Now that I've dissected the 2009 Colorado Rockies starting rotation and bullpen as part of my season preview (albeit the last entry being over a month ago), I feel it's time to tackle the infield prospects the Rockies will be molding as they prepare for the regular season.
Let's begin with the obvious.
Troy Tulowitzki will man the shortstop position for as long he keeps his batting average above the Mendoza Line and the splintered ends of his bats out of the flesh on his palms.
If the pain in Todd Helton's back doesn't continue to be a royal pain in his ass, you can pencil the legendary lefty into the three-spot in both the batting order and the fielding lineup.
If his back pain flares up, however, it will set in motion a shuffling of players reminiscent of an old parlor game of three card monte.
Garrett Atkins, the incumbent third baseman will shift over to first bringing Ian Stewart in to replace Atkins. Stewart's time at third will give more playing time in left field to Seth Smith or Matt Murton or whoever wins the left field job coming out of Tucson.
Stewart's potential and production last year in his time with the Major League club should pay off in the form of a full season with the Rockies in whatever position Skip Hurdle needs him.
Hurdle has told the media that Stewart will be taking ground balls at third and fly balls in left in hopes of finding a spot for his powerful bat more games than not.
Second base will be an interesting option for Hurdle this year because of his options at both the Major and Minor League levels.
Clint Barmes will be given the chance to win or lose the position in Spring Training after a solid, if unspectacular performance (.290, 11, 44) at the position in 2008. Jeff Baker will also be given at bats to try and crack his way into Clint Hurdle's starting lineup, a feat he's never been able to consistently accomplish in his four years with the Rockies.
Coming up quickly through the Rockies' ranks are youngsters Eric Young, Jr., a familiar face around Tucson thanks to his father, and Chris Nelson, the 2004 number one pick who's finally starting to hit his stride offensively (.321, 6, 17 in 29 games in the Arizona Fall League).
Young absolutely tore up the AFL as he led the league in hitting with a .430 average in thirty-one games while knocking five home runs (one inside-the-park) and tallying twenty stolen bases in only twenty-one attempts. His coming-out party earned him an invite to Tucson and he projects to start the year in AAA Colorado Springs barring a spectacular performance in the month of March.
Omar Quintanilla will perennially provide dazzling defense and lackluster lumber while prospect Christian Colonel, former Rockie Luis A. Gonzalez, and pint-sized speedster Jonathan Herrera will also get the opportunity to prove they belong in the infield mix as well.
I'll profile the catchers in the next exciting installment of Generation Redemption: the 2009 Colorado Rockies.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Spring Sneak Peek: The Rockies Infield
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A Plea to the Baseball Gods
Saturday's bombshell that Alex Rodriguez, arguably the best player in baseball today, had tested positive for steroids back in 2003, and today's subsequent confession on the part of the Big Apple bomber, is bound to put in motion a chain of events that will leave the charred baseball landscape with no steroid stone left unturned.
Many journalists have pontificated their opinions about how Rodriguez has completely destroyed any shred of dignity that remained of the once proud and sacred game of baseball, and since I am inclined to agree, I won't repeat their cynical sentiments.
The real issue on everybody's minds now, since Rodriguez's confession will assuage at least a part of the furor headed his way, are the names of the other 103 Major Leaguers who failed their drug tests along with A-Rod.
I refuse to even speculate which names could be on the list because in today's media world of instant gratification and a blogger to blogger rumor mill that can spread faster than the Black Death, even the mere mention of a suspected name, no matter the context, can open a Pandora's Box that could unleash a whirlwind of untruths into the blogosphere.
Instead, I'm going to make a plea.
Not to the media, or the Commissioner's office, or the players, or the organizations, or the player's union, or the player's agents, but to the gods of baseball whomever they may be.
Please, let this be the end of it.
Release the final 103 names on the list of players who tested positive back in 2003 and allow the players, organizations, and fans to put the Steroid Era in the rearview mirror, back over it a few times, and speed away, never looking back.
With the steroid testing in place right now, this list should be the last gasp from the stranglehold performance-enhancing drugs have had on the game over the last fifteen years.
With the public release of these names, it would allow the players implicated to either fight the accusations until they're up against a grand jury (see Bonds, Barry and Clemens, Roger), or to simply acquiesce and admit their wrongdoings, exonerating themselves in the court of public opinion like Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi, and now Alex Rodriguez have done.
If A-Rod's name never would have been released, the general public would never have known of the list's existence, much less the names written on it.
Now that one name, albeit one of the top superstars in the game, has been leaked, it triggers the natural human instinct to not rest until we know the identities of the other 103 culprits.
If the rest of the list never sees the light of day, I can't say that I would be too broken up about it. I don't want the possibility of some of my favorite players, athletes I have looked up to, being forced to explain to the entire baseball world how a moment of weakness or insecurity will forever tarnish the legacy they have built in the game and in their communities.
But if we must pull the curtain back on the supposedly confidential list, all I have is this one final plea.
Please, let this be the end of it.
Many Questions Face Rox as Spring Training Nears
With the Rockies' pitchers and catchers set to report to Tucson on Friday, and the rest of the club coming in early next week, many questions still remain as to whether or not the Rox can return to the prominence they tasted in 2007.
Personally, I think a playoff run is possible when you consider a few important factors:
The NL West is completely, totally, Wyoming-ly wide open. When you look at the rosters of each of the five teams, everyone except the Padres, who are in a cost-cutting financial free fall, are seen as possible contenders for the division title.
No team made a major addition to their rosters. Matt Holliday switching leagues would be the biggest loss for any team in the NL West, and it's a veritable staring contest to see who will blink first between the Dodgers and the Giants when it comes to the Manny Ramirez sweepstakes at this point.
The NL West is still one of the more pitching-rich divisions in the game, and with each team hacking their way through Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Jake Peavy, Tim Lincecum, Chad Billingsley, Aaron Cook, and Ubaldo Jimenez, it's going to be tough for any team to build a sizable advantage in the standings.
Eighty-four wins, which the Dodgers earned last year to win the division, could very well do the trick again.
But back to the Rockies...
What are some of the major questions that must be answered before their Apr. 6 Opening Day showdown with the D-Backs?
How's Jeff Francis' shoulder?
The shoulder status of Jeff Francis will be monitored on an hourly basis as he tries to work through the scar tissue remaining in his pitching arm. He's supposedly going to make a decision about whether surgery is necessary soon after arriving in Tucson.
If he decides to go under the knife, it's bye-bye to 2009. If he breaks through said scar tissue during his daily bullpen sessions, he could be back on the mound around May or June.
How's Todd Helton's Back?
A majority of the lineup's daily movement will rest on Helton's balky back. If he's good to go, Garrett Atkins will man third while Ian Stewart either rides the bench or plays out of position in left field. If Todd needs a breather, Atkins goes to first and Stewart returns to his natural position at third base, opening up a spot for Seth Smith in left.
Who's Rounding Out the Rotation?
Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Marquis, and Jorge de la Rosa have the first four spots in the starting rotation as it stands today. The real position battle for that fifth spot will be between lefties Franklin Morales and Greg Smith and righties Jason Hirsh, Greg Reynolds, Josh Fogg, and Matt Belisle.
Smith could have the upper hand as he threw nearly 200 innings with the Athletics last season with moderate success (7-16, 4.16.) Morales has the best stuff of any of the candidates, but dealt with control issues and a bad back in 2008.
Who Will Man the Outfield?
Brad Hawpe is a lock in right. The other two spots are more up in the air. Ryan Spilborghs will be given the chance to translate his super-sub skills into a starting spot in center while Seth Smith will set up shop in left, getting spelled by Matt Murton when the team faces a tough lefty.
If any of those players should fail, hot shot prospects Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez will be waiting in the wings for their chance to shine.
How Hot is Clint Hurdle's Seat?
Maybe the reason why we never see Clint Hurdle sitting down in the dugout is because his seat is hotter than my new girlfriend, Bar Rafaeli. Hurdle's been given a seemingly infinite amount of patience on the part of the Monfort Brothers in his seven year tenure as the team's head coach, but you really have to wonder how much more losing the organization can take.
If the Rockies slink out of the gate in '09, look for Hurdle to be updating his resume come June.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Murton Added to Rockies Mix; Wimberly Subtracted From Equation
Unbeknownst to many baseball fans and highway architects alike, Oakland Athletics' general manager Billy Beane and Rockies' GM Dan O'Dowd went into the offseason with blueprints for a major project that could only be defined as "ambitious."
The plan? A pipeline that runs directly from McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. to Coors Field in Denver.
This proposed pipeline would transport not only automobiles, freight, and the occasional roadkill raccoon, but Major League Baseball players traveling between the two cities and teams behind the historic enterprise.
Alan Embree drew the short straw and took the initial trek from Cali to Colorado. Once Alan arrived safely in the Mile High City, both organizations knew their paved path was safe.
Then came the Matt Holliday deal, a 3-for-1 swap that sent relief pitcher Huston Street, starting pitcher Greg Smith, and hot-shot outfield prospect Carlos Gonzalez to the Rockies in exchange for the superstar slugger.
You thought they were done? Oh, no. The two trade-happy GMs had one more deal up their respective sleeves, finalizing a trade that sent reserve outfielder Matt Murton to Colorado for minor league speed demon Corey Wimberly.
The Rockies dealt from a position of strength within their minor league system. Wimberly was a solid young player and he led the Texas League in stolen bases. He could play a myriad of positions, but he also was stuck behind Clint Barmes and Ian Stewart at the Major League level and Eric Young Jr. and Chris Nelson in the minors.
Murton, a career .312 hitter against left-handed pitching, could form a productive platoon with Seth Smith, a career .314 hitter against righties. With Murton coming into the fold, he fills out the 40-man roster, but also adds to the slew of outfielders vying for a starting spot in 2009.
With Brad Hawpe fully entrenched in right field, there are now eight candidates for the other two positions. Ryan Spilborghs presumably has the upper hand in center with prospects Dexter Fowler and Gonzalez giving him stiff competition. Veteran Scott Podsednik was also invited to Spring Training as a non-roster player after hitting .253 in 93 games with the Rockies in 2008.
In left, Smith will have every opportunity to win the job in the spring, but if he falters in the Arizona sun, Gonzalez, Murton, and non-roster invitee Dan Ortmeier will push him for playing time.
In an effort to get Stewart consistent repetitions, he will also be put into the outfield mix to keep his thunderstick in the starting nine.
That is assuming, of course, that no more players will be making the trip down the Oakland-Denver pipeline between now and Feb. 17, when position players report to camp.
At this rate, it's anybody's guess.
Monday, January 5, 2009
The 2009 Rockies: Starting Rotation
So, now that Broncos season is, ahem, over in somewhat unceremonious fashion, it is finally time to turn both our eyes to the upcoming 2009 baseball season. Don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for the Nuggets to keep on keepin' on just as much as the next guy, but to me, it's all about baseball.
The Rockies have definitely stirred the proverbial pot this offseason by making moves both major and minor in hopes of finding the correct chemistry to put a winner on the field. They traded superstar slugger Matt Holliday for prospects, cut ties with speedster Willy Taveras, and added a bit of depth to the back end of the rotation as well as the middle innings of the bullpen.
They are also on the verge of finalizing a deal that would send high-priced reliever Luis Vizcaino to the Cubbies for high-priced starting pitcher Jason Marquis.
Viz struggled to a 5.28 ERA in 43 games last season while never carving out a niche for himself in Hurdle's bullpen. Marquis enjoyed an up and down season with the Cubs finishing with an 11-9 record and a 4.63 ERA. His signing would raise the Rox' payroll about $5 million in 2009.
Marquis would fill in a blank spot in the rotation after Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez, and a (hopefully) rejuvenated Jeff Francis. With the amount we would be paying Marquis for the 2009 season, you would have to believe that he would have the number 4 or 5 spot locked up. That would leave the other spot up for a heated competition between Jorge de la Rosa, newly acquired Greg Smith, Greg Reynolds, and Jason Hirsh when Spring Training opens.
De la Rosa overcame some early season Rick Ankiel-ness and actually ended the year in impressive fashion compiling a 5-2 record with a 2.44 ERA over the season's final two months. He has a live fastball and a biting slider with a slow curve that throws off the hitter's timing. For Rosie to be successful, it's all just a matter of getting out of his own head. Don't think. It can only hurt the ballclub.
Smith is an intriguing piece of work we received from the A's for Matt Holliday. His stats from his rookie season will not inspire confidence in the Rockies' faithful (7-16, 4.16 ERA,) but outside appearances can be deceiving. He's a Tom Glavine-type with a big-league cutter and curveball with a show-me changeup. His minor league numbers were outstanding as he had three times as many strikeouts as walks (309/105) compared to his banal Major League numbers (111/87.)
To me, that just shows some inexperience and rookie butterflies, and he should rebound in his sophomore season and remember what made him such a valuable commodity in the Minor Leagues. For what it's worth, he also has one of the better pickoff moves in baseball as he tallied 15 in his rookie year.
Reynolds, the number 2 pick in the 2006 draft (before Tim Lincecum to name a few), didn't make the kind of impression that one would hope he would. Brough up to the Majors by necessity after injuries besieged the ballclub, he made his debut in May and absorbed a loss to the Padres. It wouldn't get much better for the kid as the season went on as he racked up a 2-8 record with an 8.13 ERA while notching more walks (26) than strikeouts (22.)
Hirsh is running out of time to prove that his extensive Minor League track record (Pitcher of the Year in both AA and AAA) will translate into Major League success. He'll be 27 when the season starts hoping to find his fastball instead of relying so heavily on his changeup and slider. If he doesn't crack the rotation coming out of Spring Training, Hirsh may be relegated once again to the Minor Leagues where he's toiled for the majority of his career.
As I see it shaking out currently, the Rockies rotation will look like this:
Aaron Cook
Jeff Francis
Ubaldo Jimenez
Jason Marquis
Greg Smith/De la Rosa
Of course, whoever performs in Spring Training are going to take those bottom two spots, but I feel like Hurdle will want another lefty in the rotation. Whoever impresses most out of Smith and Rosie will take the final position.
I'll be analyzing the moves made by the Rockies as it relates to the bullpen, infield, and outfield in the coming days. I'm about to move out of Colorado to Virginia, so don't be scared if you don't hear from me for a little while.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Hiatus
Well, I guess Frost Brewed has been on hiatus over the past few weeks because of the holidays and what have you. And it will continue to be on hiatus for a few more weeks while I take a business (not) trip to Europe. When I get back, though, Frost Brewed will be back, like Howie Mandel.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Dr. Eric's Lead Pipe Lock Intel Report Preview Analyst Over/Under Pig Skin Pick 'Em: Week 16
Terrell Owens on how to answer a question without having to actually answer it:
"I believe somebody said it. But I didn't say it. So, why would somebody just jump to the conclusion that I said it and it created all this, uh, all this controversy and this turmoil throughout the week because again, if you look at situations that have happened in the past, just say give this incident, for example. You're a reporter. Ed's a reporter. All those guys are going to ask guys in the locker room. Give me your take on what's going on. Sure there may be some guys... If I was at fault, those guys are going to say that I was at fault. So it's going to be confirming what the situation is."
I guess Stephen A. Smith was too busy enacting his long planned revenge on Ed Werder to actually focus on his interview and ask penetrative questions--questions like: What the fuck are you talking about? and Could you please actually answer my question in a truthful, candid, non-political manner?
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Holy hell, it's already week 16. They already announced the Pro Bowl rosters. I guess it's time to go ahead and announce the Scrappy Bowl roster. Here are your gritty, gutty gamers for the year (mostly white, as the cliche goes):
The 2008 All-Scrap Team
QB - Chad Pennington - No, he doesn't have a beard. No, he's not Brett Favre. But he has little to no talent, yet he still has helped the Dolphins (1-15 last year) to a division-leading 9-5 record. He's even gutted out an average of one touchdown pass per game.
RB - Darren Sproles - This is always a tough roster spot. A scrappy running back is kind of an oxymoron. Still, Sproles might actually be scrappy. He's a quick little guy that never gives up. (This would have gone to Peyton Hillis, but he got injured and won't be able to play in the Scrappy Bowl)
FB - Dan Klecko - Gotta be Dan Klecko. He is so untalented he can't stick with one position. The Eagles have tried him as a fullback and a defensive tackle. Anywhere you can fit his can-do Rudy attitude is good for the team.
WR - Wes Welker - He is pretty much a lock every year. He can have it next year too. The minute wideout is second in the NFL in receptions this year. And he's almost 3 feet tall!
TE - Kevin Boss - He hasn't hadded the greatest year and he is very unspectacular, but he has replaced Jeremy Shockey, and actually showed Jeremy Shockey up. Anyone who shows up Jeremy Shockey, or sullies him in any way, has a special place in my heart.
OL - Jon Runyan - Just one O-lineman this year. That's because Runyan has the balls to take on a whole defensive line--and break their fingers while the refs aren't looking.
DE - Kyle Vanden Bosch - Could have gone with Jared Allen here, but I think Vanden Bosch has really shown his gamesmanship this year. I mean, look at that goatee.
DT - Justin Bannan - With Kelly Gregg (very scrappy in his own right) missing the season, Bannan has filled in admirably, anchoring one of the best defenses in football. Plus, he's a former Buff and lord knows they haven't had any talented players in fifteen years.
LB - Barrett Ruud - Ruud seems like the quintessential linebacker. He's not particularly fast but he plays hard and always finds himself near the ball. Very Scrappy.
CB - Cortland Finnegan - Maybe it's because his name is really white, I don't know. Still, he's a bump and run corner. He likes phsyical contact with receivers. He isn't afraid of getting within ten yards of the receiver he is supposed to be covering, unlike Dre Bly.
S - Eric Weddle - Remeber when he was coming out of college and nobody knew what position he played, but knew that he played his ass off? Well, he has. He currently leads the Chargers "defense" in tackles and has the second most tackles of any safety in the NFL.
K - John Carney - He's old.
P - Jeff Feagles - He's also old.
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Has anybody noticed how boring the Colts are? Sure, they score lot, but they are so predictable and methodical that there is really no point in watching. It's like watching something in the microwave. The Colts have the ball they're going to march down the field and score on a touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne. I put my Campbell's Chunky Soup in the microwave and three minutes later it is quite warm. New Cambell's Chunky Soup--It's so chunky, we got rid of that pussy-ass soup. (Electric guitar noises and picture of kids skateboarding) This ain't your grandma's soup. It's 100% chunks, unwatered down by that soup crap. Soup is for the birds. Chunks are funky fresh, homeslice. Now, with only 350% your daily value in sodium.
I heard that Todd Heap is totally BFFs with Willis McGahee and they are like totally pissed about how Joe Flacco has been running the offense. Also Mark Clayton told me that Ray Rice said that Troy Smith totally saw Lorenzo Neal making out with Le'Ron McClain's girlfriend. OMG!!!!!!!
I'm calling it now, folks. 0-0 tie. That's right, Donovan. The Bengals tie two games in one year. I really don't see how these teams could score any points. Maybe a field goal because of an interception. Maybe.
So, Reggie Bush is out for the rest of the season. I think this finally proves that he has the toughness and durability to play running back in the NFL. Ahman Green did it. Why can't us?
I think the last four weeks have shown that the Cardinals really aren't all that good. I mean, I know a running game is totally worthless, but it seems like they could use one. Maybe playing a bit of defense might help a bit too.
Knowing the amount of games available on basic cable, this probably won't be on. It seems like two or three years ago, there were always three games on--at 1 MST and at 4 MST. Now, there is one game on at 1 (maybe one more on occasion) and it's the Lions versus the Bengals or something. Then, if the Broncos are playing at 4, their game is on. If they aren't playing at 4, no game is on. There are 47 simultaneous college football games on cable television on Saturdays and every once and a while they can muster up two simultaneous NFL games on Sunday. Way to go, NFL.
Winner: Tennessee get's the roll back on WHAT!
This game doesn't matter at all except for draft position. These teams might as NBA-it and try to lose. Ain't no lottery getting in their way. Hell, the Rams could even get Matt Stafford. He's good, right?
How did the Chiefs blow that game last week? I know they're the Chiefs, but still. The Chargers must have paid off Herm Edwards or something. Stuff like that should not happen.
I like how Philip Rivers said that their comeback win last week showed the character of their football team. They beat one of the worst teams in football a year after making the AFC championship with virtually the same roster. Now, that's what I call character.
Trent Edwards is back, so there will be no retarded game-losing fumbles for J.P. Losman. I bet they are super psyched they signed Dick Jauron to an extension after they started 5-1. The 1-7 record since then is much more in line with what Jauron has done throughout his career.
The Jets have scored more points than any team but the Cardinals this season. Last year, they struggled to score as many points all season as most teams score in one game. The only new starters on offense are Brett Favre, Damien Woody, Alan Faneca and then Tony Richardson and Dustin Keller have split starts. I know Faneca is good, but the others... meh. Maybe Brett Favre really does make everyone else on his team magically play better, like everybody says.
You have to wonder what the Raiders are going to do this offseason. And next offseason for that matter. They have a good pass defense and that's it. They need a whole new offensive line, a quarterback, at least one quality receiever, a new defensive line, at least another linebacker. Al Davis is only going to drive them further into the ground. It sure is a satisfying situation, though, as a Broncos fan.
Tavaris Jackson threw 4 frickin' touchdowns last week. 4. So they forgot about the Gus train and jumped on board with him. I'm not a mathmetician or nothing, but sources tell me the Cardinals have given up more passing TDs than any team in football. The Falcons have given up almost half as many. 4 TDs ain't happening again for Jackson.
After their trainwrecks againts Cincinnati and Baltimore, the Eagles have played quite well. I guess for those two weeks the McRib was available at McDonalds and Andy Reid had other things on his mind.
Oh, poor little Giants miss their Plaxico Burress. Thus is the tragedy of sweatpants. Brandon Jacobs is questionable, but people seem to think he's going to play. As long as he doesn't have dinner at Applebee's today or tomorrow.
Remember how great Green Bay was at the beginning of the year. They were going to make the Super Bowl. Their defense was jammin' mon. Well, not so much. Those Green Bay pundits fell under a classic Brett Favre ruse. See how well the Jets are doing with crappy players? Well, Brett Favre was the entire Packers team. Atari Bigby forgot how to play safety without Brett Favre. It happened to like twenty other Packers too. Crazy.
Last Week: 9-7
Overall: 117-76