Friday Rockpile: Final rotation spots are a wild ride

by Russ Oates on Mar 13, 2009 8:35 AM MDT in Rockpile

Troy Renck calls the Rockies' current state of the rotation "three men and two maybes." The former being Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez, and Jason Marquis. The two maybes being the fifth spot and the meltdown that is Jorge De La Rosa. Apodaca, Renck goes on, believes De La Rosa can overcome his demons, but he'll need to conquer them soon (because there's time, but it's running out). And Clint Hurdle has put Franklin Morales out in front for that fifth spot, but hasn't settled on anyone yet (because there's plenty of time). Stay tuned for the sequel (at some indeterminate time in the future) to "three men and two maybes": "three men, Jhoulys Chacin, and we're still trying to figure this last one out." Too long of a title to be a blockbuster?

In a side session yesterday, Jorge De La Rosa was hit by a Ryan Spilborghs line drive. Doesn't seem like it affected him all that much, and Spilly and Murton liked what they saw on his pitches. Good in practice is one thing, good in spring training games is another. Just as bad in spring training is one thing, bad in the regular season is another. Renck places Greg Reynolds as a serious contender for the fifth spot but still behind Morales.

Josh Fogg has been displaced in the fifth starter competition, now competing for just a spot in the bullpen. The writing is starting to appear on the wall for Fogg: "You're not long for this team."

Coming up later today, the Rockies take on the San Francisco Giants. Scheduled to pitch for the Rockies are Greg Reynolds, Josh Fogg, Glendon Rusch and Randy Flores.

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We should just go backwards on Jhoulys

Have him start the season with the big club. I don’t know why, and I know its so wrong for development reasons, but the kid has the stuff. I want to watch him pitch, without having to drive to CoSprigs. Although they are gonna have a solid team, so I might have to go anyways

Was that what you were referencing with your Chacin line, that he should start with the Rox?

by roxintober on Mar 13, 2009 9:11 AM MDT reply actions

Good idea

I agree with keeping him with the big club. I think too many times we keep prospects in the minors instead of letting them play. I mean shouldn’t the best players play? So who cares if the best player is only 20 and has never been above AA.

by dds_dave on Mar 13, 2009 9:21 AM MDT up reply actions

Actually

He’s never even been above SINGLE A

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 13, 2009 10:54 AM MDT up reply actions

Not really.

Three men and two maybes=take on Three Men and a Baby. The sequel to that movie was Three Men and a Little Lady, so one way to rework that title for the Rockies would have been Three Men and a Master. Master being a formal way to address a boy before he turns 13 or 14 and Chacin being young (for pitching in a major league rotation). . . .

"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln

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by Russ Oates on Mar 13, 2009 9:24 AM MDT up reply actions

And I didn't exactly answer your question.

The Chacin line was the at some point in the future (vague) Chacin will pitch with three men, and the revolving door on the fifth spot will still be happening.

"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on Mar 13, 2009 9:28 AM MDT up reply actions

Fogg

would be smart to just stick around and try in AAA, I’m sure the organization could be desperate enough to call him up if things got thick

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by Andrew Martin on Mar 13, 2009 9:17 AM MDT reply actions

The Rockies #4 Starter: Pedro Martinez

It will never happen cause it will cost the Rockies cash…at least 10 million for one year, maybe closer to $15 million.

BUT it makes sense for serveral reasons.
1) He’s a ledgend and a future Hall of Famer.

2) He has shown that he will help and teach younger Latino’s (especially those from the Dominican Republic) like…I dunno Chain the Machine, Uballo, Morales, JDLR, et. al.

3)He would be a box office draw

4) The Rockies need a #4 pitcher badly. Morales has potential to be a very good starter. JDLR has….issues, Reynolds still needs an out pitch (nice to see he’s working on a cutter!) Greg Smith needs to not be a soft throwing lefty, Hirsch fastball is off and he’s looking very pedestrian. Fogg is done, Rusch isn’t much hope, Chacin is half a year or more away

5) The Dodgers are interested, and I don’t want them to buy the division title.

Rockies Mgr. Clint Hurdle on what needs improvement in 09: "Our Record"

by Redhawk on Mar 13, 2009 9:51 AM MDT reply actions

6) His arm is toast and he'd make all of the above feel better by pitching worse than they do...

by Rox Girl on Mar 13, 2009 10:06 AM MDT up reply actions

I'm in this camp

Pedro got rocked last year and his command slipped. I think he’s probably done, and he’s not worth $5 mil plus a player option year (which is reportedly what he wants) to any team but a team that could afford to swallow that mistake should he report to camp with a fork protruding from his back.

He’s every bit the gamble that JDLR, Reynolds, Smith, etc. are – the only difference is that Pedro was awesome.

Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.
MHCSports - Denver sports analysis from Denver sports fans

by Franchise26 on Mar 13, 2009 10:15 AM MDT up reply actions

actually

it all he want’s is $5 it might be worth a flier, if the option year is mutual. $5 is pocket change now days in baseball.

(wish I had that kinda pocket change)

Rockies Mgr. Clint Hurdle on what needs improvement in 09: "Our Record"

by Redhawk on Mar 13, 2009 10:34 AM MDT up reply actions

I'd sign him for five dollars...

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 13, 2009 10:55 AM MDT up reply actions

Get a Footlong.

by frightened inmate #2 on Mar 13, 2009 10:56 AM MDT up reply actions

You're right

There might be more returns on that…

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 13, 2009 10:58 AM MDT up reply actions

Or that deal at Petco this year

Popcorn, hot dog, cookie, and a soda for $5

by Muzia on Mar 13, 2009 10:58 AM MDT up reply actions

So then you just have to ask your self what to get with your $5

A bunch of junk food? Or a junk arm that used to throw a bunch of junk

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 13, 2009 11:02 AM MDT up reply actions

Let me just say

this deal may convince me to see the Rockies-Padres series at Petco in July this year, if I can find cheap plane tickets.

I will pass on Pedro 2009. Now if we are talking Pedro 1999…

by Muzia on Mar 13, 2009 11:08 AM MDT up reply actions

He pitched 3 good innings in against the Dutch

that’s enough to prove he’s got something in the tank right?….RIGHT?

Rockies Mgr. Clint Hurdle on what needs improvement in 09: "Our Record"

by Redhawk on Mar 13, 2009 10:32 AM MDT up reply actions

No

Hard to swing in those wooden shoes.

by frightened inmate #2 on Mar 13, 2009 10:52 AM MDT up reply actions

There is no way it costs anyone $10m

If and when he signs, it will likely be at $6m for one year, max. But that’s not the point. He’s pretty much done. He’ll give you 20 starts before something blows, and he’s become much more hittable. Don’t be deluded by him facing the Nederlandse.

Right now, U-Ball’s been a fine teacher already, and mature beyond his years.

I really hope the Dodgers sign him — he’ll help them to a division title as much as Jason Schmidt has. He is, at best, a better than average #5 starter, who will still be overpriced.

Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave

by Mondogarage on Mar 13, 2009 10:47 AM MDT up reply actions

If we had known about Francis, we should have gone after RJ. Oh well.

by mkorpal on Mar 13, 2009 11:52 AM MDT up reply actions

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/03/offseason-in--9.html#comments

Tim Dierkes pegs us at 77-83 wins…complains about the Holliday trade

by moomacher on Mar 13, 2009 10:32 AM MDT reply actions

I love the Dodger fan commenting on that article

saying the Rockies rotation is only better than the Padres. Who does LA have in their rotation this year?

Other than that, it’s not a bad review of the team. I remain cautiously optimistic, but at least someone actually writes that our offense will be just fine even without Holliday.

by Muzia on Mar 13, 2009 11:05 AM MDT up reply actions

You should actually read what he says.

“If the Rockies pitch and play defense like they did last year, I have them around 77 wins for ’09.”

How is that not true

by mkorpal on Mar 13, 2009 11:54 AM MDT up reply actions

I didn't say it wasn't true

and I agree mostly with what he says….

by moomacher on Mar 13, 2009 11:56 AM MDT up reply actions

Ok. I thought you were viewing his article as a negative. I also agree with most of it. The Holliday deal was ok, better than what we could get today but it could have been improved.

by mkorpal on Mar 13, 2009 11:58 AM MDT up reply actions