Some thoughts

[wolf213]

Well, what a ride it has been...

getting swept hurts, however, looking back in April, no one expected us to be here, or even in the playoffs. Most of the National News had us pegged for a 4th place finish, so keeping that in perspective, this season has been magical. One of the things I have missed as a fan was being able to go to a game, and have the stadium packed to the brim, like it was in the early days. I wasn't able to go to any playoff games (had tickets but the sweeps happened..) but it was amazing to hear the old Go Rockies chant over the TV. Coors is a magical place when is packed, and this year we got the magic back.

I'm wondering what this team would've done if we hadn't had the 8 day layoff. In a game thats about timing, 8 days I think killed us. I don't want it to be an excuse, but I do want to say that the Rockies didn't show up until it was too late, and I think the 8 games had something do with that, especially with the swings of Hawpe, Tulo and Atkins. Thats not to take anything away from the Red Sox, they are the better team, and they played the better baseball.

As for this offseason, this is the most important offseason in the history of the franchise. Monforts say they are going to get the payroll over 70 million, so what should they be looking at?

First I want Holliday signed long term. I don't care what it takes, he is the face of the franchise, and you cannot let him walk. Depending on how Stewart's transition to 2b goes, I think you resign Atkins as well. If Stewart proves he can't handle 2b, then you need to sign Matsui also. There is no one ready on the farm to take over, and their is no better Free Agent option either. At catcher, you have to give Ianetta a shot, and I don't think Yorvit will be worth the money he commands. Bring in a backup and let it be know to Hurlde that Ianetta is the starter from day one. CF came up lame this post season. Taveras isn't the answer, and I would like to see Spilly and Smith get some playing time next year.

Fuentes... I think he has to go. At this point he's nothing but a LOOGY, and he will be over priced at that. He blew too many games in the offseason, and he couldn't hold it close when we needed him to. He's not the same pitcher he was, and honestly he was nothing more then above average to begin with.

So with that 70 million, I think we need to spend on getting Holliday, Atkins and Cook signed long term, then we need to get some good RP. I don't care if your paying 3-5 million for a middle reliever. Get Herges and Hawkins back, call up Morrilo, and get one or two more people for the back of pen. I havn't looked at options yet, but this is a must. I don't think you need to keep Fogg. He's pitched above his head in the stretch, but he's basically close to replacement level. Next years rotation needs to look like this:

1. Francis
2. Cook
3. Jimenez
4. FA
5. Hirsh

Keep Morales on the farm to start off with, and lets get some guy on a 2 year deal. Maybe Jennings could have a nice home coming, again I havn't looked at to many names, but that could be a starting point.

Lineup:

1. Kaz
2. Tulo
3. Holliday
4. Helton
5. Atkins
6. Hawpe
7. Spilly/Smith
8. Ianetta

or if Stewart is ready at 2b

1. Spilly/Smith
2. Tulo
3. Holliday
4. Helton
5. Atkins
6. Hawpe
7. Stewart
8. Ianetta.

Either one looks very good.

Today might sting a bit, but we will be back. We have a championship to defend, and I think our guys in purple should do well.

One a parting note. The season before the Broncos won the Super Bowl, they lost in their first round of the playoffs. That offseason they changed their uniforms, and Logo, and low and behold, they won back to back. The key to winning next year is in the Uniforms they wear. Its time to change, when we are on a national stage, we shouldn't be caught dead in the black embarrassment that they wear now.

I'm thinking something like a Forest green and Purple to match the seats at Coors would look really well. Get it done Dan

[Xitdax8]

I kind of have to disagree with you on Taveras a bit. The guy did hit .320 during the regular season, and you gotta remember he was there for the first four games when we went on our streak.

Has anyone heard the possibility of A-Rod coming to Colorado? I, for one, don't believe it, nor do I like the idea very much, but ESPN radio did say the Rockies might look into him.

As for the unis? Green and purple? Ew. I really like the black. In fact, didn't we just make the switch to black last year?

Nontheless, it was a great season. These Rockies have nothing to pout about.

[wolf213]

I hate the black, and the green would be more of a forest green, with the purple acting as a sorta trim.

Taveras is interesting. The guy just simply is a one tool player. If I had a dollar for every time he came up to bat this year with runners on only to hit a weak ground ball to short.... I would have enough money to buy the Rockies. He simply doesn't drive in runs, and he's not the guy I want in a "clutch" situation.

[Xitdax8]

Sure, Taveras wasn't the best guy to have with runners in scoring position. However, there's a reason we have him hitting at leadoff and not third or fourth in the lineup. He was able to create chaos leading off. How many times was he able to get on base, steal second, only to have Kaz or Matty drive him in.

Not only that, but he was able to advance and score later on with his speed, something Spilborghs or Smith wouldn't have been able to do.

Numerous times, his speed paid off big time.

[wolf213]

Really, the idea of a leadoff hitter is dumb. How many times a game does he actually "leadoff"? Once for sure, maybe twice, but really, its probably one of the most overrated positions in a batting order.

[BigRapidsJackass]

Wolf, the Red Sox have been leading off or batting second the ultra-slow OBP machine Kevin Youkilis.

It seems to be working, doesn't it?

[wolf213]

Works wonderful. OBP is more important then then Average or SB. Actually I think OBP is probably the most important of the semi traditional batting stats. I think Todd Helton at number 2 with Tulo leading off should be considered as well.

[Heltonfan]

Nice post, Wolf. Lots to think about.

On the 2B situation: I still don't see much reason to believe that Stewart's bat is big-league ready. So even if he can make the switch defensively, I think we need to bring someone else in. I'd go with Tadahito Iguchi; he was just as good as Kaz was this year offensively, and he actually has a track record. I'd guess that he'll come a little cheaper than Kaz would, too. He's an average everyday player, which we could really use at that position.

At catcher, you have to give Iannetta a shot, and I don't think Yorvit will be worth the money he commands. Bring in a backup and let it be know to Hurdle that Ianetta is the starter from day one. CF came up lame this post season. Taveras isn't the answer, and I would like to see Spilly and Smith get some playing time next year.

Agreed on all counts.

On the bullpen: I agree that Fuentes has to go. We simply can't be paying $6 million to a non-elite reliever. As for the rest of it, though: the lesson of Matt Herges is that guys like Matt Herges are violently inconsistent and not hard to find. Herges was extremely valuable for us this year, but his success was heavily BABIP-driven... and we're talking about a guy who turns 38 next year and sucked in '05 and '06. He projects around replacement level. And Hawkins? Similar situation. Had a great year, but BABIP played a substantial role in that, and he's on the wrong side of 35. I don't want to be paying him $4 million next year, but I'm sure that there's someone out there who does. Pick up his option and trade him.

I'd try to bring back Affeldt, and make a run at Kerry Wood. Beyond that, we can fill out the bullpen with Bautista/Clarke/Morillo and an NRI or two.

1. Francis
2. Cook
3. Jimenez
4. FA
5. Hirsh

Looks good to me. The FA pitching market is terrible, though. I'd hope to get one of Jennings or Brett Tomko... and of course, I'd give Buchholz another shot at starting.

So the guys I'd be looking to trade are Fuentes, Hawkins, and Taveras. Haven't figured out who we should target in trade, though.

[wolf213]

Originally Posted by Heltonfan

Nice post, Wolf. Lots to think about.

So the guys I'd be looking to trade are Fuentes, Hawkins, and Taveras. Haven't figured out who we should target in trade, though.

And this is a problem I'm having too. All of tthe guys you mention could bring in something useful, but aside from CF and 2b, there isn't a whole lot we can do to make this club better (aside from Signing A-Rod and seeing if he can play 2b)

[rockieprogress]

Trade Atkins and Fuentes for a #2 SP if possible. I would add Baker and Barmes as throw-ins if needed.

Playing Stewart at 3B is the best option for him, and the Rockies. Atkins is only a bat, and his range and quickness at 3B is being masked by Tulo getting to balls that a 3B should be getting to.

Signing Holliday seems to be a longshot at best. If Boras doesn't want to seriously talk about a longterm contract, I'd trade him this off-season. I'm still not sold on his defensive improvements (I saw too many first steps in the wrong direction to think his improvement is anything more than an anomaly) and believe that his trade value will be at its highest from now to Dec.

The BP is another problem. I have no idea where the team is going with them, but I would believe that Julio is going to be resigned and Apodaca is going to work with him.
Affeldt "needs new scenery" IMO.

[rockieprogress]

"I still don't see much reason to believe that Stewart's bat is big-league ready."

Based on what HF?
His ability to PH? Lots of players can't PH, but do well when they play as starters. He's as ready as he'll be after spending another year at AAA.

[wolf213]

Trading Holliday would be a PR disaster, you just got the fans back to Coors, you don't want to drive them away in what would be seen as the Monforts being cheap. Same goes for Trading Atkins.

[Heltonfan]

"I still don't see much reason to believe that Stewart's bat is big-league ready."

Based on what HF?

Minor league numbers. I'm not dumb enough to care about what he did in 40-odd big league at-bats, but a .304/.378/.478 line at Colorado Springs just isn't that impressive. It's about the equivalent of Kaz Matsui's big-league batting line. That's not something that can be tolerated in a starting 3B. And that line represents a substantial improvement on what he did in the previous two years; I don't think we can expect another big leap.

[indianadrew]

thanks for the wonderful season rockies. it was a dramatic end for a storybook season. you have made history, hold your heads high as the purple mountains majesty you call home. again....thanks for the memories.

[Newman]

Yeah, winning 21 out of 22 was a dream.

But couldn't you have won ONE World Series game? Was that asking so much?