Saturday Rockpile:Former Rockies Cantu and Hawpe on the move, plus links on Petrick and Chatwood
by Bryan Kilpatrick on Jan 7, 2012 10:13 AM MST
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PrintA couple of former Rockies (as well as former Padres) are either moved or are on the move, as Jorge Cantu signed a minor league deal with the Angels yesterday, and it looks like Brad Hawpe could be doing the same with the Rangers. While Cantu didn't actually play for the Rockies (only in Colorado Springs), Hawpe was obviously a key cog in two playoff teams and was one of the rare sluggers in the history of the franchise that did not have severe home/road splits. During Hawpe's tenure in Colorado, he posted four straight seasons (2006-09) of an OPS+ north of 100, peaking at 130 in 2007. In 2006, his OPS was 144 points HIGHER on the road. While he was better at home for the remainder of his time with the Rockies, he still never OPS'd below .800 away from Coors Field.
Obviously, we wish Hawpe the best of luck with the Rangers (although I'm still peeved about that homer that he blasted off of Huston Street last season at Coors Field). He could find himself playing a larger role than planned if Mitch Moreland's wrist does not heal as expected.
ESPN - OTL: Strength from Weakness - E-Ticket
Steve Wulf wrote a brilliant piece (which was also in the most recent edition of ESPN: The Magazine) on former Rockies top prospect Ben Petrick and his battle with Parkinson's disease. Truly a great read. Whenever I come across Petrick's story, I am reminded that I shouldn't be so quick to judge when athletes seemingly fail at the highest level. There is almost always something happening that we don't know about - maybe not as extreme as was the case with Petrick, but still...
Thomas Harding put up a feature piece on 22-year-old Tyler Chatwood, who pitched to an 80 ERA+ for the Angels last season. Chatwood is obviously very, very green and was likely thrust into a big league role well before he was ready. However, the walks have to be remedied. They just do. Otherwise, there's simply no way he'll make it - in Denver or in Colorado Springs.
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JFK's Quote of the Day:
“Gee, its lonesome in the outfield. It’s hard to keep awake with nothing to do.” Source: Babe: The Legend Comes to life (Robert W. Creamer) ~George Herman Ruth
"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
I'm interested to see
how Chatwood develops this next year. He’s still young (and worked on a cutter during the season?). Howie Kendrick thinks he could be special. He’s drawing comparisons to Oswalt (Roy not Lee Harvey). Other than that he was rushed to the rotation and the last couple pitchers we did that with (Nicasio excepted) haven’t turned out all that well. We shall see.
"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
His other pitch is a changeup
which I think is an excellent choice for a pitcher at altitude. I’m looking forward to this spring’s competition.
"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
OT: Have you guys over in Colorado gotten, snow, or any winter weather really?
I’m sitting in 55 degrees here in New York and we’ve only gotten short bursts of cold weather. It’s been really unusual.
Your 2012 Colorado Rockies:freshly exorcised from Ty Wigginton
For the season or just today?
Today, for the first time in two weeks, the temperature is staying completely below 40˚F. We have had short bursts of snow, the last of which dumped about 12-18 inches at my house in Golden on December 22. Otherwise it’s been warmer than it should be.
"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
And it's snowing here now
"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
For the season
We’ve barely dipped into the 30’s much since November, let alone go below freezing. It’s just weird
Your 2012 Colorado Rockies:freshly exorcised from Ty Wigginton
You know the rightwingers who say
“4 feet of snow? And they say there’s global warming LOLZ” – you never hear them say “well shucks, in my superficial and meaningless opinion, it actually IS pretty toasty, huh? Poor old polar bears”.
PRMLB - The San Francisco Giants are better than you
Had a foot of snow
a few days before Christmas, but nothing since. Looking for a couple of inches tonight/tomorrow morning. Been pretty dry in the high country ski areas all winter.
Waiting for spring.
there was that massive snowstorm in October
that tore down 25% of tree branches.
"Some guy on the net thinks I suck, and he should know - he's got his own blog." - Nick Hornby
"Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est"
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jan 7, 2012 12:22 PM MST via Android app up reply actions
Some of my friends
in different parts of the country have been mentioning how mild it’s been.
And I thought it was just normal Colorado weather the past month…
I'M SORRY I WAS EVER MAD AT YOU, ROCKIES! COME BACK TO ME! I LOVE YOU!!
by prettyinpurple on Jan 7, 2012 2:49 PM MST via Android app up reply actions
Normal Denver weather sure
the high country usually has a lot more snow than it’s gotten (I went tubing over break instead of skiing due to this slight problem)
"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
The Petrick story
is both the most heartbreaking and uplifting thing I’ve read in quite a while.
It is good
I always worried about what became of him, so it’s great to know how well things are going.
I’d like the Rockies to have him be around the team, maybe spend spring training with them. He could teach a lot of young guys about keeping things in perspective, and also inspire them to make the most of their gifts while they have them.
I really like the way Chatwood throws
The comparisons to Oswalt are very apt, right down to the nasty movement on the 2 seamer in the zone. Of course, Roy also forced hitters to try and make contact, because he’s always thrown strikes. Remains to be seen, but given that the dropoff from CDI to Hernandez is minor, I think a good lottery ticket to buy. If a few dice come up sevens — for once — we could have something special.
by BostonTransplant on Jan 7, 2012 12:41 PM MST reply actions
Bill James has some pretty optomistic projections for Hawpe next year
A .259/.355/.440 line in about 2/5 of a season’s plate appearances. Even if he only played that much and put up that line, it’d be a good deal for Texas. Particularly if he can play well at first.
his projections are always optomistic
but hitting in arlington that’s possible edging on probable
arenado: it's Rockie for future
brewers sign brooks "NLDS" conrad
continuing a tradition of an excellent defensive infield
arenado: it's Rockie for future
Trivia question for a sleepy Saturday afternoon.....
Which Rockie recorded the final putout in the first-ever Rockies victory?
Dale Murphy?
We're trying to win a (#)(*@$%#)@#&$#)^ argument here!!!!
In line for seats at the Grand Junction Rockies 2012 home opener
Baseball Reference says...
You’re right
Die-hard Rockies fan since 1993.
Poo-Bah of the San Diego Padres in the Purple Row OOTP League.
@Paul_Franz
My blerg
I caught the end of a "classic games" replay
a week or so ago, and when the last out was made I thought “Dale Murphy? That would make a great trivia question.”
I had no idea it would come up again so soon… lol
We're trying to win a (#)(*@$%#)@#&$#)^ argument here!!!!
In line for seats at the Grand Junction Rockies 2012 home opener
Yep, I caught the same game and thought the same thing
I forgot that Murphy was on the team from day one. I sort of remembered him joining later in the month, but guess not.
brooks conrad
arenado: it's Rockie for future
So pissed.
My laptop screen has a small crack and had to be sent in to be fixed.
Now I’m without it for about 2-3 weeks.
/oh yeah I’m mad.
"Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate"
Luftfeuchtigkeitsregler über alles.
by The Lodo Magic Man on Jan 7, 2012 3:03 PM MST via mobile reply actions
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