Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck will post his Rockies Mailbag every other week on Mondays during the 2008 MLB season on DenverPost.com. Welcome to a spring training installment.
To drop a Rockies- or MLB-related question into the Rockies Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
Hey, Troy. Who’s your surprise of spring training thus far?
— Jay, Fruita
Jay – Initially, the surprise was how unaffected the Rockies were by last year’s magic-carpet ride. They genuinely seem prepared to deal with expectations. No Rockies team has entered a season with more buzz and anticipation.
As for individual players, catcher Yorvit Torrealba has enjoyed the most impressive spring. He was hitting .464 through his first 28 at-bats. Yes, spring training numbers are about as meaningless as 8-tracks and pet rocks. But in Torrealba’s case, they bear clipping and saving. Why? With the security of his first multi-year contract, the catcher has abandoned his turn-and-burn offensive approach. He’s driving the ball much more consistently to right-center as a result. With Jayson Nix likely to suffer rookie growing pains, it would help lengthen the lineup if Torrealba added power – say, 13 home runs – from the seventh spot.
As for pitchers, Taylor Buchholz has clearly adopted a more aggressive mindset. If he can pitch angrier, the right-hander has a chance to become a legit eighth-inning setup man.
How is it that Jayson Nix is out of options without ever having major league service? I thought I understood how that worked, but obviously I do not!
— Jorge Pablo Montoya, Portland, Ore.
Jorge – Don’t worry. A lot of writers, agents and players – myself included – can get confused on options. Inevitably, I consult with a front-office source to make sure I have the language and info correct. After a player logs three seasons in the pros, the club must protect him on its 40-man roster or make him eligible for the Rule 5 draft. Once a player is added to the 40-man roster, the club has three options years on him. He can be sent up and down as many times as the team would like during that time. Nix is out of options because he has been on the 40-man roster during three different seasons and was shipped back to the minors during spring training.
Troy – I’m really concerned about the back end of the rotation. Nobody is really standing out. Jason Hirsh will likely be on the DL, and Franklin Morales is a work in progress. How long do you think the Rox will go if Jason and Franklin, along with the rest of the offseason acquisitions, don’t make progress before they make a move for a more experienced pitcher?
— Ryan Gilbert, Longmont
Ryan – Always good to hear from someone from Longmont, the city my family and I have called home for 12 years.
The Rockies’ rotation has caused its fair share of hand wringing this spring with repeated spotty performances. The challenge is daunting. Colorado needs career years from Jeff Francis, Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez to provide cushion for the fourth and fifth starters.
Franklin Morales’ talent is electric. His command? Not so much. He is still struggling to repeat his delivery. I could eat my words on this, but I believe he’s going to figure it out and be a huge contributor this season, even if he struggles in April. As for the fifth spot, every team in baseball worries about who will fill this slot. If Jason Hirsh gets healthy, he’ll do fine. Mark Redman figures to get the first crack. He competes, but has no margin for error given his lack of velocity.
To your question, would the Rockies swing a trade for rotation help? If attendance picks up as expected, they should have enough room in the budget to land a starter at the July trading deadline. Another possible alternative, if Taylor Buchholz and Luis Vizcaino excel, is to move Brian Fuentes for a young starter that could help this season and beyond.
Hi, Troy. They say having to make difficult personnel choices is a great situation to be in. Could you give us a rundown on which Rockie “bubble” players still have minor league options and which will have to either be traded or let go if they don’t make the opening-day roster? Thanks.
— Doc, Santa Barbara, Calif.
Doc – It’s that time of year when bubble players gum up the works. As for those out of options, the list is small. It starts with reliever Ramon Ramirez. He’s had a solid spring and might have made it anyway. But because he would most certainly get claimed on waivers – I could see Philadelphia taking a shot – that only increases his chances of making it. Jayson Nix is also out of options, and there’s no question he will stick with the club. Look for him to start at second base, while sharing some time with Clint Barmes and Jeff Baker.
In center field, Cory Sullivan still has options, so the club could ship him back to Colorado Springs if it chooses to keep Scott Podsednik. That’s not a slam dunk. If Podsednik makes the opening-day roster, his $750,000 contract becomes guaranteed. Sullivan is already making $1 million, a hefty price if he’s in the minor leagues. The Rockies have let teams know that they would listen to trade offers for Sullivan, but there have been no bites yet.
I have to think that last year’s experience with Steve Finley and John Mabry could figure into this decision. Both made the team and were gone in May, replaced by younger players. Marcus Giles has played well, and I will be interested to see if the Rockies try to trade him this week. But deals are difficult this time of year because teams expect players to get cut, so they would rather wait (See Toronto’s Reed Johnson, for instance).
Finally, in the rotation, Josh Towers is out of options. So he would have to clear waivers to be sent to Colorado Springs.
Where does the Rockies’ payroll rank with the rest of the league, and how long might economics allow the team to stay together?
— Troy, Boulder
Troy – The Rockies’ payroll will come in around $70 million, which will put them around 20th in the league.
What last season’s success did was create an infusion of cash to keep the core together. Had the Rockies flopped last season, Garrett Atkins, Brian Fuentes and possibly Matt Holliday would have been traded. Instead, the Rockies committed big money to the threesome, while also locking up Troy Tulowitzki, Manny Corpas and Brad Hawpe through their arbitration years.
This season is critical to the future of Holliday and Atkins. If the team makes the playoffs or remains in contention until the end, there will be money and added public pressure to commit to Holliday, and possibly Atkins. To get Holliday, it’s going to cost minimum $100 million. The Rockies haven’t even discussed a contract like that since the Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle debacles.
If there’s any player who deserves an exception, it’s Holliday. He’s only getting better and keeps himself in terrific shape. True story: When Holliday was in Panama representing Team USA in 2003, he refused to miss a workout even though the hotel didn’t have a gym. He used his luggage to do curls and bench presses. “That might be true,” Holliday said with a smirk. A five-year, $100 million extension onto his current two-year deal would leave Holliday 35 years old at the end of the contract. A lot of players decline at that age. Holliday? “I would be absolutely disgusted with myself if I am still not an elite player then,” Holliday said. Given his diet and workout regime, I believe him.
If the Rockies have a big year, Atkins could stick around at least for another year. If the team struggles, and Ian Stewart puts up monster numbers in Triple-A, this is likely Atkins’ last year with Colorado.
Do you think Chris Iannetta will take over the everyday catcher role in the next two years or do you think that he is the next J.D. Closser?
— Joe, Lincoln, Neb.
Joe – Chris is not J.D. Closser. For starters, he’s a much better catcher. J.D. Closser had a great personality, but he was too high-strung and had too many defensive issues when he came to the big leagues. Iannetta has the makings of a solid big-league catcher: .260 average with 12 home runs and 65 RBIs. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but look around the league. The position isn’t exactly brimming with stars.
Why are the Rockies so reluctant to re-sign Josh Fogg – who was a key player during the World Series – yet they signed Aaron Cook, who only played a few games last season. Fogg seemed to be one of those players the team would be foolish to lose.
— Pam, Westminster
Pam – Timing and money played a role in Josh Fogg’s departure. The Rockies told Fogg’s agent they would give him a one-year deal for around $4 million right after the season. It was never an official offer, just setting parameters. At that time, Fogg wasn’t prepared to accept a contract until the market developed. The pending trades of Johan Santana and Erik Bedard slowed things, and left Fogg in a tough spot.
The Rockies went back to Fogg in December with similar parameters, and Fogg’s agent still wasn’t ready to strike a deal with the market stuck. Perhaps the Rockies could have pressed the issue more. And clearly, Fogg’s reps should have stayed in closer contact with the Rockies. In the end, the Rockies committed the money earmarked for Fogg to Kip Wells ($3.1 million), Mark Redman ($1 million) and Josh Towers ($400,000). Fogg ended up signing a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Reds, though only $400,000 is guaranteed.
Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck is starting his 13th season of covering the Colorado Rockies, his seventh for The Denver Post. To drop a question into his Rockies Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
