Rockies dismiss two from coaching staff…
The Denver Post reports tonight that the Rockies actually fired someone (story here), just not who fans would’ve guessed to be fired more than anyone else within the organization. We all know that Dan O’Dowd should’ve been the first one fired, but within the Rockies front office no one gets fired, they just get reassigned to a new position.
The Rockies dismissed hitting coach Carney Lansford and third base coach Rich Dauer, with possibly more dismissals to come as this offseason already begins to drag on. So let’s see no manager, no hitting coach and no third base coach, and oh yea let’s not forget no pitching coach either. If you’re in the market for a major league job, I will tell you now that you are a fool to want to work for this organization. But there is a fool born every minute.
Rockies crushed by Cards, stay put at trade deadline…
The Rockies days over these last 2 months of the season are barely seen as being on life support. The Rockies were crushed by the Cards 11-6, in an awful start to the game by Jeff Francis, Francis gave up 5 runs in 4 innings of work, 4 of them coming in the first inning alone. Ottavino fared much worse in relief giving up 4 runs in 2.2 innings.
The Rockies offense despite 12 hits, managed only 6 runs, going 3 for 17 with runners in scoring position, as the Cards opened up the game in the later innings, scoring 6 runs between the 6th and 8th innings.
The Rockies fall to 37-64 on the season and as many of you know are headed to 100 loss season. My personal prediction for the season is a record of 55-107.
EXTRA BASES
Surprising the Rockies remained inactive in any trades at the trading deadline yesterday. The rumors of Betancourt and one or two other players possibly being moved turned out to be just that in the end, rumors. Probably the best non-move of the season so far by the Rockies front office.
Rockies extend Tracy(sort of)…
AP Photo/ Haraz N. Ghanbari
The Rockies have had a way of sometimes doing things before the start of most every season that makes you scratch your head and wonder, “Who makes these decisions and why?”. Well we know most of these decisions come from Dan O’Dowd and/or the Monforts. What I am talking about here is of course the “extension” the Rockies brass have given Jim Tracy as manager of the Colorado Rockies.
It was reported late yesterday that the Rockies have offered Jim Tracy an indefinite extension. What the hell does that mean?! I mean I know what it means, but where else in the sports world has anyone ever heard of such a thing? This handshake agreement as it’s being called looks and sounds ridiculous. If I were Tracy I would get this “handshake agreement” in writing. (Cover your ass Jim!)
I understand what “O’Dowd and Co.” are wanting to do here. Their aim is to rid the team and the organization of all questions about Tracy’s status in this upcoming year of what was to be the final year of his contract should the team at some point falter and be in the midst of some sort of losing streak. For that I applaud them for wanting to remove that distraction from the players, coaching staff, and team management themselves. And also to provide stability going into spring training and the season. I just have to still wonder why not just give him a normal extension, like say a 2 year deal to the 2014 season. To me this is like walking around town telling everyone(friends and family) that you’re engaged to your significant other and not having a ring to show as some sort of proof. You get where I’m going with this I’m sure.
It’s nothing against Jim Tracy. I happen to like him as manager of this team, more times than not. Is he the man to lead this team to the playoffs and possibly a World Series? I would say to that, yes. But at the same time I would like to believe that there are others who might be a better fit. Dont ask me who right now, I’ll save that for another post in the future. I just think that at night sometimes when O’Dowd goes to sleep he has these weird, crazy, and probably disturbing dreams(or ideas), that he comes into the office the next day and he cant help himself but to go through with them!
Anyway enough on this and congratulations to Jim Tracy on his “extension”.
Inside the Humidor celebrates Black History Month…
First installment of a long overdue series, Inside the Humidor will take a look at past Colorado Rockies players that made an impact on the team, organization as well as the community. The obvious choice to start this off would of course be Don Baylor, but the Rockies website did an excellent piece on Baylor a few days ago, so I have decided to go elsewhere. So not only are we celebrating Black History Month by profiling some of the Rockies great African American players, we are also celebrating Rockies history and Colorado history at the same time. So join me in remembering some great players in Colorado Rockies history. To kick off this first installment I chose Eric Young Sr.
Eric Young affectionately known by the fans and media as E.Y., enjoyed a 15 year career in the majors. He spent 5 of those seasons with the Colorado Rockies(1993-1997). E.Y. was selected by the Rockies in the expansion draft of 1992 (11th pick) from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
E.Y. batted .295, 30, 227 in his five seasons with the Rockies, while drawing 254 walks and stealing 180 bases. 1996 saw Young having his best season not just as a Rockie, but of his career, stealing 53 bases and batting .324 with 74 RBIs and winning a Silver Slugger award and making the all-star team.
Eric Young will forever be remembered by Rockies fans as hitting the first ever homerun at then Mile High Stadium(1993) leading off the bottom of the first inning, in the teams first Major League home opener.
E.Y. retired in 2006 as a Colorado Rockie and is currently on the coaching staff of the Arizona Diamondbacks, for which we will forgive him.
Second part of the series will be up within a few days. Suggestions on who you would like to see?
Rockies, Orioles swap bad pitching…
The Denver Post and the Baltimore Sun this morning are reporting a trade between the Rockies and the Orioles. The Rockies will acquire Jeremy Guthrie(47-65, 4.19) for Jason Hammel(34-45, 4.99) and Matt Lindstrom(12-15, 3.81).
Jason Hammel has had 2 winning seasons during his 6 year career, 2009 (10-8) and 2010 (10-9). Jeremy Guthrie’s only winning season came in 2007 when he went 7-5 with a 3.70 ERA through 8 seasons.
There’s hardly any love of this trade over on the Baltimore Sun website (here) from an Orioles fans perspective. As a Rockies fan and blogger I can say that I don’t feel much about this trade. Maybe the move to the National League will be good for Guthrie. Hammel returns to the American League, where he began his career with the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Scutaro becomes a Rockie…
Photo by Getty Images
Well the Rockies get Marco Scutaro from the Red Sox, trading away Clayton Mortensen. Honestly I dont see much difference here between if the Rockies had kept Mark Ellis on the team than now adding Scutaro. Some Rockies fans on Rockies facebook page seem to be happy to have a “name” on this team. Other fans recognize the fact that this team still needs proven veteran pitching going into this season, like I do.
Scutaro is a lifetime .270 hitter over his 10 year career, with the last two seasons spent in Boston where he batted .282 in 2010 in 150 games and .299 in 2011 in 113 games.
Fans over at Extra Bases on boston.com feel about half and half on the trade. Saving $6 million off the Red Sox payroll is huge. I dont get the mindset of Dan O’Dowd. Is he making moves for the sake of making moves or is he honestly trying to improve this team? I would say that it is certainly not the latter.
Within the next week or so I hope to take a look back at the transactions the Rockies have been a part of this offseason and give a grade on each as we head into spring training.
Inside the Humidor 