Friday Rockpile: As the clock winds down

“After ’07, nobody wanted anybody but Yorvit to catch”

I DIDN’T

This one wasn’t good. It actually had results.

Cookie got tagged for 6, Rockies lose 1-6.

I’m so torn on Iannetta playing in the WBC. I’m going to Toronto to see it, so I want to see an Iannetta/McCann tandem (Oh man I just started drooling) but at the same time, I want him working out with the team and the pitching staff so Hurdle doesn’t get his wish of starting his favorites and not the better players.

Ok maybe not the last 2

But seriously, when Dex is ready to hit the majors, it’s the kind of thing where we pretty much have to give it to him so he can acclimate. You can’t really part-time your way into being the starter in CF (unless you’re Ryan Spilborghs).

So when Dex comes up, who becomes the 4th OF? I mean, ideally, Atkins is gone at this point. At the very least, we have Dex and Hawpe and then Spills and Smith. When Helton is down, Hawpe plays 1B and we have Smith-Dex-Spills. But I’m doubting Hurdle will make that move (as Hawpe going from RF to 1B regularly won’t be good either) so it’ll end up Bake is the backup 1B, or JoeKo. That leaves only 1 spot for 2 batters who could be awesome, in Smith and Spilborghs. I guess it’ll depend on who’s hotter.

It’s good to have competition for positions, but I don’t like Hurdle’s style of playing everyone. If you have a lot of good bench talent, good, do it, but you don’t give Scotty Pods 23 starts just because he’s there. I mean, in Pods’ defense, he did OPS .875 in April and had an OBP better than .400, so I can see the rationale in giving him those 23 starts, but in general, play your best players

The way I see it:

Best C: Iannetta.
C who will get more playing time than they should: Torrealba – and I’ll set this one aside, as the whole “Coors Fatigue” thing is kind of real

Best 1B: Helton
1B who gets too much: Baker

Best 2B: Orlando Hudson
2B who will play: Barmes, Baker – ok that’s a bit tongue in cheek but I’ll stand by it anyway

Best SS: Tulo
Only SS: Tulo

Best 3B: Stewart
Inning Stealer: Garrett Atkins

Best OF: Spilborghs, Smith, (I shudder to say this) Hawpe
OF who shouldn’t: Podsednik, Baker, possibly Murton (although we talked about the LHP Platoon), Stewart (and just because he’s out of position)

Here’s another thought – make Iannetta the new Victor Martinez. Have Iannetta catch 100ish games, and then be the starter when Helton is benched. That way we can rationalize having him bat 5th and not the whole “losing games in the heart of the lineupblablahblah” thing

I had some other musings, which may be redundant or already stated on here, but check out Rockies Magic Number <=pimping my own blog

Seriously?

Weird…I have just apparently been stuck in a bubble over here in NYC. “Spring” and “summer”, long days in the sun with baseball…they both seem so far away they could be on Pluto. I have a LOT of work to do before then…

But that’s not Rockies related. I don’t really have anything insightful to say on all this roster stuff, and as much I would like to wow you all with my creative brainpower, I think I used it up sometime this week on a paper…

If the Monfort’s were smart, they would replace Hurdle with a college of coaches idea, taking different writers/posters from this forum and rotate them as managers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_Coaches

I like Hurdle. In my opinion, the most important attribute for a manager is to get the most out of his players. I think Hurdle does this well above average.

Not that he doesn’t drive me crazy too. I did not like any line-up that had Taveras leading off. I think all managers bunt too often, and Hurdle bunts way too often.

I also know that the grass is always greener when it comes to managers. If Hurdle is fired, some other retread will come in and take his place and bunt too often.

The Rockies would lose continuity then. Hurdle did a good job to a very good job when the team was awful and full of kids. He also got the team to the World Series.

As much as Hurdle makes mathmatical errors as a manager, he still has the players playing their best, and willing to do anything for him. That is better than a lot of other managers. It would be great if his managing errors could be cut down.

When I heard that the Very Special Boy was playing in the WBC, the FIRST thing I said was, “Oh brother, Hurdle’s going to use this as an excuse to give Yorvit the job again.”

our very special boy. Apparently, Hurdle might have Torrealba start the season opener as a result of Iannetta’s venture in the World Baseball Classic. Torrealba might show some grit out there, leading Hurdle to. . . .

NO! Don’t you dare suggest that! Clint knows full well that it doesn’t make a lick of sense to start your inferior catcher because you have a spat with your superior one. Right? …right?

Hold me…

of spring training cliches from rotoauthority