Tuesday Rockpile: Trivial things you should know about the Rockies
by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 9, 2010 8:00 AM MST
in Rockpile
160 comments
The Rockies pipeline is pretty dry this morning. Nothing is boiling at MLB Trade Rumors, Troy Renck hasn't had an update since yesterday, and with the 40-man roster full, it's unlikely we see anything noteworthy. We will just have to wait until pitchers and catchers report in six days.
But just so there's something to read this morning, I have assembled a few random factoids/statistics from 2009. Some are intentionally counter-intuitive; some are intentionally abusing small sample sizes. Some are old and you've probably seen them before; some are new; some I've borrowed from other writers and some will make you blue. Without further ado:
- Miguel Olivo led the entire AL in slugging percentage in June.
- Adam Eaton led the team with a .706 wOBA. He had one plate appearance, pulling out a 14th inning RBI walk on August 24, immediately preceding the SpillySlam. Behind Eaton are Jason Giambi (.455) and Troy Tulowitzki (.393).
- Todd Helton was 2nd in the NL in sac flies, Jorge de la Rosa was 3rd in wild pitches, and Dexter Fowler was 4th in sac hits.
- Ryan Spilborghs led all Rockies' outfielders in assists, and Seth Smith had the greatest UZR.
- Jason Marquis had a better ERA at Coors Field than away from it.
- Jason Hammel had a lower xFIP at Coors Field than on the road.
- Brad Hawpe hit .846 with a runner on second base from Opening Day to June 13. He was 11-for-13.
- Carlos Gonzalez failed to get on base even once in his 14 PA's from the 9-hole.
- Much was made of Jorge de la Rosa's dramatic turnaround in the second half, but his second half FIP was only 0.10 better than in the first half.
- Jason Marquis, Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Hammel were 3rd, 7th and 16th, respectively, in MLB at groundball per flyball ratio.
- Eric Young Jr. was the first player to be picked off on his first two times reaching base in his career.
- Jason Hammel set the franchise K/BB mark, Ubaldo Jimenez set the franchise H/9 mark, and Jorge de la Rosa broke his own franchise record, set in 2008, for K/9.
- According to Fangraphs, Jason Hammel had the 5th best curveball in MLB in 2009. Suck it, thin air.
- Memo to Baltimore: Garrett Atkins hit .450 with a 1.150 OPS as a DH.
- Only one Rockies' starting pitcher allowed more than 1.0 HR/9 - sinkerballer Aaron Cook.
- The first batter in an inning hit .370 off Ubaldo Jimenez, reaching base 49% of the time.
- For the second consecutive year, Ubaldo Jimenez had the fastest average fastball (96.1mph) among MLB starters. Despite starting at the ceiling and throwing the 3rd most innings in franchise history, he increased his average fastball 1.2mph, the 20th highest fastball gain in the league from 2008.
- From Fangraphs' pitch ratings: Only two pitchers had three different pitches rated at greater than +9.6 in 2009. One was Javier Vazquez. The other was Ubaldo Jimenez
- Chris Iannetta grounded into only one more double play than Jeff Baker did with the Rockies.
- Seth Smith had a .581 BABIP in AB's from games in which he did not start.
- After the day Jim Tracy replaced Clint Hurdle, the Rockies were 34-14 in games started by fourth and fifth starters Jorge de la Rosa and Jason Hammel.
- If you have any oddities/anomalies/interesting bits of your own, do share.
Six days from the first day of Spring Training activity, and there are a slew of talented, unsigned free agents. The Rockies don't figure to have space for any of them, but the "Un-signed All-Star team" is interesting nonetheless.
Chris Jaffe ranks the best MLB stadiums. Coors Field ranks....nowhere. He has only been to 14 parks, some of which no longer exist. Where would you rank Coors (no answering unless you've been to 5+)?
I don't know when these were posted, but the Denver Post has a couple video interviews with Jeff Francis and Dexter Fowler posted.
The following three links were no linked in the Rockpile story yesterday, but they were published yesterday and linked in the comments. If you missed them:
Renck: Rockies are sure to miss Torrealba - The Denver Post
With starting spot secure, Rockies' Stewart focuses on swing - The Denver Post
The Pitching DiamondView is here. - Beyond the Box Score
The DiamondView Pitching Composite Evaluation tool is finally here--and it will knock your socks off. Check it out now.
Lastly, the 2009 NL West in Review WAR series will wrap up today at noon MT.
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Hammel had quite the year, didn't he?
I would have never guessed his GB/FB ratio would rank so high, every time I saw someone make contact, it was a double in the gap or a HR.
Attention Whore.
Socks definitively not knocked off by pitching diamond view.
It seems that, even more than with hitters, that they are artificially trying to squeeze all a pitcher’s tools into four quarters. Is there anything to stop a pentagonal or hexagonal view? Other than simplicity = good, which is only true when the thing being studied actually IS simple.
Also – and again, it’d ruin the strong visuals – is there perhaps a way of weighting each quarter of the diamond so the more important quarters (in providing WAR, say) are literally bigger than the others? You could then simply rate player by the size of their shadow – “ah, I see JDLR fills 9.6 cm squared – Javier Vazquez only manages 9.7!” or somesuch.
Yeah, it's kind of cool, but I agree that it could be much better.
One thing that bothered me was the batted-ball field. GB/FB is useful, but it doesn’t tell the whole story, as shown by Greinke’s chart. It seems to me they should also incorporate BABIP, HR/FB, and LD%. But, taken for what it is, the pictures are pretty.
It really is about simplicity.
The DiamondView charts are about visualizing stats in a way that anyone, including folks not familiar with more advanced metrics, can quickly and easily understand.
Yes, but
If it’s misleading – as roxnsox points out it can be – then the stats actually become worse than useless. I know Justin is constantly tweaking, and I hope he can take some of these concerns into account – it’s be ironic if a bigtime SABR dude created something which, by looking pretty, undermines the whole point of objective statistical analysis!
I think once he changes the labels to clearly indicate what each piece represents it'll be better.
I agree that the first version is a bit misleading.
I like the idea
but question the legitimacy and specificity as well. Why not just call it what it is than give it a term like “control”
I, for one, am optimistic about the future. And I'm not one to be optimistic about anything.
by fantasyfencing on Feb 9, 2010 9:20 AM MST up reply actions
To me, the Diamond View for pitchers is less about figuring a pitcher's worth
And more about determining the type of pitcher he is. There are countless stats that we can use for value. This gives a nice visual representation of his style.
by controlled_slide on Feb 9, 2010 9:45 AM MST up reply actions
I thought the Spilly Slam was in August
Not September…
3 out of 4 sounds so much better than 2 out of 3...
by realmenwearpurple on Feb 9, 2010 8:18 AM MST reply actions
I just assumed he had won Wimbeldon or something...
3 out of 4 sounds so much better than 2 out of 3...
by realmenwearpurple on Feb 9, 2010 8:20 AM MST up reply actions
Yeah, it was August....
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 9, 2010 8:22 AM MST up reply actions
Sorry to be nitpicky
great write up though. Loved the fun tidbits.
3 out of 4 sounds so much better than 2 out of 3...
by realmenwearpurple on Feb 9, 2010 8:25 AM MST up reply actions
Accuracy is important
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 9, 2010 8:32 AM MST up reply actions
It was my birthday to be exact
I’ve got a pretty impressive track record for the last few.
Bronco utter fail: COMPLETE. When does the Rockies season start? Not.soon.enough.
True enough.
I remember that discussion during and after the game.
3 out of 4 sounds so much better than 2 out of 3...
by realmenwearpurple on Feb 9, 2010 9:38 AM MST up reply actions
Hey so the Rockies love me
what can I say
at least enough to pull out one thrilling win a year on my birthday
Bronco utter fail: COMPLETE. When does the Rockies season start? Not.soon.enough.
It was
the last day of summer for me. I couldn’t imagine a better day/night/time to be at a baseball field than the last day before classes start than that night, and I WAS there for the whole thing.
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
I was there.
Left at the bottom 12th, but still got the ticket and the Game Notes with the Tulo ed. of Rockies Magazine.
This is R year!
by prettyinpurple on Feb 9, 2010 5:32 PM MST up reply actions
Why did you leave?
"I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile." ~Tom Clark
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Feb 9, 2010 6:32 PM MST up reply actions
As for best stadiums....
My favorite parks in order of how much fun I had at the games and how enjoyable the experience would have been without a vested interest in the teams involved (note: sample size helped Montreal a lot since I used to go to ~10 games a year. The stadium itself was awful and the people shouted profanities in French pretty much all game at both teams. The game I saw at the Vet was 20-something loss for the Phils in the mid 90’s and I got hit with a beer one of the fans was throwing at the field.):
Coors (Colorado)
Olympic Stadium, aka. $5 Canadian will get you a seat and a beer (Montreal)
Fenway (Boston)
Old Yankee (NYY)
Camden (Baltimore)
Citi (NYM)
SafeCo (Seattle)
Tiger Stadium (Old Detroit)
Shea, aka. Urine soaked hobo farm (Old NYM)
Tropicana (Tampa Bay)
Kingdome (old Seattle)
Dolphins/LandShark/Whatever it is now (Florida, Miami)
The Vet (Old Philly)
I plan to try to make a game in Pittsburgh, Washington DC, and maybe Wrigley or Cleveland this summer, plus any games where ever I end up getting a job once I graduate in August. Most of the jobs I am applying to are in Ari-NM-Col or southern Cal.
3 out of 4 sounds so much better than 2 out of 3...
by realmenwearpurple on Feb 9, 2010 8:41 AM MST reply actions
OK, I swear it was Landshark stadium when football season started. Am I wrong there? Has a stadium ever been renamed during the year it hosted the superbowl?
"I clearly miscalculated how popular it would be to show Calvin urinating on a Ford logo"--Bill Watterson
by frightenedinmate#2 on Feb 9, 2010 9:06 AM MST up reply actions
It's now Sun Life Stadium.
"Shall it be peace, or a sword?" - Excised line from Lincoln's First Inaugural Address
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.
Yeah, that’s what I mean. When I first heard that the SB would be there, I thought “oh, did they move it? I thought it was supposed to be a Joe Robbie this year.”
I guess I just need to do a better job at keeping up with the stadium naming news.
"I clearly miscalculated how popular it would be to show Calvin urinating on a Ford logo"--Bill Watterson
by frightenedinmate#2 on Feb 9, 2010 9:18 AM MST up reply actions
It was renamed this January.
Jimmy Buffet only had a ~1 year license to name it after his beer.
3 out of 4 sounds so much better than 2 out of 3...
by realmenwearpurple on Feb 9, 2010 9:37 AM MST up reply actions
pretty sure Sun Life actually won the bid
for the stadium name during the Super Bowl only.
Attention Whore.
Not sure if I meet the min requirement, but....
1. Pac Bell – Very nice stadium, but dear god parking was expensive.
2. Coors – God I miss watching the sun set over the Rockies while seeing us bludgeon the Pads/G-men/D-backs!
3. Dodger Stadium – Chavez ravine is a nice venue, and fond memories of end of 2007 when we effectively killed the Dodgers playoff hopes with a Sept series win.
4. Angel Stadim – meh… it’s there I suppose. Better now that they’re actually picking up trash after the game rather than the next day. Cuts down on rats I suppose.
5. Fenway – I know, it’s hallowed ground and all. Uncomfortable seats + Obnoxious Sawx fans + frigging freezing weather in May + Yankees s*ck chant in the 7th inning when playing Tigers = FAIL.
My top 5
1. Wrigley. Just a fantastic baseball experience, especially if you like drinking beer outdoors.
1a. Coors. Very close to Wrigley in many respects, but missing the history and a bit too big. Getting there, though. Too many times nearly empty for me to rank it #1, as much as I’d like to.
2. Pac Bell. Great views, and when weather is good…great time.
3. Petco. A bit confined but still fun and location is fantastic.
4. Dodger. Amazing when you are in your seats, miserable at any other time, unless you are in the VIP which is awesome but probably something I’ll never get to do again.
Others I’ve been to: Angels (nothing special); Fenway (too young to remember); White Sox (whatever they call it now, pretty boring); Kansas City (just remember oppressive heat); Jack Murphy (my favorite as a kid, where I learned to love baseball) and of course Mile High (great times even if ill-suited for baseball). Several minor league parks, Durham being the best. I think that’s it.
Fairly depressing reading this list and seeing how few places I’ve actually been. Obviously I need to get out east and south. Unfortunately, I think I missed my window for baseball stadium tours.
Oh yeah
I did make it to Montreal. As the post above mentinons, couldn’t beat it for the price. And Montreal is a fantastic city. But the inside of the stadium was filled with more advertising for Pluto Nash than people.
I will second that Montreal is awesome
we were there in 2003 (second-to-last year of le Expos) and were thinking about going to a game at Olympic, but the Expos (unaccommodating barsterds) were out of town. And yes, if we went, we’d be one of 5,000 or so.
Bronco utter fail: COMPLETE. When does the Rockies season start? Not.soon.enough.
I was there in 2002
Sitting in RF with about 20 other folks. Sean Green hit a bomb out there and I must have been on TV as the 3rd guy to the ball, despite the fact that it landed like 25 feet away from me. An odd baseball experience, but a fun one.
Must have been a big series to have 5000 people
There were D3 Hockey games in my home town that outsold the Expos on some Friday nights (3500 ish people).
3 out of 4 sounds so much better than 2 out of 3...
by realmenwearpurple on Feb 9, 2010 12:09 PM MST up reply actions
I'm sadly limited in baseball stadiuming
Coors, Old Yankee, Shea, and Citi. That’s it. Gross. (Except for Coors. And Citi’s pretty nice, aside from the fact that it houses the Mets).
Bronco utter fail: COMPLETE. When does the Rockies season start? Not.soon.enough.
Ah Shea
I have fun memories of the Rox/Mets series in April 07. I sat in the third deck with a couple of Mets fan friends, got heckled by said urine soaked hobos, ignored them (the friend’s boyfriend, a rather sizable fellow, had offered to be my bodyguard if necessary, but it wasn’t). I got autographs from both Cookie and Atkins, and since I was the only Rockies fan in the place, they actually remembered me at Photo Day later that summer, when I asked them about it. Cookie even remembered my friends and where we were standing. And thanked me for daring to turn up in Shea to support them. :)
Plus, in the third game of that series, the Rockies squashed the Mets (11-5) and John Mabry of all people hit a three-run homer. So I could shout however much I wanted, the Mets fans couldn’t really do anything about it, and plus, it was Kids Day at the ballpark, so they couldn’t even resort to attacking me. In short, I ruled it.
And I’ve been to Shea on multiple other occasions, but not nearly so entertaining.
Bronco utter fail: COMPLETE. When does the Rockies season start? Not.soon.enough.
I was there for that series too
Except I was only there for the first two games, which we lost, of course. The game we lost in extras we especially disappointing. I was sitting 1st base side lower level, near a box seat that was label “Vandelay Industries”. Probably the best part about Shea.
by lunchbox8484 on Feb 12, 2010 7:32 AM MST up reply actions
I was sitting
1st base side, field level during that game that went into extra innings.
"Shall it be peace, or a sword?" - Excised line from Lincoln's First Inaugural Address
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.
My top 5
Wrigley
Fenway
At&t park
Coors
Camden yards
I also have to mention
PNC park, to be honest if I was not a Rockies fan I’m not sure Coors would make the list, but it would be in my top ten.
Worst five
Coliseum (although it is really cheap and I have seen some great games there)
Progressive field (beautiful park, bad team and really high prices)
U.S. Cellular field (your just ticked you’re not at Wrigley)
Chase field (baseball indoors is ruff)
Yankee Stadium (great place, good time, but it’s the Yankees)
Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too. ~Greg, age 8
"I never threw an illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I would toss one that ain’t never been seen by this generation."
OK, I know I lean to old school stats but I guess I've never heard of sac hits.
As in “Dexter Fowler was 4th in sac hits”.
Also, can someone please explain to me why we didn’t/haven’t offered Joe Beimel a contract???
Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything. ~Toby Harrah, 1983
I think sac hits are anything other than a sac fly
that advance the runner, without being counted against your OBP. In other words, a sac bunt (sac groundout?).
Also, the club is probably hoping Morales will take care of lefties from the bullpen.
a sac ground out counts as a time at bat. Only sac flies and sac bunts don't.
But you’re probably correct that sac hits is any time you hit the ball and make an out and advance the runner except a sac fly.
Re: Beimel/Morales…I’d rather have Beimel than Flores.
Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything. ~Toby Harrah, 1983
I loved Beimel, I was sad when they didn’t keep him. :/
I call it... The Avaslug!
I am the 1st and probably only official member of the David "Dr." Jones fanclub.
Syracuse Basketball 2010: Making Hoya's cry.
by UZ on Feb 9, 2010 9:25 AM MST up reply actions
he hasn't signed anywhere, he might be back
Purple Row: Take this personally
http://www.youtube.com/user/rockiesmagicnumber
Learn about Batting Metrics
Learn about Pitching Metrics
by Andrew Martin on Feb 9, 2010 11:29 AM MST up reply actions
Strange
The Rockies’ 40-man roster is full, so they would be unlikely to give him that security. They could place Taylor Buchholz on the 60-day disabled list to create a spot, but that was a strategy reserved more specifically for Kevin Gregg had he signed.
I’m not sure why this strategy would work for Gregg but not Beimel
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 9, 2010 6:16 PM MST up reply actions
Maybe I missed it
but Sickels took a look at uball. Nothing should be new for Rockies fans, but it’s always nice to see perspective from others.
If that trend continues, and if he gets proper support from his teammates, he could contend for a Cy Young award sometime soon.
Also
he should be doing “Elbert vs. Morales Smackdown” today and eventually a “Not a rookie” bit on dex.
Atkins
He should write a book. Maybe call it, “Too Fat to Field.”
Any chances he is the new Kevin Millar? I was about 20 feet from Millar while he played first for the Orioles, and the O’s fans were always on him about his weight. He was a fatty, but took it with good humor.
Peter Angelos is not one to spit on a dime.
Even with the young talent (and great, great stadium), they need to do anything they can to hang on to their market.
OT
I just want to thank Maria for the beautiful photograph! It arrived yesterday and it looks even better in person. I am picking up a frame after work today, but THANK YOU x 1000
Attention Whore.
:)
You are quite welcome Muzia! I’m glad that you are happy with it, will you send me a pic of it framed? I love to see how people finish off my work.
Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection. ~Red Smith
Absolutely!
I still don’t know where I am hanging it up, I think over my computer desk in my room, maybe
Attention Whore.
my wife is a photographer here in el paso and I showed her your
website and facebook….she was quite impressed and had very good things to say with the subjects/lighting and overall look of the photo’s…
I’m sure you hear this all the time but you are quite talented
The Big Purple Machine will make a believer outta you!
by El Paso Jeff on Feb 9, 2010 12:18 PM MST up reply actions
Thank you,
I always like hearing that people enjoy what I create, thanks for sharing!
Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection. ~Red Smith
Well at least EYJ got some sort of record in his Major league debut season.
Jorge de la Rosa was 3rd in wild pitches
I rag on the guy but I didn’t expect him to be THAT high in wild pitches.
I call it... The Avaslug!
I am the 1st and probably only official member of the David "Dr." Jones fanclub.
Syracuse Basketball 2010: Making Hoya's cry.
Olivo tidbit.
# Miguel Olivo led the entire AL in slugging percentage in June.
I’m not sure, but I think (I know) he lead all of baseball with the highest PB/WP ratings by more than 2x the next closest catcher…
That means that when Royals pitchers threw to Olivo, they were twice as likely to throw a wild pitch or have a runner move up due to a passed ball…. That’s including ALL the other catchers in the league.
Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.
Stories of Olivo's incredibly poor defense
are alarming. I guess we’ll see if it lives down to the hype, though, as it seems to me that catcher metrics are pretty hard to evaluate in terms of actual game impact.
A wedding joke from PF to start the Rockpile
Don’t see that too often.
I’ve been to 2 Minor League stadiums, 4 Major League stadiums and countless Little League and recreational ballfields. May I participate in the rankings? Who cares, I’m going to anyway:
Coors
Fenway
Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park
Safeco
Security Service Field
Camden (because I’ve only been to one game, and I think we left early)
by controlled_slide on Feb 9, 2010 9:42 AM MST reply actions
I have only ever been to three
Coors
Att Park (i actually liked this stadium)
Old Mile High Stadium
Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection. ~Red Smith
Im a fan of AT&T as well...
sorry, posted my meager list above….
Loved that I sat 15 rows behind 1b during playoff stretch last year there. Was all pumped to see Helton up close, and find out Atkins started (do’h!!). Zito pitched a gem into the 8th, and we came back to make it very interesting in the 9th! That was a great game, if only we won…
i didn't have a seat
the only tix availble were on the concourse…but they were playing the Rox so wee took them! Unfortunatly my friend injured her foot, so we had to have a wheelchaired escort out of the stadium at the end of the game..
Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection. ~Red Smith
Oop forgot Mile High
Hard to place it though. I love Coors so much more, but that GOOO…ROCKIES!!! chant at Mile High was awesome. I think I’d slide it in at 5th after Safeco.
by controlled_slide on Feb 9, 2010 9:50 AM MST up reply actions
Pitchers and catchers report is nine days away...
by WolfMarauder on Feb 9, 2010 9:52 AM MST reply actions 1 recs
oh, but I want it NOW.
Ubaldomania.
by The Lodo Magic Man on Feb 9, 2010 10:03 AM MST up reply actions
i thought it was the fifteenth
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 9, 2010 10:18 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
You didn't listen to Rowbot Radio yesterday. :p
They arrive on the 17th, first workout is the 18th.
by WolfMarauder on Feb 9, 2010 10:23 AM MST up reply actions
i did actually
While collecting supplies in the office to trek north. heard you mention the date but not the actual number. And I could have sworn DP’s calendar had 15th. Oh well. You may edit
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 9, 2010 10:49 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
I can't believe you guys didn't know this on last week's episode.
I’ve been counting down since November!
This is R year!
by prettyinpurple on Feb 9, 2010 4:31 PM MST up reply actions
Yeah, I heard that too.
Good for you. I don’t feel the same, but good for you.
This is R year!
by prettyinpurple on Feb 9, 2010 4:51 PM MST up reply actions
I can't get on board with this
"I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile." ~Tom Clark
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Feb 9, 2010 6:35 PM MST up reply actions
Which also happens to be my birthday.
The writer formerly known as Jabberwocky
READ and LEARN about the business of baseball at Purple Row Academy
Eschew Obfuscation!
which one?
The 17th or the 18th?
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
18th
The writer formerly known as Jabberwocky
READ and LEARN about the business of baseball at Purple Row Academy
Eschew Obfuscation!
by Jeff Aberle on Feb 10, 2010 11:33 AM MST up reply actions
Does anyone know
if people have already reported? I know players tend to show up early (Helton will show up with the pitchers) but has anyone heard reports yet?
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
Nope.
I find it hard to believe too many players would be in Tuscon a full nine days before report. Lots of the position players show up to work out with the pitchers and catchers though. Barmes does every season, and Murton did last year.
espn has a piece on Francis on their mlb front page...
Heres the link (not sure I’m doing this right)
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove09/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=4896756
Linking
To insert a link, just highlight the text where you want the link to appear, and then click on the chain looking icon and paste the hyperink in there. There’s an option to have the link open in another window, which is nice. The result will be funky looking, but when you hit post it’ll come out fine.
Thanks!! I imagine I’ll get better at this with more posts.
by attackparrot on Feb 9, 2010 12:03 PM MST up reply actions
this:
Francis, a soft-spoken, former physics and astronomy major at the University of British Columbia…
I love that he is a geek at heart.
Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection. ~Red Smith
Math, Science, Engineering for the win
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
Did anybody watch the All-Access last year with Francis?
I didn’t see it, but he was fly fishing in the commercials. I wonder if fly fishing helped him build strength and flexibility in his arm before he could throw?
My ballpark rankings:
Coors
Kauffman Stadium
Wrigley
Whatever the hell they’re calling the one in San Francisco these days
Dodger Stadium
New Busch Stadium
(there’s a significant drop off here)
Mile High Stadium
Chase Field
Old Busch Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium
"You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around the whole time." - Jim Bouton
I've only been to two parks: Coors and Dodger Stadium.
Might try to head to Anaheim sometime before I leave LA.
by WolfMarauder on Feb 9, 2010 10:38 AM MST up reply actions
Um
New Britain Stadium, New Britain, CT.
(where, trivia fans, a certain New Haven Ravens rookie called Todd Helton hit the first ever RBI)
Anaheim is ok...
once you get past the whole “deaths at the ballpark” thing. Think there was 1 fight in the stands where a guy fell and hit his head (and died). I also seem to remember there was another one too where two guys tried to mug/assault an off duty cop after a game on the way through the parking lot, and the cop shot, and killed, one of them.
very odd for what seems to be a very suburban type setting/crowd. must be the DH that brings out the worst in people!
by attackparrot on Feb 9, 2010 12:08 PM MST up reply actions
None of these stadium ratings
analyze the availability of beer by variety and price.
Therefore, not much useful information has been
conveyed so far.
I will offer that both Camden Yards & the Mariners’ stadium have
large selections of regional microbrews at expensive, but not terrible,
prices.
Coors Field is deficient in this regard, due no doubt to Coors’ Brewing’s
naming & licensing rights. The view is extraordinary, to be sure, but
views without good brews are incomplete.
New decade, new result: time for a Rockies' division championship.
$10.50 for beer at Madison Square Gardens
And €6 for beer at the HIFK Helsingin Jäähalli stadium. Boo to expensive beer.
yeahhhhh that's the point where I just don't drink it
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by Andrew Martin on Feb 9, 2010 11:48 AM MST up reply actions
Does Camden have its own on-site, award winning brewery?
The Sandlot brews some great beers.
The park really fails at carrying local/state microbrews but there is a ton of variety at the “Beers around the world” carts. Plus they’re as cheap as a regular coors/coors light.
these pretzels are making me thirsty.
Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection. ~Red Smith
Interesting take
of the parks I have been to, Safeco Field was by far the best in terms of beer availability. They have tons of microbrews from all over the northwest on draft all over the stadium. I kind of remember them being a little on the expensive side, although that is probably to be expected.
Chase Field had by far the most expensive beer of any of the stadiums I have been to, I want to say it was roughly $10 for a 20oz beer.
As far as the stadium issue goes, any stadium without an open concourse (like Coors) immediately goes to the bottom of my list (ATT in SF comes to mind as well as New Busch in STL)
Hating Cubs fans since 1908
this suprises me.
Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection. ~Red Smith
The best stadium for beer
That I have been to is PNC park. 90min on tap and a wide variety of really good stuff. Portland’s minor league stadium was also awesome.
Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too. ~Greg, age 8
"I never threw an illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I would toss one that ain’t never been seen by this generation."
9 more days wooo
TULO = 2010 MVP!
Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."
LETS GO WINGS!
Anyone have questions for Jim Tracy?
Renck is passing along reader questions.
I’d advise starting with “WHY R THA MONFARTS SO CHEEP!?!?11”
If enough rowbots submit good questions it could almost be as good as an interview on the row.
No biggie...those press guys all look alike anyway!
Hi Patrick!
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
Look out Dodgers...Purple objects in mirror are closer than they appear.
I'll be the guy in a orange shirt EVERY Monday...Broncos are my team win or lose.
Dear Jim Tracy,
Seth Smith is Awesome and deserves to start. Can you please forget the time he hit your dog in the parking lot and write the man into the lineup?
Sincerely,
EVERYONE
Attention Whore.
This thread needs a picture...
namely RMN’S creepy shot with all the hearts around Seth.
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
Look out Dodgers...Purple objects in mirror are closer than they appear.
I'll be the guy in a orange shirt EVERY Monday...Broncos are my team win or lose.
I think these awesome photoshops need their own fanpost.
By the way, having a subject line is helpful with pictures in case anyone wants to hide them.
now THAT is a poster i can get behind at coors field
Print it out and let’s get pavilion tickets up front. Better yet, maybe someone can get a shot of smith laying down with his eyes closed in Tucson. Photoshop over the bum. It would he perfect
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 9, 2010 1:58 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
I don't know about Photoshopping over the bum
Part of the humor is the delicious pun on “wasted”. Love it.
by controlled_slide on Feb 9, 2010 2:00 PM MST up reply actions
I'll make a HD version of it when I get home
and add the Purple Row logo (Russ said so!)
Attention Whore.
I have emailed Patrick re Smith
With a second question asking if Tracy thinks the consistency of the line-up for most of the season was responsible for their success (hinting that micromanagement might not be the way forward).
I know, that's why Smith would have to appear wasted in the picture
Even if that doesn’t work, this would be fijne.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 9, 2010 6:13 PM MST up reply actions
maybe we can ask him during ST
to lie down on a bench for a picture to be made into a poster. I might try this.
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
He's gotta appear inebriated though.
Give him a paper bag with a bottle in. It doesn’t even have to be wine or anything.
by controlled_slide on Feb 9, 2010 6:54 PM MST up reply actions
DO HATE CDI ENOUGH TO START OLIVO OVER HIM? :-)
"I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile." ~Tom Clark
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Feb 9, 2010 6:38 PM MST up reply actions
Do ***YOU*** hate
"I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile." ~Tom Clark
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Feb 9, 2010 6:39 PM MST up reply actions
meh
Purple Row: Take this personally
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by Andrew Martin on Feb 9, 2010 2:23 PM MST up reply actions
Here's an interesting tidbit:
2007: Rockies beat Phillies in 1st round of playoffs; Rockies go to the World Series.
2008:Phillies win World Series
2009:Phillies beat Rockies in 1st round of playoffs; Phillies go to World Series.
2010:Hmmm, see the pattern?
This is R year!
I like the way you think!
Caution: Colorado teams are better than they appear.
by ShadowPenguin on Feb 9, 2010 5:11 PM MST up reply actions
Phillies lose in NLCS?
The writer formerly known as Jabberwocky
READ and LEARN about the business of baseball at Purple Row Academy
Eschew Obfuscation!
How about the game
a pitcher won the game without throwing a pitch? Alan Embree had such a good day.
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
That's a rock solid one there
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 9, 2010 6:12 PM MST up reply actions
Coors Field
I can’t say I’ve been to over a dozen parks, but it doesn’t feel like a penny pinching circus like some stadiums are, everywhere you turn buy…Buy…BUY!!! And the tickets already cost over $100 for average seats, Coors should be in the top 7!
I miss Taylor Buchholz.
"And I'm sick of all my judges/They're so scared of letting me shine/but I know that I can take it/So long as somebody takes me home every now and then" -- The Killers
yeahhhhh
Purple Row: Take this personally
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by Andrew Martin on Feb 9, 2010 8:03 PM MST up reply actions
Here is a computer-generated projection of what the Rockies ST facility in Scottsdale would look like
Okay, I lied. It’s Camelback Ranch, the new home of the Dodgers and White Sox. I actually wonder what we can expect for the new home of the Rox.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 9, 2010 8:49 PM MST reply actions
now
I am drooling. This looks like a lot of fun and a great place for baseball
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
I was pretty amazing
They were very touchy about boundaries, since it just opened, but the fans were friendly (yes Dodgers fans). It’s baseball’s version of Disneyland
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 9, 2010 10:31 PM MST up reply actions
"I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile." ~Tom Clark
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Feb 9, 2010 8:58 PM MST reply actions
Way to cause mass panic in RMN land. :-)
"I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile." ~Tom Clark
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Feb 9, 2010 9:54 PM MST up reply actions
I thought I felt a disturbance in the force
Troy Tulowitzki - Best SS in the MLB - 2010 MVP
"With a guy like Melo, it’s tough to stop him with one person. You can’t. I don’t know one guy who can stop Melo on a consistent basis."-CP3
Brad Hawpe - Will prove the doubters wrong
PS Let's win the NL West in 2010, shall we?
I think you should change
NL West to World Series in you sig.
"I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile." ~Tom Clark
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Feb 9, 2010 10:04 PM MST up reply actions
I almost did,
but thought better take it one step at a time :) , well and the whole jinx thing
Troy Tulowitzki - Best SS in the MLB - 2010 MVP
"With a guy like Melo, it’s tough to stop him with one person. You can’t. I don’t know one guy who can stop Melo on a consistent basis."-CP3
Brad Hawpe - Will prove the doubters wrong
PS Let's win the NL West in 2010, shall we?
Oops,
I accidentally destroyed the forest moon of Endor and all the Ewoks (or maybe all the debris from second Death Star did that (though those damn Rebels claim they tractored all that wreckage)).
"Shall it be peace, or a sword?" - Excised line from Lincoln's First Inaugural Address
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.
ha!
Troy Tulowitzki - Best SS in the MLB - 2010 MVP
"With a guy like Melo, it’s tough to stop him with one person. You can’t. I don’t know one guy who can stop Melo on a consistent basis."-CP3
Brad Hawpe - Will prove the doubters wrong
PS Let's win the NL West in 2010, shall we?
I assure you - not just RMN land
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 9, 2010 10:31 PM MST up reply actions
If there's an injury that exists
wise money is on Greg Smith having it.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 9, 2010 10:31 PM MST up reply actions
Or Greg Reynolds
"I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile." ~Tom Clark
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Feb 9, 2010 11:05 PM MST up reply actions
Oh I know
shoulda drafted Lincecum
I can haz NL West title in 2010? And for that matter, the damn 2010 season to START?
AZ Snakepit's Josh Byrnes interview
AZ: Looing at the other NL West teams in 2010, it seems like a fairly-even division. Who would you say poses the biggest threat?
JB: I think, right now, the Rockies. Obviously, the Rockies and the Dodgers made the playoffs last year, and deserve the status associated with that, and I think the Rockies saw a little bit less attrition through the off-season. Bring Jeff Francis back and retaining Betancourt, and some of their young players will probably get more opportunities – Carlos Gonzalez, Ian Stewart. – so they’re a pretty solid team. A team as good as they are, as deep as they are; their starting pitching was really solid. de la Rosa and Hammel stabilized it. I agree, it’s a balanced division and a lot of teams can make the argument, “playoff worthy,” “90 wins”, whatever. But I think, right now, the Rockies probably have the fewest questions.
by phishbate on Feb 10, 2010 9:58 AM MST reply actions 1 recs
woooooo
Purple Row: Take this personally
http://www.youtube.com/user/rockiesmagicnumber
Learn about Batting Metrics
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by Andrew Martin on Feb 10, 2010 10:46 AM MST up reply actions
thanks
for the link
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
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