Saturday Rockpile: Rockies to honor Bichette, Helton debuts tomorrow, more

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Mar 13, 2010 7:43 AM MST in Rockpile Comment 26 comments

Rockies to honor Bichette on April 26 | All Things Rockies
I fully agree with Renck's last line in the article. It is about time the Rockies begin celebrating their past achievements. Tradition has to start somewhere, right? Anyway, MLB.com's Doug Miller reported this on the Rockies' official website, as well. For more on Dante Bichette, check out this Rockies Retro piece from last year.

Rockies strategy shift: Pitch to contact - The Denver Post
Jim Armstong profiles the Rockies' decision to focus on pitching to contact over the past couple of years. Other than a couple of blips in the radar (mostly the 2008 season), can you really argue its effectiveness at this point? Bob Apodaca has worked wonders with a pitching staff that allowed the fourth-fewest walks in the NL in 2009 (and the third-fewest in '07).

Giambi a 'very special piece' of Rockies | ColoradoRockies.com: News
The aforementioned Doug Miller chimes in with a profile on Jason Giambi's meaning to the Colorado Rockies.

Corpas battered again; Street makes progress - The Denver Post
In his wrap for yesterday's game, Troy E. Renck mentions that Huston Street should be ready to go by the middle-to-end of next week. Also, he says that Todd Helton will return to action tomorrow in Mexico. Jim Tracy plans on alternating Helton and Jason Giambi for the remainder of Spring Training, as each guy will play every other day.

A couple of Insider articles from ESPN...one is a fantasy-related piece on Dexter Fowler and Seth Smith. The other is a TMI (The Max Info) blurb on Carlos Gonzalez . Check out those RISP numbers from CarGo last year...they were ugly. I knew he had issues but I didn't know that he hit only .185 while chasing 35.2% of pitches out of the zone - and 47.4% that were below the zone. As the article mentions, if he can improve on his hitting with runners in scoring position to even a league average mark, he'll be a very dangerous guy. For now, though, he HAS to stop chasing bad pitches with runners on base.

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mkorpal and I see a still a little over an hour away

From arriving in Maryvale for today’s game. Thankfully, 5 hour energy actually works.

I’m sure Rox Girl will say “Why would anyone care what you’re doing? You’re still practically a rookie” but I think ill attempt to use twitter while down here, if anyone wants to live vicariously: www.twitter.com/poseidonsfist

Lastly, if anyone is in Tucson through the 20th and wants to meet at a game, practice field or In ’n Out, hit up my email addy

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 13, 2010 8:11 AM MST via mobile reply actions

Now following

If it’s not obvious, I’m RdRnnr_Rox on twitter.

Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
Look out Dodgers...Purple objects in mirror are closer than they appear.

by RdRnnr on Mar 13, 2010 10:36 AM MST up reply actions

Jerry Crasnick is high on the Rockies too

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2010/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=4989509

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 13, 2010 8:36 AM MST via mobile reply actions

ESPN had to have JUST posted that.

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

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Mar 13, 2010 8:48 AM MST up reply actions

I read that article this morning

If [Tulowitzki and Barmes are] not the best defensive middle-infield combination in baseball, they’re close.

Amen!

Thanks Todd

by controlled_slide on Mar 13, 2010 9:35 AM MST up reply actions

I normally dislike Crasnick

but that was a well researched and well written article. Kudos.

Iron Maiden? Excellent!

by Muzia on Mar 13, 2010 10:53 AM MST up reply actions

dammit do NOT turn Dexter Fowler into Juan Pierre

Purple Row: Take this personally
http://www.youtube.com/user/rockiesmagicnumber
Learn about Batting Metrics
Learn about Pitching Metrics

by Andrew Martin on Mar 13, 2010 4:28 PM MST up reply actions

Hearing that Todd is starting tomorrow reminds me of this time last year

IIRC Todd hit a dinger at Hi Corbett in his first at bat of the spring. It’s hard to believe a year ago there was serious doubt as to whether Todd would even be able to play a whole season again, never mind be productive.

Campaigning for more day baseball games since 2006

by djmbluemoon on Mar 13, 2010 10:23 AM MST reply actions

Yep he did

and I was there, and I will again be there tomorrow.

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

by jrockies on Mar 13, 2010 1:54 PM MST up reply actions

Interesting thoughts

on Cargon’s RISP splits. I’d of course like to hear some SABR analysis (other than SSS nonsense) or anything further on this point, but to me it probably does come down to approach/pressing…and may be a principal reason why Tracy likes him leading off.

by Teekalong on Mar 13, 2010 11:33 AM MST reply actions

How many sides does a cargon have?

Upcoming Rockies Coverage:
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by WolfMarauder on Mar 13, 2010 11:39 AM MST up reply actions

nice

I cannot come up with a funny retort, unfortunately…someone else will have to pick me up.

by Teekalong on Mar 13, 2010 11:52 AM MST up reply actions

3? LF, CF, RF

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?

by SDcat09 on Mar 13, 2010 3:31 PM MST up reply actions

CarGon...take us away!

PS Let's win the NL West in 2010, shall we?

by SDcat09 on Mar 13, 2010 3:31 PM MST up reply actions

Only one.

upside…

by Junction Rox on Mar 13, 2010 4:46 PM MST up reply actions

Sounds like ATF is having fun.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 13, 2010 11:52 AM MST reply actions

Yes it does.

Very cool that he got a Dex-clobered ball. Maybe he can get it signed by The Player himself.

Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
Look out Dodgers...Purple objects in mirror are closer than they appear.

by RdRnnr on Mar 13, 2010 12:07 PM MST up reply actions

only autograph opportunities before the game were

Chris frey and Shane Lindsay…yeah

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 13, 2010 12:16 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

Dude, Shane Lindsay is awesome.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 13, 2010 12:18 PM MST up reply actions

not enough to beat away an entire little league baseball team

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 13, 2010 12:30 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

I remember being that kid

I would get autographs from any player signing. As such, I have like 3 balls full of autographs, and I could only tell you who about a third of them are. I also have multiple pages of Rockies Magazines signed by visiting players, because only Rockies got to sign my Rockies ball.

Nowadays, feh. I certainly wouldn’t cut in front of a kid looking for an autograph.

Thanks Todd

by controlled_slide on Mar 13, 2010 12:36 PM MST up reply actions

I'm just a big fan of Lindsay's.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 13, 2010 1:00 PM MST up reply actions

Even after today?

His control was epicly bad

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 13, 2010 7:05 PM MST up reply actions

I will be

Leaving Denver in about 30 minutes. I will be in Tucson for games tomorrow and Monday and traveling to see the Rox at the White Sox Tuesday. Send me an e-mail if we should meet at the game sometime or place. Later folks.

JFK

by jrockies on Mar 13, 2010 1:56 PM MST reply actions

I'll be at all three games

We should swing something

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 13, 2010 7:05 PM MST up reply actions

Bichette happens...

I totally agree with honoring Bichette, I was there, what a game, what a memory… But what about honoring Eric Young on April 9th at the home opener?!?!?! I know it’s not a nice round number like 15, but when the Rox open up at home against the Madres, it will be the 17th anniversary of EY going yard at the first home opener of club history!

While at this point it looks like EY Jr has his work cut out for him to make the opening day roster, I say they bring him up, even if just for 4/9 and lead him off.

by jefe_13 on Mar 14, 2010 9:09 PM MDT reply actions