Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck posts his Rockies Mailbag every other week on Fridays during the 2006 Major League Baseball season. The next installment is slated for Sept. 1.
To drop a Major League Baseball or Rockies question into the Rockies Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
Troy: Is Cory Sullivan the best defensive center fielder in the league? Is Danny Ardoin the best defensive catcher in the league? Thanks.
— Dave, Littleton
Dave – Cory Sullivan has established himself as a premier defender. He plays the position aggressively, consistently gets good reads and isn’t afraid to leave his feet. Combine that with an accurate arm and you have someone pitchers feel very comfortable with in center field. Sullivan’s glove should allow him to stick around in the big leagues for years to come.
The run with Sullivan is his hitting. He’s unbelievably streaky for a non-power guy. Cutting down strikeouts and turning his speed into an asset offensively are keys as he moves forward.
Danny Ardoin emerged as one of the NL’s best defensive catchers last season. Problem is, he hasn’t hit enough to get in the lineup this year. I believe his April problems offensively affected him defensively. He wasn’t as dominant, either throwing or calling a game. He appears more comfortable now and could do worse than carving a niche as a backup guy in the league.
Hey, Troy – I have noticed that a few Rockies fans are giving up on Ian Stewart because of his somewhat pedestrian performance this year. They are talking of using him as trade bait. If I’m not mistaken, however, Matt Holliday had a similarly mediocre season at Tulsa. He then went on to make the big league team out of spring training. This leads to my question. Do you foresee a similar thing happening with Stewart?
— Jim L., Highlands Ranch
Jim – The notion of trading Ian Stewart for an impact center fielder is a question a handful of readers have raised. The idea is intriguing for two reasons: it would take someone of Stewart’s ilk to get a Carl Crawford, and the Rockies don’t really have a need at third base with the way that Garrett Atkins has developed.
You mentioned Holliday, and he, I believe, is connected directly to Stewart’s future. If the Rockies don’t think they can get Holliday secured long-term – and they have certainly sent out those smoke signals since the slugger switched to agent Scott Boras – then they may end up moving Stewart to the outfield. I saw enough of Stewart’s bat to know I wouldn’t give him up until at least giving a shot in the big leagues. The problem is: Where?
Atkins is the Rockies’ best hitter now. And Todd Helton isn’t going anywhere. However, I think it would be difficult for fans to see Holliday go. Yes, he’s going to be expensive. That’s what happens when young players get good. Even if the argument can be made that Stewart can replace Holliday’s production, I don’t like the idea of seeing Holliday leave. This franchise has waited years to develop a homegrown slugger – it would be great to see him get a monster deal and stick around for years to come.
Troy: Why won’t Clint Hurdle stick Brad Hawpe in the lineup every day? His numbers say he should be there. His average against left-handers could be better, but Hawpe can’t be coddled if he rightly deserves to become a mainstay in the lineup.
— Max Egan, New York City
Max – Brad Hawpe has enjoyed a nice season with some interesting splits. He nearly made the NL All-Star team, given his offensive numbers and laser-accurate right arm. However, Hawpe has struggled against lefties, and no hitter in the Rockies’ lineup has had more trouble coming through in the clutch. That trend has started to change the past 10 days or so with big hits at Los Angeles and earlier this week against the Diamondbacks. Hawpe, in manager Clint Hurdle’s view, has tried too hard to come through. That’s the next stage of the outfielder’s development as a bona fide middle-of-the-order bat.
Hey, Troy – Great to see the Rockies competing this season. I’m trying to keep up with them using the Internet. I keep looking up Eric Young Jr. and Dexter Fowler. What’s your take on them? Is E.Y. Jr. the answer in a couple years at second, and Dexter in center?
— Rob Knight, Tranas, Sweden
Rob – Eric Young Jr. can flat-out run. His pops, Eric Young, told me the other day that he challenged his son: “Put up a number that’s going to get noticed,” Dad said to Junior. Well Little EY has a chance to reach 100 stolen bases. As GM Dan O’Dowd said, “You just don’t see those kinds of numbers anymore.”
EY Jr. has definitely turned some heads and is on the radar, so to speak. As for Dexter Fowler, scouts absolutely love him. Blessed with off-the-charts athleticism, he’s considered the center fielder of the future, a rare blend of speed and power. I like his profile – who wouldn’t? But when it comes to kids, they are ultimately judged on how they perform in the bigs, not on the pages of Baseball America.
Troy – I see where Jeff Cirillo is making accusations that the Rockies are cheating by using water-logged baseballs. Don’t both teams play with the same baseballs? If Milwaukee can’t hit them out, then neither should the Rockies.
— Edward A. Potestio, Pueblo
Edward – Those readers who have followed the humidor story in The Denver Post since 2002 – thanks to the great work of my colleague Mike Klis – know the chamber has dramatically affected play since its advent. It’s getting noticed now for two reasons: the Rockies are contending, and the numbers have nosedived so much they are impossible for even those who had steadfastly dismissed the humidor to ignore.
Your point is correct. Both teams use the same balls. And the humidor certainly hasn’t helped the Rockies’ offense. Colorado lost 2-1 in 18 innings the other night, hello?
Two things about the humidor. The Rockies’ pitchers are better, so they can take more advantage of the baseballs. And Colorado’s lineup is ill-suited to hit home runs anywhere, let alone in Coors Field, which is no longer a home-run friendly park, but remains hitter friendly.
Troy – Why are the Rockies so in love with Todd Helton? They blamed Larry Walker endlessly. Now they give away Ryan Shealy – he will become a star – just so Todd Helton can hit 15 homers a year? Wake up, Rockies!
— Chip Barrett, Littleton
Chip – The Rockies view Helton in different terms than they saw Walker. Helton is seen as the face of the franchise, interlocked with management and ownership. They want him around to set an example for the younger players, provide a rudder if you will. With Walker, the Rockies were constantly in conflict over his last three years, whether it was about his conditioning or attitude. You name it. It was a fascinating soap opera. The Rockies tried to trade Walker several times, and his relationship with manager Clint Hurdle deteriorated. In other words, two stars, two different scenarios.
With Helton, even if the Rockies wanted to trade him, it would be difficult. They would have to eat around $50 million to even make a deal possible. I just don’t see that happening. The solution, then, is that Helton regains his star status. I am not ready to give up on that transpiring – though I am not sure he will ever hit 35 home runs again because of his advancing age and how differently Coors Field now plays.
In your opinion, who has the best team in the NL?
— Teddy, Littleton
Teddy – The best team is the Mets. But this season that’s akin to being the top show off Broadway. The Mets will be honoring the 1986 Mets at Saturday’s game at Shea Stadium. Will this year’s team join that group in folklore? It’s fair to wonder if the Mets are just a good team in a really weak National League. As two scouts told me, who is the Mets’ third starter in the first round? What about a fourth starter in the NLCS? In other words, if Pedro Martinez doesn’t get healthy and Tom Glavine doesn’t get turned around, the Mets may not make much noise in the postseason after all.
My point: Don’t be surprised if the American League steamrolls the NL again in the World Series, possibly with a third consecutive sweep.
Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck is in his 11th season of covering the Colorado Rockies, his fifth for The Denver Post. To drop a question into his Rockies Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
