Wednesday Morning Rockpile:

by Russ on Aug 20, 2008 7:40 AM MDT in Rockpile

Happy birthday, Todd Helton! You turned 35 today, and all you got was still being on the DL. Kind of sucks, doesn't it? All right, I guess you'll get a bit more than just a continued stay on the DL for his birthday. You also received a comparison to Don Mattingly.

Also in that link:

Outfielder Ryan Spilborghs, out since July 9 with a strained left oblique muscle, will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday in Triple-A Colorado Springs. Spilborghs has been able to swing without pain. He's likely to be recalled in September when rosters expand. "Hopefully I go down there and go 5-for-5 in my first game and show I am ready," Spilborghs said with a smile. With Willy Taveras' future next season uncertain, Spilborghs should get plenty of playing time next month even if Olympian Dexter Fowler gets a likely audition.

Who hasn't missed Spilly?

Ian Stewart, who would have played college ball for USC had he not signed with the Rockies, went to a USC football practice on Monday. Seth Smith accompanied him. Now let's work on getting Seth Smith (and the other Rockies) a championship ring since the guy he backed up already has a one in another sport.

Two different focal points in the recaps from last night's game: the emerging Ian Stewart and the red-hot Brad Hawpe. Either way, it all amounts to a Rockies victory.

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Taveras...

What is Taveras’ contract status? Could he leave after this year or is the article referring to the possibility of a trade?

by DenverBears on Aug 20, 2008 7:55 AM MDT 0 recs

The trade,

He’s arbitration eligible, but not a FA.

by Rox Girl on Aug 20, 2008 8:17 AM MDT up 0 recs

Corpas placed on waivers?

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/08/manny-corpas-pl.html

Not sure that this is much of a story, since teams seem to try and put just about everyone on waivers in August.

Second half run?

by moomacher on Aug 20, 2008 9:33 AM MDT 0 recs

Yeah sort of a non-issue that some might try and make into an issue

Or use to try and create a wedge between the player and the team. August’s waiver rules make it a good time to get second opinions about players and test their trade value without getting called out for it. If somebody’s going to offer something insane for him, sure he’s not irreplaceable, but otherwise it seems it’s just a meaningless feeler move.

by Rox Girl on Aug 20, 2008 10:02 AM MDT up 0 recs

Yep

it would be interesting to see who else on the team was put on waivers.

Second half run?

by moomacher on Aug 20, 2008 10:04 AM MDT up 0 recs

Updated list of players who have cleared

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/08/players-who-cle.html

by roxhead on Aug 20, 2008 11:42 AM MDT up 0 recs

Torre on Rockies

“They’re obviously better than their record indicates,” Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. “They have that lineup that we have trouble getting through, in the middle. Those guys have beaten us up a little bit — and looking at Holliday’s numbers, he’s beaten a few people up. And Hawpe, too. I mean, we’re capable of shutting them down, but we just weren’t able to do it tonight.” (AP)

by DeepPurple on Aug 20, 2008 9:53 AM MDT 0 recs

So, if we're better than our record...

…why are we eleven games below .500? What does “better than our record” mean, really? Does it mean the players have underperformed? Does it mean the manager has sucked? Does it mean our GM missed more than he hit in rolling the dice on our pitching staff?

I hate the “better than their record” thing. The baseball season is 162 games long. It’s the best professional test of how good you are.

The question that needs to be asked this offseason (and probably won’t be asked) is who is responsible for us being in this position.

by DomCasual on Aug 20, 2008 10:06 AM MDT up 0 recs

Went to the game

last night. Perfect night for baseball, great Tuesday dodger crowd. They really, really, really love Manny. And still Nomar, for some strange reason. Thanks to Stewart for making me look good—I had just finished telling some people about his impressive power when he launched that no-doubter. Also, my buddy from Denver was in town, quite literally decked out from head to toe in Rox gear, taunting every dodgerfan around us for 3+ hours and we still achieved our goal of “not getting stabbed” so all in all it was a fully successful evening. Will be back tonight…

by Teekalong on Aug 20, 2008 10:45 AM MDT 0 recs

I'm starting to like how our team is shaping up for next year

Still worried that last year was a fluke for Tulo, but repeat performances by Corpas, Bucky, Cook, Hawpe, Holliday, Atkins and Ubaldo and breakouts by Stewart and Iannetta have me excited. Don’t understand why everyone was so cold to start the year, we’ve got to avoid that in 2009.

We still need that #1 ace, but to get + offensive production from all 8 spots is a rare accomplishment for an NL club.

by Roberbola on Aug 20, 2008 1:26 PM MDT 0 recs

I'm feeling a little better about Tulo...

There is almost no differentiation right now between his home and road numbers, and after last season and his minor league career it’s more likely that the home splits are out of whack on the low end rather than the road splits being on the high end. It implies to me that this season represents a bottom for his performance level and even if he just stagnates with a Coors bounce at home next year we’ll be in much better shape. I don’t know if there is much reason to suspect him to stagnate, however, I’m expecting a year right in line with his 2007.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t put him Derek Jeter territory, but he’ll still be an above average player at the position.

by Rox Girl on Aug 20, 2008 1:55 PM MDT up 0 recs

So, he won't

be in the overrated category?

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

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on Aug 20, 2008 2:10 PM MDT up 0 recs

Not anymore, anyway

But apparently Ian Stewart is, still. At least according to Kevin Goldstein who yelled “BABIP” today to somebody who brought Stewart up. Unfortunately that doesn’t quite cover all of KG’s behind for being so adamantly anti-Stewart before Ian started making him eat all those years of ill words. Yes, the BABIP (.412) is high, but I’ve got a feeling it’s not as high as Goldstein wishes it was, particularly when you consider that it’s probably low in the month of August (.276) when he’s still hitting at a 1.005 OPS. Goldstein’s still going to have to issue a mea culpa on Stew, he’s looking more like a legit player and potential star by the day.

Goldstein also though softened his stance on Chacin (“I don’t know what to make of a guy who has four good pitches he can throw for strikes”) and EY2 (“some scouts are putting a number on him”). Of course, some of you might have guessed these are decent prospects already if you regularly read less credible sources. ;)

by Rox Girl on Aug 20, 2008 2:56 PM MDT up 0 recs

Still can't account for walk rate

and ISO. I think Stew will likely take on the offensive profile of Bard Hawpe, in which he won’t put up huge BA numbers, but overcompensate with walks and homers. Eventually there is no more reasons to downgrade Stewart as a solid major leaguer, why Goldstein continues to trek this way is a black eye to his credibility in many circles. It’s too bad, because he’s one of the best at covering the minors with a well rounded approach.

by David OhNo on Aug 20, 2008 6:30 PM MDT up 0 recs

It's true, I shouldn't dis Goldstein too badly,

He along with Sickels have had a huge impact on the way everybody writes about prospects now, where statistics are now considered a somewhat credible tool for evaluation along with scouting reports and in many ways we wouldn’t have the resources of stats on minor leaguers that we have now if it wasn’t for people like them taking an outsider approach to evaluation.

by Rox Girl on Aug 20, 2008 6:42 PM MDT up 0 recs

Funny you mention that Goldstein chat

Since I submitted two questions trying to get that arrogant douchebag to issue a ‘my bad’ on Stewart (I phrased it a little nicer than that, obviously, but still nothing but a flip one word answer). Guy’s slugging damn near .600 – that ain’t all BABIP, especially since some of those B’s ain’t staying IP. Apparently nobody ever told Goldstein it’s OK to miss the mark once or twice.

Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.

by Franchise26 on Aug 20, 2008 6:46 PM MDT up 0 recs

That's probably my biggest beef with BP

They think because they have the numbers, that they are the absolute final last word on all things baseball, and even if something is clearly going counter to their position they’ll scream “I can’t hear you!” and plug their ears until there’s no longer a point worthy of discussion. Stewart doing well when we said he wouldn’t? Well just wait a few years, something will eventually prove me right even if we have to wait until he’s 40…

For a pseudoscientific outfit there’s an astonishing lack of intellectual curiosity sometimes that just drives me up a wall.

by Rox Girl on Aug 20, 2008 7:24 PM MDT up 0 recs