Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck posts his Rockies Mailbag on Tuesdays during the 2009 MLB season. Welcome to a special offseason installment as spring training fast approaches.
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Why do the Rockies want to sign mediocre pitchers such as Alan Embree and Josh Fogg when Ben Sheets is available?
— Teddy, Denver
Teddy – The Rockies don’t do sexy. They are a team on a budget, looking for bargains. as their late left-handed reliever. But they were never close on his asking price and moved on. Embree is an interesting flier given his success in the National League. Fogg is no risk, high reward. He has a non-guaranteed contract, but will be worth every penny to strengthen the clubhouse chemistry. As for Sheets, he’s preparing to undergo season-ending elbow surgery.
I don’t have issue with them passing on Sheets because he has a history of injuries. It would have been nice to see them make a harder run at Braden Looper, but he was priced out of the budget with Marquis’ acquisition.
Do you know what the Rockies intend to do at second base? Clint Barmes is NOT the everyday answer. His OBP is as bad as Willy Taveras’ was, and that got Willy shown the door. And at age 30, he’s not likely to show real improvement there.
— Bob Locke, Greeley
Bob – It’s always great to hear from a frequent visitor to . As for second base, Clint Barmes will enter camp as the starter with competition from Jeff Baker. Barmes made progress offensively, hitting .290 while showing power. His on-base issue — .301 — is problematic, and the result of someone who doesn’t take many walks.
The difference is that Willy Taveras was asked to hit leadoff. Ryan Spilborghs will get first crack at that job this spring. He has a career .374 OBP. If he can handle the role, it will allow Barmes to slot into a better position in the lineup.
For the record, I have asked the Rockies on multiple occasions about making a run at free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson, but it’s not happening.
Hi, Troy. With the addition of Jason Marquis, it looks like the only opening day starter obtained in the Matt Holliday trade will be Huston Street as the seventh- or eighth-inning guy. Is that right? for a setup man and two guys who will start the season in Colorado Springs? Thanks.
— Marc, Denver
Marc – The possibility exists that only Street will break camp with the team. He enters the camp as the slight favorite to earn the closer’s role. That could lead to a significant contribution. I wouldn’t rule out Greg Smith, either. The fact that he worked 190 1/3 innings last season in the American League isn’t lost on the Rockies’ management, which needs pitchers to eat innings given the increasing likelihood that Jeff Francis will be out for an extended period.
Carlos Gonzalez is in the mix for the left-field spot. But I don’t see him making it as a reserve. He would be better served to get regular at-bats in Triple-A. Gonzalez was the centerpiece of the trade, an outfielder capable of hitting 25 home runs per season according to scouts and executives I have spoken to about him.
At season’s end, we will have a much better read on this trade. But it’s always hard to argue that any team is better without its best player.
Weren’t the Rockies better off keeping Holliday for one more year and getting two draft picks when he signed elsewhere? It seems like the “haul” they got for him is nothing more than middle-of-the-road talent, while the picks could have turned into higher-quality players down the road.
— Mike, Durham, N.C.
Mike – I thought that would be the team’s strategy as late as last September. But it became clear that the Rockies didn’t want to deal with Holliday’s uncertain future. I disagree that it was a distraction, and think they should have held onto the slugger until June or July. But they felt it was, so they moved the player. . If he reaches his potential, I don’t think they could have landed a player like that in the draft.
Troy – Is Clint Hurdle going to keep some consistency in the lineup this year? By that, I mean keeping Clint Barmes, Ryan Spilborghs, Chris Iannetta and others in the lineup for more than two to three games before bringing in a backup. As a hitter, you’ll never get hot while only getting a 10-12 ABs and then sitting again.
— Scherdin, Englewood
Scherdin – It’s an interesting topic. A former Rockies player told me last week that a consistent lineup would go a long way in solving the team’s hitting problems with runners in scoring position. There was definitely a kill-or-be-killed attitude toward the lineup last season that I hadn’t seen before with Hurdle.
It’s a fine line, showing patience with slumps, while not costing the team games. Plus, backups need some at-bats or they will never be effective in pinch-hit positions.
Troy – I hope I don’t get stoned for asking this question, but here goes: to plug into the middle of the order? He could tutor Carlos Gonzalez (who is probably not ready), buy some more time for the Rockies to find another slugger and (most importantly) give the Rockies a big draw, albeit a controversial one.
— S. Moore, Tulsa, Okla.
S. Moore – Well, the simple answer is that if they were to do that they should have just kept Matt Holliday. There’s no sense in paying Bonds that money. Plus, this team has an aversion to distractions, and signing Bonds is the equivalent of putting a big top over Coors Field. And, he’s not exactly mentor material. If the Rockies were to take a shot at a slugger, I would have preferred Manny Ramirez. But his asking price starts at $25 million a year, which would amount to a third of the Rockies’ projected payroll. Not happening.
When will MLB step in and punish teams like Colorado, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, etc., for not trying to win and for just trying to make money? Colorado went to the World Series just two seasons ago. The next season they made no big moves to improve, and this offseason they let several huge contributors go simply because the team is cheap.
— Josh Williams, Butte, Mont.
Josh – That’s not going to happen anytime soon. I have always advocated that they have a payroll floor, similar to the NFL. Problem is that any floor has to have a ceiling, and there’s no way that the players union would ever agree to a salary cap.
I would separate the Rockies from the Pirates for this reason: Colorado has spent $111.7 million on multi-year deals for homegrown players like Troy Tulowitzki, Manuel Corpas, Brad Hawpe, Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis and Ubaldo Jimenez. That’s not the same as spending money to keep them as free agents, but it’s a start.
Is there any talk or chance the Rockies will move their spring training from Tucson to the west valley Phoenix area?
— Don, Glendale, Ariz.
Don – The team is currently examining its options following the White Sox’s defection from Tucson. The Rockies can break their lease with Hi Corbett Field because there are only two teams left in Tucson. They have talked about moving to Marana, just outside of Tucson. And Casa Grande has moved into the discussion over the past week. All options will be on the table, including the Phoenix area.
Troy – You’ve written about shortening the season in the past. How about scheduling a doubleheader for every team during every month of the season? That would be six games, thus allowing the season to either start one week later, or the postseason to start one week earlier.
— Dana Adoretti, Monument
Dana – I would love it. I coach kids who play three to four games in a day, so a few doubleheaders don’t seem too ambitious for big leaguers. It could also create more off days, which they need. Beyond financial motivation, the schedule — 162 games in 189 days — encouraged drug use, particularly amphetamines in my opinion. In the end, I don’t see doubleheaders being approved because of the potential lost revenue at the gate.
How far did the selection of Greg Reynolds in the 2006 MLB Draft put the Rockies back? Who made the decision to pass on Evan Longoria and Tim Lincecum, and shouldn’t this person be fired?
— Jake, Fort Collins
Jake – That is one of those picks that many teams would love to have back. Tim Lincecum is not a pitcher, he’s an event. He is a blast to watch, like nobody I have ever seen since Pedro Martinez’s days with the Expos. The Rockies passed on Lincecum as others did because of concerns about his size and injury because of unconventional pitching motion. A high-ranking club official maintained that stance as late as last September.
The Rockies had Evan Longoria in their sights. As late as 10:30 p.m. the night before the draft, I was convinced they were taking him. In the end, they decided with Garrett Atkins and Ian Stewart that it made more sense to take a pitcher. It’s too early to give up on Greg Reynolds, but he has a long way to go to show me he’s a big league pitcher. And I do worry that he might need a change of scenery at some point after his shelling last season.
Is Jeff Baker being given an opportunity for a starting position in the 2009 lineup? While not suggesting that he can replace Holliday, Baker proved in about 300 ABs in 2008 to have good right-handed power and would seem to be just what the Rockies need.
— Paul, Longmont
Paul – Baker has never found a niche with Hurdle. His best position is third base, but that’s not open. He’s tried to make himself a second baseman, and made an admirable transition last season. But with Seth Smith in left, Spilborghs in center and Hawpe in right, I don’t know if the Rockies can sacrifice defense in any other positions. Baker’s bat is loud. I have long been curious what he would do with 500 at-bats. I am just not sure that will ever happen here.
What’s the status of former Rockie Shawn Chacon?
— Dave, Centennial
Dave – His agent said there was some interest during the winter meetings. But we have never seen a free-agent market like this, with nearly 100 guys out of work with spring training just a few days away. I hope he gets another shot. But if guys like Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu, Orlando Hudson and Ray Durham are struggling to find work, Chacon might have to wait a while for his chance.
Has there been talk to hold a statewide FanFest or at least a one-day event for non-season-ticket holders?
— Jeff, Centennial
Jeff – The Rockies elected to go with a first-time FanFest for the first 5,000 season-ticket holders. It would make sense to expand the event. I have suggested they hold a two-day event at the convention center. I understand making the season-ticket holders feel special, but they are already hard-core fans. They need to open up the process to sway those folks on the fence who go to 10 games and might be willing to make it 20 or 30 with a positive FanFest experience.
Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck enters his 14th season of covering the Colorado Rockies, his eighth for The Denver Post. , or .
