Triple Play, May 2: Jimenez, Mortensen, Stewart
–Next time someone questions the value of spring training, reflect back on Ubaldo Jimenez in the first month of this season. His spring cut short because of the cuticle cut on his right thumb, he wound up on the disabled list after his Opening Day start because of same injury. Now he has velocity back but command his missing. There’s something to be said for pitching in game situations to get ready for the season.
–Esmil Rogers can throw hard, but the assortment of pitches betrays him. Does Clayton Mortensen seem more feasible as a possible long man/fifth starter? Initial results were certainly impressive. Coming into a 4-2 game, Rogers had a chance to keep the Rockies close enough to win, but before the popcorn was buttered it was 8-2.
–Ian Stewart is heating up. Can he be far from returning to the big leagues?
Tracy, What do you think? I think there are baseball philosophies at work within the Rockies organization that are incompatible with Ian. Can he be traded? Would he be traded? I really believe a change of scenery would be beneficial to all.
IMHO:
Ubaldo’s problems are mental—a shy, humble guy who sits in the corner of the dugout with his parka on and lives with his mother does not mix well with the hoopla surrounding a staff ace and CYA contender. The guy just wants to pitch and compete without any fanfare. This may change as he matures, but for now he’s setting himself up for a great “comeback” after the all-star game by lowering expectations.
Until Rogers develops a pitch that actually changes direction, he’s a bullpen guy. It took a couple of games, but the league has figured him out plus the umps don’t respect him enough to give him the close calls.
Mortensen deserves the 5th spot based on his scoreless 8 innings earlier this month.
Stewart is knocking on the door, but he needs to beat it down. That fire in the belly we discussed in the off-season is still MIA. We all know he has the talent and all he’s shown so far in AAA is that he can turn it on whenever he wants. Not good enough. Let him sweat it out a few more weeks or even a month.
Doc, if Rogers has no pitch that changes direction, then he’s not even a bullpen guy. Better to send him down, give him work and a chance to develop that pitch. Stewart still needs at least 2 weeks. Needs a prolonged road trip to sea level. One of the best AAAA players around, just not MLB good enough.
I’d give Stewart 1 more week. Lopez is no better except that he flys out to left rather than striking out, which may produce a sac fly now and then. In other words we are no better off with Lopez over Stewart. Wigginton is okay but not terrific.
I’m not sold on Amezaga after only 5 AB. Second base is Herrera’s and RF is Smith’s. It’s fine to give Alfredo a chance, but let’s not get carried away. I don’t really want to see Amezaga at 2B and Herrera at 3B.
Ian Stewart is by far our best option at 3B
Esmil Shealy, er Rogers, will be another player with potential that could have been traded for some real assets, but will end up as a coulda-woulda-shoulda type of player. For those of you who remember, Ryan Shealy was the hot Rockies prospect that tore up AAA and was blocked by Helton. DOD held on to him for too long and didn’t get much in return. At least not as much as he could have gotten 1 year prior. I see Rogers the same way. I can completely understand that it would be difficult to let loose of someone you have drafted and invested a lot of time in, however, the emotions must be taken out. I see EY as another example of this phenomenon. His trade value gets lessened with every error or baserunning mistake.
Some would also say, why trade a pitcher with the upside of Rogers. You have a great athlete with an easy throwing motion, excellent velocity, and pretty good fastball command. Those players are far more difficult to find than Clay Mortenson types.
He does have a breaking pitch, and he has had some success with his change so far this year. Seems like a defensible idea to stick with the guy.
I’m also sure if teams were lining up to send over quality in return for the, the front office would gladly have entertained the offer.
Robb,
We didn’t get much in return??? Didn’t we get DLR in the Shealy deal? I would say we got the better end of that deal by far. Other than Cliff Lee he was the most pursued LHP on the market last offseason.
Nope we got Affedlt and Denny Bautista. My bad
We got DLR from the Royals for Ramon Ramirez. We got the better end of that deal I would say.
Affeldt was a key part of the Rocktober team for sure, but ultimately was a middle reliever/7th inning guy and ended up leaving. My point is that a year prior Shealy was at his hottest peak value and we could have possibly gotten more. I see Rogers the same way. In a way Reader f/k/a Mike you proved my point although I am sure you didn’t intend to:). A GM must make the decision as to when a player has reached a point where they are always going to be a player with “potential” and never a consistent performer. Just like with Shealy, if you wait too long the window closes. I think Rogers is close to that point and DOD has to decide if he will ever become a solid pitcher or should trade him for maximum value. I understand it is a tough call to make and those guys are around players like Rogers every day and have way, way more insight than someone like me. Just sayin’ there comes a time when a team has to maximize value and hope they are right.
Robb, not to pile on, but to compare Shealy with Rogers is way off base. Shealy was never considered a decent prospect, and the fact that he had just a cup of coffee in the majors proved that point. Rogers has a heck of alot more upside than Shealy ever had. To talk of getting rid of him because of a couple of bad outings is a bit premature.
Quite often on this site we want to get rid of a young pitcher because of inconsistency (Morales, Rogers, etc.). Had this site been up in ’06/’07 I’m sure a few of us may have wanted to get rid of one Ubaldo Jimenez because of a few bad outings. Remember that 6 walks in 4 innings in Chicago?
Robb, I don’t think Rogers had much trade value until he emerged from the pack of hard throwers last year. And I dont think his value has really declined — he’s still a raw talent who got a late start as a converted infielder. The Shealy thing is something of a myth too. As a first baseman only with good but not spectacular minor league numbers, he was never going to bring huge value in a trade. In retrospect, a year and half or so of fine work from Affeldt was worth more than Shealy’s entire career. The guy we might have blown our chance on is Morales, who (even if he continues to pitch reasonably effectively) will likely never bring much in return now.
As a 25 year old lefty that has started and closed games…and throws 95…I think Morales is still quite a commodity.
Been out of the loop for a week so thanks ITR and all my fellow posters for keeping me up to date.
Yes, Stewart needs a bit more time here in COS, not for his bat at this point but to remember he never wants to be here again. He was a #1 pick, he has more talent that just about any guy other than the big 3 position players. Its all there, but like many players,he has to put it together. And even if he only puts it 85% together, he is better than Lopez, Wiggy or Herrera. Don’t forget that not getting it he hit 25 HRs in the bigs (as did Lopez) in only 491 ABs.
Ubaldo will get it together. Control for a power pitcher is hard to maintain (ask Nolan Ryan, the greatest pitcher I ever saw in person). He has struggled with the lack of work and that will be rectified (and the bright side the bad strech has been April and May rather than July and August). I am betting his stuff after the All-Star break will be devestating.
Okay, the big issue…Rogers. Please do not forget what he has already done this year for this team. He is still learning to pitch due to his position switch. And for a guy who had his mental game focused on being a starter to try and swich him Sunday evidently ran into major issues. The guy has a great arm, and great arms are not just in abundance. He has had a good season so far for a #5. If they decide he needs to be a reliever (and I think his stuff works better at an inning a time, but he has shown some nice stuff starting), he can ready himself for that role. Its not surprising, changing roles hurts players. Look at the times a star closer goes into a blowout game to just get work and he struggles to get anyone out. Baseball is, to quote Yogi, 90% physical and the other half mental, and that other half for a guy like Rogers who is still new to pitching, seems to be a big issue. Lets not call him Ryan Sheely or Roberto Mejia or anyone else quite yet. Each player is different, and at 25 and already a 3 game winner this year I think the team and we fans need to be a bit more patient. I like Mortensen’s work so far this year but if he was so amazing do you think the pitching centred As would trade him for someone who I cannot even remember his name. Clayton has had low pressure so far in his tenure. If he becomes the 5, does that change?
Lets celebrate. This team is playing about C+ right now (aside from defense) and they are in first place, have won 17 games, and the weather has yet to warm up. Sounds like a good place to be.
I think Tracy’s comment right at the top is right on not only for Ubaldo but for Ian Stewart. He had less spring training than U. Instead of keeping putting Stewart on the DL and keeping him in extended spring training he sat out one game. And never really got in going. And Ubaldo obviously needed another start or two in the minors before they brought him back.
Perhaps the good thing is that we are still in first place without any contribution by these two and not much for Cargo either. I’m guessing they will bring Stewart up soon. But when they do they need to play him.
Stewart back with big team.
Anonymous is right according to COS Gazette, Stewart is back with the team writes David Ramsey
http://www.gazette.com/sports/stewart-117325-sky-sox.html