“Who would you rather have?” Rockies edition

With the Rockies sputtering and all of the other general madness surrounding 2020, I thought today would be a good day to switch things up and have some fun with the Rockpile! Let’s play: Who would you rather have?

Who would you rather have: Troy Tulowitzki or Trevor Story? | The Athletic ($)

Nick Groke kicks things off with a big question: Troy Tulowitzki or Trevor Story? It was a question that we approached a little bit in March with our Rockies Madness Tournament, but the two never ended up meeting in our bracket.

This is an important question because Story and Tulo are the two best shortstops in Rockies history, but the Rockies luckily never had to choose between them. Tulowitzki was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 28, 2015 and Story made his MLB debut on April 4, 2016. But that doesn’t mean they’re not intertwined in Rockies lore, as Groke outlines:

In the winter of 2011, about three months after an 18-year-old Trevor Story moved from Texas to Wyoming for a short stint with the Casper Ghosts, he started to receive a series of phone calls and texts from a stern source. On the other end was Troy Tulowitzki, who had just played a three-year stretch as the best shortstop in baseball.

What are you doing to get better? Tulowitzki asked him. How on-point is your routine? Are you training the right way? Are you resting or working?

The lessons were implored on the Texas teenager with no hint of comfort or humor. Tulowitzki was willing to pass along his experience, like Todd Helton had done for him, but he would not babysit. He was not one for happy encouragement. Learn to play ball or get lost.

Groke outlines the careers of each shortstop and offers his thoughts on who gets the edge if you had to pick one to start all over with.

So I ask the question to you: who would you choose?

Who should lead off for the Rockies? | Purple Row

Continuing with the theme of “who would you rather have,” Purple Row’s own Joelle Milholm explores the importance of the leadoff hitter in the Rockies lineup. After having Charlie Blackmon fill that role for five years, 2020 was the year of change (as seems to be the case in just about everything). David Dahl began the year as the leadoff hitter, but only lasted 12 games in that spot before being demoted in favor of Garrett Hampson. Hampson spent 13 games in the role before Black gave Raimel Tapia a chance to lead things off, and Tapia has spent 10 games there.

So far, Tapia seems to be having the most success after a slow start to the season (Joelle also explored his newfound success last week), but is he the leadoff man of the future? Or will that title go back to Hampson or Dahl, or even someone else?

Who would you choose as the Rockies leadoff man?

Colorado Rockies deal for Kevin Pillar: How much of an upgrade is he? | Mile High Sports

Speaking of “who would you rather have,” the Rockies added a new outfielder yesterday — 31-year-old Kevin Pillar, most recently of the Boston Red Sox. Caleb Walker analyzes the move from a purely offensive and defensive perspective of what Pillar adds, but also makes note of how this move affects current Rockies players — namely David Dahl, Sam Hilliard, and Garrett Hampson (he notes that Charlie Blackmon and Raimel Tapia are “locks” for the corner outfield spots).

Pillar has spent the most time in center field, so it seems obvious that he would play most of his time there. However, that does leave four players fighting for that spot. On the outside, perhaps this move sends a message that Dahl is out for the season with his injured back. That still leaves three players. Hampson has flexibility as a middle infielder as well, especially with Brendan Rodgers and Chris Owings on the IL as well, but he could still stand to lose playing time when/if Owings comes back. Hilliard seems to be settling in as a starting outfielder, but then why would you trade for a guy to just sit on the bench?

Walker suggests using Pillar primarily as a depth piece, taking the place of Blackmon in right field when he needs a day off — either to DH or to just sit. So that begs the question: who would you rather have as the Rockies third outfielder?

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