Wednesday Rockpile: Taylor Buchholz's walk-off balk continues Rockies' slide

by Russ Oates on Sep 10, 2008 7:50 AM MDT in Rockpile Comment 5 comments

The champagne popping you heard yesterday wasn't coming from the Colorado Rockies' locker room after having lost to the Atlanta Braves. It would be silly to celebrate that. No, those sounds came from scientists across the world, celebrating the successful firing of their particle collider. Yet, as the article states, there are those who fear that micro-black holes could form with the use of the collider. If, as some fear, one forms and grows . . . well, the Rockies may have been its first victim last night. At the very least, the Rockies are on the event horizon of the black hole and are effectively done for the season. Things really aren't going well when you lose on a walk-off balk. As Taylor Buchholz said in Jack Etkin's recap, "Stupidest thing I've ever done, pretty much."

The Rockies are holding organizational meetings this week in Atlanta, where they're surely discussing next season's closer situation. Brian Fuentes is going to be a hot commodity during the free agency period, especially after Billy Wagner learned he won't be pitching in 2009. But I wouldn't necessarily put Fuentes at the top of the list for closers that the Mets are looking at. Who would, with Francisco Rodriguez about to be a free agent? Fuentes certainly realizes that with his quote at the end of that section on the article.

So, who's going to close for the Rockies if Fuentes doesn't re-sign with the Rockies? Well, we can get more into that if and when Fuentes leaves the land of purple mountains, but the Denver Post goes with the obvious solution: Manny Corpas. The article speculates that Taylor Buchholz "could get a shot" after the season he had this year.

Anyone want to disagree with Patrick Saunders' five points on why the Rockies failed this season?

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I've been kicking this thought around

but you have to wonder if the team’s general malaise in September, esp after the O Dowd “call out” article from the last week, means that more dramatic changes are in the offing than originally anticipated. There seems to be some growing rifts in the clubhouse.

Second half run?

by moomacher on Sep 10, 2008 7:55 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

About the

only thing that I could think of being a more dramatic change than expected would be the firing of Hurdle. Any other change such as trading Atkins or Holliday, while certainly changing the makeup of the team, would not be wholly unexpected.

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

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on Sep 10, 2008 8:16 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Quite frankly

There should be some “dramatic” changes made. Not the wholesale, salary dump type, mind you. Until DOD’s “call out”, there’s been an appalling lack of accountability for this season’s dismal performance. In every other line of work that I’m aware of, repeated poor performance comes with consequences.

If the guys want to sulk about Dan’s remarks and snipe at each other in the clubhouse, then maybe they’d be better off in Kansas City. Or Seattle. Lots of hope there.

Put me out of my misery. Please!

by rockhead on Sep 10, 2008 1:17 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would like to see a deal

involving Holliday, Atkins, and Francis to the Blue Jays for Halladay and Rios. I don’t think we would pick up much in dollars though, so that won’t help a lot other than freeing up a spot for Stewart at 3B. We could also throw in Spilly, Smith, or Koshansky. I am guessing it would take more of our young pitchers, but its a fun thought anyways. Then we could go after Brian Roberts and be ready to make a run next year.

by smokinRox on Sep 10, 2008 8:31 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Point number 3

is certainly over-simplified. In a two-day span (May 24 & 25) Barmes, Holliday and Hawpe went on the DL, and the Rockies proceeded to lose 8 straight. This was at a time last year when things started to turn around, so that juncture could be pointed to as the original breaking point of the season – even though they were relatively short DL stints for Hawpe and Holliday. Spilborghs being out definitely hurt more than Helton going down, as Stewart a) has filled in well at third with Atkins at first and b) needed more time in the majors when the pressure was off. More harmful than the injury to Helton has been Baker’s futility (.210 w/RISP; also hitting .204 when filling in at first base).

Points 3 and 4 are basically the same. And there is another simplification in point 3 in that Barmes and Tulo shared the DL for awhile, leaving SS to Quintanilla (who is nice but should not be playing daily). Point 5 is spot on.

by deacs on Sep 10, 2008 11:16 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs