Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck posts his Rockies Mailbag every other Thursday during the 2010 MLB season.
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What exactly caused to fall off so dramatically in the second half of last season? Do you think there will be any carryover to this season?
— Ian, Denver
Ian – Fatigue was definitely an issue. Manager Jim Tracy admitted that he had to push Hawpe harder than he wanted because was not hitting lefties. Hawpe is part of a group of the Rockies’ young players who aren’t really that young. Hawpe will be 31 this June. Combine that with the fact that he’s played outfield his entire career, and his legs have taken quite a beating. Hawpe, as you noted, struggled in the second half, hitting .240 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs. To put that in perspective, he drove in 23 runs in May.
Do I think there will be a carryover early in the season? I don’t see it. Hawpe comes to camp in great shape and has a good understanding of his swing. But he’s streaky. There’s no way around that, so he might struggle for a few weeks in April then go nuclear in May.
Is the fifth starter? What can we (in fantasy baseball) expect from him this season?
— Ryan, Denver
Ryan – I gotta say, my fantasies don’t involve fifth starters. But I digress. Hammel is entrenched as the Rockies’ fifth starter, and frankly he’s overqualified for the job after a 10-win season. He won more games than Clayton Kershaw and Jake Peavy last season. Given his ERA and the Rockies’ offense, he figures to win 10-12 games again. The key to a big jump will be more consistency at Coors Field, where he won just three games last season with a 5.73 ERA.
All this talk of Troy Tulowitzki’s poor Aprils has me worried that he’ll press too much this April. What do you think, Troy? Thank you.
— Peter P., Denver
Peter – Tulowitzki has put himself in great position to start fast. He trained harder than ever, adding a sprint coach to his routine. And unlike last spring, when he was searching for his swing, he’s very comfortable with his upright stance and toe-tap.
Here’s the one issue I see facing Tulowitzki in April — not expanding his strike zone. He’s never started the season as a cleanup hitter. Other teams aren’t going to let him beat them, so they will see if he will chase pitches with runners on base. If Tulowitzki doesn’t take the bait, he will be just fine.
Hey, Troy. If Clint Barmes struggles in the batter’s box early, how soon before Melvin Mora takes the everyday position? Is there somebody other than Mora? Eric Young Jr.?
— Matt, Boulder
Matt – The leash is shorter. Barmes knows that he needs more consistency. What manager Jim Tracy wants is better awareness from Barmes. In other words: Know the situation and what the pitcher is trying to do. That should help create more contact, which should push his average into the .270 range. Throw in 20-plus home runs, and that’s fine for a second baseman hitting eighth.
If Barmes struggles, Melvin Mora and Eric Young Jr. are legitimate options. Mora’s value is as a utility player. He could take over second, but it all depends on what the Rockies are doing offensively at the time. Do they need help at the top of the order? That would favor Young, who can hit leadoff.
I’ve heard good reports concerning Greg Smith out of spring training. Where do you see him ending up? With the Sky Sox, Rox or traded?
— Jeff, Centennial
Jeff – Greg Smith joked with me the other day that he’s no longer walking out of the clubhouse with his shoulder hanging. The left-hander is finally healthy after battling illnesses and back spasms last year. Remember, he posted a 4.16 ERA in the American League with Oakland. His velocity has returned. He has to paint with a small brush, but his command has been good in bullpen sessions. He could push for a rotation spot if someone struggles, but right now he appears headed to Triple-A, where he could be the first option.
I believe that the Rockies’ Ian Stewart experiment is kaput. You recently got on Barmes for his lack of production, but Stewart is worse. Third base should be a more productive offensive position than second base, and Stewart is lacking. Do you think the Rox can find someone with Garrett Atkins-like numbers (in his prime)?
— Mike, Parker
Mike – To be fair, the Ian Stewart experiment has just begun. This will be the first year that he opens as the starter. He’s 24 years old. To put that in perspective, Barmes will be 31 this week, and Hawpe is 30. I am not one of those guys who just believes it’s fair to play kids. But this kid has special talent. He has Gold Glove potential in the field and could easily hit 30 home runs with 100 RBIs. To do that, he can’t bat .228. He has taken steps to shorten his swing to reduce the strikeouts. If he hits .228 again, it’s time to worry. But not yet.
Troy – Why did the A’s trade for Willy Taveras and then cut him? Was there some reason the Reds couldn’t just cut him and let him go? It just doesn’t make any sense to me. I suppose it has something to do with the way contracts are written these days, right? Thanks.
— Phil D., Cool, Calif.
Phil – It was essentially moving money and creative checkbooking. Oakland wanted shortstop Adam Rosales. They get him and send Aaron Miles’ $2.7 million to Cincinnati. They bring back Taveras’ $4 million, then eat the contract. So that leaves them on the hook for $1.3 million, which will go down by roughly $400,000 if Taveras makes the Nationals’ roster. So basically they are paying $1 million-plus to get Rosales. It’s a weird way to meet an objective, but no one will ever accuse Oakland GM Billy Beane of not being creative.
After all your years covering spring training, can you ever tell if a player is due for a breakout or career season? Thanks!
— Thom, Detroit
Thom – Spring training is baseball’s push-up bra — very deceiving. A lot of times a guy will put up numbers against Double-A pitchers then fall flat in April against big leaguers. That said, there are guys that have shown they are ready to take the next step. Taylor Buchholz in 2008 comes to mind. His attitude and mound demeanor were completely different, showing new confidence. And Dexter Fowler’s athleticism was impossible to miss last spring as he forced his way onto the roster.
When looking for signs, watch for hitters who are drilling the ball into the gaps, which shows a good approach. With pitchers, command is always a hot-button issue. If a guy is struggling with walks, it’s going to be very difficult to find success.
The Rockies’ starting outfield seems set with Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler and Hawpe. Does Colorado see Seth Smith as the fourth outfielder or does he have a shot to take starts away from either Gonzalez or Fowler?
— Michael Scriven, Springfield, Mo.
Michael – I believe Seth Smith could start for half the teams in the big leagues. He has proven that he can excel in the clutch. So if any of the three outfielders struggle, Smith will get time. He’s a decent outfielder, though not as good in left as Carlos Gonzalez. It will be a delightful problem for Jim Tracy — trying to find at-bats for Smith. With Jason Giambi back in the fold, that will make it easier.
I watched an hour of the Rockies’ pitcher-and-catcher practice yesterday and witnessed a remarkable act. Aaron Cook was practicing pick moves with a group of younger pitchers and underthrew the first baseman. I expected him to retreat to the end of the line, but instead he chased 100 yards after the ball. I was struck that a player earning $9 million would demonstrate that level of effort. I was the only fan watching, so he had no one to impress. He was simply setting a terrific example for the other players. It may seem inconsequential, but it is the type of attitude that the act reflects that has me very excited about the Rockies’ prospects this year.
— Byron Levkulich, Denver
Byron – Aaron Cook takes his responsibility as a team leader seriously. I was watching earlier this week, and he was leading every sprint drill. This might not seem like much, but it sticks with the young guys. Basically, if he’s pushing himself, “How can I not do the same?” As Troy Tulowitzki has said, when your best players are your hardest workers, the team is almost always good.
Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck is in his 15th season of covering the Colorado Rockies, his ninth for The Denver Post. for the Rockies Mailbag.
