Saturday Rockpile: Todd Helton and Ian Stewart to play tomorrow; update on Brad Hawpe's injury; Aaron Cook to start on Opening Day; Omar Quintanilla fights for a roster spot.
by Bryan Kilpatrick on Mar 7, 2009 9:51 AM MST
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According to MLB.com's Thomas Harding, Todd Helton will see some Spring Training action tomorrow vs. the Padres. We can expect to see him for three to four innings. Another tidbit of good news from the article is that Ian Stewart is supposed to get into Sunday's game as well. I'm sure I don't have to tell anybody that both of these revelations bode very well for the Rockies and their depth. Now, we're just awaiting word on Jeff Baker and Brad Hawpe...
Well, the Brad Hawpe portion has been taken care of, as Troy Renck of the Denver Post says that Hawpe will have the stitches removed from his injured pinkie today and is expected to take batting practice on Monday. Someone out there should get Jeff Baker on the horn and see how he's doing.
In what is a surprise to almost nobody I'm sure, Harding also informs us that Clint Hurdle has tabbed Aaron Cook as the Opening Day starter on April 6th at Arizona. Ubaldo Jimenez will go in game two. With those two guys going, it seems like as good a chance as any to finally get us a series victory over the D-Backs; anyone feel like placing a wager? (Or not...)
Finally, Harding (who has been busy lately, apparently) also checks in with a piece about the Q-Dog (or is it the O-Dog? Quesadilla? Anyone?) and his fight to earn a spot on the big league roster. Quintanilla is hitting an even .500 this spring and has always been an above-average defender. Personally, I would like to see what Omar is capable of with some consistent at-bats. He's shown that he has a little bit of pop in that tiny bat, and is very versatile in the infield. That said, we should already know that we're in big trouble if the two second basemen that end up sharing at bats are Quintanilla and Clint Barmes. Some people may feel differently, but the Rockies need to find somebody to fill the position that can hit on the road (like you haven't heard that enough in the past 15 years).
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No surprise on Cook
Though it’s ironic that such an announcement would be so much of a given, since we’ve had a different opening day starter every year since 2002, back in the days of Todd Zeile, Jose Ortiz and Mike Hampton.
Quintanilla may seem like a light-hitting middle-infielder, but what I saw in Tucson last March begged to differ. I just don’t know whether he can translate that into real games. He has had chances, and putting him on the roster means sacrificing Pods (who else has speed), Stewart or Murton (who is also raking)
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 7, 2009 10:15 AM MST reply actions
Also and interesting piece buried in Renck's piece about Andy Sisco
“Monfort said the payroll was tapped out, going as far to say he ”http://blogs.denverpost.com/rockies/2009/03/07/another-lefty-off-board-sisco-signs-with-oakland/" target="new">
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 7, 2009 10:27 AM MST reply actions
You didn't quite finish that,
But he said that he didn’t think the team would add any payroll through trades midseason, which is depressing. If the Rockies are contending, I want to know that the ownership will do what it takes to help the team reach the playoffs.
PF = FAIL
It is depressing to negate the opportunity before we even know how beneficial a trade would be to playoff chances. Grr…Dick. I know where you live. Be nice….
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 7, 2009 10:46 AM MST up reply actions
If the Rockies are contending
Maybe a surge in attendance would change his mind. Wishful thinking probably, but that’s what spring is for, yes?
I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better. -Georg C. Lichtenberg:
Happy 24th birthday to Brandon Hynick!
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
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Happy 30th Birthday to Clint Barmes too,
I mean, while you’re at it, you may as well get all our birthday boys.
Ah, but
did you personally wish Brandon Hynick a happy birthday on Facebook? Alas, I bet he’s forgotten about the interview I had with him two years ago.
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
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Yes
The “interview”
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 7, 2009 8:59 PM MST up reply actions
http://www.purplerow.com/2007/5/10/13315/5979
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Sorry for the sarcasm
for some reason I read that as two weeks ago, and I know you had done no such interview then. That’s pretty cool. Why don’t you work the phones now?
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 7, 2009 10:13 PM MST up reply actions
A bit of this, a bit of that.
Lost connection to the Modesto FO, too.
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
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Get on it!
If we can’t get Bud, we should at least get Modesto….:)
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 8, 2009 1:06 AM MST up reply actions
Quintanilla is not to be trusted...
with a roster spot. Omar Quesadilla is not what this team needs—power off the bench is what this team needs.
Eschew Obfuscation!
Agreed
We’ve talked about this more than a few times on here but it keeps coming up. There’s just no way both Q and Barmes are on this team together. We already know what kind of player Q is and that is a notch below that of Clint… it’s not going to change at this point in his career, so let’s not get fooled by a good spring start. I understand that Stewart needs at bats but he has to make this team in place of Q for many reasons… power being one of them.
No other team is going to claim Q so he can be stashed in the Springs in case of injury. If he does get snatched up by another team, then there is Jon Herrera or about a trillion other players out there in the same mold.
I don't think this debate is going away any time soon...
Because I don’t think Quintanilla is going away any time soon. The reason is because if you look at how the front office sees the team, Quintanilla seems fairly secure in his position. The biggest competition the Rockies brought in for his roster spot this season was Luis Gonzalez, the only other guy who could get it is Herrera, but he has an option left. The Rockies are not going to go with one more outfielder because they see Barmes as the starting second baseman and not as a backup shortstop, so they are pretty clearly leaving a defensive slot open for a guy who could play short beyond Tulo and Barmes. I just don’t see it working out the way you guys want.
I don't mean to be boring and agreeable
but this is exactly how I see it. I can’t imagine the Rockies breaking camp with no one on the bench capable of playing the most critical position behind the pitcher – especially if Q continues at his pace. Even if Herrera didn’t have any more options, I don’t think he’s posing much of a threat to Q
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 7, 2009 7:15 PM MST up reply actions
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