Sunday Morning Rockpile:

by Russ Oates on Jun 15, 2008 9:26 AM MDT in Rockpile Comment 6 comments

With his performance last night, Jorge De La Rosa moved into consideration for Thursday's start against the Indians. Or the team could still go with Glendon Rusch. Uh, JDLR, please?

Willy Taveras sounds as if he's accepted that his future may not be with the Rockies:

"If my future is not here, it will be somewhere else," Taveras said. "I know I haven't hit as much. But I don't make the lineup. If I did, I would be in there every day."

Apparently, Willy T hasn't learned yet that being in the lineup every day isn't what will solve his ability to fail.

Reportedly, the New York Mets are the latest team to inquire about Brian Fuentes this season. A Mets official has confirmed the report.

We won't see Yorvit Torrealba for the next two games as he serves his suspension for his fight with Matt Kemp.

Happy Father's Day!

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Torrealba

servers a 2 game suspension, but Hurdle will write his name in the starting line-up anyway.

tomorrow (Monday) is the make up game against the Braves in Coors Field. I’m guess the stand will be pretty empty, as few casual fans will know about the game.

5th starter. The Rose is a typical 5th starter. He has good stuff. But it’s inconsistent as hell. Always has been. That’s why the Brewers traded him, as did the Royals. But Saturday, he was flat amazing especially his slider/slurve. He has an out pitch there. That makes him valuable. Raush doesn’t have that out pitch, sadly neither does Reynolds. But when JDLR is off, he’s very hittable as he tries to aim too much. As a 5th starter, I got no problem with JDLR. I wish he was more consistent (as did brewer fans, and Royal fans did I’m sure)

Jason Hirsh: This wasn’t reported here, so it might have been over looked. Apparently Jason was lobbying to be activated to pitch Saturday (yesterday) in Chicago after making a few rehab starts for Col. Springs. The Rockies wanted him to make at least 10 starts. (more time than a rehab assignment would have allowed). So The Rockies assigned Hirsh to Col. Springs from the 60 day DL. To make room on the 40 man, Sullivan was waived, and he cleared waivers, and was assigned to the Springs outright.

This move smacks of controlling his eligibility more than wanting him to worth things out in AAA.

From Yahoo:

Update: Hirsh was activated from the 60-day DL and optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs on Friday, the Rocky Mountain News reports.

Recommendation: This move will save the Rockies some money and will prevent Hirsh from accumulating more major league service time while on the Rockies’ DL. He has made three recent Triple-A rehab starts. This move is a sign that the Rockies will leave Hirsh in Triple-A beyond his next start on Sunday. He hasn’t shown the kind of control that the Rockies want, with 11 walks in 12.1 Triple-A innings. Still, beggars can’t be choosers and the Rockies need starters. Hirsh probably won’t stick in the minors for too much longer.

Jun 14 OF Cory Sullivan, playing for Triple-A Colorado Springs, was placed on waviers and cleared, removing him from the 40-man roster. At the request of Sullivan’s agent, the outfielder was put on waivers, but with a $1 million salary none of the 29 other teams put in a roster claim and Sullivan will remain at Colorado Springs, although he will be called up if the Rockies trade either Willy Taveras or Scott Podsednik. Yahoo! Sports
Jun 13 Tracy Ringolsby and Jack Etkin, of the Rocky Mountain News, report the Colorado Rockies outrighted OF Cory Sullivan to Triple-A Colorado Springs Friday, June 13, according to MLB.com

Colorado Rockies: Continuing a long tradition of playing meaningless games in June!

by Redhawk on Jun 15, 2008 10:05 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

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The Hirsh move makes sense. He has shown no ability to demonstrate durability in the 1 1/2 seasons we have had him. Giving him more time probably results in abetter product. A 40 man roster move had to occur and Sullivan was the most likley choice as no one wants to absorb a $1M contract on a fifth outfielder at best.

I have actually been amazed at the patience the FO has displayed this year. Seems they are going to bide their time and not make wholesale changes for the sake of making them. Prudence is the sign of maturity.

by PinchHitLancePainter on Jun 15, 2008 10:41 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, the Sullivan waiver

is also interesting in we found out his value for other teams…which is zero. No one wanted him for just waiver cash. $1 million is steep for a back up OF, but lots of teams throw away more for less.

Post trade dead line, the only way a team, can trade a player is if they clear waivers, so it will be interesting then to see how the Rockies use this tool to find out if any teams have interest in our players, or in other words find out if there is any market value for our building pile of AAAA players, some of which will need to be moved as they get squeezed. It would be nice if we can move some for missing pieces in our organization. (don’t ask me for exactly what we don’t have, I don’t follow the minors that close until they are close to the majors)

As far as Hirsh goes, I thought our need for Starting Pitching at the major league level, would have Hirsch quickly put back in the rotation. But I don’t think durability issues (which Hirsh has in spades) was too much of a factor in the decision.

Colorado Rockies: Continuing a long tradition of playing meaningless games in June!

by Redhawk on Jun 15, 2008 11:32 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fuentes...

As much as I’m in favor of shopping Fuentes around, I can’t imagine a good trade being worked out with the Mets. Who could the Rockies possibly get that would be better than the two picks? It isn’t like they will give up Reyes for Fuentes. Fernando Martinez would be nice, but I doubt the Mets would give him up for Fuentes.

by DenverBears on Jun 15, 2008 10:44 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

You can still get a good deal

from the Mets, they have enough other talent to make it worth avoiding the gamble of comp. picks.

Basically, you give the Mets three tiers of players, where they choose one from each to hand over:

Top tier: Mike Pelfrey or John Niese

Pelfrey would be the big get here, as he’sthrowing better of late, and still has big upside. Problem is that Pelfrey IS pitching better of late, and losing him would put a hole in the rotation until Orlando Hernandez came back, and at that point, would the Mets count on Hernandez staying healthy?

Niese is getting better every year, and is having his best year in AA well below the average age. He’s a lefty with K potential and good command, possibly similar to our first rounder Friedrich, yet Niese is already showing he can do it at the AA level.

Second Tier: Mike Carp or Eddie Kunz

Carp may be an odd choice with Helton in the system, but he’s still very young for a Double A position player and the Rockies can have him ready when Helton’s decline settles in for good. Having a breakout season again and could be good value.

Kunz is in a position of perpetual need, the bullpen, and he fits the Rockies mold of a big GB guy. Could likely fill Fuentes real role as set-up guy as early as next season.

Third tier: One of the recent international imports.

The Mets have a slew of Latin imports from the last couple of years with high end potential, if not production. The big name is Francisco Pena, but Tejada is already in High A ball (somewhat holding his own), and Wilmer Flores may be in a greater position of need in the organization (third). This level is the dealbreaker, as the Rockies need a deal to make it worth not taking two draft picks.

I’m sure other offers will pop up from other teams that are better than what the Mets can do, but if it came to New York, they still have a little to work with. There’s not much left on the shelf, but nobdoy’s saying it isn’t of quality.

by David OhNo on Jun 15, 2008 10:23 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

interesting...

I would guess that Fuentes wouldn’t get Pelfrey or Carp from the Mets. As you mentioned, Pelfrey has pitched well of late and I think the locals would demand Omar Minaya’s head if they traded him for a reliever. As for Carp, I think he is penciled in as Delgado’s replacement sooner rather than later and I think they would be reluctant to let him go unless the Rockies sent Helton (or Koshansky?) as well.

Perhaps a Niese/Kunz/Flores for Fuentes would make both teams happy I don’t know too much about these particular prospects, but from what little I know, that sounds like a good haul for the Rockies—better than anything they are likely to get out of the draft picks.

by DenverBears on Jun 16, 2008 4:33 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs