Tuesday Morning Rockpile:

by Russ Oates on Jul 1, 2008 8:08 AM MDT in Rockpile Comment 15 comments

Brian Fuentes entered an 8-8 game and left with helium in his ERA, inflating from 2.56 to 3.94. For now, manager Clint Hurdle said he's inclined to stick with Fuentes as the closer if a save opportunity arises tonight, but everything is written in pencil these days.

Clint Hurdle does not want to think outside of the box. Brian Fuentes is the closer because he's the closer, but only because he's the closer. And because he's the closer, that must mean he's the best reliever to use in close or tie games. Really, does that make any sense? Because, you know, Fuentes clearly isn't the best reliever on the team. Taylor Buchholz must have been locked in a cage and the key thrown away.

Comments

Flirtin with disaster

The rockies are flirting dangerously with getting de-prioritized in my sporting world. Especially with training camp a mere 3.5 weeks away. I’ll still cheer for them and read articles about them but a rockies game on mlb.tv will no longer be an activity to plan my day around

by ch3cooh1 on Jul 1, 2008 8:41 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Fuentes

While watching the game last night, I thought I saw something odd. During the broadcast last night, when Fuentes was warming up, I saw Fuentes wince after throwing his last warm up pitch, which wouldn’t have been that odd, but he held his arm in an odd position, like something was hurting. I thought, “if he’s hurt, he’s going to get killed”. Then he got killed….but was that due to being hurt…or just sucky?

So did I see something of significance? was it just a pitcher warming up and nothing more? I’m hoping Fuentes isn’t hurt….it will really hurt his trade value

I miss baseball.

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

by Redhawk on Jul 1, 2008 9:15 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

isn't that

what happened last season? Fuentes started blowing saves left and right and eventually the coaching staff figured out that he was hurt. Corpas moved into the closer role after that.

So since Fuentes is pitching terrible and perhaps hurt, can Buchholz get a chance to save games? Nope. Hurdlelogic.

Aut Vincam Aut Periam

by PioneerSkies on Jul 1, 2008 12:03 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fuentes....

I really don’t understand why he left Fuentes in there to give up 5 runs. As was stated in the post, this killed his ERA and I wonder how much that put a dent in his trade value-on the surface a pitcher with a sub 3.00 ERA is going to be much more attractive than one with near 4.00. Also, I wonder what role ERA plays in determining type A vs. type B status for relievers-I’m sure it factors in somehow.

The Rockies need to move Fuentes sooner rather than later. He’s just a few more bad outings away from completely destroying his trade value and if Hurdle isn’t willing to take him out after a couple of runs, it may not even take that long. If the Rockies hold on to him too long and he either blows up or the they don’t offer arbitration and end up with nothing in return, I’ll have to revise my generally positive view of O’Dowd.

by DenverBears on Jul 1, 2008 9:18 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Fuentes

He’ll have trade value no matter what (unless he blew out his arm last night.) Left-handed relievers are perpetually in short supply.

by Tom (RFTN) on Jul 1, 2008 3:09 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Time to start the fire sale

The Rockies have a ton of player that have not played well. Some with enough talent and past track record to have value to other teams, and it’s time to start moving them. (which of course will continue into the off season as well). This team needs to rebuild….(Yea….rebuilding after only 2 good months in 07! yea!) I’d add Podsednick, Vizciano, Frances and possibly Helton to the list that needs to be moved above.

Can we fire Hurdle and O’dowd yet?

I miss baseball.

by Redhawk on Jul 1, 2008 9:25 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

more than 2 months

Rockies were pretty solid from June til September, and a good postseason.

by TehChamp on Jul 1, 2008 10:02 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

They

would have a hard time giving Visciano or Helton away at this time. Visciano after all the wear and tear on his arm the last few years was one of the all time worst signings. Torrealba, the Mets have to be breathing a sigh of relief.

by DieHardRox on Jul 1, 2008 9:31 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I've got no problem

with giving them away.

The Viz I thought was going to be a nice signing…he was a fairly steady work horse for the Yankees over the fast few years….but I guess he was too much of work horse. Now will he be one of those relievers that will have a good year next year, cause he wasn’t used much this year cause of how terrible he has been?

I miss baseball. Can we fire Clint Hurdle and Dan O'Dowd now?

by Redhawk on Jul 1, 2008 9:35 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dear Clint,

Bucky for Closer.

Love,
God

A.K.A: I want Bucky as my closer. I do not want Brian Fuentes as my closer. I do not want to see Brian Fuentes give up five runs. I do not want to see Clint Hurdle as my manager. I do not want to see this team accept mediocrity anymore. I do not want to keep watching the same game repeated daily. I do not care if the team knows this. I only care if they do something about it.

And last, a lament: The past two summers, the Rockies have played a huge part in my life. 2006, we went to a ton of games to root for other teams and fell in love with the Rockies instead. They didn’t do horribly. We could see some serious potential. And last season, the Rockies made my summer into one of the best I have ever had, period. All that potential from the year before was playing out. I made it to fifteen games. They won when I was there. There was photo day, comeback days, etc, etc. And this year?

Sheesh, no wonder it doesn’t feel like summer yet, or at all. My summer is lacking something with the Rockies playing like this, and it’s probably why, no matter the arguments, I will always argue to fire Hurdle, O’Dowd, and Dac. Because I am so SICK of seeing the same damn thing over and over and hear excuses about it.

I’m having to occupy myself with other things, like circus camp, creating a show, and planning for college in the fall, but I’m seriously disappointed with the Rockies, not just for their play, but for their total lack of magic or any kind of really, happy memories for the summer.

by Squeaky on Jul 1, 2008 9:58 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Argh

This season, NOTHING has gone right for the Rockies. The 2nd year guys have been kinda disapointing(Corpas, Jimenez, Morales primarily), the pitching has been awful, the hitting has been dreadful, the fielding terrible. Its embarrassing to watch.
IMO, they should move Fuentes for some AA or AAA prospects.
They need to figure out what to do with Atkins/Stewart. Trade one, keep one. Do something. Although I don’t really like the future of Stewart, and Atkins is already an All Star caliber 3B.
The primary thing, try to get a future #1 SP. Nobody on the pitching staff is what I would call a #1.

by TehChamp on Jul 1, 2008 10:06 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

From the RMN today

LINK

I miss baseball. Can we fire Clint Hurdle and Dan O'Dowd now?

by Redhawk on Jul 1, 2008 10:35 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

That's hilarious.

by Tom (RFTN) on Jul 1, 2008 3:11 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just when I think the season can't get any worse...

There is a game like last night. This team is offically pathetic. Pathetic is the only word that comes to mind that woudn’t ge me banned from this site.

We need to trade Holliday for some serious pitching prospects.

We need to trade Fuentes ASAP. I really don’t care what we get in return, I just don’t want to see him pitch in a Rockies uniform anymore. You shouldn’t feel your blood pressure rise 50 points every time your closer comes in.

Trade Yorvit, so Iannetta can get more playing time.

Trade Willy to someone who will overpay for speed. Maybe even call up Dexter Fowler to get some experience against MLB pitching.

The only player mentioned abouve that I would not trade is Atkins. Not until Ian Stewart can get a handle on all the K’s.

Thank god for baseball season.

by jcd823 on Jul 1, 2008 11:04 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm lucky

I probably would have been banned from the site during last night’s game, but for some reason my home internet was messed up and I couldn’t enter any comments. What a disaster.

I just hope we can get something of value for all of our tradeable “assets.” Not holding my breath.

by Teekalong on Jul 1, 2008 11:58 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs