Yeah, it's been a disappointing season if you are anybody but a Yankee, Ranger, Tiger, Diamondback, Phillie or Brewer fan. For Rockies fans, what started out with hopeful optimism in April, disintegrated into hopeless frustration as May, June, July and August rolled by. The team became a testing ground for Rockies' farmhands. I have seen the future, and it is bleak. Beyond the unsatisfied yearning for a winning ballclub, is a distaste for the manner in which this Rocky Mountain franchise conducts business. The results from drafts gone by, and the progress of both prospects and suspects in the organization, lead me to surmise that we have become acclimated to mediocrity and duped into thinking that the brains behind the Colorado Rockies have a clear vision about future success. Success to the Rockies, is 3 million butts in the seats and seeking ways to maintain a mid-market payroll, thus ensuring a profit for the owners. Harsh? Go ahead, argue. The Arizona Diamondbacks, the Florida Marlins, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Colorado Rockies. What do these franchises have in common? They have all entered the Major Leagues since 1993, as expansion teams. Which team has never won a single World Series game?
Yes, injuries to Jorge DeLa Rosa, Juan Nicasio, Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki impacted the potential of the Rockies. To a lesser extent, injuries to Charlie Blackmon, Jonathan Herrera, Matt Daley and Ryan Spilborghs plus Todd Helton's balky back tested the quality of the team's reserves. Inconsistent and sub-par performances from Ian Stewart, Aaron Cook, Huston Street, Ty Wigginton and Jason Hammel prevented the club from any sort of surge, except in a negative way. Many of the AAA and AA promotions are works in progress, but it seems to me that the overall quality of the Rockies' prospects is suspect, at best. Wilin Rosario? I think he has a ways to go to get to be as good as Chris Iannetta, who, I thought, had a decent year, a Gold Glove caliber year behind the plate. On a good team, Iannetta is a good catcher, much like Joe Girardi was a good catcher on the World Series Champion Yankees back in 1996, 1998 and 1999. Eric Young, JR.? Inadequate as an outfielder, best position is second base, but Chris Nelson is a better fit there. EY, Jr's speed is an alluring quality, and I see why manager Jim Tracy likes to get him in the lineup at the top of the batting order, but his OBP (.328) and power (only five extra-base hits, no homers, in 177 plate appearances) are detrimental for a lead-off batter. He does have 23 stolen bases with only three caught stealing, too bad he can't steal first. Chris Nelson has played a lot of third base, but I see him as an excellent candidate for the everyday job at second. Mark Ellis? Thanks for playing, but go back to the American League. Jonathan Herrera deserves a spot on the roster, as a versatile infielder and CarGo's best friend. Tommy Field? I know it's common to draft shortstops, as they are usually the best player on their high school or college team, and with Tulo and Herrera hurt, the Rox need a fill-in shortstop, but he's the best in the Rockie system?
And the pitching evaluators........... From 1999 to 2009, the Rockies drafted a pitcher with their first pick every year except in 2003 (Ian Stewart), 2004 (Chris Nelson) and 2005 (Troy Tulowitzki). Jason Jennings (16th overall pick out of Baylor in 1999), Rookie of The Year 2002, panned out well. Jeff Francis (9th overall in 2002 out of British Columbia) has had a serviceable career. The rest, well, undistinguished. 2000 first round pick, Matt Harrington, 7th overall, never signed, never played in organized baseball. Greg Reynolds, 2nd overall pick in 2006 out of Stanford, has battled injuries, but is currently a spot starter and long man out of the Rockies bullpen. Chaz Roe, supplemental first round pick in 2005, was traded in the off-season for Seattle's Jose Lopez, and they're both out of the majors currently. Casey Weathers, number 8 overall in 2007? Tommy John surgery in 2008, struggling to get up to the AA-AAA level again. Rockies best pitching potentiates? A returning Jorge DeLa Rosa, a (hopefully) healthy Juan Nicasio, Drew Pomeranz (better be as good as the current Ubaldo), Jhoulys Chacin and Esmil Rogers (with a new pitching coach next year, I hope) and Rex Brothers, the probable closer in 2012. Good-bye Huston Street, I hope. Good-bye Aaron Cook, unless he re-signs for under $2-million. Kevin Millwood deserves a shot next spring, if he wants to come back. Matt Belisle, Rafael Betancourt, Matt Reynolds, Matt Daley and Matt Lindstrom should be back.
Jim Leyland's success with Detroit this year and Kirk Gibson's success at Arizona lead me to believe that there is a manager out there that can get somrthing out of this Colorado team that Tracy cannot. But, alas, Dan O'Dowd and Tracy remain, and so probably will pitching coach Bob Apodaca and batting coach Carney Lansford. Expect more of the same next year, folks.
Go Yankees!
No comments:
Post a Comment