Wednesday Rockpile: Thirteen Games Back, Rockies Headed into the Danger Zone

by Jeff Aberle on May 27, 2009 10:54 AM MDT in Rockpile

A series that began with a modicum of optimism for the Rockies, given their surprising series win in Detroit, has turned into yet another disappointing moment in the 2009 season as the Rockies lost yesterday 7-1 to the Dodgers.

The loss dropped the Rockies nine games below .500 and an almost insurmountable 13 games behind the division leading Dodgers. In addition, they are a measly 7-12 at Coors Field, long an area of strength for the organization.

With every loss, the Rockies are moving closer to making serious changes top to bottom in their organization--including but not limited to the manager, GM, and the prospect of several trades. If the Monforts need any ideas for fixing the club, here are Rox Girl's, Mine, and RandyDean's. Whispers in St. Louis indicate that the club is worried about Troy Glaus and that Garrett Atkins is a possible trade target.

Patrick Saunders looks at some recent struggles of notable Gen-R players, while Troy Renck mentions that the Rockies' new setup men are now Randy Flores and Manny Corpas.

Apparently it only takes two or three good outings to qualify for this job now--and with the Rockies' bullpen ERA at an NL-worst 5.40, I'm not sure what else the Rockies should be doing besides a fire sale and/or sacrificing to Jobu.

On the injury front, Thomas Harding notes that Ryan Speier will be given more rehab time due to problems that have developed in his delivery. Also mentioned was that Franklin Morales threw a much better bullpen session and appears to be on track for a rehab assignment soon.

Meanwhile, per Jack Etkin, reliever Taylor Buchholz will throw to hitters for the first time since February 26th in his bid to return to the Rockies. Buchholz appears to be several weeks away still, with his successful return increasingly in doubt.

On the big-league club, Brad Hawpe was held out of last night's game with a groin strain, though it appears he will be healthy within a few days. With Hawpe being perhaps the Rockies' biggest trade chip, they need him to play and to play well.

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I'm sure Buchholz will be all

“Hey guys I’m back, ar- OH MY GOD”

Matt Murton status: Freed
Garrett Atkins status: Not Traded
Clint Hurdle status: Still Employed by the Rockies

by Andrew Martin on May 27, 2009 11:07 AM MDT reply actions

Hahahaha

I can clearly picture it in my mind.

"What's money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do." -Bob Dylan

by Bryan Kilpatrick on May 27, 2009 11:09 AM MDT up reply actions

Is it bad that I go to the Denver post 15 times a day

And expect to see the headline for Hurdle’s firing? However I would be disappointing if firing Hurdle is the only move we make. At this point in time we need to clean house.

by dds_dave on May 27, 2009 11:15 AM MDT reply actions

I do the same thing.

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 27, 2009 12:26 PM MDT up reply actions

Random reason 1,302,300 (approx) why ASG fan voting is a joke:

J.J. Hardy, he of .the 232/5/23/.713 line, is leading NL shortstops. Over Hanley Ramirez (.320/8/22/.951). Over Tejada (.348/5/26.891). Hell, over Tulo (.234/5/15/.718).

I think the lesson here must be, don’t underestimate the power of the teenybopper vote.

I love Greg Reynolds and I may be slightly ashamed to admit it.

by Silverblood on May 27, 2009 11:28 AM MDT reply actions

That means we should

get out there and vote too, Helton and Hawpe are worthy, at least from this team they are.

"We made too many wrong mistakes." ~Yogi Berra
"The ballplayer who loses his head, who can't keep his cool, is worse than no ballplayer at all." ~Lou Gehrig
JFK

by jrockies on May 27, 2009 12:26 PM MDT up reply actions

We'll get one just because we have to have one. Outside of that, no others. I'm thinking Helton will be the pick because of 2000 mark.

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 27, 2009 12:30 PM MDT up reply actions

Could do a lot worse than that

The Toddfather certainly deserves it.

I love Greg Reynolds and I may be slightly ashamed to admit it.

by Silverblood on May 27, 2009 12:31 PM MDT up reply actions

News story: Rockies fall behind the Nationals

well, not in the standings (not yet anyway) but the Nationals appearently are trying a tried and true method of improvement.
From the Sporting News.

Sadly no Rockies were named.

by Redhawk on May 27, 2009 11:31 AM MDT reply actions

Good lord...

Man, the Nationals are the worst organization in professional sports (as if that wasn’t well known already).

"What's money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do." -Bob Dylan

by Bryan Kilpatrick on May 27, 2009 11:46 AM MDT up reply actions

What does next years draft class look like

Are we actually playing for something and not know it?

by cocainelips99 on May 27, 2009 11:31 AM MDT reply actions

Not the best draft right now.

The two best at this point are probably North Carolina RHP Matt Harvey and LSU RHP Anthony Ranaudo (6’7", 230 lbs.). 2011 is better with a pitcher like Gerritt Cole.

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

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on May 27, 2009 11:35 AM MDT up reply actions

go figure, right?

We can’t even lose right :V

Matt Murton status: Freed
Garrett Atkins status: Not Traded
Clint Hurdle status: Still Employed by the Rockies

by Andrew Martin on May 27, 2009 11:52 AM MDT up reply actions

Man, if they are playing for the draft already, it is going to be a long summer.

And I am going to get a lot of reading done.

Listen, this signature line is a big part of who I am.

by frightened inmate #2 on May 27, 2009 11:54 AM MDT up reply actions

well we have a BBBQ and game to take care of amirite

Matt Murton status: Freed
Garrett Atkins status: Not Traded
Clint Hurdle status: Still Employed by the Rockies

by Andrew Martin on May 27, 2009 11:55 AM MDT up reply actions

Brian8065's Ideas on what has to be done

Totally commit to Sabremetrics. If the new manager wants to bunt, make him prove it mathmatically that it is the right play.

If I was running the Rockies, I would do most of the things they are doing now. They have scouts pounding the dirt roads in Latin America looking for prospects. They are concentrating on a minor league system. They are patient with their talent, (possibly to a fault, but overall this is a good thing.)

If you were to grade the Rockies on their farm system I would give them high marks. I believe they are really smart there.

On the Major League level they do not seem that smart. (Is it because they really are smart, but unlucky? So much attention is paid to this part of the organization that every mistake is amplified.) I like to get the true facts for what they should do, and the sample size is always too small.

I play poker. It takes 50,000 hands to determine some mistakes that I make. The Rockeis have only played only 45 games. Still it is clear that they are making a few serious mistakes in my mind on the Major League level.

They need to be committed to putting the best team out there much more than they do. They need to commit to Seth Smith, or Ryan Spilborghs. Whoever it is, but put them out there and keep them there. They needed to commit to Ian Stewart months ago.

Hurdle was great for the team when they had no chance. He took it on the chin all season sticking with the young players, and got some good players out of it. Now the role is different. He needs to win. Resting productive players too much over the course of the season can only cost wins.

I was really optimistic at the beginnning of this season. I see what has happened and I am still in denial. I look at Iannetta, Tulo and Fowler up the middle and think the team has great young talent. Yet over and over again we have nights like last night.

I can be patient if I think they are doing the right thing. I don’t anymore.

by brian8065 on May 27, 2009 12:45 PM MDT reply actions