I picked up these bits from Twitter World. Renck reported that Alex White is already in San Diego. Charlie Blackmon tweeted that Christian Friedrich had an excuse to get out of their going out to a movie plan – Friedrich literally got big-leagued. Obviously that likely means that Friedrich is on the way to San Diego. In the meantime, the Rockies are considering options to place Jhoulys Chacin on the DL and sending him to extended spring training. Jeremy Guthrie had an excellent bullpen session yesterday and will probably get sent out for at least one rehab start as Jim Tracy wants to make sure he can throw 100 to 110 pitches when he comes back.
If those reports turns out to be accurate, we are looking at a rotation of Guthrie, Nicasio, Pomeranz, Friedrich, and White. Where does Moyer fit? If none of those five aforementioned rotation members pitch themselves out of it, it is looking more and more likely Moyer will move to the bullpen where he can fullfill the long relief role that we need.
The following is my personal feelings: Outman is very close to being ready to come back to the MLB team. He just needs one more rehab of at least three innings pitched. Zach Putnam has been pitching well too. He might get a look. Time to make a ballsy move, DOD – dump Rogers too inconsistent like Franklin Morales. So we might see bullpen changes as well.
I think Jamie would be great in long relief. I hope he will do it. At this point I will hope that any change will be productive.
Sorry if this double posts…
I’m not ready to give up on the season and am more than OK with a “balsy” move as (obviously) the status quo (I feel) will slowly lead us to despair. I know i am way too much of an optomist to think the season is out of reach yet. I’m not thinking that this “new” rotation will put us into Rocktober…but…hell…it can’t hurt, right??
Seems like the beginning of the season we couldn’t get run support but had “just ok” pitching….now it seems like the opposite….
In any case, I’ll be watching tonight..
GO ROCKIES!
Nice post, RMH. Sounds fairly plausible, but I still don’t see Moyer in the pen.
I think the continuing problem with pitching signals a stupendous failure on the part of the Rockies’ entire pitching coaching staff, from Apodaca all the way down to the guy riding the bus in short-season rookie ball. It is time (past time, actually) for a change at the top. Apodaca must go. Let’s give a new coaching philosophy a chance. The current one sure isn’t working.
UPDATE :it is now official that White and Friedrich got called up and will start Tuesday and Wednesday games. Petco is a good place for a MLB debut.
Agreed. If they are giving Friedrich a shot now, thankfully he will be in Petco. Wish I was going to SD for this series.
I’m guessing Chacin is pissed because optioning him causes him to stop accruing big league service time, whereas DL’ing him and then sending him on a rehab assignment means he keeps accruing time. But beggars can’t be choosers. Weird that the Rockies would even consider listening to Chacin’s protests. He has no right to anything unless he started claiming injury just as they were about to option him. A trade in the works??
At least I’m interested in watching White and Friedrich pitch. I don’t think I would’ve bothered to watch if it was Moscoso and Carlos Torres, or Edgar Gonzalez, etc. The way the last week has gone, the Rockies had better be interested in keeping the fans paying attention.
Ag, what insight do you have that there was any protest on the part of Chacin of being optioned and that the Rox are listening to those supposed protests?
Troyrenck reported via Twitter that Chacin had refused to be optioned, but quickly afterwards Renck said that was his error and clarified that Rox were considering going the DL route and get him right mentally and physically. That’s where the rumors got started that he was refusing the option.
Boy, if the rumors are correct, he learned well from Ubaldo and needs to hit the road and never come back. But if these are just rumors, this is quite a smear campaign on a young man.
I don’t think the Wednesday debut for CF is televised. Hope I’m wrong.
Unfortunately, you are not wrong…game will not be televised.
I watched the game at the sports book at the Vegas South Point casino on Wednesday (SD feed). CF scared me early on, then seemed to (without being noticed by me) mow them down. A very efficient (and subtly good) start after the expected butterflies in the 1st. I think subtle is the best way to describe it… I get more excited on a Nicasio a Guthrie start, then I see a guy who basically lulls me to sleep (CF) until I read the box score after the game. I don’t know how it’s going to work out for him… I read he has rededicated himself to being physically right, so until I hear otherwise, he is an intriguing prospect. Added him to a deep fantasy league where I needed some pitching, for what it’s worth. Any Rocky who can put up a 1 WHIP can’t be all bad.
While in Sin City, I dropped 10 bucks on the Rox to win it all… got 50-1 odds on it. What the heck. The sheet read 40-1, but the woman at the desk punched in 50-1. I’ll take it… if the Rox win it all, I will likely be buying some drinks anyway, so the 5 Benjamins will come in handy. Got 10-1 on the Broncos… I actually think I have a better chance of cashing the Rox ticket because anything can happen in MLB, and in the NFL, a hot team can be exposed. Oh well, I’ll worry about that in the fall, when waiting for the South Point to send me a check! lol
AG, the Rockies recinded “optioning” Chacin. He is on the DL.
Wow…….this is all very intriguing. My first thought is that there’s much more to the Chacin issue than meets the eye. But who knows what it might be!
I’m very excited to see White and Friedrich. There’s absolutely no reason not to do this now. Go ahead and experiment. A couple have mentioned Moyer in the bullpen. I have a hard time visualizing that…..but who knows.
Very interesting, Raysfan. DL’ing him makes me think Chacin put up a big fight. Something like “I had told them I had “forearm tightness” (the injury du jour) but they refused to believe me, and tried to option me instead … I’m filing a union grievance.”
Too many mistakes, as usual, tonight. Two straight walks and we don’t get anything. Cuddyer should know how to slide. Rosario, as a catcher, should know when a ball gets too far from the catcher or not. Passed ball, wild pitch. Pomeranz is suppose to be the future of the team and they leave him out there while he is clearly limping. Probably as many pitchers get arm trouble because they adjust their delivery when they hurt their leg. At least he has potential as a DH.
The problems start at the top and continue right down to the TV production which if the Rockies don’t own outright they certainly have the right of approval (or disapproval as the case may be). I’m guessing Jenny Cavner must be related to someone. And while listing all guys not playing I saw a new guy. Alex Young Jr. or was it Eric White Jr. Either way nobody who is on the Rockies roster. At least not yet.
Guess I’m just a grumpy old man tonight. I’ll go to sleep early and hopefully will read about a Rockies comeback in the morning.
I’ve found Jenny Carver’s voice very irritating since she signed on.That said,I think she has asked more pointed/better questions in the post game than Alana or the other media wretches.I actually think the print media have been more critical because of her lead.Unfortunately,I still find her in game fluff/fill bits distracting and her voice grating.
I’ll probably get 10 dislikes for saying this – I’ll plead grumpy old man too – but I always found Alana’s voice to be very irritating.
I would just keep my opinion to myself, except that it seems unfair that several of you have said the same thing about Jenny. Her delivery is no worse than Alana’s.
I agree. Unclear why they need the stylized exaggerated diction. Why not just talk like normal people?
I’m surprised that given this groups passion,intelligence,and desire to win,robba is the first to suggest that maybe Apodaca needs to go.Whether as a scapegoat[since Tracys here in perpetuatity],or as a genuine possible fix for the past 2/3 years pitching woes.I have been someone who felt “dac”had one of the tougher jobs in baseball being the pitching coach of a team at altitude.However,the number of high prospects and trade additions who have actually regressed after a year or two of his tuteledge is adding up and I believe the case can be made for a change.The number of pitchers we’ve traded away who have had moderate or better success with new teams also helps make the case for new ideas at the top of the pitching hierarchy.
Hey Gary, I’ve been calling for dac to go for a few years now.
I agree with multiple people that the whole way the team treats pitchers from scouting to drafting to developement to the big leagues has been completely missing the mark.
I’m not an expert, I have no idea what they are doing wrong, but its undoubtedly wrong just based on results. I heard a stat on the radio this morning that of 300 pitchers drafted since 2002, about 150 signed to minor league deals, that of those, 5. FIVE, have ever been called up to the big leagues. This includes the bad call ups such as Greg Reynolds. Can’t remember the other 4. I think Francis was 1.
I guess Brothers and Matt Reynolds would have to be 2 of them.
Two bold words for you guys:
“Mike Maddux”
His next move will be to Manager, not pitching coach. Exactly why I’m throwing those two words out. I don’t think he’s been around Arlington long enough to the architect of the Rangers pitching draft/development philosophy, but he certianly has been around long enough to absorb it and understand it (and its working!). The Rangers, with their ballpark, the heat, and the American League, are the closest analogy to the Rockies and Coors Field. And I’ll argue that it’s a good analogy. Lets bring in Maddux, let him name his staff, and let him implement a pitching system (meaning minor league development) for the organization.
OK……..thats my rant for the day.
sdcarp, nice idea. But where would Mr. Lifetime Contract go? Director of Morale Building?
There’s been kind of a bias against pitchers (and pitching coaches) becoming managers. Bud Black is an exception, and he’s done a very nice job for the Padres. I agree that Maddux would be a bold choice, not just more of the same thing.
I’m serious. Maddux has interviewed, and come up short, for several of the recent openings. I think he’s a perfect fit since he’s a pitching guru, and since in would be his managerial gig, the price might be right.
The Rox need a philisophical pitching change throughout the organization. Taking Tyler Matzak in the 1st round, then attempting to change his delivery, still blows my mind to this day. You either like him and take him, or think his delivery is flawed and don’t take him.
sorry…..my second rant of the day!
I’m serious. Maddux has interviewed, and come up short, for several of the recent openings. I think he’s a perfect fit since he’s a pitching guru, and since in would be his first managerial gig, the price might be right.
The Rox need a philisophical pitching change throughout the organization. Taking Tyler Matzak in the 1st round, then attempting to change his delivery, still blows my mind to this day. You either like him and take him, or think his delivery is flawed and don’t take him.
sorry…..my second rant of the day!
Snark about Jim Tracy aside, I actually feel sorry for him now. There’s no apparent way to right the pitching ship. He’s been dealt a horrible hand, and I see nothing to argue about regarding how he’s tried to patch things together. (I did think he stuck with Rogers too long in that Atlanta blowout, but other than that, I have nothing to complain about.) sdcarp’s Maddux idea is interesting because the club may need to think about how it evaluates and develops young pitchers. They’ve done pretty well on the Latin American recruiting and development front, horribly on the domestic talent front. Not Jim Tracy’s fault, but if making room for a pitcher development expert means nudging him aside, I’m for it.
Interesting idea of about Mike Maddux. Make him the manager and have him hire his brother to be pitching coach. Greg was sitting in the Rangers dugout last week. I don’t know if things will get better with Maddux but the club needs a complete overhaul starting with the pitching staff. Frankly I’m not convinced that the Montfert’s care that much. Big crowds most nights, why put money into free agents, scouting, player development etc.? Maybe I’m wrong but they say, “oh no good free agent pitchers will sign with us”. Have they tried to sign a big name pitcher since the Hampton/Neagle debacle? Or is that just an excuse?
I need to get back to work so Ill explain my Jenny Carver comments quickly. Frankly I don’t think she adds anything to the telecast and I find her voice annoying. And I said the same thing about Alanna last year. No need for them. I also said the same thing about Tom Helmer as well. I happen to like Marc Stout. He does good work and is not annoying. His interview with Jamie Moyer after Moyer became oldest pitcher to win a game was a gem.
This is all very true (on the broadcasters). All they need is the two guys in the booth. If they want someone in the stands I love the concept they use w/ Huson. Could move him around to report about broadcasting (the PLAY) from various locations in the park/crowd.
So say a booth of Drew + George/Jeff, then the other is with Stout for the postgame. With Tracy being the key postgame analyst, but reporting from the field/locker room.
Of the 3 of them in the booth I like Huson the best.
I agree that Alana/Jenny offer nothing to the broadcast. I really could care less how far some guy traveled to get to the game or what kind of gourmet food they serve in the park.
If you do need that kind of color commentary then let Huson or Marc Stout do it.
Obviously Tracy R. adds valuable analysis so keep him.
What a bunch of sexist bastards!Oops,sorry. Forgot I started this with my Jenny C.annoying complainant,Unfortunately it has become a given that a network must have a women commentator on the “team”.I find it generally annoying in all sports,altough ex CU womens bball coach[Ceal Berry?]did a very good job on men’s CU games this winter.I gave props for Jenny’s post game questions,but find her in game fills very annoying,and her nights on the wrap up desk w/Tracy R.unbearable.
If Mike Maddux isn’t availble,and thus sdcarp’s brilliant suggestion unfeasible,I say hire is brother”bulldog” in a nano second.Why a first ballot HOFer would subject himself to our mess I don’t know.Maybe challenge him to prove that real pitchers,and pitching stategy can suceed at altitude,and that his legacy can continue in his young prodigees!
Bill, let me second your praise of Marc Stout’s Jamie Moyer interview. He did the most important thing: he got out of the way and let Jamie’s emotions — even when there was a moment or two of quiet — come through. Most reporters would feel the need to pull the mic bike and start blabbering on some long-winded question. That would’ve ruined it. Marc made it perfect.
You describe almost all of the local talk radio guys. Sandy Klough is probably the worst interviewer in the history of sports talk. He’ll ask a 3 minute question and basically lead the interviewee into a yes or no answer.
Agbayani, that’s exactly what Stout did. But he knew who he was talking to. Some players will only say yes or no or duh. Sandy Clough (I think that’s how you spell it) can be a good interviewer but his problem is he thinks he’s the story rather than the athlete.
So far Alex White looks like a different pitcher than he was last year. Of course he still might lose because the Rockies can’t seem to score. I was kind of surprised that Tracy didn’t pinch hit for Colvin. With a man on 1st and 2nd we only needed a single. We now have 3 guys who can catch so the situation was calling for Rosario.
The TV camera caught a couple of views of Jim Tracy in the middle innings. He kind of looked like he was lost in his own world and not even paying attention to the game. Hopefully that was just my take and he was fully engaged but he kind of reminded me of Don Zimmer when he was managing the Red Sox (or fill in your team here) and his team was in the midst of a long losing streak
OK, now for my rants! lol
The women are on the telecast because dirty old me like me like an occasional dose of eye candy. However, I agree that the broadcast is always better with a smaller cast. (I was a huge fan of Jack Brickhouse and Vince Lloyd… not to mention Harry Caray and Jimmy Piersall, then Schteeve Stone…I can even enjoy Stone and the Hawk.)
As for Jenny, I agree… unnecessary.
My comments on Rizzo are a bit different. I think she is a hard-core jock who loves the games and really appreciates her role, and I see it in her reporting. Even on MLB, where she has to be just a hottie with ability to speak, she is loving every minute, and I can’t hold that against her. When Alanna started with the Rox, I didn’t like her, because I loved drooling over Charissa Thompson’s bits. Rizzo won me over. She studies, she prepares, she delivers. I think she does a great job. (no, I am not her friend, just a grabowski like the rest of us). Alanna is a pro, and I did more than tolerate her on the Rox games. I like her.
I like the Mike Maddux idea. That could be the missing link. I am also a fan of Dac (he’s done a wonderful job with a bad hand year after year), but have to admit, at some time you have to take a different approach. However, I think management has to find a top-notch pitching coach who can craft a bunch of strong prospects into a good staff, then have DOD trade the rest… I’d bet somebody would give you a halfway-decent prospect for some immediate relief in the rotation (Chacin? White? Moscoso?) Hell, the Bosox kept Aaron Cook… the Rox have something somebody wants.
Imagine that… depth in the Colorado Rockies rotation. Do something with it, Dan. This season is far from over.
Iggy, Jack Brickhouse was the best!
Also, good use of the word grabowski. You get a thumbs up.