Saturday Rockpile: Kevin Millwood Making an Impact in Denver

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Sep 3, 2011 9:38 AM MDT in Rockpile

kevin millwood's persistence paying off. hes 2-1 for #rockies w/ 1.11 whip

We've all laughed about just how 2011 it is that Kevin Millwood is even pitching for the Rockies right now. However, his performance has been no laughing matter - he's been downright good for Colorado. MInus the concerning home run rate (1.67 per nine innings), all of his peripherals are terrific (albeit in a small sample size, of course).

The two things that stick out the most to me: MIllwood's xFIP is actually right in line with his ERA (3.38 vs. 3.34), and his BB/9 rate is a ridiculous 1.11. This pitching staff is known for walking everybody and their Yuniesky Betancourt, so that is no small feat. As AMart quipped last night, Millwood looks a hell of a lot like the second coming of 2007 Mark Redman, who was our savior down the stretch in the race toward the postseason.

This season's turning points - ESPN
ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick lists Ubaldo Jimenez's awful outing against Pittsburgh at Coors Field earlier this season as one of the nine turning points of the 2011 season in all of MLB. I know that this game has even been mentioned around here as the single point when things started to take a turn for the worst. That series against Pittsburgh hinted that the Rockies were mere mortals at Coors Field, and we all know what happened in May (and from there, the rest of the season).

The Rockies have made it a habit to lose home series to the Pirates several times over the past few years, but this one just felt different.

Irv Moss: Rockies prospect Parker has solid season with Tourists - The Denver Post
Irv Moss profiles Kyle Parker in his latest Minor League Report. Parker has big power numbers and big strikeout numbers, and as is the case with a guy like Corey Dickerson, it will be interesting to see how Parker handles the jump to Modesto, where the home park is a little bit more neutral (although the league as a whole is not). Parker's home OPS is .971, compared to just .745 on the road.

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Rockies will resign Millwood for 2012

@CentralCaliRox

by CentralCaliRox on Sep 3, 2011 10:14 AM MDT reply actions

I'm not opposed to this

so long as it is just a one-year deal

by WanderingRoxFan on Sep 3, 2011 11:48 AM MDT up reply actions

Be interesting to see how Kyle Parker's home/road splits change..

once he plays in the Cal League. Modesto is pretty neutral with large gaps and many of the road parks are fair to extreme hitters parks.

Colorado Rockies Players on Twitter

by Charlie77 on Sep 3, 2011 10:42 AM MDT reply actions

The Rox will need him

One of the big problems the Rox had this year was lack of SP depth. Even thougfh everyone expects to compete well with the return of JDLR, Jhoulys, Juan Kneecasio and so forth, Millwood will be needed to prop up the front end of the rotation, and will very likely be among the front two when the season begins.

This turned out to be a great acquistion!

Right now Millwood’s contributions will keep the Rox from being embarrassed as the season winds down.

by HiRox on Sep 3, 2011 11:04 AM MDT reply actions

If by "will very likely be among the first two when the season begins"

You mean “has a shot to be number 5 until de la Rosa gets healthy”, I agree.

How the world will end in 2012: George of the Roses builds a Machine that Pommels everyone with La Violencia during Whiteouts.

by free7694 on Sep 3, 2011 11:30 AM MDT up reply actions

I don't have any grand illusions about Millwood

being a major contributor in 2012. If it happens I’ll be thrilled, but my expectations are modest.

I have to think, however, that his performance this past month has forced O’Dowd’s hand on the Cook buyout. If you’re going to spend some money on a veteran inning-eater, at least do it on a guy who eats his innings in Denver and not Tulsa/Colorado Springs, and actually keeps the team in games.

by Northsider1964 on Sep 3, 2011 11:46 AM MDT up reply actions

Seems like the rotation will be short to start the year..

but bulging with talent around June. With Nicasio’s status uncertain, JDLR should be back then, and I’m sure Bettis or Edwar will be knocking down the door. There’s been a step back for most of our AA pitching outside of Nicasio and Scahill this year.

Colorado Rockies Players on Twitter

by Charlie77 on Sep 3, 2011 11:50 AM MDT up reply actions

Good thing we will have Millwood to hold down the fort until June

I think he is better than he is being given credit for. So he will be there late in the season as well.

by Real Perspective on Sep 3, 2011 1:12 PM MDT up reply actions

Now that we're into our final month of service time, it's becoming more clear how our potential SUper 2 eligibles will stack up.

Dexter Fowler is almost guaranteed to reach Super 2 status, Matt Daley is almost guaranteed not to, and it remains to be seen for Eliezer Alfonzo.

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"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates
~WolfMarauder

by Greg Stanwood on Sep 3, 2011 11:37 AM MDT reply actions

For the record, I think Alfonzo reaches it, because I'm fairly certain his service time on Cot's is about 30 days too small.

RockiesRoster.com - Your best source for organizational contract and transactions information.
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates
~WolfMarauder

by Greg Stanwood on Sep 3, 2011 11:38 AM MDT up reply actions

Although he'll enjoy the extra money..

this event would hurt the Fonz more than help him, because he’s getting more expensive than his talent is worth at an early age. Guys like him and Jonny Herrera benefit from being cost-controlled.

Colorado Rockies Players on Twitter

by Charlie77 on Sep 3, 2011 11:52 AM MDT up reply actions

He's a likely non-tender either way.

RockiesRoster.com - Your best source for organizational contract and transactions information.
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates
~WolfMarauder

by Greg Stanwood on Sep 3, 2011 11:55 AM MDT up reply actions

I would bring Millwood back for sure.

Even if he may not be a guy who may not stick around all year in the rotation. But the other thing that can be looked at is this. VETEREN presence. Remember who he used to pitch with and who he learned from. Maddox, Smoltz, and Glavine. He was with probably 3 of the best pitchers. I’m sure he has a ton of information and help that he is willing to share. The man is 36, granted, but he showed me some stuff last night that I knew that he had. Will it appear again this year? Hard to tell. It is always nice when there is a veteren guy who can eat up innings and still throw shut out ball. His pitches are still nasty.
I don’t care if we bring Cook back or not. If we have Kevin in there, Cook is not needed. There are young guys in the minors that will be coming up at some time. Who is going to be there to help them get better. Who would you rather have? Millwood or Cook? I would take Millwood in a heartbeat. Opinions?

Prediction----> Cargo and Tulo will both have over 30 homers this year
Self taught and falling in love with this game is very easy to do, you can never hate it, and that is something that not one person can take away from anybody. The love of baseball and OUR COLORADO ROCKIES.

by Roxman4ever on Sep 3, 2011 12:01 PM MDT reply actions

Concur

Millwood will also be a lot cheaper then Cookie has been. So far this year he shows a lot more consistency as well.

by Real Perspective on Sep 3, 2011 1:14 PM MDT up reply actions

Well, MLB's archives take much longer than the 90 minutes they claim to pop up

Anyhow,

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 3, 2011 1:18 PM MDT reply actions

Hahaha

What a loser.

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

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Sep 3, 2011 2:34 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

DFA! I'm kidding

by Roxman4ever on Sep 3, 2011 2:51 PM MDT up reply actions

Oh this must makes me laugh everytime.

"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say: It''s playoffs or bust"- Jason Hammel : Feared Slugger
BigGiantHead of the Ubaldo Lover's Club;OG Thugget Loyalist #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy

by SDcat09 on Sep 3, 2011 2:48 PM MDT up reply actions

Lol.

This will be shown on every blooper reel forever !!

In all things, it is better to hope than despair.

by butterfly on Sep 3, 2011 2:59 PM MDT up reply actions

haha nice

LETS GO RED WINGS!

2011 what a disappointment

Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."

by TuLoRocks2008 on Sep 3, 2011 3:01 PM MDT up reply actions

/snickers

by holly96 on Sep 3, 2011 3:13 PM MDT up reply actions

It's hypnotizing.

I can sit here and stare at it all day

by dds_dave on Sep 3, 2011 4:45 PM MDT via iPhone app up reply actions

Happy Alex White Day!!

by Rosenort on Sep 3, 2011 1:21 PM MDT reply actions

Wow. Interesting.

No OT. Guess I won’t put anything up that isn’t baseball related.

by Roxman4ever on Sep 3, 2011 2:45 PM MDT reply actions

Weekend OTs have always been pretty rare, I think...

We're trying to win a (#)(*@$%#)@#&$#)^ argument here!!!!

In line for seats at the Grand Junction Rockies 2012 home opener

by Junction Rox on Sep 3, 2011 3:08 PM MDT up reply actions

Yeah, there's never a Saturday OT because there aren't a whole hell of a lot of comments to have to sift through,

baseball-related or otherwise.

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

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Sep 3, 2011 3:32 PM MDT up reply actions

I think I saw what you had earlier today

probably just refrain from posting giant blocks of text that aren’t baseball related. A link and a comment after said link is probably OK, but not a page-long whatever it was.

Also, upon checking, looks like you got warned. I think it was just meant to be a private message. If you get a warning and it isn’t a blatant scolding, it might just be a moderator reaching out to you to contact you. We don’t have a good way of privately communicating within the site, so they might have just wanted to send you a quick message without making a big hooplah about it.

Finally, if you do get a warning, it’s incredibly bad form to bring it up in the comments. If you think you have been warned in err, feel free to email myself or any other moderator to discuss rather than posting about it.

Purple Row - For all of your Colorado Rockies-related needs
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by Andrew Martin on Sep 3, 2011 4:55 PM MDT up reply actions

btw this is good for everyone to read

Purple Row - For all of your Colorado Rockies-related needs
Learn about Batting Metrics
Learn about Pitching Metrics

by Andrew Martin on Sep 3, 2011 4:58 PM MDT up reply actions

Dont have g-mail. I would like to email you guys. Its hard for me.

It was a e-mail I received. I even shortened it up more.

by Roxman4ever on Sep 3, 2011 5:04 PM MDT up reply actions

You don't need to have g-mail.

You can e-mail Andrew (or any other mod) with any e-mail address.

by holly96 on Sep 3, 2011 5:08 PM MDT up reply actions

ok

by Roxman4ever on Sep 3, 2011 5:09 PM MDT up reply actions

to reiterate Holly's response

you can email anyone from any email address.

But let’s stick to “link + comment” rather than a giant pasted in thing.

Purple Row - For all of your Colorado Rockies-related needs
Learn about Batting Metrics
Learn about Pitching Metrics

by Andrew Martin on Sep 3, 2011 5:32 PM MDT up reply actions

OT:

The new Wilco album can be listened to online for the rest of the day at their official website:

wilcoworld.net

by roxintober on Sep 3, 2011 3:42 PM MDT reply actions

I got the September Rockies Magazine in the mail today.

PIP’s article is in there. Good stuff. I wonder if she could cross post it.

Congrats to PIP!

by DumbAndNerdy on Sep 3, 2011 3:47 PM MDT reply actions

Thanks!

I think it will be available to read online in the Rockies Magazine e-reader in a couple days for those who don’t have a subscription.

This year sucks.

by prettyinpurple on Sep 3, 2011 4:31 PM MDT up reply actions

I'll pick up the magazine

and read it Monday at the game while you’re in school (I’m excited I get the day off for the first time in 5 years)

"There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare." ~Tallulah Bankhead
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." ~Greg, age 8
JFK

by jrockies on Sep 3, 2011 6:16 PM MDT up reply actions