Monday Morning Rockpile:

by Rox Girl on Jul 30, 2007 7:42 AM MDT in Rockpile

Winning series against the Dodgers and Padres this last week has nudged the Rockies a little closer in the standings to the NL West leaders. Close enough, in fact, to get manager Clint Hurdle and Todd Helton scoreboard watching and bandying about phrases like "pennant race" in the clubhouse. There are still too many teams in front of us for me to feel really comfortable with that characterization, but at least we're over .500 and we moved the right direction in a week when the Padres and Dodgers could have (and in years past would have) put us away for keeps.

The schedule doesn't let up for the next couple of weeks in terms of the quality of our opponents, however, so the team can't get too smug with its current position. We go on the road with a traditionally Rockies impairing Southeast swing to Florida and Atlanta this week, and then get the NL Central frontrunners Milwaukee and Chicago at home before heading West for payback from the Padres and Dodgers. We can't afford a sub .500 record in those nineteen games or this heady moment of competing in August will be short-lived.

On the trade front, the rumor involving the Rox that seems to have the most legs still comes from Detroit, with the Tigers interested in bringing in Clint Barmes to be Dave Dombrowski's version of Craig Counsell circa 1997. The Rockies traded Counsell to Dombrowski's Florida team for Mark Hutton that summer, and Craig would go on to be a key role player for the Marlins in their World Series run of that year. Hutton would pitch in eight games with the Rockies before being traded in the offseason to Cincinnati for Curtis Goodwin. So, needless to say, I'm a bit skeptical of this given our history with trading middle infielders.

The Tigers aren't going to give a primary chip for Barmes, so the Rockies would probably be looking to pick up one of their collection of solid AA-AAA level pitching prospects that aren't going to get much opportunity with Detroit's already stacked rotation and yet could potentially help the Rockies staff this season. Eulogio de la Cruz or Dallas Trahern seem to fit the Rockies' prototype for pitching prospects, Trahern with a low-nineties, heavy sinker that he uses effectively despite not K'ing a lot of guys, and de la Cruz would be another Dominican fireballer that has a lot of potential but also control issues. Jair Jurrgens is another name that could be brought up if this deal were to come to pass.

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RE: Sullivan and Reynolds.....when they come back;

where will they go and what dominoes will fall or be moved within the organization?

by 86 wins in 07 on Jul 30, 2007 9:58 AM MDT reply actions

I'm glad that the media

seems have realized that the internal options for pitching help are much, much better than anything available via trade. Jimenez was good yesterday, and I think as he gets more experience, he will learn that he can throw is FB at 95 instead of 98, still get people out, but have much better command and possibly better movement. I'm excited to see what some of our other minor league pitchers can do if given a chance. Couldn't we bring up Morales and use him in the bullpen? That way his innings stay under control, but he gets a taste of the bigs...Also I wouldn't be opposed to seeing Morillo at some point this year.

by moomacher on Jul 30, 2007 10:32 AM MDT reply actions

Close, but no cigar...

While we are technically in a pennant race, it sure doesn't feel that way. Even if we do continue our climb towards the top, I think the more kids we can get experience over the last two months the better. Hirch and Bucholz need to have an opportunity to start on a regular basis and prove that they have what it takes to be successful at Coors Field.

If so, that makes the transition next spring easier. If not, then we can look for options this winter which may include shipping these two out.

This road trip will be fun/stressful to watch. Go Rocks!!

TGFPR!!

by jlot10 on Jul 30, 2007 11:16 AM MDT reply actions

Looks like the Dodgers

will lose out on acquiring Mark Teixeira, as he's heading to Atlanta for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, and two minor league pitchers. Pending a review of his medical records, that is.

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Jul 30, 2007 11:24 AM MDT reply actions

It figures

that they would get Teixeira right before the Rockies will get to Atlanta. Ouch!

by cofan17 on Jul 30, 2007 1:47 PM MDT up reply actions

I was just thinking that

when I saw the Braves had done the deal: "Of course, now we get to face him."

Get Demented. I already am, and in severe emotional pain to boot.

by Silverblood on Jul 30, 2007 2:05 PM MDT up reply actions

yeah

1-2 with a double and a walk against francis, never faced jimenez (obviously) or cook. we'll see. some guys take a while to adjust to switching leagues, others pick things up very quickly. i hope he's of the latter variety.

rockies in october.

by LarryB303 on Jul 30, 2007 3:30 PM MDT up reply actions

Taylor is fine where he is

The time for reloading was last year. While it's tempting to take a young arm and give them the "Swim or sink" treatment as a starter Buchholz should stay put. With the Rockies on the cusp of October, disillusioned or not, we should'nt use this time to experiment with a guy who's done nothing to show he can handle the job.

As a starter in eight games he's 1-3 with a 5.98 ERA. Teams are teeing off at a .309 clip. 55 hits in 43 and a third IP with 5 HRs.

As a reliever he's been much better (Sunday's muff not withstanding). 2.42 ERA with a 4-0 record and a .268 average against with no homers.

InToddwetrust

by InToddwetrust on Jul 30, 2007 11:56 AM MDT reply actions

Numbers can be misleading

I'm not denying that Taylor's 5.98 ERA in his 8 starts isn't very pretty. But it is a little misleading. Most pitchers need time to adjust to the starting rotation routine again after they have been in the bullpen for a while. It generally takes 2 or 3 starts to get back into the rhythm of starting. That's what we saw with Taylor when he first went into the rotation back in April when Lopez was on the DL. However, after those first three games, he had 3 out of his next 4 starts as quality starts and the other start had a lot of ground ball hits that found holes, so bad luck could have been a factor. His last start was, again, him not being comfortable with his changeup (which is why he hardly used it) and it would take a couple more starts for him to get comfortable again.

I am not saying that we should make any changes with the team right now since we are fairly close to the Dodgers and the Padres but, I do agree with jlot10 in that, if we drop out of this playoff race, then Taylor needs to go into the rotation and work off the rust so we can see what we have for next year. If he can consistently pitch like he was before he was removed from the rotation in favor of Fogg (meaning his last few starts), that could answer a lot of questions about what to do with the rotation since Lopez and Fogg are both free agents at the end of the season and Cook will be a free agent after next year.

Free Taylor Buchholz!

by lgh77 on Jul 30, 2007 2:50 PM MDT up reply actions

I think this ship has sailed

It's one thing to give a talented guy like Buchholz more chances when you have nothing to lose, but it's getting to the point that it will be time to let others try their hand as well. As much potential as Buchholz has with his stuff, he probably lacks the ceiling of Jimenez, Morales, Reynolds, Hynick, etc. There just may not be many openings left for Buchholz to try his hand at starting again.

If we just look at next year's rotation based on what we know right now, three spots will be locked by Francis, Cook, and Jimenez. Fogg and Lopez should be gone by then, leaving two openings. However, Morales is making a hard push to grab one of those spots before this season closes. He's only had one bad inning in four starts since the Future's game, and his talent and potential need a big league home before any other Rockies' pitcher. So with Franklin written in with pencil, that leaves one spot. So long as Reynolds is healthy and performs well either in the final month or the Arizona Fall League, he could be the quiet front runner for the last spot. Having seen him on multiple occasions, I can confidently state that he can handle himself in the big leagues right now, and has little left to learn in the minors that he won't learn anyways in a big league run.

So there are five guys with higher ceilings or better big league production, and that doesn't even count Jason Hirsh. It also doesn't count any potential pitcher the Rockies may acquire in the next day. Should Barmes be sent to Detroit for a pitcher like Trahern, you'd have to think he'd be knocking on the door very quickly, as would Hynick should he make a flawless transition to AA.

Also, you have to think that the Rockies will be dealing with some serious trade chips this off-season with the third base, first base, and corner outfield logjams. There's a possibility this team can acquire a solid young starter with their chips this off-season.

Not all pitchers pan out, but the race for startig jobs will certainly tighten next season, and there just may not be anymore time to give to Buchholz to work out of his funk. That's not the end of the world, as this is how relievers are made. They try their hand at starting, and whether qualified or not, get pushed to the bullpen for some early promise shown there or struggles in the rotation, and the managers don't look back. It's likely best for Buchholz to now focus on developing his two pitch combo into becoming a very solid middle reliever.

by David OhNo on Jul 30, 2007 9:37 PM MDT up reply actions

Why he was available

The reason that he was available in that trade was because he had struggled to reach his potential. Like Bautista or Affeldt, he had good stuff and if he harnessed it he would be an asset. With his success in the pen if there are better options for starters then there isn't much reason to take him out of a role where he seems to be succeeding and put him back in a role where he may or may not succeed.

That said, I think the argument for Taylor as a spot starter is idiotic. If he is too unreliable and too inexperienced to start on a regular basis then this makes him even more unready for a spot start. If he can't mentally handle starting then why would you give him some of the most mentally challenging starts?

by MADness on Jul 30, 2007 11:24 PM MDT up reply actions

Not necessarily

As we have seen with Jimenez, the Rockies are not the type of team to move their pitchers along quickly. If what they did with Jimenez is any indication, both Reynolds and Morales would most likely start next year in Colorado Springs with possible call-ups later in the year.

Also, in your scenario, there is no room for Hirsh. What would you do with him? Management has already said that he is not a fit for the bullpen so they would have no room for him if Reynolds and Morales are in the rotation next year.

Another thing to consider is that this is the same team that kept Fogg for the "veteran presence". I don't see O'Dowd and Hurdle starting next year with Cook, Francis, Jimenez in only his second year and two rookies. This is where Hirsh and Buchholz come in. Allowing the two of them to get into the rotation and stay there for as much of the remaining season we have left would allow for Hurdle and O'Dowd to evaluate them for next years rotation and, more importantly, let them get experience so you have some experienced pitchers at the back of the rotation. Then, if any of the five (Cook, Francis, Jimenez, Hirsh and Buchholz) get injured or suck, that's when they could bring up Reynolds or Morales. I just don't see them as breaking camp with the team next year.

The point that jlot10 and I are making is that we still have to evaluate Hirsh and Buchholz to see what we have before next year. Either we'll have some answers for the rotation or we could trade one or both and acquire another piece we are missing.

Free Taylor Buchholz!

by lgh77 on Jul 31, 2007 11:43 AM MDT up reply actions

In a logical world

I have a feeling that they are being pulled in two directions right now and will most likely do neither (go all-out to compete now or prepare for next year). :(

That is just my opinion though.

by MADness on Jul 31, 2007 3:05 PM MDT up reply actions

Thanks

lgh for taking up the cause. Unless Buchholz is going to play winter ball somewhere, we need to see what he can do in the rotation on a consistant basis. Maybe David is right and we are too far down the road and going to have to live with Taylor in the bullpen. Nonetheless, both are 25 years old and should have some value on this team somewhere.

TGFPR!!

by jlot10 on Jul 31, 2007 4:21 PM MDT up reply actions

Mike Coolbaugh, Tino Sanchez

There is a great piece about the two of them, and the Drillers, on ESPN.com today.

by Knepster on Jul 30, 2007 5:43 PM MDT reply actions

agreed

Taylor could prove to be a boost over Fogg next year with polish.

Every team needs a long man that can step in from time to time and I believe we could both agree that Reynolds in the rotation with Buchholz in the 5th/long man spot would be great.

InToddwetrust

by InToddwetrust on Jul 30, 2007 5:47 PM MDT reply actions