Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck posts his Rockies Mailbag on Tuesdays during the 2009 MLB season. Welcome to a special offseason installment.
, or .
Why are some people saying that the Rockies are going to do worse than last year?
— Viet Trieu, Westminster
Viet – The most obvious answer is the loss of Matt Holliday and Brian Fuentes. Holliday was a three-time all-star, the team’s best player. And Fuentes was the best closer in the National League after the all-star break last season. Still, I would be surprised if they were unable to top last year’s tragically disappointing 74 wins. Most prognosticators not wearing purple-tinted glasses see them ending up somewhere between 78 and 82 victories. That’s a fair guess.
I can understand fans’ frustration that the team operates under a budget that makes being a contender difficult. But I get pretty tired of the relentless negativity directed at Clint Hurdle, Bob Apodaca and Dan O’Dowd. What, in your opinion, does each do well? What do you see as their greatest successes during their tenure here?
— Paul Wyman, Centennial
Paul – Hurdle’s crowning achievement will be pushing the right buttons during the team’s 2007 World Series run. Whether it was trusting Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales, riding Matt Herges or playing Willy Taveras in the National League Championship Series, he had a magic touch. Hurdle’s strength is using his bench players. Still, he has a tendency to overmanage, and should benefit from helping to handle the bullpen late in games.
Pitching coach Bob Apodaca, on Hurdle’s staff since 2003, barely survived after a couple of ugly seasons. He does his best work with veterans, namely Shawn Chacon, Shawn Estes, Darren Oliver — and last season, Jorge De La Rosa. He has adjusted his approach, talking less to the pitchers and getting his message across through the catchers. It will always be a challenge to be a pitching coach at Coors Field.
O’Dowd has reinvented himself from a mad dealer to a shrewd manager of the Rockies’ self-imposed salary cap. His background lies in player development, and he’s become better at his job since the team decided to build from within. His best trade was acquiring Brian Fuentes from the Mariners, for, among others, Jeff Cirillo. His ability to move Mike Hampton’s contract will forever be a remarkable achievement. For what it’s worth, I would like to see O’Dowd more aggressive in moving younger players — whether Jeff Baker, Joe Koshansky, Chris Nelson — to try and add more pitching depth.
Is Joe Koshansky too old to be the Rockies’ first baseman of the future? Do the Rockies have a plan to deal with the logjam at the infield corners?
— Brandon Herk, Seattle
Brandon – Koshansky is not necessarily the future. Problem isn’t with him, but the roster. If Todd Helton can’t play first, Garrett Atkins will. Like Ryan Shealy before him, I am pulling for Koshansky to be traded to get his shot. He has crazy power. I would like to see what he would do with 450 to 500 at-bats.
Troy – I’ll be honest; it still hurts to think that the Rockies won’t have Matt Holliday this year. But, given the way the economy has wreaked havoc on free agents this year (with a couple of exceptions), do you see the Rockies making a play for Holliday if money is dried up next offseason? Or do you see him fitting the Mark Teixeira-CC Sabathia, bank-breaker mold, regardless of financial climate? Thanks for keeping us in the loop.
— Jhan Ganyen, Norman, Okla.
Jhan – Owner Dick Monfort told me that the Rockies would make a run at Holliday when he becomes a free agent. Barring injury or dramatic nosedive statistically, however, it’s hard to imagine Holliday coming back into the Rockies’ tax bracket. As it stands, he will be the most marketable bat next winter. If he goes .300-30-100, he’s looking at a $150 million deal, or around double what the Rockies could realistically offer on their budget. That the Red Sox, Yankees and Mets could all be in the market for a slugging left fielder, for me, all but assures Holliday will be playing on the East Coast in 2010.
Without speed at the top of the lineup, a proven cleanup hitter or an ace pitcher, I am afraid the prospects for 2009 are a little gloomy. My point is that back in 2007 we had Willy Taveras/Kaz Matsui, Matt Holliday and Jeff Francis (healthy), and even then it took a lot of magic to get to the World Series. Maybe Dexter Fowler/Eric Young Jr., Garrett Atkins (contract?), and Ubaldo Jimenez are the answers, but that remains at best several longshots?
— Rich M., Johnstown
Rich – Their best lineups have always had a blend of speed and power. This team isn’t going to set off any radar guns. Because power is rewarded so handsomely at Coors, they can outslug teams at home with mediocre pitching.
The problem comes on the road, where you have to manufacture runs in low-scoring games. As for E.Y. Jr. and Fowler, ideally they would hit leadoff and second in the order someday. That could be next season if E.Y. shows he can play second base at the big league level.
The Rockies’ opening-day (and everyday) infield to me should be Todd Helton at 1B, Ian Stewart at 2B, Troy Tulowitzki at SS and Garrett Atkins at 3B. I keep reading Clint Barmes will start at 2B. I don’t see it. Your thoughts? Thanks.
— Doug Wilson, Wall, N.J.
Doug – Interestingly, manager Clint Hurdle said Monday he could revisit Stewart at second base if necessary, another sign to me that the kid will break camp with the team. For my money, Stewart, while a heck of an athlete, is too big for second. He’s a corner guy.
Barmes has enjoyed a great spring, hitting .300 with some power. The issue with Barmes is whether he’s better served as a super utilityman. As it stands, Barmes will be the second baseman, given no competition following the injury absence of Jeff Baker (elbow).
In my opinion, the Monforts do not have the financial firepower to field a winning ballclub. If the right offer was made to them, do you think they would sell the ballclub to a group with “deeper pockets”?
— Rex, El Paso, Texas
Rex – I don’t see it happening. They want to hand this team down to their kids. They enjoy the gig, regardless of the criticism. And it’s a moneymaker if Forbes and Fortune are to be believed. That said, this team could be in a tough spot with a slow start. If the Rockies win 74 games again and get crushed in ticket sales and corporate sponsorships, it could test the Monforts’ stomach to stay in for the long haul. But for now, there’s no talk of selling.
Why are the Rockies leaving their hopes with the development of their young prospects to fill left field when there were so many qualified free agents?
— Tommy, Broomfield
Tommy – It’s a business plan. They chose late in the 2004 season to focus on building a core from within. They want Seth Smith to get first crack at replacing Matt Holliday. This strategy has paid dividends with several players, like Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe, Troy Tulowitzki, and pitchers like Jeff Francis, Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez. But, to your point, they could make life a lot easier on themselves if they had a little more room in the budget for complementary pieces.
Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck enters his 14th season of covering the Colorado Rockies, his eighth for The Denver Post. , or .
