Saturday Morning Rockpile:

by Rox Girl on May 10, 2008 11:05 AM MDT in News

Greg Reynolds' MLB debut on Mother's Day tomorrow will set the club mark for the quickest ascent by a pitcher to the big league club from their draft date. It's a mark that figures to get broken later this summer by our 2007 first round pick, Casey Weathers, but it's a great accomplishment for Greg and I'm really excited about watching that game. If he's to win it, he'll have to do it without the bat of Matt Holliday aiding him, as Big Daddy is expected to get Mom's day off. Luckily, thanks to Aaron Cook's performance last night, the Rockies only need to scratch out a win in one of these next two games to get their first series win since the middle of April.

That last linked Troy Renck article also includes Clint Hurdle's insistence that Yorvit's the primero uno catcher on the squad. Torrealba's one for four night last night leaves him ranked #64 in offensive contribution out of the 71 catchers to play in the MLB this year in VORP. As I mentioned earlier this week, Chris Iannetta is the sixth best. What's more, as the four guys he left on base last night kind of indicate, Torrealba has been terrible in the clutch, being the worst on the team in win probability added. Iannetta has been the Rockies best when it comes to coming up with the big hit when we need it. I'm not saying, I'm just saying...

Anyway, with the Padres losing five straight, the Rockies can put serious hurt on their chances of being involved in another play-in game with us this year by winning these next two. Pushing them out of contention will also have some indirect benefits around the trade deadline by adding another seller to the pool. Let's show a killer instinct this weekend, guys. BTW, speaking of the Padres, before our series with them in April, I did a Q & A with Ducksnorts' Geoff Young that I completely spaced linking here in a busy week. Ducksnorts is one of two must-read Padres blogs along with Gaslamp Ball, and probably the best place to learn about our rival. Even though the Q and A was in April, the questions were on general themes so the answers still apply.

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Watched the game late last night on dvr

and I was really impressed with Cook’s aggressive performance. Particularly after watching guys like Francis, Jiminez and Corpas really struggle this year by being too cute with the strike zone and pitching from behind all the time. Cook’s fast pace doesn’t hurt either. The Padres simply never looked the least bit comfortable up there. Fantastic effort. I was concerned that his early start was too good to be true (as opposed to everyone else’s “too bad to be true”) but if he pitches like that every time out, he’s going to have a memorable season.

Hats off to the offense too, for getting over on Jake. That dude’s stuff is unreal, and beating him should never be taken lightly. Keep rollin’.

by Teekalong on May 10, 2008 11:24 AM MDT reply reply 0 recs

Greg Reynolds

Wow, Our family cannont believe that Greg has made it!
I have to laugh because I got an email from one of his brothers. He said
“I can’t believe this is finally happening”
Yep, he said “finally” It hasnt been even two years. . This all goes back to his brother Phil signing him
up for some combine- and kind of fudged on the application about what
Greg had done. But hey, it paid off! and he was invited. WOW!!!!
Pretty much everyone that has ever known Greg from his hometown is in San
Diego, or will be watching.
Go Rockies!!!!

by cdavis2488 on May 10, 2008 12:03 PM MDT reply reply 0 recs

I am very happy for him

and can’t wait to watch him pitch on Sunday. On top of that, I think he might be just what we need right now, another innings eater, who seems to be able to command his fastball. Keep the pitch count low and keep that sink working and go out and get your first big league win!

by smokinRox on May 10, 2008 12:40 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

BTW:

I don’t know if I made it clear just how clutch CDI has been this season, but the top six in the MLB in WPA currently looks like this:

1. Pat Burrell 3.45
2. Lance Berkman 3.25
3. Manny Ramirez 2.13
4. Albert Pujols 1.75
5. Chris Iannetta 1.55
6. Matt Holliday 1.45

Now considering that Yorvit’s at -1.34, there’s already nearly a three game difference between the two when the context of their hitting is taken into account. Without any regard to context the difference lessens but is still likely more than a game at this point. Of course, the team record when Iannetta plays (9-7) versus the team record when Torrealba (8-15) does can probably tell us just as quickly in this case as looking at their WARPs.

by Rox Girl on May 10, 2008 1:51 PM MDT reply reply 0 recs

What does Iannetta have to do to get the starting job?

I really hope Hurdle isn’t serious. Does Iannetta have to play like this for 2-3 more weeks? As soon as he hits a stech of 0-8, is Yorvit back in as the main guy? I sure hope not.

Thank god for baseball season.

by jcd823 on May 10, 2008 2:22 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

Probably just manager-speak

I was watching Tony La Russa address the media after the game last night, when Isringhausen blew a save, and La Russa kept saying to reporters that he had nothing to discuss and Isringhausen is still the closer. Then Isringhausen lost his job as closer today.

by Tom (RFTN) on May 10, 2008 5:16 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

This is right on

throw in the fact that the Rockies are probably shopping Yorviet, and you have Hurdle telling the press, “he’s our man”.

Anyone seen Jeff Baker? Has he called in?

by Redhawk on May 10, 2008 5:24 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

Either that

or Torrealba has some pictures of Clint Hurdle doing something naughty.

Or maybe Yorvit told him he would show reporters this.

by rosenthal on May 10, 2008 6:34 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

Take a real hard and long look

Not only are the Rockies fans fickled, but so is ownership, management and the on field staff. Until this stops, get used to the revolving lineup policy.

by roxtalk on May 10, 2008 4:29 PM MDT reply reply 0 recs

I agree

That the ownership is fickle (although I wouldn’t use the word fickle. I just don’t think they’re as rich as their fellow owner brethren), but how is a ‘revolving lineup’ policy a sign of them being fickle? It has more to do with them constantly wasting money on guys like Vizcaino, Torrealba and Sullivan. Combine their salaries and you could have ponied up to acquire a Dan Haren or Erik Bedard. Instead, we fill gaps with players who aren’t much better than those we have at the minor league level.

If anything, it’s a sign of incompetence (something Rockies management has in abundance).

by rosenthal on May 10, 2008 6:41 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

Yes indeed

So incompetent that we’ve got a freaking National League pennant flying in our ballpark.

Christ. I understand being critical, but the ‘incompetence’ talk just has to stop – this is the crap I’m talking about in Redhawk’s diary when I say the average Denver sports fan isn’t very sophisticated.

Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.

by Franchise26 on May 10, 2008 6:42 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

Excuse me?

1. Don’t call me unsophisticated ever again.
2. They’re incompetent. They haven’t made an intelligent decision about the roster since… uh… They got to the World Series because they had an incredibly lucky hot streak at the end of the season. They got there in spite of guys like Josh Fogg, Ramon Ortiz, Mark Redman and Jamey Carroll. Clint Hurdle is, in my opinion, among the worst managers I’ve ever seen. He’s right on par with Dusty Baker, to me.

I am pleased they made it to the World Series. But this is the same management that screwed things up for nearly a decade. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

by rosenthal on May 10, 2008 6:49 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

Here we go again..

Management makes an easy target, but they got rid of Fogg, Ortiz, and Carroll. This year the most consistent pitcher in the bullpen has been Taylor Buchholz, who was acquired in a trade with Houston along with WillyT (who is 2nd in the NL in stolen bases). What has Jason Jennings done over the last two years? Podsednik was also acquired and he’s played well. Not to mention other players management has brought in or promoted this year like Quintanilla, Dela Rossa, Barmes.

Management makes a good target, but they can only put a player in the lineup based on past results. After that it is up to the player to perform, Nix didn’t, Q has.

There's only one Rocktober!!

by Charlie77 on May 10, 2008 7:04 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

Semi-valid points

The Jennings trade was the one move O’Dowd did a great job with. He kicked Houston’s ass in that deal. I said so at the time, based exclusively on the idea that Hirsh wouldn’t be hurt every six weeks, but Taylor and Willy proved to be more than adequate. But the incompetence comes when Buchholz is pitching meaningless innings. Until recently, he was more a mop-up guy than anything else. Herges was resigned with the idea that he’d be their 7th-inning guy, but Buchholz had already shown signs of being a more effective pitcher than Herges (before the steroids issue came about).

Nix is horrible. Absolutely horrible. He hadn’t been a good hitter with the exception of last year, and I suspect that was a fluke more than anything else. He could turn it around, but unless he begins juicing, I don’t see it. Barmes will soon taper off as well, considering he isn’t a very good hitter either. He might have value as a utility guy, but not much more.

I’m not suggesting O’Dowd has done everything wrong. He’s just done most things wrong and, regardless of the banner that hangs in Coors Field, he, as well as Hurdle, should be held accountable for their failures.

by rosenthal on May 10, 2008 7:12 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

I dunno

I think after last year you can cut them some slack, lucky or not. To me the big, decade-shaping decisions are actually coming up. Resigning Holliday and Atkins. Every other decision is pretty minor next to that. I also think that the front office is going to have to start thinking about either trading the guys already on the club who are blocking our good minor league prospects (Fowler mostly here I guess), or trading the prospects for more pitching. I do agree that wasting money on Wells/Towers/Redman is not the best way to go about things.

by moomacher on May 10, 2008 7:19 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

To me

It seems obvious: Don’t resign either guy unless you want to jack up payroll significantly. If we’re going to stay in the $60-70 million range, you can’t sign Holliday and Atkins. That will be the big test, to me. If they pull a Bickerstaff, I might have to publish the Monforts’ phone number somewhere for the world to vent.

Kidding. Mostly.

by rosenthal on May 10, 2008 7:28 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

Ack

I shudder even reading the word ‘Bickerstaff’.

Although the current Nuggets regime appears to be just as dysfunctional, if not more so. At least with Bickerstaff, everyone knew who was in charge.

Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.

by Franchise26 on May 10, 2008 7:31 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

I wouldn't use the word "incompetent"

just average. I think O’dowd and the Monforts (or the Rockies Front Office) have made some great moves, have also made some great non-moves, and have also made some really bone headed moves, that make no sense to me. Giving Sullivan $1 made no sense to me. Giving Tulo a big contract was baffling to me, but more so was giving one to Hawpe and to Corpas. Relying on Jason Nix made no sense to me. Not trying to get a good SP didn’t make too much sense (though I understand the market wasn’t filled with FA pitchers or trade prospects). Re-signing Torrealba only made a little sense to me but I worried about him flunking the Mets physical.

But I’m not sure I trust the brain trust to do the right things going forward. We need to re-sign some players, and trade others (or let them walk in FA and get the compensation). We need more impact players in the minors and not just a bunch of really nice players, that we will never use, and apparently, never trade out either.

Anyone seen Jeff Baker? Has he called in?

by Redhawk on May 10, 2008 7:29 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

Excuse you

Criticism is one thing. You want to be critical, that’s all well and good. I’ll agree and disagree with any criticisms that anybody wants to offer. And I certainly disagree with your analysis above.

But… let’s look at what you’re really saying here. You want to talk about incompetence? The Pirates haven’t had a winning season in 15 years. The Blue Jays, Astros, and Nationals have utterly barren farm systems. THAT’S incompetence. The Rockies are the defending NL champs, with a thriving talent pipeline, and a farm system universally recognized as among the best in the league. To call the people running this franchise ‘incompetent’ is a – yes, here’s that word again – unsophisticated point of view brought about by your own opinions about the people in charge. You can hate O’Dowd, Hurdle, and whoever all you want – but they’ve got some awfully large rings on their fingers that says ‘incompetent’ is the kind of knee-jerk, ridiculous viewpoint that I think is all too common among the Denver sports fan.

Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.

by Franchise26 on May 10, 2008 7:28 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

you don't play well with others do you?

personal attacks are out of line.

I’d also point out that having a championship ring doesn’t make a FO smart…..see your own example of the Houston Astros.

Anyone seen Jeff Baker? Has he called in?

by Redhawk on May 10, 2008 7:31 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

I'm generally all about playing nice

But some of the stuff I read over here is just so absurd that I get a little fired up. And I don’t believe I personally attacked anybody. I just attacked the opinion.

Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.

by Franchise26 on May 10, 2008 7:34 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

Why can't

They all be incompetent? Certainly the Pirates have done an awful job. As have the Nationals. But so has O’Dowd. And O’Dowd has done it in a timespan when those other organizations have had multiple folks in charge.

They’ve got one awfully large ring (though since the Monforts have to pay for them, they’re likely to not be very large).

It isn’t knee-jerk, either. I’ve been arguing - even during their magical run - that both O’Dowd and Hurdle ought to be fired. I still maintain that.

Hell, drafting Reynolds over Longoria was incredibly stupid. That’s a perfect example of the poor decision-making this ‘brain’trust has been wont to do.

by rosenthal on May 10, 2008 7:38 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

I take it you haven't seen the rings...

The Monfort’s definitely didn’t skimp on those.

It’s probably not any surprise but I’ve got to go with what the people said above in that management’s had its failures, but calling them incompetent goes too far. I think calling your views unsophisticated goes too far also, you’ve just got this thing for hyperbole.

Case in point, nobody knew that Longoria would be as good as he has been prior to that draft. Not even the Rays nor any other team that had them on their board ahead of Reynolds. Most scouts thought that his bat’s ceiling was just ahead of Tulo’s with the glove being inferior. Reynolds meanwhile was considered one of the three or four top collegiate arms available. Even if we’re allowing that it was a mistake to draft Reynolds ahead of Longoria going from there to “incredibly stupid” just doesn’t work. Reynolds is making his debut just a couple of weeks after Evan, right around the same time as Scherzer, and you haven’t seen yet what he’s capable of. Calling this an incredibly stupid decision is at once premature in regards to Reynolds and showing confirmation bias in regards to Longoria.

Incompetence would have been failing to build their Latin program, trumping the Astros offer for Matsui or the Mets offer for Torrealba, or going the opposite Marlinlike cost saving route and shunting off Atkins and Holliday and whoever else was in line for a hefty arbitration raise. The Rockies just haven’t been that bad. They certainly haven’t been exceptional Arizona probably deserves kudos here and maybe it’s the close comparison that’s making us look worse but they’re not in the bottom half when it comes to bad baseball management.

by Rox Girl on May 10, 2008 8:27 PM MDT up reply reply 0 recs

Good points..

I think people want O’Dowd to consistently pull rabbits from his hat, but he is forced to work with what the market has available. Last year a large majority of fans were ripping him for not trading to get a big name pitcher like Contreras down the stretch run. Instead he calls up Jimenez and Morales who combined for an ERA of 3.86. Meanwhile, Contreras was the only big name on the market and he finished with an ERA over 5.52. We won’t mention that the White Sox pitcher is throwing lights out this year, but the decision pushed the Rockies into the World Series and Jimenez started four games in the postseason and had a respectable ERA of 2.25 in that span.

There has been other trades with mixed results, but the majority of them lately has been more fruitful for the Rockies than the other team, what has Shealy done lately? At least the home team isn’t giving away Andy Ashby’s recently.

There's only one Rocktober!!

by Charlie77 on May 11, 2008 8:43 AM MDT up reply reply 0 recs