RockieBill
11-27-2001, 01:56 PM
Excerpts By Troy E. Renck, ColoradoRockies.com
Still eager to insert a right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup if possible, Colorado has expressed interest in Arizona Diamondbacks outfielders Danny Bautista and Reggie Sanders.
Bautista, who once played for Colorado Manager Buddy Bell in Detroit, crept toward stardom this fall, making a claim for the title of Mr. November with a monstrous World Series performance. Bautista's versatility -- he can play all three outfield spots -- makes him intriguing.
Sanders' power numbers, meanwhile, command attention. Breathing life back into his career, Sanders, playing for his third team in as many years, swatted 33 homers and plated 90 runs in just 441 at-bats. If nothing else, Sanders, who was courted last winter by O'Dowd before the club signed Ron Gant, should be considered out of respect for the Rockies' pitching staff. Last season, Sanders belted 10 of his taters against Colorado, including a pair of walk-off numbers against reliever Gabe White.
Anxious to add depth and create competition among relievers, the Rockies are actively courting Minor League free agents and are expected to announce the signings of at least two pitchers possibly as soon as Tuesday.
As for the headline stuff -- you know those rumors that Jeff Cirillo and Denny Neagle are headed to the Red Sox for Carl Everett and that Mike Hampton is bound for Philadelphia in exchange for Scott Rolen -- O'Dowd grinned in amusement.
"You have to understand that a big deal is made out of conversations that are hypothetical. Things are thrown out there this time of year just to see what the reactions will be. They are (10-second conversations) in some cases," O'Dowd said. "I really get a chuckle out of it."
Still eager to insert a right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup if possible, Colorado has expressed interest in Arizona Diamondbacks outfielders Danny Bautista and Reggie Sanders.
Bautista, who once played for Colorado Manager Buddy Bell in Detroit, crept toward stardom this fall, making a claim for the title of Mr. November with a monstrous World Series performance. Bautista's versatility -- he can play all three outfield spots -- makes him intriguing.
Sanders' power numbers, meanwhile, command attention. Breathing life back into his career, Sanders, playing for his third team in as many years, swatted 33 homers and plated 90 runs in just 441 at-bats. If nothing else, Sanders, who was courted last winter by O'Dowd before the club signed Ron Gant, should be considered out of respect for the Rockies' pitching staff. Last season, Sanders belted 10 of his taters against Colorado, including a pair of walk-off numbers against reliever Gabe White.
Anxious to add depth and create competition among relievers, the Rockies are actively courting Minor League free agents and are expected to announce the signings of at least two pitchers possibly as soon as Tuesday.
As for the headline stuff -- you know those rumors that Jeff Cirillo and Denny Neagle are headed to the Red Sox for Carl Everett and that Mike Hampton is bound for Philadelphia in exchange for Scott Rolen -- O'Dowd grinned in amusement.
"You have to understand that a big deal is made out of conversations that are hypothetical. Things are thrown out there this time of year just to see what the reactions will be. They are (10-second conversations) in some cases," O'Dowd said. "I really get a chuckle out of it."