Tuesday Morning Rockpile:

by Russ on Jul 29, 2008 7:54 AM MDT in Rockpile

According to Troy Renck, last night's loss

will surely spawn a series of text messages and blogs about whether the team will shift from a buying to a selling mode.

Have at it. I mean, shouldn't we just feed the flame he just started? Buy or sell?--it's a simple question.

Anyway, that link also mentions that Cleveland has contacted the Rockies about sending Paul Byrd out west. His GB% this season is 36.3%. How does that play in Coors Field? Maybe he takes the Rockies a little farther away from that line of so-so to just plain bad fifth starters, but it wouldn't be far enough. Maybe that would be enough.

And look, Renck takes up his own sentiment about moving to a selling mode by suggesting another loss like last night's could have the Rockies reconsider holding onto Fuentes.

Again, have at it. Do the Rockies become buyers, sellers, or stay in neutral? Because we wouldn't want to disappoint Renck by not discussing this.

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Why?

It’s only one loss, and we didn’t even lose ground in the division. If we weren’t in sell mode yesterday, why would we suddently shift to sell mode today?

by kosmo99 on Jul 29, 2008 8:01 AM MDT 0 recs

I do believe

I detected a hint of sarcasm in Russ’ voice with the “Because we wouldn’t want to disappoint Renck by not discussing this.” statement. :) You’re absolutely right, one loss should not mean that we have to automatically throw every player against the wall all the sudden.

by oo_nrb on Jul 29, 2008 9:15 AM MDT up 0 recs

Sell, sell, sell!

I’m not advocating that we blow up the team, but even after our recent hot streak, our odds of making the playoffs are seven percent. Yes, I realize that our odds were even worse in early September of last year… but, let’s not kid ourselves and bank on that happening two seasons in a row. The reason why last year’s September run was so special is because that just never happens.

What is a good idea is to trade away the players who will be free agents at the end of the season, and the players who are doing little more than blocking a prospect. That’s not full-blown sell mode, but having Brian Fuentes hang around for another two months isn’t really going to help anything. And even if he does re-sign… I get the feeling that any free agent contract he signs would wind up being like the contract Torrealba signed after last season, in that we’re paying Torrealba starting catcher money for him to be a backup catcher. I don’t want to be stuck paying Fuentes closer money for him to be a middle reliever.

by Tom (RFTN) on Jul 29, 2008 9:15 AM MDT 0 recs

I agree with this...

The Rockies really should trade Fuentes at the deadline and listen to offers for any of the spare parts that don’t figure into the Rockies future (meaning next year)—Specifically, Taveras, Torrealba, Podsednik…etc. Only consider moving Atkins or Holliday if someone blows you away and also listen to any offers (if such exist) for Helton. It isn’t so much blowing up the team as it is preparing the team to be at its best next year, without doing much damage to this year’s team.

by DenverBears on Jul 29, 2008 2:14 PM MDT up 0 recs

I think it will still depend on the next couple of days

More so than what the Rox do in Cincy, I wonder what impact Arizona landing Texiera would have on O’Dowd’s decision.

by RockyMtnRedbird on Jul 29, 2008 9:34 AM MDT 0 recs

Had me concerned for a second

until I saw the “would have” .

by oo_nrb on Jul 29, 2008 9:39 AM MDT up 0 recs

Yeah, should have made that clearer

It seems like all the talking heads, have Tex to the D-Backs as a done deal, since no one else seems to have a need for him. But if I’m the D-backs, I’m waiting until the last minute, and then getting him as cheap as possible, since it’s clear the Braves would seem want to unload him at any cost.

Of course, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him land somewhere not even mentioned.

by RockyMtnRedbird on Jul 29, 2008 10:15 AM MDT up 0 recs

No deal

I’ve been hearing that, contrary to reports, the Braves and Diamondbacks are very far apart on a deal for Tex. I heard it on either Fox radio or ESPN radio (I flip between the two on the way to work). That was around 6:30 AM central time, though, so things may have changed.

I assume the price for Tex would be at least equivalent to the compensatory picks the Braves would get if he left as a FA.

by kosmo99 on Jul 29, 2008 12:35 PM MDT up 0 recs

New rumor is the Angels going after Tex

but the price is going to be high…If you are giving up Adenhart why not just get Holliday who is under control for another year.

Second half run?

by moomacher on Jul 29, 2008 9:46 AM MDT up 0 recs

Pods

was placed on the DL today for a broken bone in his hand; Sully’s back with the big boys.

"Keep your head down, and inch toward daylight." - Blade of Tyshalle

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on Jul 29, 2008 9:56 AM MDT 0 recs

How in the world did he do that?

Seems very abrupt…hope Pods is okay!

by Squeaky on Jul 29, 2008 10:31 AM MDT up 0 recs

A fake injury?

NO!

timing looks fishy huh?

Happens all the time…..sometimes to give a player a break (like Hawpe’s was earlier this season), some times to move around players/roster.

It is against the rules, but it happens all the time.

Thought Clint Hurdle should be fired before it was cool.

by Redhawk on Jul 29, 2008 10:40 AM MDT up 0 recs

heh

I’m picturing Pods with a ball on the back of his hand and Bake standing there with a bat and pods says “Do it” and stuffs a chunk of broken maple bat between his teeth.

It's Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time It's Tulowitzki!...Tulo-witzki-witzki-witzki ..... rockiesmagicnumber.blogspot.com

by RockiesMagicNumber on Jul 29, 2008 11:49 AM MDT up 0 recs

Podsednik

Jamed his left pinky finger when stealing second base. Red and swollen. He says he’ll be alright in about three weeks and it would have gotten worse if he were to keep on playing.

by TexasHeater on Jul 29, 2008 3:33 PM MDT up 0 recs

Buy

If last night proved anything it’s that this team needs a legit 5th starter.

I’m all for taking a shot at this division.

by BroJB on Jul 29, 2008 11:06 AM MDT 0 recs

I'm Smokey Robinson at this point...

I’d “Shop Around.” No sense blowing up this team but if we can sell sombody for a big markup, like Fuentes, I’m into it. If we can land a good (that is, non-Byrd or Arroyo) 5th starter for a reasonable fee, I’d look hard at that, too.

by Since1993 on Jul 29, 2008 11:11 AM MDT 0 recs

I'd hate

to trade anything of value for Byrd or Fogg or anything similar, but if those guys can be had for nothing then why not? This back-end rotation nonsense has to stop if we want to make a push at this winnable division. Fogg is hardly my favorite, but the guy is better than most of the guys we’ve thrown out there this year (which seems crazy). I still think O’Dowd should trade Fuentes while they can for a major league ready SP, and certainly the guys like Pods, Yorvit, Barmes, etc should be traded for whatever, but I don’t consider that to be a fire sale.

I don’t consider us contenders…but at least we’re interesting.

by Teekalong on Jul 29, 2008 11:18 AM MDT 0 recs

Paul Byrd

Is a worse option than anyone. He gives up like 1HR/inning. Ok not really, but his HR/9 is north of 2 I’m pretty sure. Also no GBs. Not someone we’d give anyone for.

It's Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time It's Tulowitzki!...Tulo-witzki-witzki-witzki ..... rockiesmagicnumber.blogspot.com

by RockiesMagicNumber on Jul 29, 2008 11:51 AM MDT up 0 recs

Don't get me wrong

I don’t like Paul Byrd at all. But I also don’t like random callups of guys that haven’t pitched in the bigs in years. I don’t want to trade value for him, but trading low-value parts makes some sense.

In other news, I’m on the 23rd floor of a building in downtown LA that is still rocking from what seems to be (to me, anyway) a relatively major earthquake. Wow. I’m from Wyoming, this is an unusual experience, to say the least.

by Teekalong on Jul 29, 2008 12:48 PM MDT up 0 recs

5.8, apparently

Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave

by Mondogarage on Jul 29, 2008 2:00 PM MDT up 0 recs

Earthquakes

Sounds like my first experience with a biggish earthquake here in San Fran. I’ve lived here for almost 8 years now, and up until last October had only felt tiny ones (where I wasn’t even sure it was an earthquake). Then there was a 5.6 last October with an epicenter about 20 miles from me. It freaked me out right good. It was at about 8pm, I was at home watching tv. I distinctly remember at first thinking that someone in the apartment above me was running across the floor. Turns out it was an earthquake (they’re surprisingly loud). I headed promptly to a doorway to wait it out, and freaked out, since it was looong and I had no idea if it could get worse. I always told my parents that I wanted to experience a decent size one, but that was definitely enough for me.

by holly96 on Jul 29, 2008 3:24 PM MDT up 0 recs

Ouch.

I was there for the one in ‘89 that postponed the World Series… and another one in Palm Springs. Around here, though, the worst we ever get is tornadoes.

by Tom (RFTN) on Jul 29, 2008 3:56 PM MDT up 0 recs

Buyers/Sellers

According to Jason Stark over at ESPN, the Rockies are waiting until Wednesday night to decide whether they are buyers or sellers. The article does a good job of describing how it isn’t really an easy decision. What puts us closer to buyers (and keeping Fuentes) is that 30 of our last 41 games are against teams with losing records. Other than the Florida Marlins, the only real “tough” matchup will be against Arizone & LA the very teams we’re chasing. O’Dowd is prepared to either sell or buy in the 18 hours between the end of Wednesday night’s game and the trading deadline on Thursday.

Also, haven’t seen it reported here yet, but Baseball America announced the Rockies signed their 14th round pick Tyler Massey to a 500k contract buying him away from his college scholarships. I’m guessing this pretty much signals that there will be no deal for 5th rounder Chris Dominguez

by sg8335aa on Jul 29, 2008 11:57 AM MDT 0 recs

Massey

Yeah, he’s played the last three games for Casper.

For what it’s worth:

by RockyMtnRedbird on Jul 29, 2008 12:51 PM MDT up 0 recs

Link

Not sure why link didn’t come through:

http://casper.ghosts.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Joseph%20Massey&pos=&sid=t539&t=p_pbp&pid=543498

by RockyMtnRedbird on Jul 29, 2008 12:52 PM MDT up 0 recs

Ghosts?

When did we change from the Casper Rockies to the Casper Ghosts?

It's Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time It's Tulowitzki!...Tulo-witzki-witzki-witzki ..... rockiesmagicnumber.blogspot.com

by RockiesMagicNumber on Jul 29, 2008 1:41 PM MDT up 0 recs

Around Halloween.

"Keep your head down, and inch toward daylight." - Blade of Tyshalle

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on Jul 29, 2008 1:47 PM MDT up 0 recs

FYI

It was in Rocky Mountain News a week ago

by TracyRingolsby on Jul 29, 2008 5:00 PM MDT up 0 recs

And that story

was the linked to in the July 22 Rockpile. So, it was reported here.

"Keep your head down, and inch toward daylight." - Blade of Tyshalle

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on Jul 29, 2008 8:00 PM MDT up 0 recs

Draft signing thread

Where did the thread go that listed the status of this year’s picks?

TGFPR!!

by jlot10 on Jul 29, 2008 12:03 PM MDT 0 recs

Unsigned list

I believe these are the only unsigned :

Rd 5(167) – Christopher Dominguez (3B, U Louisville) – Unsigned
Rd 19(587) – Ben Orloff (2B, UC Irvine) – Unsigned
Rd 20(617) – Nate Lape (RF, Marshall U) – Unsigned
Rd 22(677) – Nicholas Schnaitmann (RHP, Cosumnes River Col) – Unsigned
Rd 23(707) – Samuel Elam (LHP, U Notre Dame) – Unsigned
Rd 25(767) – Andrew Burns (SS, Rocky Mountain HS (CO)) – Unsigned
Rd 32(977) – William Scott (RHP, Kell HS (GA)) – Unsigned
Rd 33(1007) – Aaron Gates (LHP, Orange Lutheran HS (CA)) – Unsigned
Rd 34(1037) – Ryan Radcliff (C, Fairview HS (OH)) – Unsigned
Rd 37(1127) – Delta Cleary (CF, Louisiana St U at Eunice) – Unsigned
Rd 38(1157) – Tyler Pill (RHP, Covina HS (CA)) – Unsigned
Rd 39(1187) – Kyle Ottoson (LHP, Eaton HS (CO)) – Unsigned
Rd 40(1217) – Kemer Quirk (OF, Rockhurst HS (MO)) – Unsigned
Rd 41(1247) – Richard Espy (SS, Red Mountain HS (AZ)) – Unsigned
Rd 42(1277) – Taylor Hightower (C, Cartersville HS (GA)) – Unsigned
Rd 44(1336) – Matthew Swagerty (RHP, Prestonwood Christian Academy (TX)) – Unsigned
Rd 46(1391) – James Cesario (2B, U Houston) – Unsigned
Rd 47(1418) – Mark Lincoln (RHP, American River Col) – Unsigned
Rd 48(1445) – Austin Nola (SS, Catholic HS (LA)) – Unsigned
Rd 49(1472) – Roy Uhl (CF, UC Riverside) – Unsigned
Rd 50(1499) – Josh Hungerman (LHP, Cleveland St U) – Unsigned

I have a complete list, including Rockies affiliate, if anyone is interested.

by RockyMtnRedbird on Jul 29, 2008 2:44 PM MDT up 0 recs

46th rounder

Looks like they recently signed Jimmy Cesario. He’s in the lineup for Casper tonight.

by malakian on Jul 29, 2008 8:08 PM MDT up 0 recs

According to

the College Baseball Blog, Cesario did so on Sunday.

"Keep your head down, and inch toward daylight." - Blade of Tyshalle

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on Jul 29, 2008 8:13 PM MDT up 0 recs

Fell down

since a lot of new FanPosts were created over the last month and a half. See here or in the FanPost section since I updated it and moved it back to the front page.

"Keep your head down, and inch toward daylight." - Blade of Tyshalle

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on Jul 29, 2008 2:55 PM MDT up 0 recs

Let's go for it

If we can’t get reasonably good prospects for Fuentes, keep him and take the picks. If we could get another 5th starter candidate, for a couple of prospects that are blocked, Barmes, Koshansky, etc., and keep Fuentes, taking the two picks next June, it would seem to be worth a shot at going for it.

TGFPR!!

by jlot10 on Jul 29, 2008 12:06 PM MDT 0 recs

Where is the well reasoned thought coming from everyone!

We don’t want to disprove Renck’s cliche the blogs are full of wild over reactions to every loss. h

Second half run?

by moomacher on Jul 29, 2008 12:28 PM MDT 0 recs

Cardinals bullpen change

Bullpen meltdowns prompt Cardinals to return job to Isringhausen

Less likely now to go for Fuentes?

by DeepPurple on Jul 29, 2008 12:39 PM MDT 0 recs

This probably doesn't change anything

They have long needed a decent lefty in the pen, regardless of whether he’s saving games.

I just don’t think that they are willing to pay the Rockies asking price for him though. They’re riding the fence right now, similar to the Rockies. They’re in rebuilding mode, but at the same time think they have a chance this year. They don’t want to mortgage the farm, when next year may be a better year to contend.

I see the Cards looking towards Will Ohman (Atl) or Ron Mahay (KC) to fill their LRP need.

by RockyMtnRedbird on Jul 29, 2008 12:45 PM MDT 0 recs

by BroJB on Jul 29, 2008 2:54 PM MDT 0 recs

Any idea

who the Rox would get from NY?

by 4thturn on Jul 29, 2008 8:42 PM MDT up 0 recs

Random news of the day

Tom tries to frost the tips of his own hair… SPECTACULAR FAIL!!! I look like a brown and gold nightmare. Plus I lose a lot of points for even attempting that move.

by Tom (RFTN) on Jul 29, 2008 3:02 PM MDT 0 recs