Sunday Morning Rockpile:

by Russ on Jun 22, 2008 9:02 AM MDT in Rockpile

Ubaldo Jimenez beat his childhood hero, Pedro Martinez, last night:

"He's been my hero ever since I was little," Jimenez said. "I loved the way he pitched; I tried to never miss his games. He was aggressive and you could just see it in his face. It didn't matter who he faced, he was going to get them out."

And in beating his hero, Jimenez not only won his first game since April 8, but he also pushed the Rockies back out of last place and into a tie for third place with the Giants. The Giants lost to our next opponent, the Royals, last night. The Giants send TIm Lincecum to the mound to oppose the Royals' Kyle Davies. Winner takes the series.

Troy Renck mentions that Cedrick Bowers will be considered for a call-up this week when the Rockies look to add a left-hander. At this point, we've already seen what the others have done for the Rockies (Rusch, Redman, and Bowie), so taking a look at Bowers may not be a bad thing. There's also a quote there from Dan O'Dowd about Franklin Morales:

"Franklin's not even on the radar right now," Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said. "He can't help us right now. And he might not be able to help us this season."

Todd Helton believes he's over "a little issue" he had, and Kip Wells pitched in a simulated game yesterday in preparation for a rehab start later this week.

Clint Hurdle still wants Willie Randolph coaching in the All-Star Game after the Mets fired him.

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Fabio Castro plus for Fuentes?

The Phillies are willing to give up the most so far for Brian Fuentes, according to this report. Castro’s a decent high velocity left-handed arm who’s just been switched to the bullpen this season. It’s a decent start, but the deal would have to return more to the Rockies to make up for the loss of compensation picks.

by Rox Girl on Jun 22, 2008 11:20 AM MDT 0 recs

I'll Take

Cole Hamels….that’s fair right?......I mean from a Rockies stand point anyway

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

by Redhawk on Jun 22, 2008 11:33 AM MDT up 0 recs

Do them a favor

I guess that we could do them a favor and gift them Brian for Cole Hamels.

I am feeling generous this month. ;)

by MADness on Jun 22, 2008 11:42 AM MDT up 0 recs

Compensation picks

What specific picks would we likely get for Fuentes?

I assume that he would qualify as the highest class (type a?) free agent…

by MADness on Jun 22, 2008 11:43 AM MDT up 0 recs

Yes, at the moment, he's Type A

And at this point, there’s almost no chance that he’s not at the end of the season. He might even have enough innings and performance to remain one if he has a season ending injury the next time he throws. As such we’d get the opposing team’s first round choice (unless it was one of the first 15 picks, then we’d get the second round pick) and a pick in the supplemental round.

With cost controlled prospects in general becoming more valuable, high draft picks also have to now be considered more valuable. The ability to select two additional top 100 players in the draft can refill a system with prospects very quickly.

by Rox Girl on Jun 22, 2008 11:53 AM MDT up 0 recs

If

a team spends the money to sign them.

See Dominguez

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

by Redhawk on Jun 22, 2008 11:56 AM MDT up 0 recs

Dominguez is a different story.

As was Kentrail Davis last season for a couple of reasons. First of all, it sounds like the desire to stay in/go to college for these two could be pushing them beyond the price range of what just about any team is willing to spend, and the Rockies only take them because they know they’re willing to offer these guys more than most. Saying that these are signs of the Rockies cheapness in the draft isn’t as correct as saying Casey Weathers or Greg Reynolds are signs of the Rockies cheapness.

Second, MLB’s unwritten rules with draft picks say that if you’re signing a player over slot, you can’t announce/finalize it until close to the August 15 deadline, which means we wouldn’t know for sure how far the Rockies are willing to go for Dominguez until then. Again, my guess is that it’s further than just about any other team.

by Rox Girl on Jun 22, 2008 12:07 PM MDT up 0 recs

If we

didn’t sign stupid Luis Vizcaino, we could easily sign Dominguez, and we could have drafted a bigger prospect in round 2.

by rosenthal on Jun 22, 2008 12:11 PM MDT up 0 recs

I agree with the assessment

regarding bonuses, and Fowler’s a good example. However, a failure to sign a fifth round pick is a failure to sign a high rounder period. If Dominguez was going to be a really tough sign, than they probably should have waited, as they did with Davis and Fowler, to draft him if possible. For a team that needs to develop its own players, they need to be signing their fifth round picks.

I like the aggressiveness of the pick, but it’s starting to sound quite difficult, and if they weren’t expecting the reaction they’ve gotten from Dominguez, then somebody didn’t do their homework.

If they can’t get Dominguez, they could sure soften the blow with Burns, and maybe one of the very late HS catchers (can you even try to give big bonuses that late?)

by David OhNo on Jun 22, 2008 5:17 PM MDT up 0 recs

Also from Renck Today

from this article on Billy Beane making moves and trading Free Agents to be:

Beane said. “The Rockies have a good team. Plus, young players have a chance to get better. Older players have a chance to get hurt.”

That’s the Half full look at it. But not all prospects become effective major leaguers. There is a crap shoot to it, though that is less the higher up in a system a kid is.

I want to know who ruined Morales. How does a kid go from throwing in the mid 90’s lefty, go to barely making it to 90 mph, and has even less control than he did before (which wasn’t much!).

Which leads me to our system. I’m disappointed in the Rockies developing players in our system. Our System just isn’t developing position players or pitchers fast enough to replace those walking for Free Agency. On the near horizon we will need 2 corner OF’s and a 3rd baseman. Stewart MIGHT work at 3rd one day, but he can’t strike out like he has. Besides Ian our only other stud on the map is Fowler. Every other one is a reach at this point. AND that’s why we need to trade Holliday or Atkins…our cupboard is not exactly full at the upper levels

Jeff Baker is what Willis was talking about

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

by Redhawk on Jun 22, 2008 11:47 AM MDT 0 recs