Comments on: Now’s the Time for Rockies — Updated

By: Tracy Ringolsby

Tracy Ringolsby — Thu, 07 May 2009 01:57:42 +0000

Bill, I would suggest the move with Barmes was not becuase of defense. Had the move been made for defense then Stewart would have been placed at third base. My feeling is the move was probably made because the at-bats were a continuation of the non-aggressive approach that has created concerns.
As for staying with Daley, he had done nothing to indicate an inability to get outs. And to think that he is only capable of facing two batters would be concerning. He needs to be able to go back out a second time and pitch some innings.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:51:52 +0000

I’m baffled as to why Hurdle is still the manager. We were told that getting off to a good start was imperative. Only the Detroit Lions would consider this a good start. Not that it’s all his fault, the players have to preform, but some of his moves are confusing. Last night Barmes came in for Stewart for defensive purposes (or at least that was what Drew Goodman said) when the game was tied 1-1. Don’t you make those moves when you are winning. Or move Stewart to 3rd, put Barmes in the 4th spot. Makes no sense unless Stewart was hurt. Obviously leaving Daily in to pitch a 2nd inning backfired, especially when Grilli was ready. A new voice is needed and I think that Tracy or Baylor should be promoted as soon as possible. And I’m still confused that they got rid of all those coaches and kept Apodoca. Pitchers don’t make enough progress under him. Certainly we can see that in Jimenez and Corpus

By: Derrek

Derrek — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:31:08 +0000

Atkins is clearly on the decline. His numbers prove it, enough said!! .240 hitters don’t belong in the 4 spot and don’t deserve a good free agent deal! The Rox can’t trade him soon enough in my opinion. Ian Stewart has struggled this year and he gets critisized for it by Hurdle and company. Atkins struggles and he is just going through a rough spot. I understand Atkins has a track record but come on, he isn’t hitting worth a crap right now. They talk about Corpas not figuring it out for a 1 1/2 now, well Atkins is in the same boat. His average with RISP is horrible. Hurdle always talks about “quality at bats”, swinging at the first 2-3 pitches all the time and grounding out to the left side is hardly a quality at bat. And when he does get deep in the count it has been ending in strikeouts quite a bit. Trade him now Rox and let Stewart prove he belongs just like they are doing with Fowler. The worst that can happen is Stewart struggles hitting(which is what Atkins is doing) but he provides a huge upgrade defensively.

By: David Martin

David Martin — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:05:34 +0000

The Rockies are figuring it out. They are showing signs that they are ready to hit on all cylinders. They had better hurry up and make it happen though, they are about two weeks away from it being too late.

The Dodgers will crumble. Their bullpen is not strong getting to Broxton. Their front end starters are good, but beyond that, does anyone really believe that Jeff Weaver and Eric Stults are going to win a division?

If the Rockies right the ship…quickly…they are still in a decent position to make a move.

That said, they need to hurry up and make it happen.

By: Will

Will — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:24:30 +0000

I agree that the “instability in the lineup” stuff is nonsense. If they were winning, I’m sure you’d see the lineup solidify in a hurry (as it was in the 2007 stretch run). There’s nothing wrong with a little competition when you’re losing – it creates urgency and sends the message that a starting job is earned EVERY DAY.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:39:02 +0000

Agbayani, you cover a lot of ground there and make interesting points. One does wonder what Hurdle and O’Dowd are up to in a strategic sense. OTOH, if they’re only signed through 2009, I can’t really blame them for hoping for magic.

Someone like Beane would probably look at the roster, and decide it is time to get what value they can out of guys like Barmes (29), Atkins (29), Street, Spilly (29) and Hawpe (30) and rebuild around Fowler, Iannetta, Tulo, etc. However, guys like Beane also have support of ownership for such plans.

So maybe it’s make-up-your-mind time for the Monforts.

BTW, why drop Baker this year? He’s still cheap and able to fill in at multiple positions. Who would you bring in instead? If you drop Q and make Barmes the backup, who plays 2nd?

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:23:56 +0000

How many third baseman has the organization moved to other positions because they were going to be blocked by Atkins?

Good question, how many? Are you referring to Baker? Andy Tracy? (Neither of whom were hot prospects.) Stewart (who hasn’t really been moved)?

If you’re going to move someone like Atkins, don’t you have to find someone better, or at least close?

BTW, Blake is 6 years older.

By: Agbayani

Agbayani — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:10:46 +0000

I’ve got to tell it like it is here. This is not the kind of column that befits a Hall of Fame writer.

But this is what we see with the Dead Man Walking that is the newspaper industry. At our sole surviving newspaper, Renck (let’s face it, not Tracy Ringolsby’s equal in stature or knowledge) is trying to emerge as a commenter (and probably trying to get the TV/Radio/Web outside jobs that come with it) by being “controversial.” Tracy, no need to take the bait here. Renck’s take on the Rockies situation is ill-informed. To me it matters not one bit whether Barmes starts 2/3 of the time at 2B or whether Stewart starts 2/3 of the time. What Stewart gives you in a potential power bat Barmes gives you in far superior glove work. I’m not shy at all about criticizing Hurdle. In fact, to me it is inexcusable to give an inferior player the majority of the playing time over a better player. (That’s exactly what happened last year with Torrealba/Iannetta and Taveras/Spilborghs.) But let’s face facts: right now I can’t tell you whether the club is better or worse with Barmes instead of Stewart at 2B; they’re both incomplete as second basemen, Barmes because he’s a wildly streaky (and in the long run subpar) hitter, Stewart because the 2B thing is a fun project but everybody knows he doesn’t belong there. So mix and match howerver you see fit, Mr. Hurde. Renck’s whole “lack of a stable lineup” thing is just plain silly. You get platoons and part-timers when you have players with serious flaws, and that’s what we’ve got.

Falling out of all contention fast (and we’re about a month away from that unless things change really soon) isn’t the worst thing in the world. It should focus Dan O’Dowd’s attention. Look, Jeff Baker has zero trade value. Don’t hold onto him like he’s a precious gem. If you think you know better than 29 other GMs, clear a spot for him and see that he plays everyday. Otherwise, let him go. We pretty much know what we have in Garret Atkins: Casey Blake of the Rockies. Even before free agency, he’s probably a bit overpaid (Blake will make $2 million less this year as a free agent). Ergo, very little trade value. Move him for what you can get, and let Stewart play 3B every day. Let Fowler play just like you are now. If he slumps badly, give him some AAA time. With 3 OF spots, there’s plenty of at bats to give Smith/Fowler/Spilly all a chance to prove what they can do, so no need to panic there. Send Omar Quintanilla packing; it’s ridiculous to use a roster spot for a second utility infielder. Barmes is better at that role.

It’s make your mind up time for Hurdle and O’Dowd. I get the feeling that they’re not really trying to win this year, hoping that kids like Stewart and Fowler (and Jimenez and Morales for that matter) have better years in front of them. And that’s o.k.; we may not be at that point in the competitive cycle. But given the axe hanging over their heads, they’re afraid to commit to building for 2010-2012 by freeing up regular jobs for guys like Stewart. They’re trying to have it both ways.

By: Carl

Carl — Wed, 06 May 2009 03:16:21 +0000

I get a bad feeling about Atkins. As Hurdle likes to say, you’ve got to look at the back of the bubble gum card. Is 2008 the fluke year or is 2006? I think he’s more like a .290, 20hr, 95RBI type of guy. That’s not good enough when you hit in the middle of the lineup and you play half your games at Coors. How many third baseman has the organization moved to other positions because they were going to be blocked by Atkins? He will not be worth the salary that he commands in his free agent years, but can the owners afford to trade another high profile player and get little in return? I suspect the organization was shopping him in the off season and they found out that everyone else figures he would be a below average third baseman playing anywhere else. I think O’Dowd has made a mistake by holding on to Atkins for this long.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 06 May 2009 02:29:06 +0000

Atkins is hitting a lot better with RISP than with the bases empty:

(BA/OBP/SLG)
RISP: .265/.350/.382
Bases empty: .184/.244/.289

The problem is neither set of numbers is very good. HOwever, since April 21 (not counting tonight’s game):

.302/.388/.465

Maybe he had an off-year last year. It happens. We usually try to derive greater meaning out of a change over 215 plate appearances–sometimes it’s aging, sometimes it’s an injury, sometimes the player is going through a divorce. But often it’s just the normal fluctuation of a player’s career.