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Saturday Rockpile: Keith Law's pumped about a couple of Nuts; Hurdle "officially concerned" about Atkins; more

One of these guys better pick it up!

More photos » David Zalubowski - AP

One of these guys better pick it up!

ESPN's Keith Law recently went to check out a game between Modesto and San Jose, mostly to check out guys in the Giants' system. However, he came away impressed with a pair of Rockies' farmhands instead (Insider access only). Bruce Billings was throwing a top-notch sinker, coming in at around 90-93, and San Jose's hitters were having a very tough time squaring up on the ball (sounds like Aaron Cook when he's at his best). Law says Billings doesn't currently have a second pitch that would grade higher than a 45 on the scale, but he is considered a prospect, even if it's only as a reliever. He also came away psyched about Hector Gomez (as the rest of us have been for a couple of years); Gomez hit two line-drive home runs int he game. Law's thoughts on Hector:

Gomez missed all of 2008 with a pair of injuries, including Tommy John surgery, but his arm has clearly recovered and is at least a 60 at short. He has great bat speed, accelerating his wrists late and swinging hard every time; he's on his front foot early but keeps some of his weight back, and then swings with everything he's got. He's a plus runner and got down the line in four seconds flat on a bunt for a hit, but in his last at-bat showed little regard for whether or not each pitch was near the strike zone. He's an exciting talent and has the tools to be an impact player in the majors; he belongs in the Futures Game this year on the World Team.

Exciting news for the Rockies, for sure. Hopefully, Gomez is able to stay healthy and begin making a quick ascent through the system.

Garrett Atkins sat for the second straight time in last night's 8-3 loss to Florida, which means that Clint Hurdle is now officially concerned about his slow start, according to the Denver Post. Atkins has hit well at home, but has been a disaster on the road - where most of the Rockies' games have taken place. I might get beaten up for this, aybe Hurdle should throw him back in the lineup while the Rox are on their home stand - Atty's OPS is .904 at Coors Field, and the Rockies' offense has struggled the past couple of games.

Inside the Rockies posted some "Quick Hits" from the game last night. The one that grinds my gears the most is Clint Barmes' 3-for-27 slide, and the fact that he has struck out 4 times in his past 9 at bats (all of them hitless, by the way). I don't want to jump his case too much, I'd just like to say that I thought it was funny last night after he struck out swinging at a curveball that was 10 feet off the plate and Frazier said "you don't see that too often from Barmie." Are you watching the same Rockies that we're watching, Fraz'? On a positive note, Huston Street has pitched five consecutive scoreless innings and has been fairly dominant in his last six outings. That is wonderful news for the Rockies' bullpen, as Street looks like he's regaining his All-Star form.

Jorge De La Rosa will face his nemesis tonight, writes Cheng Sio of MLB.com. JDLR is 1-3 with an 11.57 ERA against the Fish, and has never made it out of the fifth inning. Jorge's been pretty solid so far this year, so let's hope he'll turn the tide against Florida with a good outing later on this evening.

Nobody (outside of myself, now) has written anything this morning/last night about the struggles of Matt Belisle (unless I haven't looked hard enough), but that guy is really bumming me out, and I'm thinking the Rockies probably need to consider cutting ties with him. He's had approximately one very good and two decent outings all year, and has allowed six out of eight inherited runners to score. I'm probably overreacting and it's probably too early, but this dude has really been a thorn in the side of the Rockies' bullpen (of course, he's not alone). /mindless rant

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Heh...Belisle has a better record than our starter tonight

He had picking up the pieces and looking strong of late, throwing five of six scoreless outings, with the only blip being an Adrian Gonzalez HR over 7.2 IP. He was practically perfect last Sunday, and his pitches looked better. I was hoping he’d turn the corner, but last night was quite discouraging

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on May 9, 2009 10:14 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

We could trade Atkins

But at this point, I doubt anyone would trade him for more than a PTBNL. Maybe a trip to the DL and a rehab assignment is what he needs.

And I’m starting to wonder what exactly the coaches are doing. They got in trouble last year by simply putting the team on autopilot. Are they doing that again?

by mkorpal on May 9, 2009 10:20 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

I came across something today

not really Rockie related, but it made me think of the Rockies and it’s manager, and the “malaise” that is currently surrounding the entire organization.
Article here

It’s about Felipe Lopez talking about the difference from his time with the Washington Nationals (a perennial loser/also ran like the Rockies) to his time with the St. Louis Cardinals (a perennial winner).

Lopez credits LaRussa for turning his career around. He went so far as to call LaRussa the best manager he ever played for. “He is really a professional. I never played for a manager who gets the most out of players just by talking to you,” Lopez said. "It was weird. It was like he was a major in psychology or something. He is the man.

“Being around guys like Albert Pujols, really the whole team, they are all about winning. There is none of this negative stuff of who is going to start or this negative stuff that I was experiencing in Washington.”

I’m not sure what I’m saying here, but I just think there is attitude of losing (or more accurately no clue on how to win) around the Rockies. I think this comes from the Monforts to O’dowd to Hurdle.

by Redhawk on May 9, 2009 11:12 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

I guess what just frustrates the dickens out of me is

there never seems to be any kind of improvement. It’s the same old thing year after year. And before anyone starts in about ‘07, that took a streak of Biblical proportions which I think is looking more and more like a fluke. So can the lack of improvement be laid at the feet of the Monforts, O’Dowd or Hurdle? Or all three? Since we’re probably not going to get new owners, I would at least like to see some shakeup in the FO and dugout to see if something can change. But I doubt that’s going to happen. So on we go.

I’m like a moth drawn to a flame. I no longer expect improvement yet I watch them every night.

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 9, 2009 1:20 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

2007

They were playing pretty well before the streak.

by holly96 on May 9, 2009 9:05 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't think it's an attitude of loosing

It’s just an absolute indifference. I feel like Hurdle’s philosophy is you win some, you lose some. It almost feels like he banks on the team getting hot at some point naturally.

Makes me wonder exactly what the point of having them around is.

by mkorpal on May 9, 2009 2:01 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cubbies need a 3rd sacker

I’d trade Atkins and a slew others to the Cubs for some RHP from Notre Dame.

by 61maris on May 9, 2009 12:32 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Aramis Ramirez...

"Better move your rental cars, I am about to take BP."
-Glendon Rusch

by Hizilla on May 9, 2009 2:28 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

He's injured for another month

But I still think it would be quite the panic move to send a solid prospect for Atkins. Just in case you are curious, teams with negatively values third baseman:

Orioles (Wigginton)
Rockies (Atkins)
White Sox (Fields)
Marlins (Bonifacio)
Padres (Kouz)
Mariners (Beltre)

There is no fit in San Diego or Seattle for sure, the White Sox will continue to groom Fields, and I don’t see him going to the Marlins. Wigginton is the only 3B valued worse than Atkins anyway

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on May 9, 2009 2:38 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Mariners

would be the only one on this list that might be interested.

But Atkins is not an upgrade over anyone right now, and has no trade value. If the Rockies cut him, they still have to pay his contract. So he might as well be a bench player for the Rockies (saves having to pay another player league min). And not offer Arb after this year.

by Redhawk on May 9, 2009 2:47 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Beltre has a year left after 09 on a 5yr $65mil deal

so unless he is moved somehow, Atkins would have to DH, which would push Griffey to full time OF duty and he’d have to beat out Endy Chavez or Mike Sweeney. I think there might be too much there to make a deal.

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on May 9, 2009 2:57 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I thought Beltre

had a buy out after this year….but I could be TOTALLY wrong on that one.

I’m not sure the Rockies could trade Atkins to an Atlantic League team. Where by the way Preston Wilson and Shawn Chacon are currently working (different teams)

by Redhawk on May 9, 2009 3:07 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

You might be right on that actually

but that would still have to wait until the end of the season, and Atkins would have to catch fire

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on May 9, 2009 3:21 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes

I am aware. 1 month of replacement value 3B + Aramis >>>>>>>>>>>>>Atkins.

"Better move your rental cars, I am about to take BP."
-Glendon Rusch

by Hizilla on May 9, 2009 3:14 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed...that's sadly obvious now

whereas a few years ago, you could legitimately say Atkins>Aramis

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on May 9, 2009 3:20 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Also agree. I made this point sometime a while ago, but I think that one of O’Dowd’s weaknesses is overvaluing his players/waiting too long to make a trade that needs to happen because of it. Based on my limited amount of information, I think Matt should have been traded at the deadline last year, and Atkins should have been traded this offseason (and I am making that statement not with what we know now – but what we knew then).

"Better move your rental cars, I am about to take BP."
-Glendon Rusch

by Hizilla on May 9, 2009 3:29 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

deadline deals...

I thought they’re generally thought to bring less than off-season deals. Is it the other way around?

by FooMan on May 9, 2009 4:34 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think

it really depends on who the player is, how long they are under contract, for how much, etc. I guess it’s hard to say that about Matty even in hindsight – nobody but O’Dowd knows what was on the table.

"Better move your rental cars, I am about to take BP."
-Glendon Rusch

by Hizilla on May 9, 2009 4:50 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I would trade Atkins for a hot dog right now

All he is doing is blocking Stewie from playing full time and being paid big bucks to do it. But it’s just about impossible to trade a player making 7 million when he is playing at or maybe even below the replacement player level. Almost every team in the majors can get production close to him out of the minors, and for a lot less.

We just need to hope he gets better. It’s too bad we didn’t package him with Barmes when they had trade value and use the cash saved to sign Hudson. I know I was pretty down on Hudson during the off season. But I’ll admit I was wrong about him. He would have been worth it.

by mkorpal on May 9, 2009 2:06 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Hudson

Why does everyone love Hudson so much? Did the Rockies really enter the season in a
“win-now” situation? Is $7 million considered cheap?

by FooMan on May 9, 2009 4:28 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree about Atkins

But Stewie’s hardly been much better lately. I suppose maybe he’d better with more regular starts, but at this point I’m not particularly happy with either one of them.

by holly96 on May 9, 2009 9:07 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Atkins bad 25-game stretch hardly unusual...

I posted this on another blog, but thought it might be interesting in this site’s discussions as well. It’s not as if his 25-game stretch this year is unprecedented.

In his first 25 games of 2009, here’s Atkins’s line (BA/OBP/SLG/OPS):

.224 / .287 / .367 / .654

Here’s a 25 game stretch from his career year, 2006 (4/18 – 5/17):

.228 / .333 / .348 / .681

I found a number of these types of 25-game stretches (some much worse; I found one in 2007 where he went .159/.222/.244)…it’s pretty easy to find one or more in each season.

I’d guess this is a true for a lot of players.

Now, maybe something has changed so his bat has slowed and it’s over. OTOH, maybe it’s just a slump.

by FooMan on May 9, 2009 4:55 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Dear god I hope its just a slump

"Better move your rental cars, I am about to take BP."
-Glendon Rusch

by Hizilla on May 9, 2009 5:01 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think it IS just a slump...

…and with that guy, all he needs is a long homestand to get his bat going in the right direction. Look at the first week of the season; he was a bum for those first three games in Arizona, then was solid at home in the three game series on opening weekend against the Phils. Hurdle just needs to throw him in the lineup (albeit, maybe not at clean up) and let him do his thing, which is hit, hit, and hit some more at Coors Field.

"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 theoldgrizzlybear on May 9, 2009 5:17 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

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