his stock rise out of our zone this year.

by Rox Girl on Apr 11, 2008 4:57 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe he's this year's Detwiler

The thing about Ross I don't get, is just how good is his stuff? Some reports, it;s a 89-91 mph fastball he uses to nibble with, others, it's 94-96 mph that can make him a front line guy. The same goes for his secondary pitches. All reports question his upright release... I'm just not sure who Ross is at this point.

by David OhNo on Apr 11, 2008 7:27 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's kind of my hope that these questions persist.

More whispers like this means it's more likely he'll be available to us.

There's plenty of video over at the Cal Bears website, btw, of what he was pitching like last summer, it's clear to me that he's at least capable of being frontline. I think the back spasms might have taken off a little of his velocity this season, but he's still getting tremendous downward action on his pitches and generating a lot of GB outs, nonetheless, and dominating Fridays against one of the toughest schedules in the country. I'm not completely in his camp yet, but he's definitely one of my favorite possibilities heading into the draft.

by Rox Girl on Apr 11, 2008 8:22 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

NOT AN ARGUMENT JUST A POINT.....

Josh Newman, I believe, did not give up a run in Spring Training or so far this season in AAA. Tough to improve on that.

by 91 wins in 08 on Apr 10, 2008 9:57 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

True,

I should be careful to note that I don't mean any disrespect for Newman's abilities when I say that I think picking Bowie was the correct decision. Fittingly for Corporate Thursday, it has a lot more to do with financial considerations for the team and keeping control of beneficial players like Newman for a longer period of time.

by Rox Girl on Apr 10, 2008 10:02 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Canceled

See here

Probably a good thing considering what it looks like out my office window down here. Hope they can keep the streak going against the snakes. Will Morales still pitch Friday? Or will Francis get pushed back and pitch against Webb?

by Hizilla on Apr 10, 2008 10:27 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Phew...

Glad they announced this. I was just about to head down to the ballpark.

Wonder what they are going to do with 15,000 mini NL Champs trophies they were handing out today...

by GreeleyRoxFan on Apr 10, 2008 10:41 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not sure what it's like up north

but here in Parker, I can barely see the house across the street. Tough weather to play baseball in.

Unless we break out Charles Finley's Orange Baseball.

What am going to do with all these "Jeff Baker for 2nd" bumper stickers?

by Redhawk on Apr 10, 2008 11:12 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe.....

They could give them away on Friday at Chase Field????

Well.. it seemed to work well the first three games of the season... :D

All the best Brits support the Diamondbacks!

by AZDarkKnight on Apr 10, 2008 11:43 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those

are getting handed out on Make-Up day, June 16th. Since I couldn't make it to today's game, I am _so_ going to try and make it there in June now. One of those little trophies will look so good on my desk.

by oo_nrb on Apr 10, 2008 4:50 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not a bad reschedule

Monday, June 16; both teams are off; Braves coming from a series at LA Angels, Rockies coming home from a series at Chi WhiteSox. Better than having to squeeze something in late in the season by necessity as often happens.

by DeepPurple on Apr 10, 2008 11:30 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

It'll also be a nice break from interleague play.

Every day is a Holliday!

by free7694 on Apr 10, 2008 12:22 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

what time will it start on the 16?

hurdle mistake counter: 4

by roxfan4life on Apr 10, 2008 11:32 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

June 16 start time TBA

I would guess it will be afternoon. Atlanta has a game at Texas the following day.

by DeepPurple on Apr 10, 2008 12:02 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll be leaving work early that day...

by Hizilla on Apr 10, 2008 12:27 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Taylor Buchholz in relief

I don't agree with pigeon holing Taylor Buchholz into a relief role. He looks so much more mature and powerful this year. If he keeps pitching like he is now, he can't be stopped from starting. His assortment of pitches is more suited to starting than relieving. I have been really impressed with him so far this year, maybe a breakout year for him.

by brian8065 on Apr 10, 2008 12:42 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Bucky loves the bullpen...

He's always said he's more comfortable in the bullpen, and would rather be there.

We've all seen it too, his starts were sub-par, but he has always been solid out of the pen.

by roxintober on Apr 10, 2008 12:48 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Buchholz, with two H's

That was last year. I'm telling you, he is going to have a break-out year. He looks so good. His breaking ball seems much sharper.

by brian8065 on Apr 10, 2008 1:20 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't understand the two H thing...

Never spelled his name or corrected yours. I don't disagree that he's gonna have a break out year, but his place is the pen. His words:

"It's more comforting knowing that I am not in the middle of being a starter or a reliever," Buchholz said. "When I was starting I never fully got into that comfort zone that I wanted to have. You have one or two bad games and you've got to think about that for those four or five days between each start. It kind of builds up sometimes.

"Something about it just clicked with me about being a reliever."

by roxintober on Apr 10, 2008 1:41 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The two h thing was just a two h thing.

I read that too. He may just have to get over it.

Last year he pitched 93.7 innings, I figure 43.7 as a starter, and 50 as a reliever. He never went on the DL. Buchholz may be too good to keep in the pen. He would only get 50-70 innings if he stays there.

The starters that are ahead of him now are Redman, Wells, Towers, Hirsch, and probably Reynolds. I'm saying that if Hirsch takes too long to get back, and Reynolds isn't quite ready, I want the Buchholz option to start.

Everyone is looking at this like he is showing maturity about seeing his limitations. I don't. I am fine with Mark Redman maturing and seeing his limitations, but not Buchholz, who is only 26 years old right now and is coming into his own. I think he has improved a bit, and should be looking to expand his horizons, and as Clint would say, take on more challenges.

by brian8065 on Apr 10, 2008 2:07 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think

If he's good enough to be a starter, he should be. He would be far, far more valuable than his current role, which frankly could be filled by a lot of guys.

The real question: is he actually good enough to be a starter right now? His history says no, but maybe he's improved. But some guys just aren't mentally suited for certain roles--and his quotes, while perhaps just a way of rationalizing the situation last year, might also reveal that he doesn't want the ball to start the game. And if that's the case, he simply won't be successful at it.

by Teekalong on Apr 10, 2008 2:29 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey Hey

Thanks for the plug!

And let's go Avs!

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Apr 10, 2008 1:26 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

No problem,

I love the blog. I'm a longtime lurker on your site that will probably start commenting a lot more once you guys switch to 2.0.

by Rox Girl on Apr 10, 2008 2:50 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sweet

The more the merrier!

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Apr 11, 2008 9:16 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

man

it stopped snowing here... prob could of got this one in who knows.... im glad they didnt play i dont wanna freeze and all so ya. good that we got cancelled. rockies did the right thing today

hurdle mistake counter: 4

by roxfan4life on Apr 10, 2008 1:35 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Any thoughts on this from those who saw the game?

Mike (Boston): Keith, I've read some scouts are saying that Franklin Morales' velocity is way down but the Rockies insist he is purposely taking a little off in the hopes of improving his control. Who do you believe?

Keith Law: I saw it myself. His velo was down and his control wasn't up. Besides, I think that's usually just an excuse teams/coaches/players offer.

by Teekalong on Apr 10, 2008 3:05 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Check out the Gameday yourself

It has the velo's of Frankie Mo's six innings in the cold here.

FB's 90-93 for most of the start. Good control.

This is one of the things that bothers me with writers sometimes -and I know I have to be careful of it myself- is that once they've seen something, they think it's cold hard immutable fact. Now, I don't know what happened in the game that Law saw that had Morales' velocity down, and I don't doubt that it was, but I also know what it was on Sunday, and he's looking sharp.

by Rox Girl on Apr 10, 2008 3:52 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs