Thursday Rockpile: The Doubters: Adrian Gonzalez and others don't like the Rockies playoff chances
by Rox Girl on Jul 16, 2009 9:26 AM MDT
in Rockpile
114 comments
"They're going to make the playoffs," San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez says. "After that, it will depend on how well they hit."
No, Adrian Gonzalez didn't say that about the Rockies. He said it about the Giants, which is a little definite, don't you think? No maybe, no, they're the favorites, nope. The Giants are the shizzle. It was nice of Gonzalez to provide some bulletin board material for this series we have starting in San Diego tonight. He's not alone in this opinion that there's nothing in San Fran's way to the playoffs, however, let's look at some of the other Kruks this morning:
We're pulling hard for the Dodgers and Giants to face off in the National League Championship Series, in a showdown for the ages.
Wild card: Giants. Their rotation and bullpen (Jeremy Affeldt was a great sign) have been strong and they figure to bolster their lineup via trade.
Knocking on the door: Cubs. They have to hit more than they did in the first half, right? If they do, they're dangerous.
- Having San Francisco based reporters say the Giants are awesome (example A, example B) probably should be expected. As should this one from a sleepy California mountain town, Vail, err... wait, Vail?:
Yes, Colorado has made a good charge, but don't expect a repeat of Rocktober 2007. The Dodgers AND Giants are in the way. San Francisco's Tim Lincecum (it's either him or Arizona's Dan Haren for the Cy Young) and Matt Cain are miles ahead on the mound of anyone the Rockies can put there.
...that's just wrong. Hide your fan stripes while reporting in hostile territory, guy.
- The Sporting News' Ryan Fagan also groups us as a pretender:
11. Mariners (14). Nobody expected Seattle to be four games over .500. But would the Mariners be better off selling and gathering assets for a 2010 run?
12. Rockies (13). See Mariners, above.
13. Marlins (15). See Mariners and Rockies.
I think we should start to catalog these for September, it should make for some fun. All of this non-love heading our way may be why the Rockies popularity has dropped 10 slots among MLB teams in the last year. Of course, maybe the way the team played in 2008 relative to 2007 also had something to do with it. Bandwaggoners.
Dodger Thoughts' Jon Weisman isn't so foolish to write the Rockies off in recognizing that the team's pitching is a real strength, as he notes, it's the hitting that's been the problem thus far (more on this in a bit):
So about that hitting. The big question is whether this is as good as it gets from the Rockies, or if more offense can be squeezed out. Like any team, we can point to players that have struggled or been inconsistent like Ian Stewart and Chris Iannetta and see room for growth and improvement (category A), but fans tend to get myopic in this and not see that there's also room for a slide in the somewhat inflated to normal expectancy numbers of players like Brad Hawpe, Clint Barmes and Todd Helton (category B). For the Rockies to really improve they need to show that category A trumps category B. Patrick Saunders talks to some Rockies about their expectations for the offense in the second half, and unsurprisingly they're mostly optimistic:
I'm optimistic too, but I really want to see the offense clicking on all levels before the end of July. Other DP links:
- Saunders: Charm of small ball is often overlooked - The Denver Post Question: If small ball wins the NL wild card this season, which team does it favor, the one with 63 HR's through the middle of July, or the one with 103? Yeah, let's keep overlooking these charms for this year, anyway.
- Corpas says he's healthy, ready to go - The Denver Post
Rocky Mountain Independent (Steve Foster and Jack Etkin):
- Will Rockies bring back O'Dowd in 2010?
- 5 things Rockies need in second half
- For now, Morales focuses on Rockies bullpen
SILive.com
SILive.com's been following Staten Island resident Jason Marquis at the All-Star game with a couple of solid in depth articles about one of the 2009 Rockies key components:
- Jason Marquis savors first All-Star Game - SILive.com
- Another stage built for Jason Marquis - SILive.com
Other links:
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Oops, forgot to switch the photo I had from earlier...
Sorry for doubling up on EY2 this morning.
by Rox Girl on Jul 16, 2009 9:32 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
The Denver Post and Renck
had a run down of all the divisions and playoff races today as well….who did he pick for the Wild Card? The Giants
Start Seth Smith! Free Eric Young Jr.!
by Redhawk on Jul 16, 2009 9:36 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
i have given up caring what people say
lets go out and shut everybody up!
we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE
by TuLoRocks2008 on Jul 16, 2009 9:40 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Yup, I'd rather write my PR posts about the Rockies
than about commentators who may well have not put much thought into the matter. .
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
by FooMan on Jul 16, 2009 10:27 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
You guys are no fun...
Like I say, I care only so I can derisively mock these folks later.
by Rox Girl on Jul 16, 2009 10:47 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
yes well too much egg on their face could backfire
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 11:00 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
No such thing
as too much egg on John Kruk’s face.
"DAMMIT! No, calm down. Learn to enjoy losing." --Hunter S. Thompson
by PioneerSkies on Jul 16, 2009 11:01 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
or in his face
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 11:02 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure I follow you...
This backfire scenario you speak of only happens if we lose, right? If losing’s not going to happen, how does a backfire? Wow, that’s a little deep for me there.
by Rox Girl on Jul 16, 2009 12:14 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
well if you store up too many bitter comments there
and we DO tank and they DO win, then you’ll just have this list of them being right…
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 1:19 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
See, I read "too many bitter comments" but then the rest of your message just seems garbled.
I’m just not grasping those abstract concepts you speak of.
by Rox Girl on Jul 16, 2009 1:26 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
you're right
This prediction’s RoxGirl+ is at like 185. We’re gonna win.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 3:46 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is this where "Suck it, monkeys!" comes into play?
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
by RdRnnr on Jul 16, 2009 11:26 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Check out my Rockies comic strip at:
Rock Drive 1.4
by Charlie77 on Jul 16, 2009 11:28 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is exactly where "Suck it, monkeys!" Comes into play.
I don’t even know if San Fran will be in the wild card lead when they come to Denver in a little over a week, but I’m pretty sure they won’t be when they leave it.
by Rox Girl on Jul 16, 2009 12:00 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I gotta admit, I mean, I have admitted...
I like the Giants chances as well. That is, is we don’t start gettin’ a lot more production again from the tail-end of our lineup. I’m not ready to hand San Fran the wild card by any means but they will continue to be a tough obstacle.
by Since1993 on Jul 16, 2009 12:04 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm still waiting to see if they can upgrade their offense
which is battling Oakland and San Diego for futility
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jul 16, 2009 1:02 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I might add that is in terms of non park adjusted stats
and the other two teams have an excuse of a heavy pitchers’ park, while San Fran really isn’t.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jul 16, 2009 1:03 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
don't get me wrong
i love seeing them prove everybody wrong and mock them lol
we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE
by TuLoRocks2008 on Jul 16, 2009 2:16 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
An additional link
Woody Paige blessed us with an article today about the Rockies needing to honor the Blake Street Bombers by retiring their numbers. Is it just more whistling in the wind from Woody? You tell me – link is here.
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 Jul 16, 2009 9:43 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Boooooo
We’re too young of a franchise to really be thinking about retiring numbers, aren’t we? I’m firmly of the opinion that #17 should be the first retired number in Coors Field.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 9:51 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd like to see Larry Walker's number retired
The other three are sort of relics of the pre humidor days.
by moomacher on Jul 16, 2009 9:52 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't really have a problem with that
Vinny Castilla, I love the guy, but outside of Coors, he was pretty much useless at the plate. He’s a career .338 wOBA hitter, and that’s even accounting for all his Coors-inflated years.
Same goes for Weiss. Even worse batter, but great guy, etc.
I love the two of them being around as Special Assistants, but beyond that…yeah, no.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 9:58 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
Walker’s career Rockies stats are kind of mindblowing. He hit .334/.425/.618 which is good for a 1.043 OPS and a 147 OPS plus. He had a 178 OPS + in 1997. Makes you wonder if the park factors were high enough for Coors Field back in the late 90s. Todd best two years of OPS+ were 165 in both 2003 and 2004. By comparison Bichette’s OPS+ career with the Rockies was 11 and Vinny’s was 106, and the Big Cat’s was 125. So lumping Walker in with the rest of the Bombers does him a big disservice.
by moomacher on Jul 16, 2009 10:09 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pre Humidor
Sometimes I long for the prehumidor days. Those were some crazy games to watch.
The poster formerly known as Blake20th.
by NewMexicanSteven on Jul 16, 2009 10:22 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
The Blake Street Bombers were a bunch of players who ended up with superstar numbers because CORZ FIELD FFCT LOL
Larry Walker was a bonafide star with the bat.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 10:24 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm pretty sure that's recognized by most
He was a complete player, and was good in Montreal. I’m pretty sure most know he and Helton were a cut above.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
by FooMan on Jul 16, 2009 11:04 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
ok next level question:
Do you think either will make the Hall Of Fame? And an important point to consider when answering this, is that neither of these two players were linked to Steroids in an era when almost an entire generation of stars were.
Start Seth Smith! Free Eric Young Jr.!
by Redhawk on Jul 16, 2009 11:06 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm gonna revisit this during the offseason
But I don’t think that Walker has the counting stats to make it in, and that’s mostly because of injury. When he was healthy, he was always awesome.
If Helton gets to 2500 hits I think he’ll be reeeeeallllyyyy close. And he was “linked” by Wayne Hagin, if you recall.
granted, Hagin got his ass kicked for it, but it’s a talking point.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 11:10 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with RMN
The perception of having had short careers (with the relatively low HR and RBI totals given the home park) will hurt both of them (or would if Helton was done yesterday), but Helton has time to work on that.
I suspect Walker is a borderline guy, and his reputation for missing time due to injuries and the inability to adjust for that era Coors will make him less of a candidate than he ought to be. Basically, I think people will see the 383 HR and 1311 RBI and think that that’s not enough for a player with that many games in Coors.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
by FooMan on Jul 16, 2009 4:47 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow we agree
I wouldn’t mind seeing Walker’s retired. I think it might help a little when he comes up for a HOF vote. The next will be Todd Helton. And I’d like to see them retired at the same time. Having only one retired seems odd to me. Other than those two….no.
Bichette, Castilla, Big Cat, I mean they are nice but they were pre-humidor, and not around THAT long…as the Organization hasn’t been around that long.
Start Seth Smith! Free Eric Young Jr.!
by Redhawk on Jul 16, 2009 10:12 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Walker had like an .880 OPS his last season with StL
Yeah, .886, good for a .382 wOBA as well. Massive.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 10:21 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interestingly enough
Galarraga’s best seasons in Colorado were just what you’d expect them to be: SLG.
He hit for good average, he got on base well enough, but dear Lord his slugging numbers were through the roof.
I wonder what Mile High’s park effects looked like?
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 10:32 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's the biggest reason...
…Bichette and Big Cat weren’t really Rockies for that long. No team has any business retiring a number of a 4- or 5- year player.
Helton, unquestionably, even if he retires today. Walker is a great candidate….for number retirement. Less so for the HOF because of counting numbers. I see him eventually falling into the sort of Dale Murphy level, in terms of HOF votes. It’s not a matter of blaming him for being injured so much, but you can’t just assume a level of counting stats and say “hey, he’d be HOF if he wasn’t injured, so….let’s make him HOF”.
There are several current Rox I’d like to see get to the point where we’re discussing the idea of number retirements…Cookie and Tulo come to mind.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jul 16, 2009 11:23 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cook maybe
He’s one of those “history will tell” kind of guys. He’s really nothing mindblowing. He’s a good pitcher, but otherwise, kind of blah.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 11:25 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
However, after Cook, the lifetime Rox pitching wins total is what…57? Let’s just say Cookie spends the entirety of a 13 year career with the Rox and ends up with 140-150 wins. You and I know he’s not going down as any kind of legendary pitcher.
But he would be so far ahead of any other Rox pitcher, by leaps and bounds, and have been a part of so much of the franchise’s history by then, that he could merit the ultimate Rockies’ honor. I don’t think you have to be HOF material to have your number retired, necessarily…he would have been the most significant pitcher in the history of the organization by far, by then.
Of course, U-Ball may have plenty to say about that. ;-)
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jul 16, 2009 11:28 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Longevity will be the mark of the Greatest Rockies Pitcher (TM)
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 11:55 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cookie is the Rockies Craig Morton
Check out my Rockies comic strip at:
Rock Drive 1.4
by Charlie77 on Jul 16, 2009 11:30 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
ZING!
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jul 16, 2009 11:31 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree there should be some real longevity before considering retiring a number.
I think the Avs look kind of silly retiring Ray Borque’s number after two years. When you talk of Borque, non-Avs fans think of the Bruins.
I also don’t think the Yankees should have retired Roger Maris’ jersey. He was there 7 years but only had one really monster year. But then the Yankees tend to retire WAY TOOOOOOOOOO many numbers IMO.
"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
by pedalpusher on Jul 16, 2009 11:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, it was only two years
But those two years were so incredibly important. Especially the raising of the cup. Most non Avs fans will think of Bourque raising the cup in an Avs jersey.
by mkorpal on Jul 16, 2009 11:38 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Plus 77 is a really cool number!
Check out my Rockies comic strip at:
Rock Drive 1.4
by Charlie77 on Jul 16, 2009 11:43 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Plus the Avs never won a Cup without him!
Oh…wait…
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jul 16, 2009 11:44 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, they definitly would not have won a second cup without him
People tend to forget that he was their best defenseman in 01, and was runner up to the Norris trophy.
by mkorpal on Jul 16, 2009 11:47 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Plus he had a sweet beard!
Check out my Rockies comic strip at:
Rock Drive 1.4
by Charlie77 on Jul 16, 2009 11:51 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
So the Rox should retire :-C 's number!
"DAMMIT! No, calm down. Learn to enjoy losing." --Hunter S. Thompson
by PioneerSkies on Jul 16, 2009 12:29 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm thinking the major leagues should do so, too.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jul 16, 2009 12:31 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jackie Robinson style?
"DAMMIT! No, calm down. Learn to enjoy losing." --Hunter S. Thompson
by PioneerSkies on Jul 16, 2009 1:02 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, but...
…instead of a circle with a big number in it, it will just be a big white circle with :-C in place of a number.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jul 16, 2009 1:07 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are you sure about the Yankees?
Is your standard hall of famers only?
The Yankees have retired 16 numbers (not including Robinson’s). 10 are hall of famers, 8 of whom played virtually their entire careers for the Yankees, plus Reggie Jackson who played a major role in 2 championships and 3 pennants, and Casey Stengel, who managed teams who won 10 pennants and 7 world series.
The 6 other guys include Maris, who won 2 MVP’s, broke the HR record, and has all the stories that go along with those years, and a bunch of other guys with a long history with the team and a lot of accomplishments (Elston Howard, Billy Martin, Thurman Munson, Don Mattingly, and Ron Guidry).
I don’t think any of these guys would raise an eyebrow w/other organizations. It’s just that 39 pennants tends to mean a lot of HoF’ers and Hall of Very Good’ers. In fact, it could be worse, there are Hall of famers who played the majority of their careers with the Yankees who don’t have their numbers retired.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
by FooMan on Jul 16, 2009 5:18 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Walker and Helton sound good to me, too
Though it would nice to make Helton the first.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
by FooMan on Jul 16, 2009 10:15 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Walker and Helton
Those should be the numbers retired. I think it would be cool to have some sort of little monument or something to the blake street bombers for their accomplishments, but not all out retired #s
The poster formerly known as Blake20th.
by NewMexicanSteven on Jul 16, 2009 10:09 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with this
Retiring numbers should be reserved for true greats, but I’ve long believed that the Rockies don’t do enough at Coors Field to narrate a Rockies story, develop a mythology around the team’s past. There needs to be some honor and recognition of the Blake St. group and while retiring numbers is too extreme, the team should get creative to figure out another way of going about it.
by Rox Girl on Jul 16, 2009 10:45 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think they're afraid of their past
Because it hurts trade potentials and such, as many dumb scouts and GMs don’t realize that Vinny Castilla wouldn’t be a 40HR guy in Coors today.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 10:59 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree there should be some recognition short of retiring the number.
Something similar to Ring of Fame.
Retiring of numbers should be reserved for the truly great. Walker probably fits into that category but not the rest of the Bombers.
"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
by pedalpusher on Jul 16, 2009 11:22 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
When I visited St. Louis..
they had banners of old players hanging from the rafters and statues of their greats outside the park. Denver has a great art community, why don’t they employ some sculptors to put a statue of the bombers in the park?
Check out my Rockies comic strip at:
Rock Drive 1.4
by Charlie77 on Jul 16, 2009 11:32 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Walker and Helton deserve it, and...
I’d be 100% in support of Andres and Bichette, and I would be OK with Vinny too though I know nobody else would go there. Sure this team doesn’t have a lot of history, but to those of us that have been fans since Day 1, those names will ALWAYS resonate. I still remember that big mural on that building near downtown with the “big 3 of Denver sports” of Dikembe, Andres and that Elway guy. 50 years from now, I might not remember a lot of names, maybe even the dudes passing through now, but I’ll always remember those.
You can make all sorts of arguments about who should and shouldn’t be honored for various things, and throw out all sorts of criteria. But if the standard of retiring jerseys is to honor those who were hugely significant to the history of the franchise, the list should start:
First tier locks, no questions asked: Helton, Walker
Second tier locks, maybe make them wait until the first two are in: Andres, Bichette, Manwaring (just kidding, whatever the opposite of retiring the jersey for him).
by Teekalong on Jul 16, 2009 4:31 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
One other thought on this:
We’ve gone nearly a decade since the Bombers, and while we did get the WS, there’s not a single player from the post-Bomber era that is even close to consideration for a jersey retirement. Sure, Holliday would have been on that list and maybe someday guys like Tulo, U-Ball, or others might be in consideration. Finding these “historically great” guys will be hard, but we ought to get the ball rolling. People don’t take Colo seriously for a lot of reasons, but lack of history is one of them. And its hard to convince others that we have legit history when we don’t even recognize it ourselves.
by Teekalong on Jul 16, 2009 4:51 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
This +100 bazillion
And its hard to convince others that we have legit history when we don’t even recognize it ourselves.
I’m about to the point of doing some mock-ups to send to the Rockies’ FO, to try and get them to pay attention to this stuff.
Free Seth Smith, damnit!
by rockhead on Jul 16, 2009 5:47 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who are the Blake Street Bombers
Does it refer to a specific team, like the ’95 playoff team? A bunch of the Baylor teams? Or is it a generic term that covers most of what came before GenR?
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
by FooMan on Jul 16, 2009 10:16 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Larry Walker, Andres Galarraga, Dante Bichette, and Vinny Castilla.
"Don't tell me about the world. Not today. It's springtime and they're knocking baseballs around fields where the grass is damp and green in the morning and the kids are trying to hit the curve ball." -Pete Hamill
by Bryce on Jul 16, 2009 10:19 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I always thought Ellis Burks was lumped in there too
by RockiesDave on Jul 16, 2009 10:20 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Burks was definitely in the Blake Street Bombers
at least he was always mentioned in the advertisements
by purplesocks on Jul 16, 2009 11:31 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really? Is this Paige, or common usage?
Paige was referring to those guys, but in common usage it seems to refer to the teams. It’s understood that Walt Weiss wasn’t a HR hitter himself. It’s like Jim Gantner. He was one of Harvey’s Wallbangers, but he wasn’t a wallbanger.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
by FooMan on Jul 16, 2009 11:07 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's 2 ways of saying it
In a general sense, the ‘95-’98/99 Rockies team was the Blake Street Bombers.
For people who know the team more intimately, it was Vinny, Dante, Big Cat, and Walker, and even then the people who REALLY followed know what we’ve said prior, that Walker was a cut above.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 11:12 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
the article (minus the fhwee) spelled it out alright
just more of Woody Paige finding something to hate on the ownership for
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 10:20 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only kind of Paige article I can tolerate is this kind...
“One of the fhwee fhwee fhwee the fhwee fhwee fhwee fhwee is a fhwee to fhwee the fhwee of the fhwee fhwee fhwee — fhwee fhwee, fhwee fhwee, fhwee fhwee and fhwee fhwee.”
Seriously, he looks like less of an idiot, don’t you think?
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jul 16, 2009 11:29 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ok
Where the hell did this joke come from. I missed much of the last two weeks.
by mkorpal on Jul 16, 2009 11:35 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
it was from an article of his a couple of days ago.
"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
by pedalpusher on Jul 16, 2009 11:38 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
So, he just wrote Fhwee over and over?
by mkorpal on Jul 16, 2009 11:39 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not exactly
I think it was just some sort of Post error converting the column for web publishing.
But it makes Paige look infinitely more knowledgeable and intelligent than when he actually…well…writes words.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jul 16, 2009 11:42 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fhwee
In his column about Roy Halladay a couple of days ago, Paige wrote “Fhwee” as some kind of onomatopoeia for ‘whistling in the wind’. Since that pretty much sums up everything the guy says, and because I knew about the Malkovich Mediator program, I just converted Woody’s home page to just keep repeating the word ‘Fhwee.’
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 Jul 16, 2009 11:50 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does Paige think we can get Roy Halladay for Fhwee?
Check out my Rockies comic strip at:
Rock Drive 1.4
by Charlie77 on Jul 16, 2009 11:52 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only if we throw in fhwee.
"DAMMIT! No, calm down. Learn to enjoy losing." --Hunter S. Thompson
by PioneerSkies on Jul 16, 2009 12:30 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
+100
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jul 16, 2009 11:53 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I got it now
I guess I missed that part of the article due to side bursting laughter when he suggested that trade.
by mkorpal on Jul 16, 2009 11:54 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
This came up when Drew Litton "drew" up Mt. RockMore
basically who are our iron players, the foundations, the best of all Rockdom?
He was suggesting basically the same 4 guys, except Helton over Vinny, IIRC, leaving Walker, Bichette, Helton, Galarraga.
I don’t think we’ve been a franchise long enough to really see who time recognizes as the Rockies’ greats. Nobody doubts that Helton will be there, and Walker, probably, but everyone else has too much to look at from other teams they’ve played for.
We need more guys who’ve spent their careers here before we can really start a legit wall of fame or One Ring to Rock them all or whatever.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 10:27 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's not about recognizing greatness, it's about recognizing Rockies and their history.
It helps if you think of it in those terms. All you need is a large plaque that says
“Blake St. Bombers, 1995-2000”
For much of the 1990’s the Rockies had one of the most feared offenses in the National League. The Bombers led the Rockies to their first ever playoff appearance in 1995 and combined for X number of All-Star appearances. The 658 runs scored at Coors Field by the 1996 set a National League record.
Larry Walker 1995-2004, 258 HR
Dante Bichette 1993-1999, 201 HR
Andres Gallaraga 1993-1997, 172 HR
Vinny Castilla 1993-1999, 2004, 239 HR
Ellis Burks 1994-1998, 115 HR
And then just put it in some spot of the stadium’s interior where people can take their picture by it. That’s all we really need, but it would be a really cool way of celebrating the team’s past. I think a similar Rocktober plaque should be made as well.
by Rox Girl on Jul 16, 2009 1:21 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
by the 1996 team, I meant, sorry for dropping the word...
And obviously you’d replace the X number with the actual number.
by Rox Girl on Jul 16, 2009 1:24 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah I agree
there should be a place to start putting this stuff. I also had the quwstion of where will they put another pennant the one up there now takes up all the space?
by RockiesDave on Jul 16, 2009 4:23 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Foster Article
Interesting cons to odowd. I agre that he is bad at trading prospects. I wonder if he realizes that. I personally like DOD even with hsi short comings
The poster formerly known as Blake20th.
by NewMexicanSteven on Jul 16, 2009 10:19 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
IMO, he needs better/more examples than Baker and Shealy
Perhaps if he traded Baker at the A/AA level or something. But you can’t get all those calls right so there’s some value to holding onto guys to see which player at a position develops.
As for Shealy, would he have found better takers earlier? As is, they seemed to have made a decent trade, sending him and Dohmann for Affeldt and Denny Batista.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
by FooMan on Jul 16, 2009 11:12 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
neither really panned out too well
Affeldt was a big part of Rocktober, but past that, nobody else was worth a damn.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 11:12 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
which still
leaves the Rockies 1 and the Royals 0 in that trade
Start Seth Smith! Free Eric Young Jr.!
by Redhawk on Jul 16, 2009 11:14 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
absolutely
my thought was simply that it wasn’t really a mindblowing groundbreaking trade.
but FooMan is right, we do tend to wait too long on guys, but how much insurance is the right amount?
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 11:18 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Shealy deal was better than what we got for Everth Cabrera
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Rock Drive 1.4
by Charlie77 on Jul 16, 2009 11:35 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Popularity poll
All of this non-love heading our way may be why the Rockies popularity has dropped 10 slots among MLB teams in the last year. Of course, maybe the way the team played in 2008 relative to 2007 also had something to do with it. Bandwaggoners.
That seems to be a big influence; as the article noted, the Indians had the steepest drop, the Rays the biggest gain.
OTOH, the Padres went up 7 spots. Is this because:
a) Adrian Gonzalez WBC carry-over effect?
b) the nation loves itself some Tony Gwynn Jr,
c) protracted but ultimately-futile Jake Peavy trade talks remind nation of Padres’ existence
d) Everth Cabrera!!!111
(re. c: Jon Daniels actually mentioned Cabrera on the MLB network mid-season report card show.)
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
by FooMan on Jul 16, 2009 10:37 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Full poll results
Rockies’ rank 1999-2009 (they apparently skipped 2000-2002):
14, 24, 24, 26, t25, 27, t13, 23
They don’t say much about methodology, other than listing the question “What is your favorite Major League Baseball team”? If the respondent can’t provide a ranking, I wonder how it moves around so much.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
by FooMan on Jul 16, 2009 10:43 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nick Piecoro is right about Jeremy Affeldt..
he would have really helped the Rockie pen this year.
Check out my Rockies comic strip at:
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by Charlie77 on Jul 16, 2009 11:26 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes...
I’ve been on the Jeremy Affeldt train from the begining.
"Man, this is baseball, you gotta stop thinking! Just have fun."
The Sandlot (1993) – Benny Rodriguez (Mike Vitar)
by AtkinsandTulofan on Jul 16, 2009 11:58 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Has anyone used the mobile blogging option?
Any tips?
Check out my Rockies comic strip at:
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by Charlie77 on Jul 16, 2009 11:42 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
what do you mean
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 11:56 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, the Rox on front page of ESPN.com MLB coverage
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=4331081
I thought ESPN knew there were only eight teams in the major leagues.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jul 16, 2009 11:46 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Its only because
It’s the black hole on the sports calender. Yesterday and Today are the only days of the year that ESPN will recognize the “other” teams.
by mkorpal on Jul 16, 2009 11:48 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
The article even quotes fangraphs.
Check out my Rockies comic strip at:
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by Charlie77 on Jul 16, 2009 11:54 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
For shame, Crasnick must be fired!
Or so would say the Disney suits, if they ever found out….
Really, it was a good article, and kinda sums up how I personally feel about our playoff chances. We’re right there, we have the opportunity, but nobody’s going to lay down for us.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jul 16, 2009 11:58 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
mannnnn
I can’t believe I’m asleep and dreaming about being at work. I don’t wanna have to wake up and go to work! I’ve already worked half a day!
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 11:57 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
From looking at the schedules of SF LA and us
the pivotal month is August. All three teams have challenges. September is a sleep walk for LA, and I think SF has an easier Sept than we do too. We still have a lot of games head to head with SF, which should make the difference. Bottom line, we need to be more like we have in the last weeks, pour on the wins, which means Tracy, please, please put in your offensive lineup (Spilly and Smith).
by indianrox on Jul 16, 2009 3:12 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I thought the Giants have a pretty tough September...
Starting off at Philly (.558) and Milwaukee (.511), going home against the Padres (.409), Dodgers (.636) and Rockies (.534), on the road against the Dodgers (.636) and D-backs (.427) and then back home against the Cubs (.500) and D-backs (.427). That’s six of nine series with an opponent .500 or over with three of those series on the road. The Rockies only have three series with opponents like that against the Giants, Cards and Brewers and only the S.F. series is on the road and our other two road series are against the Padres and Snakes. I don’t know how you see that is anything close to easier for them.
Granted, the last series in October is another story (we’re at LA, they’re in SD), but I think September definitely favors the Rockies.
by Rox Girl on Jul 16, 2009 3:37 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
platooning LF?
Or Spills over Dex?
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 3:47 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Please for the love of the Rockies, don't pull Fowler out of the lineup, it's the worst thing they could do
And give CarGo a chance to prove himself!
It’s extremely hard to adjust to MLB hitting, and he’ll do it sometime soon, everything points to him doing so. If it really comes down to it, platoon Seth and CarGo, but make him spend a TON of time with Baylor and give him back full time if Seth can’t take it.
by bballrox4717 on Jul 16, 2009 3:52 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
How long do we need to wait though?
I want to win. If we were at .400 right now, sure, let CarGon take up all the time.
But seeing how we want to win, start the player who is producing the most, ie, Smith.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 16, 2009 4:12 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
yep we must platoon
Spilly/Smith in LF it would be perfect for them because one or the other starting everyday is no good….one side note with Cargo maybe he is a goodluck charm we are 21-5 when he starts haha
we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE
by TuLoRocks2008 on Jul 16, 2009 6:39 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
22-5 now when he plays*
we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE
by TuLoRocks2008 on Jul 16, 2009 6:40 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
You say we need to be more like we have in the last few weeks
and that that means we need to change the primary lineup we’ve had the last few weeks?
Can’t say I disagree (or agree, necessarily), but I have to admit a wee bit of confusion with the rationale…
by Junction Rox on Jul 16, 2009 4:34 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, this is kind of where the whole opinion side of things comes in.
Have we been winning with CarGo, or could we have been even better if Spilly/Seth were starting instead?
by Rockie4Ever on Jul 16, 2009 5:22 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
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