Baltimore – If the Rockies have their way, they will play in big games this September. If nothing else, some of their players will star in big game videos in 2008.
Rockies reliever Mike DeJean and fellow big-leaguers Russ Springer and David Dellucci have partnered with renowned outdoorsman Willie Robertson to create Buck Commander, which will sell deer-hunting videos featuring Colorado players such as Todd Helton and Aaron Cook.
The website – – is expected to launch in full on Monday. The business venture – Robertson’s father, Phil, is famous for his Duck Commander videos – is why DeJean is moving to West Monroe, La., during next month’s all-star break.
“These aren’t going to be videos about killing and killing. Every animal we harvest will be consumed by us or given to a food bank, needy families or churches,” DeJean said Saturday. “It’s about the camaraderie. We are hunters who just happen to be baseball players.”
DeJean met Robertson through Helton in 2005. Robertson came to Colorado to scout Helton’s ranch for a duck shoot. DeJean and Robertson hit it off, eventually sprouting the Buck Commander idea. Helton is not an investor, though he will be included in the initial video along with the likes of Atlanta’s Chipper Jones and Pittsburgh’s Adam LaRoche.
“I am going to hunt. And if they want to film it, fine, as long as the guy stays quiet,” Helton said. “I just will help them out any way I can.”
Talks with Weathers begin
The Rockies have started negotiations with Casey Weathers, a pitcher from Vanderbilt and their first-round draft pick.
Outfielder Drew Stubbs received a $2 million bonus last season as the eighth pick overall, by the Reds. Baseball has suggested a 20 percent drop in slotting bonuses. Weathers is a senior, so he is expected to sign quickly.
Aside from drafting Oklahoma prep pitcher Parker Frazier, son of TV analyst George Frazier, and infielder Niko Gallego, bound for UCLA, the Rockies took outfielder Ken Williams Jr. He is the son of White Sox general manager Kenny Williams.
Speed hitting stride
How fast is Willy Taveras? He required only 12 strides to steal second base on Friday. His 15 steals are the most by a Rockies player since 2002.
Baker’s bunch
Virginia native Jeff Baker grew up about an hour from Camden Yards. Not only did he have 30 friends and family members at Friday’s game, an entire youth team also was there. Baker helps run a six-week fundamental baseball camp over the winter in the area.
