Monday Rockpile: Rockies still bleeding money, and what pitchers do they really need to rely on down the stretch?
by Rox Girl on Aug 10, 2009 8:43 AM MDT
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PrintFormer Rockies pitcher and current media wonk Mark Knudson doesn't seem to really understand what "off the record" means, but I'm not sure if whoever in the front office let him in on the Rockies financial laundry had many smats either in divulging. At any rate, we know from this article that deferred money to Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle, which was supposed to be coming out from a fund that still had $30 million in it last November when ColoradoBiz came out with their article discussed in this FanPost from January, is once again coming direct from the Rockies primary revenue streams.
Knudson doesn't mention the impact this would have on signing our first round draft pick, Tyler Matzek, but if we were hoping for extra revenue to be pushed into that pot, well it doesn't sound likely. Meanwhile, I'm sure a sales glitch that leaves three sections of Coors Field's more expensive seats empty for one of the easiest sellouts of the season on Friday night probably doesn't help the bottom line either. I think bigger than the Cubs series which would come close to selling out regardless of whether the Rockies were competitive or not, we'll have a big litmus test of how many Rockies fans are back on the bandwagon starting tomorrow night with the Pirates.
Denver Post:
De La Rosa's objective: rebounding on mound - The Denver Post
Hammel isn't flat-out sharp - The Denver Post
Renck: Games vs. Giants will seal deal - The Denver Post
In the first two links, one from Patrick Saunders on where tonight's starter Jorge De La Rosa is mentally, and one note on where yesterday's starter Jason Hammel is mechanically, you have a picture of two bottom of the rotation starters that could be going either way for the Rockies for the rest of the season. The last link from Troy Renck on the importance of Jason Marquis and Aaron Cook to the Rockies chances, shows that two middle of the rotation starters are sort of in the same boat. So for those that weren't doing the math at home, we have four out of five starters who are gigantic question marks for the last fifty games of the season.
It's not necessarily a bad thing, because all four have some really nice answers among the possibilities, but it does feel a little like Monty Hall's just waiting for the donkey to come out of door number three.
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While I would hate to see Cookie land on the DL,
I disagree with Renck that we can’t make the playoffs if this happens. I think our staff is strong enough to cobble something together to tide us over.
I would really like to see Chacin go Tuesday night to get a little glimpse of the future. And as Fogg said, he’s only gone 40 pitches max in a game this year so he can’t expect to be stretched out much past that.
"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
I'm concerned that starting Chacin will mess with what he's doing in the majors
He’s learning to pitch out of the pen, I’d rather not give him a taste of starting and then have to knock him back down to the pen later.
Seth Smith status: Finally Getting Playing time
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Aug 10, 2009 9:11 AM MDT up reply actions
Well if he delivers the goods,
the pen may not be in his future much longer.
While there’s no book out there on him yet, he is just making hitters look foolish. Will this continue as he works through the league? That’s the 64 dollar question.
"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
I'm wondering how long it will take for MLB hitters to get used to him
and if they do, will it crush him?
Seth Smith status: Finally Getting Playing time
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Aug 10, 2009 9:27 AM MDT up reply actions
I think that's what we're all eagerly awaiting to find out.
"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
Chacin's command
I don’t think they’ll crush him but he’ll need more consistent command. I didn’t see the 2 inning relief stint where he managed no walks, but in the other 3 he had some spotty results; his vaunted changeup was all over the place and as he sees more batters and when he starts he’ll need that more.
I don’t have a problem with a spot start or two or Chacin serving as insurance the rest of the year, but I’d much rather have him pitching out of the pen as planned than have him filling a rotation spot the rest of the year. (Esp. since that would mean Hammel or DLR have imploded completely, or Cook’s injury got worse…)
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
The command thing is my issue
Not really CONTROL, like BB9 or whatever, but he sails a lot of pitches.
And Fukudome just gripped it and ripped it, because that fastball really was a bat pitch.
Seth Smith status: Finally Getting Playing time
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Aug 10, 2009 10:14 AM MDT up reply actions
excellent
Seth Smith status: Finally Getting Playing time
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Aug 10, 2009 10:56 AM MDT up reply actions
Have we already decided Chacin is a permanent bullpen guy
or are you just talking about the remainder of this year? Personally, I am still hoping Chacin becomes a member of the rotation next year and if needed this year. On a side note, I am hoping the same for Morales. I know it would be hard to do that w/ an upper 90’s left handed pen arm, but I am hoping Reynolds replaces him next year in the pen and he gets a shot at the rotation again.
It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.
I'm just talking about this year
Seth Smith status: Finally Getting Playing time
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Aug 10, 2009 9:58 AM MDT up reply actions
I am sure RMN means short term
Chacin’s definitely a rotation candidate for 2010 and beyond. I’m sure Morales will be given a chance to compete for a spot as well. Starters are just worth that much that you give these guys every chance.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
I'm slowly and warily moving to the thought process
of making Morales a full time reliever
Seth Smith status: Finally Getting Playing time
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Aug 10, 2009 10:01 AM MDT up reply actions
I wouldn't mind that at all
He’d be a WICKED set up guy. That being said, he should definitely get another shot at the rotation….he could be a top of the rotation starter (most likely 2), easily.
The fact that he could go either way is really a testament to his stuff. He’s a good one.
"There are only two important things in life: baseball and breathing. But at least you can survive without breathing for 3 minutes."
www.soundclick.com/hollidayrain
by Hollidayrain on Aug 10, 2009 10:04 AM MDT up reply actions
I guess that's why I want him in the pen
I don’t see him as a top-2 guy anymore – I don’t think he’s got the mental makeup for it. I think he’d rather just go balls out, and when he tries to ration his “stuff” over 100 pitches (give or take), he ends up over and underthrowing and his stuff just doesn’t move and break and locate right.
He’ll still be wild in the pen, but I think if he can really start destroying from the bullpen in the majors, he might at some point make a transition BACK to the rotation.
Seth Smith status: Finally Getting Playing time
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Aug 10, 2009 10:08 AM MDT up reply actions
and this I totally agree with
I think Morales could be a great bull pen guy…even a closer. He’s got a balls to the wall, full throttle attitude.
and when he gets wild…he gets rattled. Less time to ge wild and rattled pitching 1 or 2 innings out of the pen
I suspect that's where he's headed
He just hasn’t seemed like a guy with the consistent control needed to be a starter. I’d guess he’ll be given a chance to start in the spring, with the pen as a fall back.
With his stuff, there’s a lot of roles he could fill…perhaps even the heart-attack lefty sidearm closer role after 2010.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
I agree with this
I was opposed to it before the season for two main reasons: rotation depth and Morales’ mental stability in the pen. The rotation has been as strong and as deep as ever this season, and Chacin, Rogers and Hynick could be internal options next year as well, with Friedrich not too far behind (hopefully). Of course, Francis might come back as well. With no great LH relievers in the system, he fills a need very well, and he has been able to shake off wildness (in walking the first two once) and getting hit around (the grand slam and consecutive hard singles to start yesterday). He actually has more pickoffs than balks. If he cleans up his walks, he’ll be a huge asset in the pen.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Aug 10, 2009 10:32 AM MDT up reply actions
he's actually posting a 2.11 K/BB with a sub-4 BB9
His 1.69 HR9 is really not acceptable, however.
Seth Smith status: Finally Getting Playing time
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Aug 10, 2009 10:41 AM MDT up reply actions
Didn't he mean walks as a reliever?
There have been too many.
Geez, looking over his minor league stats, looks like it’s always been a problem.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
i don't need no reliever splits
Seth Smith status: Finally Getting Playing time
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Aug 10, 2009 10:57 AM MDT up reply actions
Yes, I'm meaning as a reliever
which of course brings out sample size issues. He allowed 5 hits yesterday, and he had allowed just 3 in 11.1 IP in the pen before that. His pen BB/9 is close to 4.50, but the only HR he allowed was that Tatis golf job. I also worry about that BB rate in pressure situations. H’s been far better than I expected as a reliever, but we’ll have to wait for a larger sample size.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Aug 10, 2009 10:55 AM MDT up reply actions
I'm trying to decide if I want to go to the game tonight....
Early reports say this is unlikely to actually happen.
Really? Rain?
"There are only two important things in life: baseball and breathing. But at least you can survive without breathing for 3 minutes."
www.soundclick.com/hollidayrain
by Hollidayrain on Aug 10, 2009 10:06 AM MDT up reply actions
heh, no, I imagine the game will still be played
The early reports were referring to my presence at it.
I think I can help out with understanding what Knudson is saying...
He’s a moron. He was against drafting Jay Cutler (wait!) because Bradlee van Pelt was our quarterback of the future. He was adamant on the subject. And it wasn’t because he predicted the implosion of Cutler’s maturity.
If the Rox are still paying Hampton and Neagle deferred money, it will be accounted for somewhere and should not affect the Matzek negotiations as the front office would be aware before the draft that they had no money to sign an expensive player and they’d have gone out and got another Greg Reynolds type.
+1
There are two ways out of a budget problem. Spend less (i.e., sell, sell, sell) or make more (i.e., make the playoffs and rake in some extra ticket/other revenue). The latter apparently is lost on Mr. Knudson, but certainly my preference.
"If you're going to be stupid, you'd better be tough."
Lost on Knudson
Trade Helton to a playoff contender??? Isn’t he already on a team that is a playoff contender. He is the leader of this team and clubhouse. His veteran presence is the glue for the Rockies.
that was a really poor article
1. Atkins’ bat is only worth anything against lefties. I don’t care if he’s been doing well lately, his bat speed has slowed, and he’s not even a fraction of the offensive force he once was.
2. Helton has a better eye than Atkins. A better average than Atkins. Hits for more power than Atkins. Is an infinitely better 1B than Atkins. Helton makes better fielders out of Stewart, Tulo and Barmes, just with his ability to maintain the back end of the 5-3, 6-3, and 4-3 with excellent picks and catches.
3. Why would the Rockies give up postseason revenue by trading Helton to…free up money? That’s absolutely stupid.
4. Helton is 5th among NL 1B in OPS and 4th in wOBA. Looking at the classic numbers, he’s tied for 1st in AVG and while he’s not at the top in RBIs, he’s 1st in 2Bs.
5. As the other posters have noted, Helton is the face of the franchise. Trade him, and not only do we stop being postseason contenders, we lose a LOT of fanbase.
So to summarize, keeping Todd Helton is the best move for this franchise, long and short term.
Seth Smith status: Finally Getting Playing time
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Aug 11, 2009 9:42 AM MDT up reply actions
was the ticketing error for fridays game?
because i noticed that both first level corners of the outfield were empty. i found it quite weird
Yup, Friday
The FSN guys mentioned that someone’s system had a glitch that caused the sections not to show up as available for sale. I can’t remember if they said someone on the team assumed this had happened, or if they had identified the issue.
It did look weird to have empty sections with the upper decks full/near full. Did they open the extreme upper RF deck?
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
But what about Sunday?
Did the same thing happen? Or were there entire sections where everyone either didn’t show up or moved up?
Maybe what we need is a new IT guy in the ticket department at 20th and Blake.
Between the World Series snafu and gobs of Cubs tickets going unsold, it is quite obvious something is rotten in Denmark (or Denver).
"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
I noticed it Sunday on TV as well (I don't know about Sat)
It was 3 sections by the foul pole on the lower level, not sold, that were somehow reserved for the King Soopers $10 specials…but the Cubs game was excluded from that…..but some how the screw up was the worst of both worlds…not available from the Rockies..not available from King Soopers
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