New Year (Decade) Roster Thoughts

1) I think we have to be very cautious with Francis but all the reports I’ve heard are very good. He doesn’t have to be the 07 Francis, he just has to be a solid middle to back of the rotation guy if he’s healthy. If he gets hurt again then I think things become wide open.

1) Presumably, all three. Dan O’Dowd likes signing minor league free agent roster scraps for injury purpose (like Kip Wells, Redman, Eaton), and starters like Chacin, Rogers, Deduno, Reynolds, and Smith will be the first line of defense should someone be injured. The Rockies are going into Spring Training giving Francis every opportunity to be in the rotation, and will most likely stick with him as the first month back could be rocky.

2) As Jabberwocky said, Belisle is the swingman, though the Rockies seem to be high on Deduno filling that role should an injury/struggles occur. They are open to bringing Contreras back but he’s looking into Japanese leagues right now and it’s going to cost a couple million we really shouldn’t be spending to bring him back.

3) Resigning Beimel is something we could look into, as he’ll probably come cheap, but I trust that Daley will be good in 2010 by looking at his K/9 rate and relatively stable BABIP. He could see a little regression due to his delivery. As for Corpas, he wasn’t bad in 2009. His FIP was close to what it was in 2007, and it seems injury was a big problem for him. I think he’s an excellent bounceback candidate, and the Rockies would be foolish to be scared off by his deal and trade him. You’re right in thinking of Deduno and Lindsay to being able to step in, because they have the stuff to, but you can’t forget about Casey Weathers, who was on the fast track to the MLB before Tommy John Surgery, and knows how to pitch in pressure as he’s a natural closer.

4) It looks like Torrealba won’t resign with us, so we might pursue Miguel Olivo to be our backup, but I believe that would be a foolish move, since he can’t catch or take a walk to save his life. If we’re going free agency, our best option is Rod Barajas, because he easily is the best defensive catcher out there and is coming off a career worst year. Seeing as Barajas probably wants a starting job, I think we should suck it up and start Phillips and deal with it, because spending money on a backup who could be useless could hurt our chances of signing another guy to a long term deal or signing a guy like Hudson. Iannetta was extremely off last year, but even then, his 2009 wasn’t even bad because he OPS’ed over .800 which is great for a starting catcher.

5 and 6) (answering both together): I’ve repeatedly said that signing a guy like Lopez or Hudson to be the starter at second and moving Barmes to the corner/middle utility man would make the most sense because like it or not, we need a stable bat at second, and while Hudson probably isn’t as good as Barmes’ glove anymore, signing him off the scrap heap for 5 million is an awesome option since Barmes is great against left handers, has the glove to play solid anywhere in the infield, and has power. It would open up our lineup a lot, in my opinion, because Barmes, while streaky, would play well in that role. While Barmes doesn’t know how to play first, Tracy has said repeatedly that Hawpe can sub at first, which would give us our dream outfield of Smith/Fowler/Gonzalez, our we find room for Giambi to come back.

1) With Francis, I think it’s going to be more of a problem getting back into rhythm early on, and I think he’ll get stronger as the year goes on. I don’t know how much the injury would linger, but I’ve heard about nothing that it well, so I’m expecting a rough first half, but a great second, as I think Francis still has the ability to go all year. Even if he doesn’t, it’s not a problem, because we have a plethora of starters in Triple A who can do well in the fifth starters role.

2) They all start the year in Triple A and wait until a bullpen job or a spot in the rotation opens up, and the best performing will most likely get the gig as far as I’m concerned, that is, unless someone impresses enough in Spring Training to get a job, but that’s unlikely.

3) I don’t know, to be honest. Our Triple A rotation is going to be pretty full without Redding and a pitcher like Deduno will probably be bumped to the pen for him. I think we’re best off signing one guy to be a veteran sixth starter/longman to a minor league deal like Redding and call it done. I trust the younglings enough to perform well if a starter gets injured.

3) My guess is June or something like that, when Buchholz will be pitching again. He’ll probably come up in the second half when someone is inevitably struggling.

4) I don’t know the specifics of Corpa’s health situation, but I believe he’s healthy enough since Tracy is putting him in the bullpen next year. I don’t think he’s a one hit wonder: he’s posted FIP’s below 4 every year in the majors, no, I just think he hasn’t been lucky with injuries and BABIP’s.

5) He seemed to be going strong at the end last year, he got past most adjustments made to him by hitters, and his K/9 was a lot higher in the second half rather than the first half, which tells a certain story.

6) Lindsay seems healthy, he didn’t end the year on the DL, but I don’t know the specifics on his status.

7) Deduno easily has the stuff to succeed in the MLB, the question is if he can control his pitches a the MLB, because that’s what killed him in the minors.

1. I’m not bullish on Francis’ longterm or short term health—the injury was just too severe to predict a full, healthy, effective year for him. Fortunately I like the Rockies’ depth especially if the FO recommits to Morales in the rotation. If not, Greg Smith will fill in fine until Chacin, Rogers, et al are ready.

2. Chacin and Rogers could start in AAA, though I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rockies put them at less hitter-friendly AA Tulsa. Reynolds (I assume you mean Greg) is likely in the same boat, provided he is healthy.

3a. Noah Lowry is an intriguing name that has been thrown around (and is preferable to Redding IMO).

3b. Buchholz is supposed to be back around the All-Star Break, though I wouldn’t count on a ton of production from him this year at all (maybe as a September guy, but that’s all I’m reasonably expecting from him).

4. Corpas’ stock is at a low right now and IMO it would be a mistake to deal him unless the Rockies can get solid value. Corpas has been great before and I have confidence that he can put it all back together again.

5. Unlike RMN, I’m not terribly high on Daley—it seems like he’s due for some regression. However, he seems like a bright guy and Apodaca has proven to be very adept at making these adjustments.

6. He appears to be—I wouldn’t expect him to contribute in 2010 though.

7. I’ve pegged Deduno as more of a bullpen guy from what I’ve seen of him—and I think that he could be an effective set-up man in the Show.