of incorrect information. I would take it as a pretty good guideline rather than bible. You should check out Renck’s blog on the matter.
The thing with the arbiters is that they place heavy reliance on stats like Wins, Saves, RBI’s etc. Relief Pitching is typically measured by Saves and ERA by the arbitration process, of which Betancourt has very few Saves.
I know you are very very high on Darren Oliver as a comp, but he is the exception for players like Betancourt, not the norm.
I honestly don’t think it will end up actually going to arbitration though, you probably know the number of times the Rox have actually gone in recent years.

Because the true situation is almost unknowable for the regular fan, so your criticism is likely to be based on your own assumptions that may or may not have any connection to the private reality.

Doesn’t mean you can’t moan, though :)

Is what i think it would take to avoid Arb. whether you do that don’t know. My guess is Arbitration will garner him 1 yr @4.3-4.5 mil

The arbitrators must choose either the Rockies’ offer or Betancourt’s demand. That’s what happened a few years ago with Ryan Howard. Yes, then number they gave him broke the record for an arbitration contract, but they had to give it to him because, in their estimation, the Phillies’ offer was too low.

to add a little to what controlled_slide says, both sides will often be willing to settle before the hearing at an $x + z level to mitigate the risk of losing and hearings will generally only take place when a team deems a player’s bid so outlandishly high that compromise becomes ruled out. The Rockies under O’Dowd have been very good at gauging player values, they lost early in his regime to Dennys Reyes in 2002, but otherwise have either settled before a hearing or won.

83% raise, ~150% of his 2008 salary. I understand the Oliver reference, but I really think that’s the exception. I don’t see Betancourt getting that kind of bump based on that case alone