Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck posts his Rockies Mailbag on Tuesdays during the 2009 MLB season. The next installment is slated for June 30.
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Hi, Troy. Have you changed your position on Ryan Spilborghs platooning with Seth Smith? It looks to me like Spilborghs should lead off, and Dexter Fowler (if he’s not sent down) and Smith should platoon. Can’t see Fowler leading off.
— Eric, Boston
Eric – Fowler has looked overmatched at times offensively, which has manifested itself in a large volume of strikeouts. But he continues to make progress. And given his speed, I am not ready to concede he shouldn’t lead off.
Spilborghs is a functional player. But the more I watch the Rockies, I wonder if Spilborghs and Smith are essentially best when platooned. Both have complementary skills. And I am not sure that either is a five-day-a-week player.
Troy – I think you’re missing the boat again! Clint Hurdle should be the guy with the “killer instinct.” He is supposed to be the “leader.” That’s how baseball works! Players are supposed to have the confidence in their manager that he knows how to win and will do anything it takes to achieve that! There is a reason that some players don’t want to play for Hurdle. He is not a winner! Here’s the biggest problem: As long as the Monforts own this team, we will never have a real manager … who would come here?
— Neil, Denver
Neil – I understand what you are saying. I respectfully disagree that a manager in baseball instills a killer instinct. That has to come from the players coming up big in big moments. Where a manager makes a difference in the big leagues is his ability to maximize his bullpen and put players in a position to succeed. Tony La Russa is the master at that — playing guys at the right times, keeping guys on edge, if not slightly irritated. So, too, is Tampa Bay’s Joe Maddon.
Where Hurdle has run into real issues is that he’s trying to be two things at once — the players’ friend and a disciplinarian. It creates mixed messages. That, more than anything else, could cost him his job. I am not saying a new manager couldn’t inject new life in the short term. But in the long term, the Rockies have some players who need to get better and mentally tougher.
As for who would come here — there are 30 of these jobs in the world, so there would be no shortage of resumes with guys who think they have the right answers. If Hurdle is replaced, the interim would be Jim Tracy.
Troy – When can we expect to see Franklin Morales back on the hill?
— Roddy Greaves, Kingston, N.Y.
Roddy – Franklin Morales will throw a simulated game Tuesday. He’s still probably three weeks away. The Rockies view him strictly as a starter, so it will be interesting to see where he fits back in.
Greg Smith was pushing the envelope in Triple-A before coming down with shoulder stiffness Sunday. His situation must be monitored. Gotta say, he seems cursed this season. He’s been hurt three times and violently ill twice. Just when it looks like he’s going to be back on track, something else goes wrong.
If Jorge De La Rosa doesn’t get on track soon, he could be the odd man out. Obviously if Jason Hammel doesn’t stay strong — as the fifth starter, he’s always in jeopardy — he will be moved.
What are the chances that Hurdle benches Garrett Atkins in favor of Ian Stewart on a semi-permanent basis? Garrett’s numbers have been sliding, and not just this year but going back to 2006.
— Bob Locke, Greeley
Bob – There has been a regression in Atkins’ statistics since 2007 that is concerning. Atkins has been the Rockies’ most consistent hitter for the better part of four seasons. Stewart will continue to get playing time at third base because he’s a better defender. But the reality is that he has also struggled offensively.
Hey, Troy. Do you think that some of the inconsistency of the Rockies’ bats is due to the number of different lineups that Hurdle has used, something like 27 in 30 games? A mismanagement of the talent on the team? Or both?
— Sam, Evergreen
Sam – I do believe that “inconsistent” is an apt description of the Rockies. And the lineup reflects that. Over the last few weeks, the lineup has been steadier. Hurdle needs to do a better job of trusting certain combinations. That’s why I liked Fowler in the leadoff spot. It’s never good when a team is platooning its leadoff man.
That said, it’s been hard to stick with a specific lineup this season because of the struggles of Atkins, Troy Tulowitzki, Chris Iannetta, Stewart, Clint Barmes — you get the picture.
Todd Helton likely would not admit to the media that . But do YOU think that HE thinks that it’s a big deal? Thanks.
— Ted, Denver
Ted – Trust me when I tell you that this milestone meant a lot. When you are one of only 255 guys to reach a goal in the big leagues, it’s special. Helton loves to hit. He lives to hit. So, yes, it was meaningful. As he told me, “You’re right, it’s pretty (darn) cool.”
Our starting pitching seems to be hit or miss this early season. Although with Jason Marquis, Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez, we can hope to see some consistency. Who else might we have available in the organization who can come settle down some of the inconsistency of this staff?
— Rob, Chicago
Rob – There will be some options in the coming weeks with Greg Smith, health willing, and Franklin Morales. Smith is a good athlete with a high baseball IQ. When he’s on, he can be a poor man’s Tom Glavine, working cutters and getting easy outs. When he’s off, he’s in trouble. Morales was pitching some of the best baseball of his career before his lat strain. I fear that the long layoff could disrupt his mechanics that he so dutifully fixed over the winter and this spring.
We’re into May. When can we start to see more of the players we traded for Matt Holliday?
— Ken Medina, Colorado Springs
Ken – Huston Street has been a glowing light in an otherwise dark bullpen. That’s good news for two reasons: It gives the Rockies a decent closer and also provides them with a solid trade chip. I would be surprised if he’s not traded if the Rockies remain out of contention.
To your question, Carlos Gonzalez has been an RBI machine in Triple-A. He’s a gifted athlete with crazy confidence. Sometimes that confidence gets him into trouble as he gets lackadaisical. He will be up at some point, possibly next month. As stated before, Greg Smith was getting close until his most recent setback. Hard to predict with any accuracy when he will contribute until he can stay healthy.
Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck is in his 14th season of covering the Colorado Rockies, his eighth for The Denver Post. , or .
