Clint Barmes Makes His Case

by Rox Girl on Sep 25, 2008 6:01 PM MDT in Rockpile

Last night Clint Barmes performed like he was meant for the 2009 starting second base and lead-off role, pushing the Rockies to a 15-6 thumping of the San Francisco Giants. Barmes homered, doubled, hit two singles, walked once and stole two bases. Unfortunately, even with last night's performance, Barmes was only able to raise his road OBP to a paltry .285, which is just a notch below Houston's .286, the worst lead-off OBP in the National League this season. The league lead is Florida at .387, over the course of the 350 PA's representing a full season of full time Barmes on the road, you're talking about an extra 30 outs or so that Barmes would generate over the league average. So in spite of Clint's work yesterday, it's no wonder that the Rockies will be looking for an offseason upgrade at second. John Perrotto mentioned Mark Ellis and Dan Uggla yesterday, both players who have had somewhat the opposite experience of Barmes this season in that their home parks have served to suppress the production that they have shown on the road. Ellis should be a reasonably priced free agent, while Uggla figures to be awarded just south of $5 million in arbitration and would cost a couple of valuable young players in a trade to the Marlins to boot.

Todd Helton has made the decision to undergo back surgery, with the expectation that he'll be ready to resume baseball activities by Spring Training.

Congratulations to the Diamondbacks Mark Reynolds for breaking the single season strikeout record. Way to go, Mark, here's hoping for even greater achievement in this category next season. I just don't think he's reached the pinnacle of his whiffy awesomeness yet. In losing, the Snakes also gave the Dodgers reason to celebrate.

Jhoulys Chacin ranked as the SAL's fourth best prospect and the California League's fifth best prospect according to Baseball America. Darin Holcomb ranked #17 in the SAL. Subscribers can see where league managers and scouts took issue with Chacin, it mostly comes down to not consistently cracking 90 mh on his sinker.

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Anbody concerned

that even Colorado’s B prospects aren’t reaching the top prospect lists? Granted, we’ve placed guys at or near the top of each league we’re affiliated in, but from 11-20, Purps are rarely seen.

I think our organizational depth is still good, and do believe Graham was a major SAL snub, but what does it say about our system that we aren’t overpopulating these lists like we were just two years ago?

Because of low upside, signability drafts, it looks as if the Rockies may have created a top heavy system lacking in quality depth (regular futures) but abundant in role/reserve player talent.

That’s not the worst thing in the world, when you consider how few spots in the lineup aren’t controlled by young players, but this is the type of problem that could really show itself if the major league team struggles for a few years.

by David OhNo on Sep 25, 2008 8:19 PM MDT reply actions

I think we saw this coming with the middle to upper levels

Our Modesto talent just simly wasn’t strong enough to get a lot of attention outside of Chacin and the same will be true of Tulsa and the Springs outside of Fowler. The good news is that the team looks to be stronger at short season, so the talent’s coming back, but the FO should definitely try to help it along by an infusion from trades this winter.

by Rox Girl on Sep 25, 2008 9:49 PM MDT up reply actions