No sympathy vote.
“I received an e-mail from the Rockies asking me to vote for shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez for the All-Star Game. I replied with the following, not knowing whether anyone will see my remarks or not: ‘With all due respect, I love Tulo and CarGo, but I also love the sanctity of the game, and would rather see the best players at each position play in the All-Star Game. Seriously, neither of them is even close to being the best at their positions at this point. C’mon, people. All-stars should be voted in on their accomplishments this year, and not on what they’ve done in the (not-so-distant) past. Just sayin’.’ “
Jeff, Aurora
Kiz: Maybe the Rockies were hoping to get out the sympathy vote. Tulo will be voted the National League starter on shortstop on reputation. By the time the game is played next month, I predict his stats will justify the love fans have shown Tulowitzki. And know what? It might be cool if the NL team also tabbed Todd Helton as a reserve, for a lifetime achievement award. He deserves it, especially after knuckleheads like myself thought Toddy Ballgame should have retired last year.
Caught in the draft.
“Why do the Rockies lack talent and depth when they consistently draft so high? Why has this team continued to underachieve and players seem to be ill-prepared when moved from the minors to the major-league level? For a team that operates in a mid- market and must rely on the farm system to keep talent flowing, the Rockies appear to be really poor at identifying, evaluating and developing talent. General manager Dan O’Dowd hasn’t done a bad job, but he hasn’t done a great job, either.”
Brian, Denver
Kiz: O’Dowd is lucky he works for Dick and Charlie Monfort rather than Stan Kroenke. What happened to Nuggets executives Mark Warkentien and Rex Chapman barely a year after the local NBA team advanced to the Western Conference finals?
Iannetta’s legit.
“How can you write that Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta has not turned into a legitimate major-league player? Only two everyday catchers have outperformed Iannetta this season: Ramon Hernandez of Cincinnati and Alex Avila of Detroit. It’s time for people to realize Iannetta has an exceptional on-base percentage and a more- than-adequate slugging percentage, along with playing good defense. A top-five major-league catcher is the least of Colorado’s worries.”
Thomas, Highlands Ranch
Kiz: Now, now, now. Let’s play fair. Seems to me I suggested Iannetta has yet to establish himself as a legit everyday player in the bigs. Nearly 400 games into his career, his batting average is .234. I gladly acknowledge Iannetta’s walks are up this season and there has always been pop in his bat. But his stats bear a striking resemblance to the eight homers, 30 RBIs and .241 average that Rockies reject Miguel Olivo took into the weekend. Even if you’re wearing purple-tinted glasses, it’s hard to see how Iannetta could be considered a top-five catcher in the game. He couldn’t be one of the top two catchers in the Molina family, behind Yadier and Jose. And if Bengie Molina came off his sofa at age 36, Iannetta would slip to No. 4.
Affordable Arron?
“I like the starting five you suggested for the Nuggets next season (Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, Danilo Gallinari, Nene and Timofey Mozgov). What is the maximum Denver will match to keep restricted free agent Afflalo if he gets a multiyear offer from another NBA team? I don’t think the Nuggets can afford to let him walk.”
Michael, Arvada
Kiz: Is Afflalo a $6 million man? He would be if there wasn’t the uncertainty of how much the next collective bargaining agreement will restrict salaries for role players.
That lizard LeBron
And today’s parting shot reveals the intensity of American enmity for any fool (like me) who dares to say anything nice about Miami Heat forward LeBron James.
“Not a reporter anymore, Kiz? Are you now a cheerleader for the rodent James? He is trash. No titles. But why don’t you compare him to Michael Jordan? You had better head back to cheerleading practice.”
Troy, Longmont
