Saturday Rockpile: Friedrich's MRI results, Atkins coming alive, Matt Holliday = Ryan Spilborghs?

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Jun 27, 2009 9:19 AM MDT in Rockpile Comment 31 comments

Inside the Colorado Rockies - Friedrich Has Elbow Soreness, Nothing Worse
Good news out of Modesto, as an MRI showed no structural damage to Christian Friedrich's elbow. The Rockies need to be very careful in how they use him, but also need to keep in the back of their mind that should he get healthy and return to form, he should be on the fast track to the big leagues, and needs to be prepared for it.

Atkins showing signs of life - The Denver Post
Garrett Atkins notched his second straight three-hit game last night - and both have been in road games against solid pitching. Hopefully he keeps improving that trade value.

Rockies predict greatness from Gonzalez | ColoradoRockies.com: News
Despite being mired in quite a slump as of late, Jim Tracy still plans on sticking with Carlos Gonzalez. I'm sure the young outfielder is fine with that; as the article states, the Rockies are 15-3 since Gonzalez was called up, and any young player HAS to love that.

Coliseum holds fond memories for Tulowitzki - The Denver Post
Patrick Saunders spoke with Troy Tulowitzki about his childhood memories of spending time at the Coliseum in Oakland. There's also more on Atkins in this piece, but the best part comes in the form of a quote from Jim Tracy when asked about Clint Barmes' slump:

"I just want him to feel comfortable and relax a little bit. I kidded and told him, 'You have to get busy because a lot of us are getting a sore throat from that draft coming through the dugout'"

Jayson Stark's Sandwich Awards - ESPN
Stark mentions that the Rockies won 17 out of 18 games for the second time in three seasons - a feat that nearly half of the teams in baseball have NEVER accomplished.

Matt Holliday welcomes the Rockies to his new house - www.examiner.com
The author (Travis Lay) compares the Rockies trading Holliday to the Rockies actually trading Ryan Spilborghs, as they have similar batting lines this year. Spilborghs has three less home runs, but is hitting .263/.333/.419, compared to Holliday's .274/.372/.433. Holliday wins in OBP, but based on career numbers, we can expect that Spilborghs will get better in that area as the season progresses - if he gets playing time.

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Comparing Spilborghs to Holliday is pretty ridiculous

And it’s a good reason that fans don’t get put in spots where they actually make baseball decisions. A star player having a down season in a pitcher’s park is different from a solid but not star player hitting in an environment like Coors. Holliday is far more valuable going forward and everybody in baseball knows it.

by Rox Girl on Jun 27, 2009 9:31 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

can we trade

Spilly and Greg Smith for Holliday?

by Redhawk on Jun 27, 2009 9:41 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus Spilly has hardly played compared to Holliday.

But his 2 doubles would probably been HR at coors or many other parks (Yankees, Phila).

by Roxfan24 on Jun 27, 2009 9:42 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think Spilborghs will put up numbers like Holliday's

but sadly we’ll never know while he’s a Rockie because he’s never had the backing from management that Cargon enjoys. He’s a hard working solid player, along with Smith that is always on the string to be pulled if they don’t produce on that occasional start. I think both those players would surprise with extensive start times and confidence given to Fowler and Cargon.

by indianrox on Jun 27, 2009 11:29 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mr. Lay seems to like to stir the pot with some sensational claims

like when he suggested Fowler might be the next Rickey Henderson in April.

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 27, 2009 11:58 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

…gotta love unnecessary stirring of the pot. Who is this “Lay” dude?

"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 Jun 27, 2009 12:48 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

He posts here with the username travises

The Examiner sites pay by their bloggers by click for their stories, so tantalizing SEO friendly headlines and stories like this will often be the result. It worked for him this time, clearly, as the reality based conclusion: “Ryan Spilborghs not as good as Matt Holliday” probably wouldn’t have garnered a Rockpile link.

by Rox Girl on Jun 27, 2009 12:59 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Atkins improving his trade value? Or his Rockies playing time?

so are we certain that Ian Stewart is going to be the man at 3rdbase? Currently batting .214 which has actually gone down this road trip, and a career BA of .238. (OBP .295 SG .469) He’s had only 41 hits all season so far, and of those 13 have been home runs. Since June 12th he’s only had one game were he’s had more than one 1 hit. In fact he’s only had a hit. IN the last 12 games he’s played in, he’s only had a hit in 4 of them. For the season he has 55 K’s…more K’s than hits!

I think the kid has very fast hand through the hitting zone. I think he’s a pretty good fielder. (Tuesday’s game was an aberration). But there is a certain point where he has to step up and actually put the ball in play on a consistent basis, and not just have one amazing week or two then disappear for a month. But I think he’s terrible with his approach to the plate. He tries to mash fastballs for home runs. Home runs will come with more contact….but he needs to make contact.

The excuses and apologists are starting to wear thin. As Stewart is getting playing time, and regular AB’s now. He’s no rookie bright eyed and over whelmed by the big lights and microphones any more.

by Redhawk on Jun 27, 2009 9:41 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

You trade Atkins

While it is nice to see him hitting. Stewart is the better defensive player, 24 vs 29 and 400k vs 7 mil. I can live with Stewy for the year to save 6.5 mil and spend it on Street. While Atkins can hit, sometimes, he is not a 7 mil player.

by Roxfan24 on Jun 27, 2009 9:46 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why trade Atkins

There’s no need to get rid of him, right? Since it looks like his bat is back, he provides at very least a RH bat off the bench, and insurance against long Stewart slumps. (Since the Po’Week award, Stewart’s OBP/SLG is .222/.316). It doesn’t seem like he makes a fuss about not starting.

So that turns the question to what could the Rockies receive in return for him. I’m guessing his trade value is pretty much limited to contenders looking for a rental 1B/3B/DH, given his current salary and the fact that next year would be his last arb year. Teams are always looking for pitching, so that will be a tough sell. There’s the possibility of prospects, but premium prospects are also highly guarded, so there’s the question of Atkins’s worth to the 2009 Rockies as a bench bat/insurance policy vs. the probably non-premium prospects.

Free Seth Smith!

by FooMan on Jun 27, 2009 12:28 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

i was just looking at Stewart's splits

and i saw a weird stat as a 2nd basemen this season he hits the best and has 8 of his 13 homers when starting at 2nd…i know it is probably a meaningless stat but lol funny….and i would rather have Stewart too for the future let him keep playing and get through the tough times and he should gel into a solid player.

we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE

by TuLoRocks2008 on Jun 27, 2009 9:55 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Putting the ball in play is the bugaboo...

But it’s pretty close to the last one. Stewart’s looking more like he could be a 40 HR hitter in his prime, he certainly seems to be the next Rockies player to eclipse the 30 HR mark, possibly as soon as this season. It’s a big issue that his OBP is sub .300 and you can tell he’s still trying to figure out a balance between being overly cautious and not taking the bat off his shoulders for strike three, or too aggressive and just go up there hacking.

I don’t think this is a too many excuses issue, it’s just a give it time issue. I think it’s the same case with Fowler and CarGon where we or the team don’t know/can’t know for sure that these players will eventually live up to expectations, we’ve just got to try and hope that the team figures out how to draw it out. How can you tell when a player is going to be like the D-backs Chris Young and just not get it, or when they’ll be like Carlos Pena and have everything click? I think Stewart winds up being more like the latter, but there’s no guarantee. I think patience is what’s needed, and as long as other parts of the team are gelling and playing well, it’s not that big of a deal right now, but the fact that the roster has been carrying a couple of lead weights at third for most of the season was.

I think you definitely look to trade Atkins still, but as long as he’s hitting like this and not how he was at the beginning of the season, you don’t mind having the protection Stew related catastrophes in the meantime.

by Rox Girl on Jun 27, 2009 10:11 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

So I go to camp for three days

Marquis blows up, Atkins gets three hits, pigs are flying and Michael Jackson died. I am never ever ever ever ever ever leaving again.

by Rockie4Ever on Jun 27, 2009 10:46 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

who died?

"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine

by pedalpusher on Jun 27, 2009 10:57 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait, I can't tell if this is sarcastic or not.

Stupid internet.

by Rockie4Ever on Jun 27, 2009 11:05 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

whoops

/sarcasm button off

"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine

by pedalpusher on Jun 27, 2009 11:29 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you

That’s much better.

Michael Jackson = Raging awesomeness music-wise. Otherwise he’s just a creeper.

by Rockie4Ever on Jun 27, 2009 11:39 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

All this talk about trade trade trade

Hey, everybody, we are in a pennant race! The atmosphere in the clubhouse is very very important. If Tracy is happy, I would only trade with people that aren’t in it right now. AAA surplus or other prospects. If Gonzales and Fowler don’t get it together offensively I’m sure Tracy will not jepordize our chances for the post season. Spilly and Smith are coming on, so there are no worries of replacements, and the Rockies have been lucky with injuries so far with their field players. Many clubs are envious with our depth on the bench. I say get pitching, but be very very careful who you deal at this point.

by indianrox on Jun 27, 2009 11:15 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Fowler isn't going anywhere

That seems pretty obvious at this point. while I like Cargo a lot he needs to get to at least a .250 avg. You trade Atkins because of salary and the ability to pick up talent. I don’t car if the whole team hits .180 if we win.

I still see Hurdlism on every Rockies sight. guy has a bad game -bench him, bad 2 games -send him down. The FO wants Stewart at Third, Fowler in center and would like Cargo in left. That is the future. I can justify 400k for a player like Stewart who is 24. I can’t justify 7 mil for a player like Atkins at almost 30.

by Roxfan24 on Jun 27, 2009 2:47 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have the answer to Atkins' sudden surge:

He’s back in the same city as his BFF!!! And the game previously, he knew they were going to Oakland soon and was excited.

Foolproof logic. Just try and refute it. ;)

by Squeaky on Jun 27, 2009 11:35 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

So does that mean that DOD and Billy Bean will work out a 3 way trade with St. Looie

and send both of them there?

"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine

by pedalpusher on Jun 27, 2009 11:39 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

They could use a 3B and OF

So sure

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 27, 2009 11:49 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

works for me

who’s Atty’s agent?

"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine

by pedalpusher on Jun 27, 2009 11:50 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

So, when Matty's around

Atty plays three times as good. Does that strike anyone else as a little creepy?

by Rockie4Ever on Jun 27, 2009 11:41 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, actually.

I think it’s kind of funny, yeah, but not particularly creepy.

by Squeaky on Jun 27, 2009 12:03 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmm. maybe I should take my sarcasm down a notch, too.

by Rockie4Ever on Jun 27, 2009 12:08 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh. Whoops.

I’m horrible at getting sarcasm over the internet. :)

by Squeaky on Jun 27, 2009 12:27 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's alright, I am too.

For an example, see about 12 posts up, lol.

by Rockie4Ever on Jun 27, 2009 12:31 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

New York Times

Has a really nice piece on Jeff Francis and his rehab. The emphasis is on his background in physics. You may need to register (free) to read the whole piece.

And how far back are we now?

by rockhead on Jun 27, 2009 12:29 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs