Friday Rockpile: Jeff Francis watches video, goes for surgery; Clint Hurdle and job success
by Russ Oates on Feb 20, 2009 8:32 AM MST
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PrintJeff Francis on the side session he had before opting for surgery:
"I was looking at the tape, and it was like, 'What am I doing? What am I trying to work through?' " Francis said Thursday. "My arm angle was wrong. I had no arm speed, no power. I was shocked at what I saw."
So, now the Rockies can move on and look for that fifth starter. He won't be Glendon Rusch, as both Rusch and Dan O'Dowd agreed that his role is as a swingman. But as the article puts it, and as RockiesMagicNumber writes in his latest column, Jason Marquis becomes all the more important. Let's see what average can do; one thing average won't help in is what the first comment to Dave Krieger's article on Francis' injury predicts.
Back to the second link: Helton says he feels better, but is being cautious with what he does during spring training. The precautions he's taking in the field sound as if he'll pinch hit early on in spring training.
Mark Kiszla is paying close attention to the Clint Hurdle Watch. Outside of the part on Blake Street not wanting to win, Dan O'Dowd has a few noteworthy remarks in the piece. So when Kiszla asked Dan O"Dowd how he would measure Hurdle's job performance, what was the response?
"I don't think you need to look at wins," O'Dowd said. [...] "For me, it's none of those things," O'Dowd said. "It's the day-in, day-out process of doing all the little things correctly that his job entails from a leadership standpoint." O'Dowd later says, and is right in saying, that just changing a manager doesn't automatically solve anything; yet, if all you have is a manager who does the little things without any greater success accompanying it, what's the point of having him around? Ian Stewart followed the Tuesday chat on the Denver Post's website and later answered the question on his father-in-law for Troy Renck.
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highlights from that article
“This is the best depth we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Bob Apodaca, the Rockies’ pitching coach.
If any of those pitchers flounder or get hurt; the Rockies have a nice second wave of talent which has a chance to translate in a big way — Franklin Morales, who is in better shape this spring and is showing an improved delivery; Greg Reynolds, the second overall pick in 2006, a pitcher who had a tough rookie season; and Jason Hirsh, who has battled injuries. …Cook was the team’s best starter last season, and for much of 2008, he was one of the best starters in the National League, before fading in the last two months. On July 30, Cook was 14-6 with a 3.53 ERA, and went 2-3 in his final nine starts.
Good to see Olney’s been paying attention. Dac is saying what we’ve been writing.
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by Andrew Martin on Feb 20, 2009 9:06 AM MST up reply actions
Wow, the first link on ESPN's MLB page is Aaron Cook doin' stuff
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by Andrew Martin on Feb 20, 2009 9:21 AM MST up reply actions
yep
good article….we shouldn’t have to panic….i’m glad we’re not doing so and going to waste money on a FA
Jiri Hudler...our underrated MVP
by TuLoRocks2008 on Feb 20, 2009 9:24 AM MST up reply actions
cough wells cough towers cough
Jiri Hudler...our underrated MVP
by TuLoRocks2008 on Feb 20, 2009 9:24 AM MST up reply actions
towers was a MLC
Didn’t actually cost us anything, he never made the squad – at least that’s what I thought
Wells…yeah, I’d have liked that 2M
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by Andrew Martin on Feb 20, 2009 11:04 AM MST up reply actions
i thought we actually paid Towers money
from what i remember…hmm well that’s good that we never did.
Jiri Hudler...our underrated MVP
by TuLoRocks2008 on Feb 20, 2009 1:14 PM MST up reply actions
I think he signed
a one year contract with a mutual option for 2009. This would indicate to me that he was actually paid. (sad)
"A great catch is like watching girls go by; the last one you see is always the prettiest." ~Bob Gibson
JFK
Did we ever link to Krieger's column yesterday?
Krieger wrote a really good piece about Jason Hirsh’s rotation aspirations. I’m always wary of articles that claim a player is ready for a rebound for the stock reasons – best shape of life, new pitch, hotter wife, sick kid got healthy, delivery altered, etc. – but I’m more inclined to be optimistic when a pitcher says “I pitched like a candy-ass last year and now it’s time for me to pitch like the man I showed I was when I went all John Wayne and threw five innings on a broken freakin’ leg.” Maybe it’s just the ex-pitcher in me but I think there’s some validity to that. Hirsh can’t nibble, he’s got to be aggressive in the zone with his two best pitches, and if he gets back to that I think a bounce-back for him is a good possibility.
Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.
MHCSports - Denver sports analysis from Denver sports fans
I was concerned over Francis' decision to wait on surgery...
However, Krieger makes a good point about the process of making that kind of decision.
A former physics major, Francis is a very bright guy. Letting him make his decision in his own time was the right thing to do. And by preparing for just this outcome with his offseason moves, O’Dowd gave the Rocks a good chance to overcome it.
Plus in hindsight I think it forced O’Dowd to make decisions he should have made last year.
The Rocks return three healthy starters from last season – Cook, Jimenez and Jorge De La Rosa. O’Dowd traded for two more – Jason Marquis from the Cubs and Greg Smith from the A’s. “They’re really deep,” Francis said. "I mean, there’s what, six guys going for the fifth starting spot?
Keepin' warm by the hot stove season.
Stew/Mik/Renck
Ian Stewart, is nothing, if not helpful. So the Rockies’ slugger was reading the online Denver Post chat the other day — see somebody besides my family is interested — when he saw the question: What is it like to have Joe Mikulik as a father-in-law? Mik is the Class-A manager for the Rockies, whose known for being hard-nosed and, of course, his 2006 meltdown over poor umpiring. Stewart cleared up the matter.
“He’s very passionate about sports. He loves his Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Longhorns, but he’s a just great guy to hang around with…”
Look at us Rowbots making strides and getting questions answered.
Who’s awesome
vvvv This guy vvvv – Also PF and the other rowbots in on the chat
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The part of that quote I liked was..
Joe Mikulik (the Class-A manager for the Rockies) spent part of this winter helping Stewart with this footwork as he makes his transition to the outfield.
Which shows me that The Caber has been preparing for a season in the outfield. The more options he shows defensively, whether its 2b, LF, 3b the more offensive prowess he will be able to unleash.
Keepin' warm by the hot stove season.
Pardon moi, Dan O'Dowd?
You don’t need to look at wins?
What do you think you’re in MLB to do, make poker buddies?
/facepalm
Blast and botheration.
come on put some effort into it
I expect better from you silver
don’t make me post more raul ibanez miscues
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by Andrew Martin on Feb 20, 2009 9:09 AM MST up reply actions
Actually attempting to parse this...
My first conclusion is that, like the Monfort brothers, nothing good comes out of having Dan O’Dowd in front of an open mic. I just don’t think those guys have ever said the ‘right’ thing from a PR standpoint.
I am pretty sure O’Dowd cares about what Hurdle’s W-L mark is at the end of this season. I think his intent was to say that if Hurdle is successful in “doing all the little things correctly that his job entails from a leadership standpoint,” the W-L column will take care of itself. But it is extremely poorly said.
Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.
MHCSports - Denver sports analysis from Denver sports fans
Focusing just on Win totals is like..
A sales manager who focuses only on the final sale. This kind of action encourages only shortcuts and luck. The manager who emphasizes the process of getting the big sale properly will realize more consistent and long lasting sales. Hurdle can’t expect two rookie pitchers to step into the rotation after the All-Star break and an MVP candidate to step forward every season, not to mention the ROY SS.
Keepin' warm by the hot stove season.
It's one thing...
to judge a pitcher just on W-L, which is silly, but it’s quite alright to judge a manager mostly on W-L. As long as you set a realistic goal for him, a GM should be able to hold the manager accountable to that. I don’t see how it encourages shortcuts and luck – it sounds like you’re conflating the reasons for not judging pitchers based on record and judging managers.
A manager’s job is to get his players to play well, which in turn, should produce wins. If they don’t produce the number of wins expected (granted, a GM’s expectations may be subjective) then they have not gotten everything they could. If the players are prepared and the manager makes the correct decisions once or twice each game, the team should win. If the manager doesn’t meet the win total (and there are subjective methods – Pythagorean is one) for 6 of 7 years, his tenure needs to be reviewed carefully.
Exactly my thought when reading that.
I was like, oh great, I just got excited about the Rockies season to look at THAT?!
aw squeaks
If you’re gonna join IRC, you gotta say something or nobody will know you’re there, my window doesn’t blink otherwise!
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by Andrew Martin on Feb 20, 2009 4:28 PM MST up reply actions
So if O'Dowd isn't looking at wins or attendance (which will increase with wins)
exactly what is his criteria going to be for Hurdle?
If the Rocks don’t show marked improvement in the first half, Clint needs to be gone.
Re: comments on Krieger's article
I would like to make a wager with that particular nimrod. I will take “under” on 110 losses. My pockets have been a little light lately and I could use a sawbuck.
Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.
MHCSports - Denver sports analysis from Denver sports fans
DOOM
It sure seems to be the theme over there, now more than ever.
Francis is gone, DOOM!
Holliday was traded for a pack of Hurdle’s favorite chewing gum, DOOM!
If they are so pessimistic when the season has yet to begin, what’s the point?
The point is...
the same five or six intehwebz trolls who can’t let a Rockies article go without posting MONFORTS R TEH GREEDY SUXORS have a quota to maintain.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Feb 20, 2009 11:47 AM MST up reply actions
it's QUITE infuriating
[img-head_asplode]
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by Andrew Martin on Feb 20, 2009 11:58 AM MST up reply actions
Baseball Prospectus
Anybody get their copy of BP 09 yet? Got mine yesterday so it was like a holiday at the Franchise26 Mansion. So as not to spoil it, I’ll just say there’s some cautious optimism for the Rox’s ability to hang around in the West race, and as per normal for the BP folks, absolutely zero kind words for Ian Stewart (apparently a small sample size inability to hit RHP means he will never be any good. If Stewart ever has a big year – 25+ bombs, .280 AVG – I fully expect BP’s player comment on him in the next year’s annual to read, “Yeah, whatever, he still sucks.”
Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.
MHCSports - Denver sports analysis from Denver sports fans
Stewie could always unleash
The Mick on them.
Blast and botheration.
by Silverblood on Feb 20, 2009 10:24 AM MST up reply actions
The Mik
would throw bases at them. The Mick would take them out barhopping every night.
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
and then wash the bases clean
albeit prolly not with water
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by Andrew Martin on Feb 20, 2009 11:09 AM MST up reply actions
Orlando Hudson
Signs with the Dodgers.
Sorry RMN – I know you were hoping.
Arizona also get’s LA’s #17 pick. I wonder if this is a precursor to a Manny deal?
"Better move your rental cars, I am about to take BP."
-Glendon Rusch
bahhhhhhhhh
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by Andrew Martin on Feb 20, 2009 1:30 PM MST up reply actions
You knew it was coming
"Winning doesn't really matter as long as you win." - Vinny Jones
by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 20, 2009 1:45 PM MST up reply actions
Darn.
They have him and we don’t. I $3.4M with another $4.6 in incentives. The question is whether they overpaid for someone with declining ability, and injury promises.
"A great catch is like watching girls go by; the last one you see is always the prettiest." ~Bob Gibson
JFK
Especially since
it’s just a one year deal. Don’t they now lose the #17 pick in the draft to the rival D-backs?
A first rounder to your rival for one year of a declining 2B.
Good work Dodgers!
He's better than Barmes
And if it were one, even 2 years, it wouldn’t block Nelson or Gomez.
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by Andrew Martin on Feb 20, 2009 2:08 PM MST up reply actions
At least it wasn't with the Giants.
He’d provide more of a boost to them than he would the Dodgers IMO.
Eschew Obfuscation!
What
no one points out that Tulo is Religious?
Troy Tulowitzki is wearing a silver cross around his neck and an orange-and-white wristband that reads “Glorify God.”
I am surprised with you all.
"A great catch is like watching girls go by; the last one you see is always the prettiest." ~Bob Gibson
JFK
As long as he remembers
that God appreciates stellar defense and above average offensive numbers from His Chosen Shortstop…
Does it matter?
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Point/Counterpoint
Point: I’d rather have us win because we have good starting pitching and a potent lineup than have us win because God is on our side.
Counterpoint: If there is a God I can accept, he must be a Rockies fan.
Actually, I think
jrockies was trying to be funny and it went over my head on the first read.
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
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