Has the Colorado Rockies' bullpen improved at all this winter?

Happy Tuesday! (Is there such a thing?) As the calendar turns to January, the Colorado Rockies have yet to be significantly involved in an offseason trade like many people expected they might; either the next three or four weeks will be a very busy time for Jeff Bridich & Co., or literally everyone around the Rockies has been completely barking up the wrong tree.

Well then. Some Rockies news and notes for you this morning:

How Have 2015's Worst Bullpens Improved Thus Far? — MLB Trade Rumors

Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors looks at how the five worst bullpens in baseball in 2015 — according to ERA — have fared this winter. The worst one, naturally, is the Rockies. He thinks that the Rockies made some intriguing moves, but there is still room for more additions. Most significantly, Adams is not sold on Motte in Colorado, because he doesn't make hitters miss the ball or induce grounders — similar concerns that many of you had, as well.

Hillsboro Hops announce 2016 coaching staff, Shelley Duncan returning at manager — Oregon Live

The big news here for Rockies fans is Ben Petrick. The former catcher of the future, whose career was cut short so cruelly by Parkinson's Disease, is on board in his native Hillsboro for another season as the Hops' consultant. Here's to Ben continuing his journey; if he can't play the game he loves, the next best thing for a class act like Petrick is to teach young players fresh to professional baseball how to play the game hard and right.

Royals announce 2016 minor league coaching staffs/coordinators — KSN.com

Good news for another former member of the Rockies' organizational tree here, Jamie Quirk — who was a coach on Colorado's big league staff from 2003 to 2008 — has been hired as the manager at High-A Wilmington, the Royals' affiliate in the Carolina League. He was a manager in the Padres' system in 2015 and will be joined on the bench in Wilmington by, among others, recent former big leaguer Abraham Nunez on his coaching staff.

Edgar Martinez and Larry Walker deserve enshrinement in the Hall of Fame — Beyond the Box Score

Joe Vasile of Beyond the Box Score takes a look at the Hall of Fame cases for Larry Walker and Edgar Martinez. Comparing them to Ken Griffey, Jr., Vasile makes his case based on the Jaffe WAR Score, and argues that the Coors Field effect shouldn't affect views on a player in the way it has traditionally happened. Let's hope those that control the actual Hall of Fame votes read more things like this!

Prospects Serve As Key Assets In Winter Moves — Baseball America

Baseball America ranked the 25 best prospects that were traded this winter — a list the Rockies are not on... yet. Perhaps the club will be on the receiving end of a player or two like this soon. There are a lot of very highly ranked prospects here, headlined by new Braves prospect Dansby Swanson. It's an excellent example of the sort of prospect packages that top players are getting, and can't help but make you dream about the sort of package the Rockies could receive for Carlos Gonzalez.

Baseball’s been very good to him: Brian DeWine ’02 — Clemson World Magazine

Rick Uhlman of Clemson World, the alumni magazine for Clemson University in South Carolina, interviewed Tiger alum Brian DeWine, the President and Co-Owner of the Asheville Tourists. DeWine opened up about running the Tourists, and how his Clemson degree has helped him turn the Rockies' long-time affiliate in Asheville into one of the best fan experiences in the South Atlantic League.