That’s a great article. It’s kinda nice to have this process explained in detail like that. Still, I don’t think that the Rockies should trade Hawpe. The only way I see this being a viable solution is if Carlos Gonzalez shows enough in the next 6 weeks to make the Rockies and fans (though I often feel that that’s secondary, but perhaps none of us give enough credit to Dealin’ Dan and the Monforts) believe that he truly is a franchise-type player (to the extent that there can be one in baseball).

To me, trading a guy like Hawpe is what makes losing baseball teams remain losing baseball teams. This isn’t a Larry Walker type situation (by the way, did any of those guys play one game for the Rockies?). Hawpe is inexpensive, and he’s really just entering his prime. This article seems to make it make more sense, but I think that the Rockies are still beyond Step 1 at this point. With the way that this team is playing now, I think that the Rockies are somewhere between Steps 3 and 4. That’s not the time to be shedding star players. Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s my opinion on this situation.

I think the team that we’re seeing now is much closer to the “real” Rockies than the team that was playing two weeks ago. The managerial change has allowed players to be more relaxed, knowing that their play won’t get a manager fired for the rest of the season. They’re not squeezing the sticks so tight, and they’re just going out and playing baseball now. It’ll be interesting to see what the record is on July 31.

Excellent find, thanks for sharing it.

the only negative from this win streak is that it clouds whether we should be sellers or buyers. O’Dowd mentioned we get to sit back for a bit and examine the teams’ “true talent” once the win/loss thing stabilizes.

Should Cook or Hawpe or Street be moved? Maybe. Is there a sucker GM in the last year of his contract willing to make a big mistake?

I think this past draft shows we’re going to attempt to reinvest in the foundation. Additionally, the promotions of Fowler and now Cargo, as well as giving regular playing time to Fowler despite him not actually doing all that well shows we’re somewhere near step 3.

In 2011 what does our offense look like? Unless Stewart steps up I don’t think we have a big power bat although Tulo and Iannetta (should) provide above average power for their positions. If we sign Matzek and Brothers, that coupled with the extension given to Ubaldo as well as Friedrich, Chacin, and Morales should provide us with some rotation hope for 2011, 2012.