Tuesday Rockpile: Clint Hurdle's job is safe says Monfort
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 12, 2009 9:41 AM MDT
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PrintSorry for the late 'Pile this morning 'Bots. Finals beckon.
Troy Renck got the scoop straight from the horse's mouth. Owner Dick Monfort says Clint Hurdle's job is safe, even with a terrible finish to the homestand.
"To say he would be (fired after this homestand) would be inaccurate. If you make the change, what is going to be better? And we are not going to make change for change's sake," Monfort said Monday in a phone interview. "If I felt it was going to make the difference in winning more games, we would do something. But I just don't think that's the case right now."-Renck
And yet another vote of confidence. "They will get the job done. That's why patience in this whole situation is the key." This has gotten beaten to death, but seriously, you have to start wondering what Hurdle has to do to get himself fired...
Argh...to other news. Foo Man thought that Redhawk might be Troy Renck. Redhawk then followed with stating that the Rox need Tulo to be great. So maybe it's no surprise that Renck's column this morning addresses that very issue. Renck's closing comments:
The Rockies need a player to go off, get crazy-hot, make the kind of plays that increase walk-up sales.
No player profiles better than Tulowitzki.
All kidding aside, Redhawk and Renck are completely correct. Tulowitzki's raw talent and leadership were pivotal to Rocktober. He absolutely has the most potential of any position player to rise up and fill that star role, and he does have a 1.233 OPS since being moved to the 2-hole last week. And by the way, his left leg is feeling "much better."
Dexter Fowler is getting more time in the cage. He'll need to make adjustments, because he has struggled - specifically with a loopy swing - since the beginning of May.
One former Rockie got DFA'd from the Red Sox bullpen, though it certainly wasn't Ramon Ramirez. Javy Lopez, whose headlining moment this year came while playing RF while OF Johnathan Van Every pitched, is heading to AAA.
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I posted a fanshot about this just before your Rockpile came out.
Feel free to delete if needed.
I’m not sure if this is the dreaded vote of confidence (hope, hope) or if we’ll just have to put up with it until Hurdle’s contract is complete. I guess I just don’t see the Monforts firing Hurdle and paying the remainder of his contract for nothing. I think that’s how strapped for cash they are.
Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field?
Author: Jim Bouton
Buyout
If the Diamondbacks, who are as broke as a Bernie Madoff client, can fire their manager and buy him out, the Rockies can handle it. It’s not like Hurdle’s making Nick Saban money.
Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.
The Shawn Chacon Experience - Life as a Rockies fan, one day at a time: Because we're all still recovering from those nine blown saves.
by Franchise26 on May 12, 2009 10:04 AM MDT up reply actions
I sure hope so.
Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field?
Author: Jim Bouton
by pedalpusher on May 12, 2009 10:06 AM MDT up reply actions
don't say that
Don't say nothing about A.J. Pierzynski without good cause , even if you do have one i will still kick your butt. I'm young woman and like every other man you're a pure idiot. next question
by pierzynskirules on May 12, 2009 5:36 PM MDT up reply actions
Does this mean
I’m going to have be less critical of Renck now that we are sharing a hive-mind?
Oh and I think Hurdle is manager for life…or until his contract runs out at the end of the year, which ever comes first. The Rockies aren’t going to pay Hurdle to NOT be the manager, and pay either Baylor or Tracy more money to be the manager too (I’m assuming they have automatic raise clauses in their contracts if they get promoted)
Or until the Front Office sees the ticket sales for June…and they need to fire Hurdle to revive a little hope in the fans
I thought of putting that in the poll, but I was too late
The most probably scenario, I think, is letting the season play out and just not renewing Hurdle…at least in terms of scenarios where we get a new manager.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 12, 2009 10:09 AM MDT up reply actions
GM's like to hire their own manager
I’m thinking that O’dowd and Hurdle are not tied together. The grade around the ‘Row is that O’Dowd would be getting a passing grade though not an honors student. It will be interesting to me if Dealin’ Dan gets renewed. and if SO, does that mean Hurdle stays too?
If I were a betting person, I’d bet that the Front Office gets cleaned out after the season.
Manager
I see the important quote being the one from Monfort.
“To say he would be (fired after this homestand) would be inaccurate. If you make the change, what is going to be better? And we are not going to make change for change’s sake,” Monfort said Monday
I cannot imagine how Baylor or Tracy will be any better than Hurdle. They won’t be. They will do the same thing Hurdle is doing. Maybe one of them would bench Atkins, but that would be as far as it would go.
Guaranteed that in the press conferance announcing the new manager, they would say two things, both lies, “We are going to go back to fundamentals” and “I am sorry to see my good friend Hurdle lose his job. It is a suprise to me.”
This is true
And why it really doesn’t make any sense to fire Hurdle. Regardless what happens with O’Dowd, the entire coaching staff needs to be turned over after this season, and with luck, will be. But there really isn’t any point in dumping Hurdle for Tracy, and it’s highly unlikely Baylor gets the job over Tracy.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on May 12, 2009 10:32 AM MDT up reply actions
I do find it ironic
That we fired all the inconsequential coaches last season and acted like we were making a huge impact
we = The Rockies
Matt Murton status: Freed
Garrett Atkins status: Not Traded
Clint Hurdle status: Still Employed by the Rockies
by Andrew Martin on May 12, 2009 10:34 AM MDT up reply actions
Is it just me
or have there been a lot of position players pitching this year?
Not that I’m complaining too much. It’s one of those gimmicky baseball things that I like.
I love Greg Reynolds and I may be slightly ashamed to admit it.
whenever I PH Baker in MLB The Show
I always leave him on the mound. Usually because I forget to warm pitchers and they’re nowhere near ready come the top of the inning, but sometimes just because he’s awesome.
Seriously, 0s everywhere.
Matt Murton status: Freed
Garrett Atkins status: Not Traded
Clint Hurdle status: Still Employed by the Rockies
by Andrew Martin on May 12, 2009 10:33 AM MDT up reply actions
Josh Wilson
pitched a scoreless frame for the Dbacks last night?
Then again, we’ve done that a lot.
Jim Zorn, 55. Sean Miller, 40. AJ Hinch, 34. Notice a pattern here?
by DbacksSkins on May 12, 2009 10:37 AM MDT up reply actions
Exactly.
(AAAA infielder who made the team out of ST)
Jim Zorn, 55. Sean Miller, 40. AJ Hinch, 34. Notice a pattern here?
by DbacksSkins on May 12, 2009 11:03 AM MDT up reply actions
Is Whitesell the real deal?
What’s his role gonna be?
"Better move your rental cars, I am about to take BP."
-Glendon Rusch
Whitesell
is a slugging left-handed 1B. That’s his role. I think he’ll be better than Chad Tracy, and certainly better than Tony Clark, who’s…. err….. on the DL. (Riiiight…) I wouldn’t be surprised if AJ gave him quite a few starts at 1B this year.
For a guy who had all of 9 plate appearances last year, he’s got 5 BBs so far to only 2 Ks. He’s officially only 1-17, but he has a shocking batting average on balls in play of .067!! You couldn’t find a BABIP that low if you checked out a coal mine.
He probably should have had another hit the other day (and an RBI) but MLB rules precluded it. He singled to RF, but Felipe Lopez took his sweet time running home and was somehow out at the plate, meaning the scoring in the book said a 9-2 groundout. ::shrug::
He’s the real deal. He’s not gonna be Prince Fielder, but let’s just say there’s a reason this kid won the AAA Home Run Derby and was PCL ROTY last season.
Jim Zorn, 55. Sean Miller, 40. AJ Hinch, 34. Notice a pattern here?
by DbacksSkins on May 12, 2009 11:47 AM MDT up reply actions
I bet the Nats want him back
It’s not just poor drafting and no money that makes some franchises poorly run
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 12, 2009 12:17 PM MDT up reply actions
Seriously.
Dumb, dumb move to put him through waivers and then let him go like that.
Jim Zorn, 55. Sean Miller, 40. AJ Hinch, 34. Notice a pattern here?
by DbacksSkins on May 12, 2009 12:41 PM MDT up reply actions
Absolutely
Some Rockies fans were peeved that we let Morillo go on waivers. Then he blew up for the Twins and got put on waivers again. The Nats could used Whitesell
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 12, 2009 12:44 PM MDT up reply actions
Now granted,
he really exploded once he got to the Dbacks’ organization… but still. SOMEONE shoulda seen that coming.
I also think it’s a bit of a thumb in the eye of Mike Rizzo that we took Whitesell off the Nats’ hands. ;-)
Jim Zorn, 55. Sean Miller, 40. AJ Hinch, 34. Notice a pattern here?
Are you saying that
the Nats need 1B/Corner OF types? I respectfully disagree.
"Better move your rental cars, I am about to take BP."
-Glendon Rusch
Even
young guys who had all their minor league options available at the time??
Jim Zorn, 55. Sean Miller, 40. AJ Hinch, 34. Notice a pattern here?
Yes well, er,
Nats MLB or Nats organization….
"Better move your rental cars, I am about to take BP."
-Glendon Rusch
wow that's a tough FC to score
Matt Murton status: Freed
Garrett Atkins status: Not Traded
Clint Hurdle status: Still Employed by the Rockies
by Andrew Martin on May 12, 2009 12:24 PM MDT up reply actions
Even tougher
for Josh, because he didn’t get credited with a hit.
IIRC, Flip Lopez thought it was gonna be caught, so he didn’t take off until Kearns came up with it.
Jim Zorn, 55. Sean Miller, 40. AJ Hinch, 34. Notice a pattern here?
by DbacksSkins on May 12, 2009 12:38 PM MDT up reply actions
really seems like scorer's discretion
Matt Murton status: Freed
Garrett Atkins status: Not Traded
Clint Hurdle status: Still Employed by the Rockies
by Andrew Martin on May 12, 2009 2:05 PM MDT up reply actions
You'd think so, wouldn't you?
From here, quote provided by the official scorer:
While Rule 10.05 (a) deals with a number of instances when a scorer shall credit a batter a base hit, 10.05 (b) is the opposite. “The official scorer shall not credit a base hit when a: (1) runner is forced out by a batted ball, …” So many of baseball’s scoring rules still leave too much gray area. Fortunately, this one is clearly defined at the top.
In my opinion tonight’s play is not that much different than a one-hopper to the third baseman with the bases loaded. He comes home for the force. In this case Whitesell’s ball flew a lot further before taking its first hop. Being a tight game and following the old adage that you always go after the lead runner, the OF threw to the plate for the forceout.
We see more of these type of plays when, with a runner on first, the batter bloops a ball to rightfield. The runner goes halfway and is gunned down when the RF makes a quick pick-and-throw to the shortstop covering second base. The runner is forced and the batter is denied a hit. Seems unfair, but the rule is very clear in this case.
Jim Zorn, 55. Sean Miller, 40. AJ Hinch, 34. Notice a pattern here?
The AAA team in Nashville
had it happen like three times last season, and the position player was only slightly worse than Derrick Turnbow.
It's always better when they strike out a slugger on a gimmicky pitch
It will never get better than an injured Brent Mayne knuckling his way to a win.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 12, 2009 12:26 PM MDT up reply actions
Position Players Pitching
Wade Boggs was my favorite.
The last position player to get a win was Rockie Brett Mayne.
I forget who mentioned it in an earlier thread (Redhawk, I think) but he is entirely correct.....
…..The Monforts aren’t committed to winning. If they were, they would (a) insist O’Dowd fire Hurdle and hire someone who can actually coach and put together a staff who can also coach or (b) fire O’Dowd and hire someone who would make meaningful changes in the entire organization. But neither of these changes is going to occur without the committment of dollars that the M & M boys have already said don’t exist. As this team continues to swirl down the toliet of the NL West, the Monforts look the other way.
Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field?
Author: Jim Bouton
that's my problem
with this whole “fire hurdle” brouhaha. To me, the time to show a commitment to winning is in the offseason, and through putting together the best team possible. For years, this ownership/FO has failed to make a legitimate attempt to do that, IMO. So, firing a guy after a poor start, to me, comes off far more as scapegoating than it does showing that “we’re not going to settle anymore.”
All of Redhawk’s recent posts about the team’s economics are not surprising, but are certainly the most disturbing things I’ve read around here lately. Bad things coming.
Votes of confidence don't phase me.
How many times has a coach or manager gotten a vote of confidence and then been fired shortly after? Happens all the time. So they say he won’t be fired after this homestand. That doesn’t preclude him being fired a week later, or in July.
I would have voted for the "never be fired" option
until I saw Shanny get the ax from the Broncos. I thought he was safe forever.
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