What are they?

Could be the bit about “snapped a power fastball and good breaking pitches,” but it depends on what they mean. If power fastball means he’s in Ubaldo-ville, yeah, no.

The trade also doesn’t free up a 40-man spot for the Rockies.

To me, what’s important is that they listed his injuries as likely factors in his regression.

What a headache.

While it’s true that the Rockies are slumping offensively at the moment, you have to believe that everything will even out and that most of the guys will hit like their career numbers (and overall ability) suggests they will. I would personally like to see the club add another arm to the bullpen, but there are a few options internally that can help the team down the stretch. Simply put, I just don’t know that there is enough out there that is worth giving up good prospects to acquire.

We are always glad to have new posters.

I don’t think many people consider Garko and Sanchez “potent bats” in any MLB lineup other than the Giants’. If they make the playoffs, it will be on the strength of their pitching staff.

But Sanchez and Garko aren’t the major upgrades that you might believe them to be – in fact, their sum value is probably about equal to what the Rox can expect from Betancourt and Chacin.

The Rockies did not ‘sit idly by’. They added Betancourt and Chacin – two pieces that should be upgrades to the team’s major Achilles heel. That’s not ‘sitting idly by’. Just because the Rox didn’t go make a move that grabbed a few national headlines doesn’t mean they haven’t upgraded their team.

but even though the Giants added, they overpaid in trading two of their top three pitching prospects for two marginal upgrades. Garko is slightly above league average with the bat, Sanchez is about league average, and neither are defensive assets per se. Quite frankly, Betancourt over Rincon in the eighth might offset the Giants moves…and if we were trying to make moves to ensure keeping up with the Dodgers in hopes of a division title, there would be a LOT of movement. Starting pitching is a strength as is, the offense is full of above league average bats save Barmes (only by a little) and the asking price was pretty steep for a bullpen rental. As constructed, this team should be competitive.

The Giants and Cardinals had a clear need. Their teams were/are more unbalanced. The Giants don’t have any offense and the Cardinals don’t have any outside of Pujols. They made some trades to address them.

The Dodgers probably didn’t need Sherrill but got him as Kuo insurance.

The Rockies’ only true weakness was the bullpen, which they took action to remedy. I’m not sure how reliable Chacin or Morales will be, nor if Betancourt will be effective at Coors (although I like the chances for success for all three), and should all of them falter, I’d be upset at the results but not at the logic guiding the moves.

I think the only thing that could stop the Rockies now is just offensive inconsistency. Stewart and Iannetta need to start getting more luck on balls in play. If Fowler heats up and we stop batting Barmes second, I think we can take off in the offensive department.

This is all a long-winded way of saying the Rockies didn’t make big trades because they have the pieces to compete.

Sanchez and Garko should combine for about one added WAR to the Giants team. For what they gave up, they got their butt’s kicked in the deals.

Besides, the Rockies are balanced at every position right now (though I agree that EY2 should replace Q as the utility man, more impact and gives him a taste of the majors) and they are currently working to get the muck out of the bullpen. Personally, I’d like to see a LOOGY replace Rincon in the bullpen and then the ‘pen is elite, but with Betancourt and Chacin added for the injured Corpas and Speier, it’s a major addition that allows us to not duck when a pitcher goes six, instead of seven or eight.

I dunno if it’s dropped off recently, but before adding park adjustments, the Rockies are 2nd in the NL vs. LHP’s.

but I think we have plenty of reasons to be optimistic.