Baseball Guru
01-23-2005, 09:22 AM
http://www.fanball.com/bb/article.cfm/ID.3374
By Ted Carlson, Senior Editor
January 20, 2005 5:00 PM ET
Spring Training Home: Hi Corbett Field - Tucson, Arizona
First Cactus League Game: March 2 at White Sox
We previewed the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday, but we're calling on a fictional representation of that franchise to describe the current state of the Rockies. Baseball fans should remember the scenes in the movie "Major League" when the good people of Cleveland are looking at and discussing the Indians' no-name roster. The general feeling of the Indians' fans and front office in the film is, "Who the (bleep) are these guys?!" Rockies' fans and fantasy baseball owners alike will utter a similar phrase when they check out the projected everyday lineup for Clint Hurdle's club. Thankfully, there is one name who readers surely recognize and who always brings a smile to fantasy owners' faces - Todd Helton.
Notable offseason transactions
One can't stumble across a Rockies' article without reading the words "rebuilding" or "youth movement," and the club is assembling their squad via internal promotion rather than free agent signings and trades. In other words, the Rockies didn't spend much money bringing in outside talent. Outfielder Dustan Mohr and infielders Desi Relaford and Alfredo Amezaga are the most well-known additions. The team also added relief pitcher Aaron Taylor in a trade with the Mariners and relievers Matt Merricks and Marcos Carvajal via the Rule 5 draft process.
In order to clear the way for younger talent, the Rockies cleared out quite a few notable players. Outfielder Jeromy Burnitz led the Rocks with 37 homers in 2004, and he's still looking for a new home. Third baseman Vinny Castilla paced the squad with 131 RBI, but he opted to file for free agency and sign with the Nationals. Shortstop Royce Clayton took his 574 at-bats down to Arizona, and he was recently joined by 15-game winner Shawn Estes. Steve Reed, the team's top relief pitcher in 2004, is still available in the free agent market but likely won't be back. Other departures include pitchers Denny Stark, Adam Bernero, and Tim Harikkala and outfielder Mark Sweeney
What to watch
Fantasy owners undoubtedly remember the monster season centerfielder Preston Wilson put together in 2003. Wilson led the majors with 141 RBI and also hit .282 with 36 homers and 14 steals. He entered spring training 2003 with some questions about his surgically repaired pinkie finger, but his swollen left knee quickly became the bigger concern. Wilson tried to play through it, but he eventually underwent surgery in mid-April and did not return until mid-June. He struggled over the next two months and eventually had a second operation in early September. Rehab from that surgery is reportedly going well, but obviously Preston's status is a huge question mark this spring. If healthy, he'll hit fourth in the order behind Helton and be a valuable fantasy commodity. It also bears noting that Wilson continues to be involved in trade rumors. If Preston shows himself to be healthy this spring, it could expedite the process and clear the way for one of the younger outfielders mentioned below.
Second baseman Aaron Miles and left fielder Matt Holliday had very nice rookie seasons, and both are hoping to return with even better sophomore campaigns. First, though, we'll have to see if they are over their injuries. Miles had a cyst removed from his right knee in October, and Holliday did not play after September 12 due to some ligament damage in his left elbow. He did not need surgery.
Odds on a Rockies' player winning the NL Rookie of the Year award are pretty good. Catcher J.D. Closser, shortstop Clint Barmes, and third baseman Garrett Atkins own 113, 96, and 97 major league at-bats, respectively, and all three are slated to be everyday starters in 2005. Closser, 25, hit .295 with seven homers and 54 RBI in 83 Triple-A game in 2004. Atkins, 25, hit .368 with 15 homers and 93 RBI at 121 Triple-A games in 2004. Barmes, 25, his .323 with 15 homers, 105 runs, and 19 steals at 125 Triple-A games in 2004. Any hitter that plays half of their games in Coors Field generally generates fantasy interest, and we'll be watching these guys closely.
The rookie brigade doesn't end with just the position players. Starting pitcher Jeff Francis is chiseled into the rotation, and the club is expecting big things out of the 24-year-old, 6-5 lefty. Francis posted a 3-2 record and 5.15 ERA in seven starts for the big club last season. Prior to that, he was 3-2 with a 1.66 ERA in seven Triple-A starts and 13-1 with a 1.98 ERA in 17 Double-A outings. Francis dominated hitters in the minors, and after getting a short look last season, we're interested to see if he's ready to succeed at the major league level. He may be the rare Rockies' starter worth having in fantasy leagues.
We feel for you, Shawn Chacon, but we're pretty sure we don't love you. Chacon clearly subscribes to the LaTroy Hawkins Theory on how to succeed in the major leagues, which is to have good stuff but fail at all levels before gaining confidence in a middle relief role. After two terrible seasons as a starter in 2001 and 2002 and a decent campaign in 2003, Chacon took over as the closer in 2004. He managed to record 35 saves, but he also went 1-9 with a 7.11 ERA. The Rockies plan to move him back to the rotation in 2005, but we'll be keeping an eye on his effectiveness this spring. Like Wilson, though, the Rockies may trade Chacon and let someone else try to tap his potential.
Position battles
It's time for even more rookie talk, folks. We'll start with right fielder Brad Hawpe, who got his toes wet with 105 at-bats last season. Prior to his call-up, the 25-year-old Hawpe hit .325 with 28 homers and 87 RBI in only 92 Triple-A games. He swings a sweet stick and could be a force in fantasy leagues, but he'll need to prove himself at the big league level and hold off the veteran journeyman Mohr. Dustan signed on with the intent of winning the starting job, and Hawpe isn't the only kid gunning for playing time. Outfielders Jorge Piedra, Luis Gonzalez (who can play everywhere but pitcher and catcher), and Choo Freeman all have a chance to be in the starting lineup if the breaks go their way.
Pitchers Jason Jennings and Joe Kennedy own the top two roles in the starting rotation, followed by Francis and Chacon. The fifth spot is up for debate, though. Aaron Cook showed some promise in 2004, but he may not be ready after having surgery to remove a rib in September. Assuming he's out, veterans Jamey Wright and Darren Oliver will fight for the right to start games and likely be irrelevant in fantasy leagues.
The order of the entire bullpen is pretty much up in the air, but fantasy leagues are mainly interested in the closer situation. Hurdle might as well invest in a terrible toupee and turn into Donald Trump because this position contains a lot of inexperienced contestants that need to be tested and eventually eliminated. Former minor league starter Chin-Hui Tsao tried his hand at closing late last season and recorded a save. He has outstanding stuff and is certainly in the running for the position. Taylor, who the team acquired from the Mariners this offseason, is a fashionable pick to win the job because he owns all the tools of a good closer, but he missed much of 2003 with a shoulder injury. Scott Dohmann piled up 46.0 innings and 49 strikeouts as a rookie last year, and he's hoping to move to the back of the bullpen. Allan Simpson tossed 39.0 innings in relief last season and is in the mix. Lastly, the Rockies also own Ryan Speier, who was the 2004 Minor League Rolaids Relief Man winner after an awesome Double-A season. He struggled in the Arizona Fall League, but we expect him to get a long look this spring. And to top off the list, we'll add in deep sleeper David Cortes. The 31-year-old has never been able to stick on a major league roster very long, but he racked up a 4-1 record, 3.15 ERA, 15 saves, 51 strikeouts, and .187 BAA over 34.1 innings in the Mexican League. The sharp effort caught the Rockies' eye, and the club signed Cortes to a minor league contract in December.
By Ted Carlson, Senior Editor
January 20, 2005 5:00 PM ET
Spring Training Home: Hi Corbett Field - Tucson, Arizona
First Cactus League Game: March 2 at White Sox
We previewed the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday, but we're calling on a fictional representation of that franchise to describe the current state of the Rockies. Baseball fans should remember the scenes in the movie "Major League" when the good people of Cleveland are looking at and discussing the Indians' no-name roster. The general feeling of the Indians' fans and front office in the film is, "Who the (bleep) are these guys?!" Rockies' fans and fantasy baseball owners alike will utter a similar phrase when they check out the projected everyday lineup for Clint Hurdle's club. Thankfully, there is one name who readers surely recognize and who always brings a smile to fantasy owners' faces - Todd Helton.
Notable offseason transactions
One can't stumble across a Rockies' article without reading the words "rebuilding" or "youth movement," and the club is assembling their squad via internal promotion rather than free agent signings and trades. In other words, the Rockies didn't spend much money bringing in outside talent. Outfielder Dustan Mohr and infielders Desi Relaford and Alfredo Amezaga are the most well-known additions. The team also added relief pitcher Aaron Taylor in a trade with the Mariners and relievers Matt Merricks and Marcos Carvajal via the Rule 5 draft process.
In order to clear the way for younger talent, the Rockies cleared out quite a few notable players. Outfielder Jeromy Burnitz led the Rocks with 37 homers in 2004, and he's still looking for a new home. Third baseman Vinny Castilla paced the squad with 131 RBI, but he opted to file for free agency and sign with the Nationals. Shortstop Royce Clayton took his 574 at-bats down to Arizona, and he was recently joined by 15-game winner Shawn Estes. Steve Reed, the team's top relief pitcher in 2004, is still available in the free agent market but likely won't be back. Other departures include pitchers Denny Stark, Adam Bernero, and Tim Harikkala and outfielder Mark Sweeney
What to watch
Fantasy owners undoubtedly remember the monster season centerfielder Preston Wilson put together in 2003. Wilson led the majors with 141 RBI and also hit .282 with 36 homers and 14 steals. He entered spring training 2003 with some questions about his surgically repaired pinkie finger, but his swollen left knee quickly became the bigger concern. Wilson tried to play through it, but he eventually underwent surgery in mid-April and did not return until mid-June. He struggled over the next two months and eventually had a second operation in early September. Rehab from that surgery is reportedly going well, but obviously Preston's status is a huge question mark this spring. If healthy, he'll hit fourth in the order behind Helton and be a valuable fantasy commodity. It also bears noting that Wilson continues to be involved in trade rumors. If Preston shows himself to be healthy this spring, it could expedite the process and clear the way for one of the younger outfielders mentioned below.
Second baseman Aaron Miles and left fielder Matt Holliday had very nice rookie seasons, and both are hoping to return with even better sophomore campaigns. First, though, we'll have to see if they are over their injuries. Miles had a cyst removed from his right knee in October, and Holliday did not play after September 12 due to some ligament damage in his left elbow. He did not need surgery.
Odds on a Rockies' player winning the NL Rookie of the Year award are pretty good. Catcher J.D. Closser, shortstop Clint Barmes, and third baseman Garrett Atkins own 113, 96, and 97 major league at-bats, respectively, and all three are slated to be everyday starters in 2005. Closser, 25, hit .295 with seven homers and 54 RBI in 83 Triple-A game in 2004. Atkins, 25, hit .368 with 15 homers and 93 RBI at 121 Triple-A games in 2004. Barmes, 25, his .323 with 15 homers, 105 runs, and 19 steals at 125 Triple-A games in 2004. Any hitter that plays half of their games in Coors Field generally generates fantasy interest, and we'll be watching these guys closely.
The rookie brigade doesn't end with just the position players. Starting pitcher Jeff Francis is chiseled into the rotation, and the club is expecting big things out of the 24-year-old, 6-5 lefty. Francis posted a 3-2 record and 5.15 ERA in seven starts for the big club last season. Prior to that, he was 3-2 with a 1.66 ERA in seven Triple-A starts and 13-1 with a 1.98 ERA in 17 Double-A outings. Francis dominated hitters in the minors, and after getting a short look last season, we're interested to see if he's ready to succeed at the major league level. He may be the rare Rockies' starter worth having in fantasy leagues.
We feel for you, Shawn Chacon, but we're pretty sure we don't love you. Chacon clearly subscribes to the LaTroy Hawkins Theory on how to succeed in the major leagues, which is to have good stuff but fail at all levels before gaining confidence in a middle relief role. After two terrible seasons as a starter in 2001 and 2002 and a decent campaign in 2003, Chacon took over as the closer in 2004. He managed to record 35 saves, but he also went 1-9 with a 7.11 ERA. The Rockies plan to move him back to the rotation in 2005, but we'll be keeping an eye on his effectiveness this spring. Like Wilson, though, the Rockies may trade Chacon and let someone else try to tap his potential.
Position battles
It's time for even more rookie talk, folks. We'll start with right fielder Brad Hawpe, who got his toes wet with 105 at-bats last season. Prior to his call-up, the 25-year-old Hawpe hit .325 with 28 homers and 87 RBI in only 92 Triple-A games. He swings a sweet stick and could be a force in fantasy leagues, but he'll need to prove himself at the big league level and hold off the veteran journeyman Mohr. Dustan signed on with the intent of winning the starting job, and Hawpe isn't the only kid gunning for playing time. Outfielders Jorge Piedra, Luis Gonzalez (who can play everywhere but pitcher and catcher), and Choo Freeman all have a chance to be in the starting lineup if the breaks go their way.
Pitchers Jason Jennings and Joe Kennedy own the top two roles in the starting rotation, followed by Francis and Chacon. The fifth spot is up for debate, though. Aaron Cook showed some promise in 2004, but he may not be ready after having surgery to remove a rib in September. Assuming he's out, veterans Jamey Wright and Darren Oliver will fight for the right to start games and likely be irrelevant in fantasy leagues.
The order of the entire bullpen is pretty much up in the air, but fantasy leagues are mainly interested in the closer situation. Hurdle might as well invest in a terrible toupee and turn into Donald Trump because this position contains a lot of inexperienced contestants that need to be tested and eventually eliminated. Former minor league starter Chin-Hui Tsao tried his hand at closing late last season and recorded a save. He has outstanding stuff and is certainly in the running for the position. Taylor, who the team acquired from the Mariners this offseason, is a fashionable pick to win the job because he owns all the tools of a good closer, but he missed much of 2003 with a shoulder injury. Scott Dohmann piled up 46.0 innings and 49 strikeouts as a rookie last year, and he's hoping to move to the back of the bullpen. Allan Simpson tossed 39.0 innings in relief last season and is in the mix. Lastly, the Rockies also own Ryan Speier, who was the 2004 Minor League Rolaids Relief Man winner after an awesome Double-A season. He struggled in the Arizona Fall League, but we expect him to get a long look this spring. And to top off the list, we'll add in deep sleeper David Cortes. The 31-year-old has never been able to stick on a major league roster very long, but he racked up a 4-1 record, 3.15 ERA, 15 saves, 51 strikeouts, and .187 BAA over 34.1 innings in the Mexican League. The sharp effort caught the Rockies' eye, and the club signed Cortes to a minor league contract in December.