Tuesday Morning Rockpile:

by Russ Oates on Feb 5, 2008 8:51 AM MST in Rockpile

The Rockies continue to negotiate with Atkins, Fuentes, and Hawpe in order to avoid hearings later this month.

And as the main part of that article informs us, Josh Fogg has a new suitor. First, the Reds wanted Fogg, but then the Mariners and Orioles discussed a trade involving Adam Jones and Erik Bedard. So the Mariners wanted Fogg in case the trade fell through, which it did at the time. Nothing happened with Fogg. Then the Twins finally pulled the trigger on a Santana trade some days later, and it appeared as if the Twins have interest in Fogg. Now there are reports that the Twins have little interest in Fogg and would prefer to go with a young rotation backed up by a veteran bullpen. With the Bedard-to-Seattle deal back on, does that leave Fogg to be an Oriole soon? The free agent market is one dragon Fogg hasn't slain yet.

If you're a young player who had success in the past few seasons, this was probably a dream off season for you. Curtis Granderson signed a five-year, $30.25M deal with the Tigers yesterday. This past season's quadruple 20 surely helped spur this deal along.

And something funny to close with: Don't call the Tampa Bay Rays "the Tampa Bay Devil Rays" because the Tampa Bay Devil Rays will send you a letter telling you that you shouldn't call the Tampa Bay Rays "the Tampa Bay Devil Rays". Otherwise, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays request that you donate to the Rays Baseball Foundation.

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Fogg

Is there any chance he might get a one-two year deal to keep Franklin Morales in AAA to gain more control and get him some innings with out the pressure of the big leagues?

by Jester76 on Feb 5, 2008 10:23 AM MST reply actions

That's what

Towers, Redman, and Wells are doing.

by Since1993 on Feb 5, 2008 10:56 AM MST up reply actions

Fogg

I'm not sure Fogg fits anymore. Fogg was wanting multiple years, and fairly big money. Not sure where he's at now, but I would assume he's still fairly expensive, even for a one year contract ($8 million give or take ??? Just a wild guess...wasn't he wanting 3 years @ $9million each?)

We brought in Kip Wells, and Josh Towers and brought back Mark Redman. All could be a #5 pitcher, and while not as good as Fogg...would be MUCH cheaper, and thus far more expendable (cheap trade or just waive) if/when Morales is ready to start...or even Reynolds.

We are also talking to Shawn Chacon who could possible fit in this group, though I think everyone thinks he's a reliever.

I miss Kaz! He really could Rock-a-Rhyme, even if it was Tricky

by Redhawk on Feb 5, 2008 10:56 AM MST up reply actions

Just adding to the two comments above:

Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA rates them this way according to WXRL (Wins eXpected over Replacement Level):

Greg Reynolds 2.4
Josh Fogg 2.0
Franklin Morales 1.5
Kip Wells 1.4
Josh Towers 1.0
Mark Redman 0.9

I've said before that I think that most projections are off on Morales this season, and it's usually come down to a higher HR rate, but PECOTA's the first one that has also projected a GB%, and I think even at 50% it's a tick or three lower for Franklin than what I'd suspect will happen, leaving me even more convinced that more balls in play will be turned to outs for him than what the spreadsheets are saying. I'm pretty convinced he's going to be more valuable than Fogg this season, and Reynolds almost certainly will be as well.

The three guys we signed cheaply as emergency fills shouldn't be counted on for much, but I think there's a pretty decent shot one of them has the ability to exceed expectations from the get go this Spring. I wouldn't hazard a guess as to which one that is, but the safety in numbers principal seems to apply here.

by Rox Girl on Feb 5, 2008 11:47 AM MST up reply actions

Reynolds over Morales?

I am a little suprised by Reynolds position over Franklin. While Reynolds pitched well, he never made it above AA, meanwhile Morales went 3-2 with an era of 3.43 in the second half of the Majors. I think he would have started in the WS too if it hadn't been for his infamous sweating forehead balk which threw him off his game against the Phillies, and was later repeated against Arizona.

There's only one Rocktober!!

by Charlie77 on Feb 6, 2008 10:03 PM MST up reply actions

Rockies sign V. Zambrano; Spring roster released

The Rockies finally announced their Spring Training roster: 22 non-roster players will be in camp along with the 38 already on the 40-man.

Non-Roster Invitees:
Pitchers: (11)
RHP Alberto Arias
LHP Micah Bowie
RHP Darren Clarke
LHP Chris George
RHP Brandon Hynick
LHP John Koronka
RHP Zach McClellan
RHP Greg Reynolds
LHP Sean Thompson
RHP Casey Weathers
RHP Victor Zambrano

Catchers: (3)
C Mike McKenry
C Mike Rose
C Neil Wilson

Infielders: (4)
1B/3B Christian Colonel
2B Marcus Giles
UT Matt Kata
SS Chris Nelson

Outfielders: (4)
OF Sean Barker
OF Dexter Fowler
OF Joe Gaetti
OF Scott Podsednik

by malakian on Feb 5, 2008 1:14 PM MST reply actions

Correction

Apparently Josh Towers hasn't officially signed yet. He'll probably be added to the 40-man roster soon as well.

by malakian on Feb 5, 2008 1:18 PM MST up reply actions

I hope

he's not on the 40 man, and just a non roster invitee too. I just don't think he'll make the team at all.

I miss Kaz! He really could Rock-a-Rhyme, even if it was Tricky

by Redhawk on Feb 5, 2008 4:50 PM MST up reply actions

Zambrano

Zambrano's an interesting guy to throw into the mix as a non roster invitee. A useful pitcher as recently as 2005, and he's now a couple years removed from Tommy John surgery.

Sure, toss him into the 5th man battle royale and let's see what happens.

by BroJB @ Purple Row on Feb 5, 2008 3:07 PM MST up reply actions

Is this going to be a Cage Match?

cause that might be fun to watch

I miss Kaz! He really could Rock-a-Rhyme, even if it was Tricky

by Redhawk on Feb 5, 2008 4:48 PM MST up reply actions

Colonel

Christian Colonel's showing on the 40-man on the Rockies website. Assuming Towers signs and gets put on the 40-man, that would fill it up.

mvn.com/mlb-rockies - Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.

by Franchise26 on Feb 5, 2008 5:07 PM MST up reply actions

Colonel on 40-man?

It was a website error. Colonel is listed as a non-roster player now.

by malakian on Feb 6, 2008 9:50 AM MST up reply actions

The Devil Rays

don't want to be called the Devil Rays? Well then, in all my future baseball blogging, I'll make sure I don't offend the Devil Rays by calling them the Devil Rays. I barely have enough money to feed myself (college studentitis) let alone make donations to the Devil Rays Baseball Foundation. Sorry, Devil Rays.

Get Demented :: Gang Gridiron.

by Silverblood on Feb 5, 2008 2:02 PM MST reply actions

I agree

Tampa Bay Rays just sounds goofy and stupid.

http://mvn.com/mlb-rockies: The best thing to happen to baseball since 1993.

by Rox Fan in TN on Feb 5, 2008 2:41 PM MST up reply actions

Besides

the letter gives me the image of this impossibly clean-cut, perma-smiling weirdo holding a ruler and saying, "Rays, children, remember, it's Rays," and slapping you on the wrist if you mess up, all the while never breaking smile stride.

Devil Rays. Devil Rays. Devil Rays. I was just going to call them the D-Rays, but now I'm going for the full monty.

Get Demented :: Gang Gridiron.

by Silverblood on Feb 5, 2008 6:44 PM MST up reply actions

Haha Silverblood...

I am picturing the weirdo now. I'm cracking up at the whole situation, but I suppose they need some kind of new gimmic. It's just natural to think of them as Devil Rays, because that is what they are! The letter itself is the funniest of all, written like it is a deathly serious matter. However, I laughed throughout the whole thing. "A bright yellow sunburst now adorns our jerseys"...I feel bad for the Devil Rays players, lol.

Loves Troy *Thug 4 life* Tulowitzki, Garrett *Fankles* Atkins, Ryan *the Director* Spilborghs, MattyVP Holliday, Chris Iannetta,and the Rockies in general.

by tulolover on Feb 5, 2008 7:56 PM MST reply actions