Saturday Rockpile: Aaron Heilman Replaces David Aardsma on the Rockies' Radar

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Dec 18, 2010 8:47 AM MST in Rockpile

Rockies believe asking price is too high for Aardsma
Via Twitter, Troy Renck mentions that the Rockies have scoffed at Seattle's demands for David Aardsma. Out of all of the candidates for a reliever, I believed Aardsma to be the best (144 ERA+, 129 K's in 124 IP the last two seasons), so it's a bit of a blow that he has apparently moved out of the Rockies' price range. However, one more name has popped up in the Rockies' search for bullpen arms, and that name is Aaron Heilman. The Rox have long showed interest in the 32 year-old righty, who was below average last year in that horrific D-Backs bullpen after an above-average 2009 in Chicago.

Francis’ decision expected soon | All Things Rockies — The Denver Post
According to DP's Jim Armstrong, Jeff Francis should be making a decision on whether or not he'll re-sign with the Rockies sometime in the next few days. As Armstrong mentions in the article, there are other places where Francis would have a better opportunity but he may be the loyal type and decide to bide his time in Denver and wait for an injury or some other scenario to play out. I still think Francis has something left in the tank, and I think he's going to want the chance to prove it every fifth day.

Colorado Rockies Top 20 Prospects for 2011 - Minor League Ball
John Sickels has posted his Top 20 prospects list for the Rockies organization, and to my surprise he has Nolan Arenado at the top of the list. A few things that caught my eye were his concerns with Will Swanner and Christian Friedrich (both of which are valid, if you ask me - although Swanner's are much less worrisome at this point), and his love for Chad Bettis (ranked #3). He thinks Bettis could be on Matzek's level soon, but I'd like to see how he performs in his first full year as a starter. Either way, the list includes some good stuff and is definitely worth checking out.

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Comments

Does the FO really have no interest in bringing Beimel back?

I’m not sure I want to go into the season with Reynolds and Morales as our LOOGY. I like Reynolds but I have absolutely no confidence in Franklin.

I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby

by pedalpusher on Dec 18, 2010 8:59 AM MST reply actions

Agree completely

If Rex Brothers is the real deal, he needs to be in the pen on Opening Day and entering games ahead of, and instead of, Morales. If he’s not yet ready to do that, then bring back Beimel. This team can’t afford to dig itself a hole in April and May, hoping the light bulb will come on for Morales.

by Rockpile Interloper on Dec 18, 2010 9:12 AM MST up reply actions

if that really is how they see it

They would probably be best to trade morales now.

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Dec 18, 2010 9:59 AM MST via mobile up reply actions

Maybe they've tried and can't find a trade partner.

I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby

by pedalpusher on Dec 18, 2010 10:05 AM MST up reply actions

The other teams

are just waiting for him to not make the Opening Day roster to try and snatch him up then

You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the goddamn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all. ~Earl Weaver
Baseball fans love numbers. They love to swirl them around their mouths like Bordeaux wine. ~Pat Conroy
JFK

by jrockies on Dec 18, 2010 10:08 AM MST up reply actions

Somebody will take him for the exact same reasons we took DLR.

If they’ve tried to trade him and haven’t, it’s far more likely we haven’t accepted the offered return.

PROJECT LIBRA: Depth / Transactions
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates

by Greg Stanwood on Dec 18, 2010 12:01 PM MST up reply actions

The thing is

the Rockies have 39 on the 40 man roster right now. The Morali battery has to make the roster or possibly be lost to waivers, and I think this might apply more to Franklin than Jose but I don’t know much about Jose yet. If we offer Beimel a contract it would have to be MLB and put him on the 40, which gives us a way to lose Franklin but you simply cannot expect the Rockies to add Brothers to the 40 man roster earlier than necessary as this would start his MLB clock. Simply put you can only do one, add Beimel or another relief pitcher, which is what the club is looking to do, or add Brothers to the 40 and I don’t see that happening until he gets called up during the season.

Disclaimer, I would be fine with Beimel coming back because I’m not 100% sold on Reynolds and Morales in the bullpen but, we have to wait and see.

by jrockies on Dec 18, 2010 10:05 AM MST up reply actions

I understand the roster squeeze

But that’s all the more reason we can’t afford to have someone taking up a spot in the bullpen in which the team has no confidence. Reynolds was terrific last year, but I don’t want to see his arm fall off because he’s sharing the left side of the bullpen with what is essentially an empty chair.

by Rockpile Interloper on Dec 18, 2010 11:06 AM MST up reply actions

We actually ended up signing Beimel to a minor league contract last year, though those were special circumstances.

But if he’s still unsigned in the middle of Spring Training again, you never know.

PROJECT LIBRA: Depth / Transactions
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates

by Greg Stanwood on Dec 18, 2010 12:03 PM MST up reply actions

will the LeBron parodied headlines and tweets ever die off?

Or will it be like Allen Iverson, whenever the word “practice” is mentioned?

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Dec 18, 2010 9:57 AM MST via mobile reply actions

C'mon, we talkin' 'bout practice!

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by Jeff Aberle on Dec 18, 2010 10:19 AM MST up reply actions

Practice? C'mon

"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker

by Resolution on Dec 18, 2010 10:37 AM MST up reply actions

Are we really talkin' bout PRACTICE?!

Optimism Warrior
2011 Colorado Zombies--Will rise from beneath homeplate with the shards of a broken season in Tulo's hand!
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by SDcat09 on Dec 18, 2010 10:41 AM MST up reply actions

Are you taking your talents to Wyoming?

Hating Cubs fans since 1908

by Hizilla on Dec 18, 2010 10:44 AM MST up reply actions

Press Hop

some of his best work

~ Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too ~

by TomCat009 on Dec 18, 2010 12:30 PM MST up reply actions

The discussion in the Sickels rankings weren't very positive with respect to Matzek.

Mike at Scouting the Sally said that several scouts have shared concerns regarding his make-up and wildness.

Are these comments valid? I know the Rockies tinkered with his mechanics and he was wild this year, but I thought there where reports that he was doing better this fall?

And what’s with the character concerns? Are there any stories behind this? That concerns me (if true) more than a walk rate his first full year while mechanics are being toyed with.

Anyone have any insight on this?

by blooming rock on Dec 18, 2010 10:46 AM MST reply actions

I would

guess the character concerns are the same as when he was drafted. You should check out Mike’s blog, he has a couple good writeup’s of when he saw Matzek live this summer/fall.

Hating Cubs fans since 1908

by Hizilla on Dec 18, 2010 10:50 AM MST up reply actions

Yeah, I just hadn't heard anything new regarding character issues

Didn’t know if there were new happenings/concerns or just lingering from high school.

by blooming rock on Dec 18, 2010 10:52 AM MST up reply actions

I thought I remembered hearing

that he had a really good make-up, a solid work ethic with a tough mentality (or whatever jargon was used)…

"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker

by Resolution on Dec 18, 2010 10:56 AM MST up reply actions

One year isn't enough to yet judge Matzek's control.

While the walk rate he accumulated wasn’t exactly pretty, it must be kept in mind that Matzek’s year was largely a year of retooling, as coaches changed the way he pitched significantly. Matzek spent a good chunk of the season in EST as well. Let’s watch Matzek pitch in Modesto for a full season first.

PROJECT LIBRA: Depth / Transactions
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates

by Greg Stanwood on Dec 18, 2010 12:05 PM MST up reply actions

Sickles

doesn’t seem to be in love with Rox prospects. Seems like 2011 will be a big year for the guys at the top of the system to hopefully take those big steps forward.

Hating Cubs fans since 1908

by Hizilla on Dec 18, 2010 10:46 AM MST reply actions

I think his ratings ended up being pretty fair.

Everyone has different ways to judge these players, and I agree with him that none of our prospects stand out amongst the most elite of the elite. One way to look at it is that our system isn’t top heavy, but it is deep. Sickels originally called the system “thin” and then corrected himself upon realizing that just because we didn’t have any top tier prospects, we still has a significant amount who could be valuable MLB talent someday.

PROJECT LIBRA: Depth / Transactions
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates

by Greg Stanwood on Dec 18, 2010 12:06 PM MST up reply actions

Also, in the Sickels rankings, I'm quite suprised at a couple of his rankings:

Rosario should be an A/A- IMO, especially after the positive stories in his recovery from the knee injury in fall league.

Arenado the top prospect? I like him a lot, but there’s no way he’s the system’s top prospect.

Finally, aside from Arenado and Rosario, the top tier prospects (in Sickels eyes) seem to be very pitching heavy. Not that this is anything new, but there’s not a lot of high end bats in the uppper levels of the system. That concerns me in the next few years in that I believe the hitting has held the big league clud back the pasat year or two, while the pitching has carried it.

I hope some of the younger bats can emerge/stay as high end prospects moving forward, for the long term strength of the organization.

by blooming rock on Dec 18, 2010 10:55 AM MST reply actions

well hopefully

Stew and Dex make some more steps forward, which leaves 1B, 2B,and C as question marks – and there’s not much we can do about 1b, and worst case scenario, Iannetta doesn’t find his groove this season and Rosario is up soon… also, hopefully one of our 12 2b’s steps it up…

"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker

by Resolution on Dec 18, 2010 10:58 AM MST up reply actions

It's not a bad list

I would probably move Rosario up to a B+ and probably move Ortega up and Nicasio down. Otherwise, it works for me.

by mkorpal on Dec 18, 2010 11:05 AM MST up reply actions

I should also note

that a lot of these guys are just not tapping into their true potential. Next years list has the chance to feature several more B+ and A type prospects.

by mkorpal on Dec 18, 2010 11:07 AM MST up reply actions

Also, just for the record

I think Qualls would be a really good signing, he seemed really unlucky last year and gets a lot of ground balls – maybe a 1yr deal to reestablish himself…

"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker

by Resolution on Dec 18, 2010 11:00 AM MST reply actions

We have enough journeyman type relievers

I can’t see how Heilman or Qualls is a large improvement on Daley. No need to pick up a middling reliever until you see how everyone is throwing in spring training. I can understand not overpaying for Crane or Guerrer but the thought of Heilman at Coors makes me cringe. I just don’t want to see another Luis Vizcaino situation.

by RoxandRoll on Dec 18, 2010 11:09 AM MST reply actions

We don't have any journeyman relievers though... like at all

and Qualls was actually good for a long time – Heilman has been inconsistent..

"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker

by Resolution on Dec 18, 2010 11:13 AM MST up reply actions

Paulino may be on the way

to journeyman type reliever. I know some here love him but I am thinking Denny Bautista. But I agree, we currently have a pretty stable core…….my post should have read we have HAD enough journeyman type relievers. My brother who is a Met fan hates Heilman.

by RoxandRoll on Dec 18, 2010 11:17 AM MST up reply actions

I don't know your brother, but I know people who hate Street

Relievers are hopelessly tied to confirmation bias more than any position. Once someone decides a pitcher is no good, every walk, run, and big inning co firms it, while a clean inning is finally found his job. Heilman would be fine as the fourth guy out of the pen.

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Dec 18, 2010 11:28 AM MST via mobile up reply actions

But

is he honestly much better than Daley – particularly the 2009 version of Daley?

by RoxandRoll on Dec 18, 2010 11:29 AM MST up reply actions

Or Deduno

Who should have a pretty good shot at the pen next year.

by mkorpal on Dec 18, 2010 11:31 AM MST up reply actions

Not out of the gate.

PROJECT LIBRA: Depth / Transactions
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates

by Greg Stanwood on Dec 18, 2010 12:08 PM MST up reply actions

not necessarily

but if he’s a quality arm at a good price, especially since we have an injury prone closer, I think I’d go for it. Last year our bullpen was absolutely gassed (and we needed to go after guys like Dotel and Delcarmen). I’d rather go after someone like Qualls now who seems like a good rebound candidate, to help build depth and maybe prevent the exhaustion, rather than need someone like Delcarmen later to help reduce the exhaustion.

Additionally, the more comfortable Tracy is with the bullpen, the less likely he’ll ride starters as hard…

"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker

by Resolution on Dec 18, 2010 11:39 AM MST up reply actions

Qualls has been bad for quite awhile now

He’s inconsisent, can’t control the movement on his pitches, gives
up too many dingers. He was terrible as a late-season acquisition
for the Rays last year & terrible before then in AZ. The AZ bullpen,
of which Heilman & Qualls were mainstays, was among the worst
in baseball last year. It’s an odd place to look for relief help in
the same division.

Mediocrity sucks

by Maris6161 on Dec 18, 2010 11:46 AM MST up reply actions

Maybe another Apodaca reclamation project? ( I don't really want FYI)

by SDcat09 on Dec 18, 2010 11:50 AM MST up reply actions

Qualls finished 2009

with a 3.6 era, a 57% ground ball rate, and less than 1 home run per nine innings. He has given up homers in the past but I wouldn’t expect that to increase significantly moving to Coors since AZ is pretty homer friendly itself.

Qualls has never really been lights out, but we wouldn’t be asking him to be and I’m not sure where he’s gotten the terrible reputation from…

"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker

by Resolution on Dec 18, 2010 12:16 PM MST up reply actions

We didn't go after Delcarmen for relief of our other pitchers (though Dotel was definitely brought in for that reason, plus the Type B status)

When we traded for him, we had every intention of keeping Delcarmen in 2011 in the Corpas role, hoping for a resurgence. Plans clearly changed before the tender deadline.

PROJECT LIBRA: Depth / Transactions
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates

by Greg Stanwood on Dec 18, 2010 12:10 PM MST up reply actions

thats a good point

I guess my point was more around we felt we needed relief help for whatever reasons and I’m more comfortable going after someone like Qualls who we could probably sign cheap and who has only struggled for one year, rather than give up a prospect on a reclamation project in the hope that he really helps us next year…

"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker

by Resolution on Dec 18, 2010 12:18 PM MST up reply actions

Every player, nevermind relievers

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by Andrew Martin on Dec 18, 2010 12:04 PM MST up reply actions

Francis "a righteous dude" as Armstrong describes him

should be offered more than a million dollars by the Rockies. I think he will go elsewhere because of this. Rockies will miss him when he goes to some other team and has a great year that is predicted by some who feel the second year after surgery is much better.

by butterfly on Dec 18, 2010 11:13 AM MST reply actions

Why?

We have a full rotation right now, and he can’t be stuffed in the minors. It sucks, cause I like him, but there is no room at all on the team. The Rockies have done the right thing here by offering to match and minor league offers he gets, but not offering a major league deal.

by mkorpal on Dec 18, 2010 11:17 AM MST up reply actions

Hammel and Cook

are pretty big question marks so I can see the point of having Francis around but I don’t think he would be real useful out of the pen. If you sign Francis, I would much rather see Cook go to the pen. For all his faults, if he came in with traffic on then he could possibly induce the double play.

by RoxandRoll on Dec 18, 2010 11:19 AM MST up reply actions

He probably will go elsewhere, where he has a chance to be something other than a long reliever.

PROJECT LIBRA: Depth / Transactions
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates

by Greg Stanwood on Dec 18, 2010 12:10 PM MST up reply actions

By the way

Apparently today is the 13th anniversary of one of the most lopsided trades in history. Tony Armas Jr. and Carl Pavano to the Expos for Pedro Martinez. OUCH. Two years later, Pedro put up an ungodly strikeout to walk ratio of 313 to 37. Damn.

by mkorpal on Dec 18, 2010 11:30 AM MST reply actions

8.46? HA!

Cliff Lee chortles mightily at 8.45.

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by Andrew Martin on Dec 18, 2010 12:05 PM MST up reply actions

I imagine pete's ERA+ of 265 for 99-00 chortles right back

those seasons were just freaky

~ Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too ~

by TomCat009 on Dec 18, 2010 12:36 PM MST reply actions

those 7 years between 97-03

ol pete had an ERA+ of 213 of 2.20 and a WHIP of .940 over 1400 innings just amazing, to bad he was so unloveable.

~ Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too ~

by TomCat009 on Dec 18, 2010 12:41 PM MST up reply actions

Ubaldo at 37?

Why not 38? I know fantasy baseball is serious bizness, but come on.

by Yokel on Dec 18, 2010 12:56 PM MST reply actions

Pedro

99-00 and 00-01 make a very strong argument for the best two season stretch in history. Actually, probably not much of an argument to be made AGAINST that.

What a stretch he had in the late 90s.

by MADness on Dec 18, 2010 1:09 PM MST reply actions

OT: I know this is OT, but there's no separate thread.

And I just found out about this (and a follow-up here) and am honestly really, really upset so I needed to share. I’ve been in that building a number of times for various things (church meetings, concerts, etc.), and driven past it way more times than that. It was over 100 years old and was a beautiful, historic building. Looking at all the photos in the 1st article is just devastating. If this was arson…

by holly96 on Dec 18, 2010 1:35 PM MST reply actions

what a shame no matter the cause

~ Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too ~

by TomCat009 on Dec 18, 2010 1:40 PM MST up reply actions

Indeed.

by holly96 on Dec 18, 2010 1:44 PM MST up reply actions

There were apparently a number of musical instruments in the building that were destroyed.

Including a $100,000 grand piano. And $2 million worth of recording equipment. There were concerts scheduled for this weekend.

And the historic organ in the building was worth maybe $1 million.

by holly96 on Dec 18, 2010 1:59 PM MST up reply actions

Wow....that's a huge loss. I can understand why you'd be upset.

by SDcat09 on Dec 18, 2010 2:10 PM MST up reply actions

I somehow didn't hear about it yesterday, and so it was a total shock to see a headline about it this morning.

There’s an aerial video of it here. I hope they’re at least able to save some bits of the exterior to incorporate when they (hopefully) rebuild it.

by holly96 on Dec 18, 2010 2:28 PM MST up reply actions

Yeah, that's awful.

A lot of people around here are really upset as well, as you can probably imagine.

Just an average guy with exceptional hair. Nothing more, nothing less.
Bear Naked - My thoughts on sports, music, and life.

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Dec 18, 2010 5:18 PM MST up reply actions

Yep, I can.

by holly96 on Dec 18, 2010 8:12 PM MST up reply actions

Rockies sign Mike Jacobs to minor league deal

He hasn’t seemed to have much left in the tank, but he’s probably an improvement over a Brad Eldred at AAA

Campaigning for more day baseball games since 2006

by djmbluemoon on Dec 18, 2010 2:12 PM MST reply actions

Per Troy Renck, Wigginton apparently took less money to sign with Rockies.

by holly96 on Dec 18, 2010 2:19 PM MST reply actions

Everytime I see Wigginton

I think it must be wrong. Should read Willingham…:(

by SDcat09 on Dec 18, 2010 2:22 PM MST up reply actions

Meh.

I’m okay with Wigginton.

I'm GoRockies!! everybody :P

by CentralCaliRox on Dec 18, 2010 2:26 PM MST up reply actions

Time to move on

Wigginton > Willingham – what it would have taken to get him. Not even close.

Plus we get to call him “Wiggy”.

by BostonTransplant on Dec 18, 2010 2:29 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

Uh oh....I can think of the walk up music now....

“Gonna Get Wiggy Wit It”

by SDcat09 on Dec 18, 2010 2:36 PM MST up reply actions

Wow.

I’ve read some reports that said Wigginton is truly a good guy, fits in the clubhouse well.

I actually like this signing more so than most.

I'm GoRockies!! everybody :P

by CentralCaliRox on Dec 18, 2010 2:25 PM MST up reply actions

I don't have anything against it...

It sucks giving utility guys multi-year deals, but the worst case scenario isprobably that he’ll have a Mora-type season, which would make him the team’s third-best offensive player if nobody improves over last year.

Just an average guy with exceptional hair. Nothing more, nothing less.
Bear Naked - My thoughts on sports, music, and life.

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Dec 18, 2010 5:20 PM MST up reply actions

If no one improves over last year, we're in deep do-do.

I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby

by pedalpusher on Dec 18, 2010 6:37 PM MST up reply actions

And if we lose the defense that Barmey brought....yikes

by SDcat09 on Dec 18, 2010 9:05 PM MST up reply actions

You make a valid point here.

Just an average guy with exceptional hair. Nothing more, nothing less.
Bear Naked - My thoughts on sports, music, and life.

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Dec 19, 2010 7:36 AM MST up reply actions

what???

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/fanblogs/112137964.html

A source informed me earlier today that the Milwaukee Brewers have come to a preliminary agreement with the Kansas City Royals for a deal that would send pitcher Zack Greinke to Milwaukee.

The rumored agreement would send shortstop Alcides Escobar, center fielder Lorenzo Cain, and right-hander Jeremy Jeffress to Kansas City in return for Greinke, shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt and approximately $2M.

Is it 2011 yet?

by The Lodo Magic Man on Dec 18, 2010 9:31 PM MST reply actions

That's quite a long disclaimer leading off the story

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Dec 18, 2010 10:19 PM MST up reply actions

I also saw that

retweeted, went back to playing nhl 09

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by Andrew Martin on Dec 18, 2010 10:40 PM MST up reply actions

This lends credence to my Brewers sleeper pick and solves a big issue they had.

The writer formerly known as Jabberwocky
READ and LEARN about the business of baseball at Purple Row Academy
Eschew Obfuscation!

by Jeff Aberle on Dec 18, 2010 10:52 PM MST up reply actions

Prospect Rankings

I wrote up a little comparison of prospect lists, namely Sickels’, the PuRPs list, and my own purely statistical rankings. The agreement between my own “ProspectBot” and the PuRPs list is pretty staggering. Here’s the link:

http://neifiprojections.wordpress.com/2010/12/18/rockies-prospect-list-breakdown/

by Heltonfan on Dec 18, 2010 9:56 PM MST reply actions