Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck posts his Rockies Mailbag every other Monday during the 2011 MLB season. The next installment is slated for April 25.
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Troy – Through the history of the franchise, second base has been a revolving door. This year it’s Jose Lopez and Jonathan Herrera. Why has it been so hard for the Rockies to find a mainstay at this position? Is Lopez or Herrera the long-term answer? Or is there a prospect in the system? Thanks.
— Matt, Denver
Matt – It is a curious predicament. The Rockies have had hyped prospects (Roberto Mejia) and free-agent busts (Mike Lansing). They have had plenty of Band-Aids from Jeff Frye to Aaron Miles and Jayson Nix.
Kaz Matsui will be remembered forever as a key component of the 2007 World Series team. He appeared as a long-term answer until he took $16.5 million from the Astros. The Rockies were proven right in passing on that figure as Matsui never had another impact season.
Clint Barmes would still be the guy if he hit a little better. Barmes was the best fielder of the bunch. So that leaves Herrera as the next prospect in line with a chance to take ownership of the position. Problem is, he’s viewed as a utility player.
Why has this happened? Teams don’t generally draft second basemen. They draft shortstops, who might end up converted. In that regard, the Rockies have nailed the shortstop position for the next decade. Given the choice, you’d rather have a shortstop of the future. To answer your question, I don’t know that either Herrera or Lopez is the long-term solution. But I have said it before: Lopez and Herrera together could be the Rockies’ most productive second baseman ever.
So, Troy, has Jonathan Herrera gone from likely starting second baseman in the spring to likely super utilityman in the first week of the season? How much will he play this season? I thought he had a great spring. Thanks.
— Ryan C., Denver
Ryan – Spring training is just that. I equate it to having great practice. It can help boost you in the eyes of the coaches, but there’s no guarantee that it will get you in the lineup when the games count.
What I find funny about spring training is how managers use it as both a reason to justify a decision and rebuke a question. In the same interview session last week, Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson, who has a refreshing bluntness, spoke about a player winning a job with spring training and how spring training didn’t matter for another.
Anyway, Herrera is going to play. So is Lopez. They are dramatically different players. Lopez brings power. When it comes to small ball, it doesn’t get much smaller than 5-foot-9, 178-pound Herrera (asked him his weight and he said that’s where he’s at these days).
We’ve seen a couple stories this spring on how much better feels. But similar optimistic stories were written this time last year, and his regular season was still a bust, back-wise and otherwise. Is there any reason to think things will be better this time around?
— Ben L., Boulder
Ben – Based on what happened in Pittsburgh, I would say no. He’s 37 with a back issue. As anyone who has had back problems knows, you have good days and bad days.
Helton did everything he could to prepare for this season. His philosophy: “I will go until it blows.” He looked as strong as he has in five years the past week. Then it locked up in Pittsburgh as he was jogging. He took BP on Sunday. He’s hasn’t started since Thursday. And has had one at-bat.
He will likely take BP on Monday. It’s a day-to-day proposition. If he’s out for a week, they might have to reassess. For now they have depth to cover Helton with Ty Wigginton and Jason Giambi.
I’m hearing some very discouraging stuff about the development of Rockies top pitching prospect Tyler Matzek. It is being reported that Matzek has had a significant reduction in velocity, has poor mechanics, and many 2011 evaluator grades do not include him in baseball’s top 25 of best pitching prospects anymore. Has any Rockies pitcher ever fallen so far so fast before?
— Greg, Longmont
Greg – I talked to Tyler Matzek before spring training. He had worked diligently at Athletes Performance in California over the winter. More importantly, Matzek returned to his old mechanics. While in the minors last year, the Rockies, according to Matzek, asked that he change his delivery. He told me that they wanted more of a “golf swing or lever” delivery. Matzek has always had a shorter delivery. He tried it to mixed results.
“I know they had the best intentions, but it just didn’t work for me. I went back to my old delivery. I am more comfortable.”
Marc Gustafson, the Rockies’ director of player development, told me that Matzek looked great late in spring training and that his velocity was back near the mid-90s, where he was hitting when drafted.
In talking to Matzek, I loved his edge and confidence. This is a supreme talent. Scouts have told me he’s the best left-handed California prep prospect since Cole Hamels. If Matzek can stay healthy, I don’t see any reason why he can’t be a mainstay in the big league rotation down the road.
Hey, Troy. Jhoulys Chacin looks like the best pitcher on the team right now. How soon before he takes over as the team’s ace? Thanks.
— Jeff G., Denver
Jeff – Easy now. Walk away from the keyboard. Relax. I kid because I care, but Ubaldo Jimenez is only coming off the greatest single season in Rockies’ history. He’s the ace. End of story. Get his thumb right, and he will be an elite pitcher again.
Chacin is going to be a front-end-of-the-rotation starter for years. As you saw Sunday, he still has bouts of wildness. When Chacin controls his fastball, he’s dominant. His recent start against the Dodgers was evidence of that.
Two things have left me convinced he will win 15 games this season: his poise and willingness to throw his changeup to righties. That pitch wasn’t even in play a year ago. It’s another weapon to make him less predictable and more effective.
Todd Helton’s nearing the end of his long-term contract/career. When he doesn’t play, it’s Jason Giambi or Ty Wigginton or whoever. We always see and hear about prospects coming through the farm system, but I hear nothing for first base. What does the Rockies’ system have in terms of first basemen?
— Nick, Pueblo
Nick – The Rockies have had interesting future replacements — Ryan Shealy and Joe Koshansky to name a few. The next in line would be Ben Paulsen. He has real raw power, and was one of the best prospects this past spring. He doesn’t have the can’t-miss label of Wilin Rosario, but he definitely put himself on the radar with the way he hit in big league camp. He’s a guy to keep an eye on. In the meantime, the Rockies have three players who can help out at first if Helton needs rest — Wigginton, Giambi and Jose Lopez.
Who is the top catching prospect in the system right now? Wilin Rosario? Jordan Pacheco? Somebody else?
— Cody, Cheyenne
Cody – Rosario is not only the top catching prospect, but he’s also the Rockies’ top position player prospect. He’s built like a fire hydrant with a rocket arm and power at the plate. The only thing holding him back is a surgically repaired right knee. He needs to get it right, even if that means a little extra patience.
Pacheco was the most impressive young hitter I saw during spring training. He has a real idea of not only what he wants to do, but also how he’s being pitched. Pacheco is a converted catcher, so it’s conceivable that he could play another spot in the bigs. For now, it’s a great luxury to have two guys with bright futures at a position that is hard to cultivate.
Can you tell us what, exactly, are the expectations for Ian Stewart as a hitter? I keep reading and hearing about how this guy needs to step up. And then I compare him to other third basemen across MLB and see him pretty much in the middle of the pack. What’s the deal?
— Bob Locke, Greeley
Bob – The expectations of Stewart are framed by his talent and salary ($2.28 million). Stewart has ranked in the middle of the pack. And when you start talking about left-handed hitting third basemen with power, it’s a small list. George Brett. Graig Nettles.
Stewart is one of the most talented players on the roster. But he hasn’t been able to put it together for a full season. Will this be that year? It’s unfair to judge him now because he hasn’t been healthy (knee, hamstring, flu). The difference, though, is that Ty Wigginton is around. And he’s going to get at-bats. Stewart needs to start hitting at some point soon to avoid a strict left-right platoon. He has the ability to pull it off.
Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck is in his 16th season of covering the Colorado Rockies, his 10th for The Denver Post. for the Rockies Mailbag.
