Wednesday Rockpile: Rockies Need to Overcome their Big Apple Problems
by Jeff Aberle on Jul 29, 2009 6:57 AM MDT
in Rockpile
Email
PrintWith another Rockies loss in the Big Apple last night, Colorado once again is forced to share the Wild Card lead with the San Francisco Giants. And you know how the Rockies hate sharing. Not only are the Giants back in the mix, but if the Rockies look over their shoulder they'll see teams like the Cubs close behind.
I'd advise the Rockies to avoid looking back, though. They just need to focus on lifting whatever unholy hex it is the Mets have placed on the Rockies once they enter the Big Apple.
Clint Barmes had a rough day of it from the eight-hole, leaving six men on base, as his prolonged slump continued. However, as Troy Renck writes, Jim Tracy has Barmes' back. This is a nice sentiment and Barmes has been great with the leather, but I hope that when September rolls around (I know they won't do it sooner) the Rockies will give Eric Young Jr. an opportunity to show what he can do at second base.
Despite the loss, Jason Marquis is the Rockies' MVP, Mark Kiszla writes--a sentiment that I just can't really get behind. I guess to me a pitcher going every five days can't be a team's most valuable player. Besides, the rest of the starting rotation has been pretty special too.
Kiszla invokes the double standard of the Coors Field effect (hitters discredited, pitchers ignored) and he had me until (he couldn't help himself) he mentioned the Rockies' financial constraints in writing that the Rockies wouldn't even try to re-sign Marquis (which, incidentally, I don't think they should) or make a big trade at the deadline (again, not something I would do).
Meanwhile, at Inside the Rockies Jack Etkin details the organizational movement caused by the Rockies' recent roster moves. Most intriguing to me is the news that top prospect Christian Friedrich will be likely moving to AA Tulsa after two more starts--it seems that the Rockies are finally putting the southpaw on the fast track.
Finally, Peter Gammons writes about the use of top prospects as power bullpen arms, citing Franklin Morales (who is listed as 21 but is actually 23) and Jhoulys Chacin as prominent examples. Technically Morales isn't a prospect anymore, but the general point is well-conveyed.
77 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Yay!
I love that guy. He’s my facebook friend!
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 29, 2009 8:40 AM MDT up reply actions
Weathers
not looking good here right now, and it’s only supposed to get worse.
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
For a moment I thought you were referring to Casey Weathers.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 29, 2009 7:38 AM MDT up reply actions
I thought both simultaneously
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 29, 2009 8:41 AM MDT up reply actions
Weather's*
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
they said a lot of rain in afternoon
hopefully it stops and we get the game in later
we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE
by TuLoRocks2008 on Jul 29, 2009 7:48 AM MDT up reply actions
oh really?
true i live in NJ so it’s not raining here yet but yea that doesn’t matter if it is a swamp there
we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE
by TuLoRocks2008 on Jul 29, 2009 8:07 AM MDT up reply actions
no its not raining
just really, really humid
oo ok
well as long as it doesn’t rain hard and our seats are good rain wise because we are covered
we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE
by TuLoRocks2008 on Jul 29, 2009 8:10 AM MDT up reply actions
I don't believe we're covered.
If we had seats where I was on Monday, we’d be good.
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
last time me and my friend went in May
we were covered but we were more directly behind home plate i forget if the cover goes as far as we are to the right side…
we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE
by TuLoRocks2008 on Jul 29, 2009 8:17 AM MDT up reply actions
not to rain on your parade
but I could use a break from the pit of despair torture machine the rox offense is right now. It’s no fun when a game is over at 8 and you have the rest of the evening to be crabby. :)
Maybe they’d luck out and the makeup game(s) would have to be played at coors.
"Right now, I'm eating Scrambled Eggs, with a comb, from a shoe!"
by WalkInRight on Jul 29, 2009 10:32 AM MDT up reply actions
Positives from last night
In an attempt to lighten the mood, lets look at some good things from the first two games
1)Todd remains an OBP machine.
2)The Rockies can’t go 1-12 with runners in scoring position forever…at some point the Met’s pitchers wildness will come back to bit them.
3)Chacin has pretty good looking stuff, including some nasty breaking pitches.
4)I wouldn’t call either starting performance particularly dominant and yet the result is two quality starts. Usually when your starter only gives up 3 runs you have a good chance to win.
5) Tulo – Bigtime power to hit a ball out to the left center gap
6) Hey Barmes made a good defensive play in the first inning on monday….
like Chuckie Knoblauch?
The Twins manager ultimately had to sit him the game after he hit a homerun because he’d try to go yard the next game or two — with the same results as Barmy last night.
"Right now, I'm eating Scrambled Eggs, with a comb, from a shoe!"
by WalkInRight on Jul 29, 2009 10:25 AM MDT up reply actions
Chacin's breaking stuff is pretty nasty. I was impressed.
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 29, 2009 8:41 AM MDT up reply actions
agreed
counter him to guys like Grilli and Peralta, who have stuff that seems to go in a straight line or with a marginal break. Chacin’s stuff is really moving.
His change was all over the place last night
but given the praise he’s received for it, I assume that’s a bit of an anomaly. I can see why people have been so bullish on his prospects.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
no no WE'RE DOOMED!
No team has ever lost 4 games in a row after the all-star break and made the playoffs!
Bring out your dead!
Start Seth Smith! Free Eric Young Jr.!
but I'm not dead YET!
…I’m feeling better!….I feel happy!
I could go for a walk…
"Right now, I'm eating Scrambled Eggs, with a comb, from a shoe!"
Dont worry everyone
Today is Hammel Time!
The Mets can’t touch this! (on the road at least)……
hey are we in a better mood yet?
Start Seth Smith! Free Eric Young Jr.!
i'm still falling asleep at my desk
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 29, 2009 10:00 AM MDT up reply actions
here's how I'm feeling today (tongue in cheek of course)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU7nG3KvZDA
"Right now, I'm eating Scrambled Eggs, with a comb, from a shoe!"
by WalkInRight on Jul 29, 2009 10:57 AM MDT up reply actions
"Jim Tracy has Barmes' back"
Shhh, don’t tell the mystery users who do the fanposts.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
I don't understand why the first thing that someone does when they set up an account here
is make a fanpost….I think I have done all of five in three years
I've thought
about cautioning new users from making a fanpost their first action here, but until recently fanposts weren’t used much.
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
by Russ Oates on Jul 29, 2009 10:53 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Some of the sbnation blogs
have a warning in the sign up notice to not make a fanpost first unless you want a baptism of fire.
If we made this our official policy
I’d be down. But for now, we’re more positive and encouraging.
Until somebody grounds out in a game thread because then it’s “EPIC FAIL LOL” like 400 times and the game is over in the 2nd when our pitcher gives up 2 runs on a liner, an error, and 2 bloop singles to no man’s land.
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 29, 2009 10:59 AM MDT up reply actions
and the game is over in the 2nd when our pitcher gives up 2 runs on a liner, an error, and 2 bloop singles to no man’s land.
I think this line of thought is required on McCovey Chronicles :)
"Right now, I'm eating Scrambled Eggs, with a comb, from a shoe!"
by WalkInRight on Jul 29, 2009 11:05 AM MDT up reply actions
Except, even that would be a problem to me
People are very civil at PR, and that’s a big plus. I’m new here, but the “baptism of fire” image isn’t one I’d want to people to inaugurate their PR membership with. Arguing issues is part of what this site is about, but it’s pretty firmly in in the service of the greater good of Rockies fandom. I think you want to encourage participation, but people shouldn’t be coming here to start arguments unless you really want the tone of the site to change.
The problem with some of the recent fanposts is they weren’t well thought out, tendentious to the point they could be seen as trolling (a sarcastic title? Come on), and were seemingly written without knowledge of the many discussions on the subjects that have occurred at PR recently.
Maybe that last part is what gets me the most. New ideas are most welcome, but please consider the possibility that the issue you’re concerned with might have been intelligently discussed here before.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
these ideas are all new
and you haven’t seen any of them.
Read and Learn, Fooman.
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 29, 2009 11:12 AM MDT up reply actions
aaaaaaggggggggggg
see now i’m doing what i chided RG about, mocking the new posters about their fanposts in other threads.
I just feel like blamb303’s post was….different….than cowboycr278’s was… you know, more profane, more tinfoil hats, as opposed to just really off base valuation of players.
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 29, 2009 11:17 AM MDT up reply actions
You guys read the AV Club at all?
blamb303 struck the perfect balance between ZMF’s In-Your-Face-itude and Horsefellow’s horrible typing. Except those two clearly know what they are doing, where as I didn’t get the sense that blamb was joking.
Funny Dog to Make Life Worthwhile
by frightened inmate #2 on Jul 29, 2009 11:19 AM MDT up reply actions
It's not the repetitiveness of the post that aggravates
It’s the hostility, the atrocious grammar and spelling, and the downright foolishness.
And I was totally going to post this at the bottom and say “**** YOUR REPLY LINK” but since that post got removed from the original FanPost, I don’t know how many people would have gotten the joke. And the thread’s gone too far down anyway.
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 29, 2009 11:17 AM MDT up reply actions
I agree
There have been a couple of them that came out of left field. I didn’t remember seeing the names in other threads. It’s good to join, participate in regular threads, get a sense of the way the place operates, the tone of conversation, etc.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
Phillies rumored to be discussing a deal with the Tribe for Lee
And the rumored package for him is surprisingly small.
You're pretty convinced this team is gonna lose, aren't you?
not in a long run kind of thing, but any incident that may occur seems to bring up a prophecy of losing
/starter gives up a couple runs
“This game is over”
/opponent makes major acquisition
“We’re so gonna lose”
/fridge out of english muffins
“Go ahead and chalk this up as an L”
Patience, friend, patience! As my mother likes to say, “Don’t borrow trouble” because today is gonna be enough of it’s own!
And boy howdy, is it gonna be a challenge to get past Johan Santana.
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 29, 2009 11:02 AM MDT up reply actions
you keep your english muffins in the fridge?
by purplesocks on Jul 29, 2009 11:44 AM MDT up reply actions
yeah, and my bread
Helps it not get moldy as fast if I don’t chow it down.
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 29, 2009 12:48 PM MDT up reply actions
Phillies now on the verge of making the deal?
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/07/cliff-lee-update.html
That is not a lot to give up. Marson is comparable to McKenry, Donald is comparable to Nelson. Carrasco is comparable to Morales (Morales is better though). And Knapp would be compatible to Friedrich is Friedrich had shoulder problems.
he'll be a FA in 1.5 seasons i think
and Philly is depleting a lot of their young talent.
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 29, 2009 11:14 AM MDT up reply actions
why aren't we in on this nonsense then
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 29, 2009 11:23 AM MDT up reply actions
Well, Marson and Carrasco are a bit better than mkorpal is giving them credit for.
Marson’s having a pretty big year at AAA, at least he was last I’d heard, and Carrasco was deemed their #1 prospect coming into the season.
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 29, 2009 11:25 AM MDT up reply actions
And has put up a pretty large ERA in AAA.
Despite a very rood strike out rate. From what I hear, he has a very good arm, but is a headcase. AKA, De La Rosa.
Marson is a good defensive catcher with little power.
we can't take on more payroll
and the Phillies can…in fact the Phillies are one of the few that can. Buyers market if you have money,
Start Seth Smith! Free Eric Young Jr.!
Apparently it's a done deal
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9866498/MLB-trade-deadline-buzz:-Wednesday%27s-edition
Lee and OF Ben Francisco to the Phillies for Knapp, Carrasco, Donald and Marson
Pending review of medical records
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jul 29, 2009 11:45 AM MDT up reply actions
That's a fleecing and a 1/2
My biggest issue with baseball, is the economic disparity from the Large market teams and the middle and small market teams.
BUT baseball seems to want it as a Phillies Yankees world series will have higher TV ratings then will a Rockies/Twins series ever would hope to generate.
But really if they really want a major league of 10 teams then they should let the 20 other teams have our own AAAA league, which is what is happening anyway.
Start Seth Smith! Free Eric Young Jr.!
Hasn't MLB had a wider variety of champions
than the other major sports?
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
NBA's only had like 7 in the last 25 years. Seriously.
Eschew Obfuscation!
by Jeff Aberle on Jul 29, 2009 10:19 PM MDT up reply actions
would this make halladay cheaper now that the demand has fallen?
im not advocating the rockies trade for him, just asking for other teams. i know the dodgers are rumored for halladay. now that the philies have dropped otu of the halladay talks would the jays lower their asking price?
by purplesocks on Jul 29, 2009 11:49 AM MDT up reply actions
It depends on how far along they are
If they can pull all offers off the table and keep Halladay, it doesn’t matter. But if any bridges have been burned and they deem it necessary to trade him, they are screwed. If we had the cash, we could pull it off. But It won’t happen.
The Jays and Halladay
is a different issue. The trade was Jays driven as Ricardii wants to save his job with a blockbuster deal….but it’s a buyers market. Teams are in financial difficulty. The Rangers went to the league for a loan, The D-backs had a cash call, the Cubs could file bankruptcy.
Now do the Jays need to dump salary? then they might lower their price, but as it looks like only the Dodgers are interested now. But it seems Betencourt’s 1.5 million…..broke the Rockies bank….so doesn’t look like they could afford 14 million from Halladay (even though they offered Matt Holliday a 20 mill contract)
Start Seth Smith! Free Eric Young Jr.!
like i was saying im not advocating the rockies trading for him
although that would be a dream come true, i know its not feasable given his salary + price of prospects giving up. im just more worried that it might make it easier for the dodgers to get him
by purplesocks on Jul 29, 2009 12:19 PM MDT up reply actions
Pirates and Mariners bust some blocks
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
Holy cow is that a silly trade by the Mariners
And another really nice haul for the Pirates, too. I like what they’re doing.
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 29, 2009 11:04 AM MDT up reply actions
The question with Clement is
Can he hit enough to play first if he isn’t a catcher? I can’t believe how little of a chance he got in Seattle.
it's a nice, if not really shiny, haul
From what LL is saying, none of these guys are OMG PITCHING PROSPECT but rather they’re decent young pitching talent that can be moved, but it more or less depletes their minors.
So Pittsburgh has some more good warm bodies and moves a bunch of salary. Good work, Pitts!
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 29, 2009 11:10 AM MDT up reply actions
I am guessing
this means they don’t trade Washburn? Or was this done so they could trade him and still have a pitcher to slide into the rotation.
They are out of the playoff picture currently, right?
Actually, this trade is an indication that they think they're in it.
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 29, 2009 11:15 AM MDT up reply actions
7 1/2 back
with 62 to play? I like the Mariners, but this confuses me. Do they really think they are going to catch up to the Angels or Rangers?
Though, on the plus side, Wilson and Snell both have club options for next year.
Though on the other hand
the M’s just upgraded from Betancourt to Wilson in a span of two weeks. That is a pretty good move.
and got the Royals' best pitching prospect and a couple others
good call on that, I forgot about who they got for Yuni
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 29, 2009 11:24 AM MDT up reply actions
I don't...
I think they’re going for big names from 2006 without a really great idea of how these players are going to fit into a playoff level team.
hahaha
Three way trade: Diamondbacks get Lee, Indians get prospects, Phillies get Mark Reynolds and start up a wind power farm outside CBP.
From someone on another site. Nothing based in reality, just a funny comment.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: FREE SETH SMITH
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
Jason Marquis? Rockies MVP?
REALLY??
"In the future, I want to be a fossil. Or, at least have my feces be fossilized"
-Pygalgia
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Purple Row
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Pitcher Clayton Richard gets key pinch single in 13th after coming in 0 for 16
- Livan Hernandez welcomes ball boy to the bigs with shower of sunflower seeds (VIDEO)
- Man beaten by four others in Dodger Stadium parking lot
- Lance Berkman’s knee injury creates a lot of questions for Cards but also his career
- Next generation: Scott Van Slyke, son of Andy Van Slyke, hits first career homer
