Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck posts his Rockies Mailbag every other week on Tuesdays during the 2005 Major League Baseball season. The next installment is slated for Sept. 6.
To drop a Rockies or Major League Baseball question into the Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
Troy – Can you give us a breakdown of which Rockies pitcher possesses the best curve, slider, sinker and changeup? Thanks!
— Eric, Alexandria, Va.
Eric – That’s pretty hardcore. Is this for personal knowledge or your next tussle on EA Sports? Anyway, here’s the scoop.
Aaron Cook throws the best sinker, akin to a bowling ball dropping off a picnic table. In a recent game, he unleashed 71 pitches, 70 sinkers. Hitters knew it was coming and still couldn’t barrel it – that’s revealing.
As for a slider, Jason Jennings’ can be nasty, particularly if he plays it off a solid sinker. Reliever Scott Dohmann and Byung-Hyun Kim also have decent sliders.
For sinker-slider mix, reliever Mike DeJean has been nails since joining the Rockies.
As changeups go, how about a sleeper in closer Brian Fuentes? His fastball can be overpowering because of his funky arm angle, but his changeup has developed into a remarkably effective pitch.
Shawn Chacon threw the best curve, without question. His trade leaves that distinction to Jeff Francis, even though he has hit a predictable wall for a young pitcher the past month.
Hey, Troy. Who do you think will be rounding out the Rockies’ pitching rotation for the 2006 season after Jason Jennings, Aaron Cook and Jeff Francis? (I’m assuming they won’t be able to afford re-signing Byung-Hyun Kim.) Are there any possible Rookie of the Year candidates in the farm system – like the aforementioned pitchers were in their rookie seasons – ready to come up next year? Thanks for your time.
— Dave, Chicago
Dave – The run on high-profile starting prospects will temporarily halt next season. The rotation figures to include Jason Jennings, Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis, Zach Day and a veteran fifth starter. The club would like to have Byung-Hyun Kim back to fill that role, if it is able to re-sign him as a free agent. Jamey Wright is another possibility for that spot, although watching him pitch in relief the other night makes me wonder if he’s not better suited as a swingman – a role filled by Jose Acevedo this season.
The next starter held in high regard by the organization is Ubaldo Jimenez. He has potential but continues to struggle with his consistency, as evidenced by his Double-A stats: 2-4 record, 5.29 ERA.
Sandy Nin should open the season in Triple-A, with the expectation that he could eventually provide rotation depth down the road.
When it comes to the farm system, the most promising arms are in the bullpen. Of the group that includes Ryan Speier, Scott Dohmann, Eduardo Sierra, Ramon Ramirez – the latter two were acquired for Shawn Chacon – Juan Morillo and Jim Miller, there should be some that stick. Morillo has been forecasted as a potential closer.
Perhaps the most intriguing future starter is already on the Rockies’ roster in Marcos Carvajal. He reminds me a lot of Pedro Astacio, and I think he could develop into a real late-inning talent or quality starter.
Will next year’s outfield be Matt Holliday, Larry Bigbie and Brad Hawpe?
— Smitty, Denver
Smitty – Let me break out the magic 8-ball for some answers. In all seriousness, Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe are penciled in as corner starters next season. Center field remains up in the air. Larry Bigbie is auditioning, a performance that could be interrupted with a stay on the disabled list due to an Achilles’ injury.
Cory Sullivan has proven an effective reserve with a good glove and speed. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rockies bid for a mid-tier free agent to fill the void in center field. Don’t expect a large commitment; the Rockies’ budget won’t allow for it. But a one-year deal could buy time for Jeff Salazar, who hasn’t progressed offensively in Triple-A as expected.
How many at-bats can you have and still be a rookie?
— Tom, Littleton, Colo.
Tom – Straight from the rule book: a player shall be considered a rookie unless, during a previous season or seasons, he has exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the major leagues or accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a major league club or clubs during the period of the 25-man roster.
Typically, teams will shut down top prospects just shy of those thresholds to make them eligible for Rookie of the Year the following season.
Who do you think out of Ian Stewart, Chris Nelson and Troy Tulowitski will get an invitation to big league spring training next year, and do any of them have a chance of making the big league club? Thanks a lot!
— James, Littleton, Colo.
James – It would not surprise me if Stewart and Tulowitski received invites given their talent and where they are in their development. I had Stewart pegged to challenge for the third-base job in 2006 spring training. That proved ambitious given his slow start this year due to a nagging hamstring injury. He has rebounded fairly well and, regardless if he is a factor in spring training, I expect him to be a September call-up next season at the very least.
Tulowitski is in a similar position. He had begun to establish himself offensively for Class-A Modesto until a quad injury ended his season. He will go to the instructional league, and he plans to work out this winter with former Long Beach State teammate and Oakland stalwart Bobby Crosby. Other general managers I have spoken to, including Oakland’s Billy Beane, have spoken highly of Tulowitski. Don’t be surprised if shows up in the big leagues after the all-star break next season.
As for Chris Nelson, everyone raves about his potential impact bat. But he may have a position switch in his future if Tulowitski and Clint Barmes continue on their current career paths. Nelson, drafted out of high school, is further away than either Stewart or Tulowitski.
Have the Rockies given up on Aaron Miles as their second baseman?
— C.R., Denver
C.R. – Miles was a nice story, a nine-year veteran of the minor leaguers who has proven he can play in the big leagues over the past two seasons. I would be surprised if that’s in Colorado, however. The team is leaning toward using Luis Gonzalez as its everyday second baseman, and it acquired depth with middle infielder Omar Quintanilla.
Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck is in his 10th season of covering the Colorado Rockies, his fourth for The Denver Post. To drop a question into his Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
