As the Denver Post tied up some of the loose ends on the final Rockies roster, there were two passing mentions of what would be major news if it happened: the possibility of the team trading Tyler Colvin. While Reid Brignac has officially won out over DJ LeMahieu and Jonathan Herrera for the utility infield spot, there apparently remains a possibility that Herrera would crack the roster as an extra infielder if the team moved Colvin.

There have been whispers about a potential Colvin trade in the past few weeks, and the most recent mentions of it hardly qualify as more than continued whispers. Still, one cannot help but wonder if a trade might actually be in the works.

The case for trading Colvin

Colvin. Image: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Even with a woeful spring (.167 avg, 0 HR), trading Colvin now would capitalize on the opportunity to sell high. He posted a .858 OPS as a 2.3 WAR player last season, stellar numbers from a player who spent much of the year platooning in the outfield and at first base. The Rockies have a surplus of options at both of those positions, with the emergence of Eric Young Jr. as a 4th outfielder and Jordan Pacheco eager to snag spot starts at first. Because Colvin is a younger player, the Rockies might actually be able to get a decent return for him. When it comes to selling high, Colvin’s up and down career might provide extra incentive. It would give the team a chance to get something for him now in case he does regress (likely) or if his production craters as it did in 2011 (less likely, but a possibility).

The case against trading Colvin

He is a key part of the group of young hitters that emerged last season. None of the players who would replace Colvin have the power potential that he does. Indications last season were that Colvin had adjusted his swing so that it had fewer holes. It would put the team two not-unlikely injuries to Michael Cuddyer and Todd Helton from an everyday lineup with Young Jr. and Pacheco; Colvin is less of a drop-off than either of them and better equipped to start. His ceiling is simply too high, as indicated by those numbers from last season. In what seemed to be a swap of big-time disappointments with the Cubs, Colvin took advantage of his opportunity in Colorado while Ian Stewart fell apart in Chicago. The Rockies should keep Colvin and reap the benefits of that trade. The team wants pitching in return in a trade, and even with Colvin being more valuable, they probably would not get enough to feel good about a deal.

So Rox Pilers, should the Rockies try to trade Tyler Colvin?

Post Author: Rockies: Fansided Roxpile.

There looked to be an opening for Aaron Cook to make the team with the Philadelphia Phillies this spring. When that did not work out, he hit the open market as a minor league option/depth options for most teams. And you better believe the Colorado Rockies jumped on it:

Aaron Cook agrees to minor-league deal with #Rockies: dpo.st/11Sosql

— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) March 28, 2013

Plenty of people will disagree with and criticize this move. Rightfully so. In the spirit of trying to prove that hope truly does spring eternal this time of year, I am going to recount for you all the good things about Aaron Lane Cook.

Cook is back. Image: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Start with his middle name. Lane. That’s awesome.

He wears high socks.

At one point he figured out how to survive and even succeed at Coors Field.

He has a rad goatee (not to be confused with a red goatee, which he also has).

He is a sneaky good hitter.

He ripped it up in the All Star Game that one year.

In a way, he and the Rockies grew up together.

And now he’s back. Whether or not this signing matters will depend on a number of factors, health among them. So in a way, we want this signing not to matter to the Rockies this season. But it’s never bad to see an old friend, right?

Post Author: Rockies: Fansided Roxpile.

Drew Pomeranz will not start the season with the Colorado Rockies. He will start the season with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.

Pomeranz move official. He’s been optioned, along with Bobby Cassevah, Jeff Manship and Matt McBride. Rockies at 32 players

— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) March 26, 2013

This does not mean his ceiling is lower. This does not mean it will soon be time for the Rockies to give up on him. This does not mean the Rockies lost the Ubaldo Jimenez trade.

OK fine, one last creepy studio picture before the season starts. Image: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Drew Pomeranz is 24 years old. He made his Rockies debut at age 22, less than one year removed from being drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Indians. Are we really so anxious to pass definitive judgment on prospects? Has Pomeranz really gone from hot prospect to potential bust in that short a period of time?

No. The decision to start Pomeranz in the minor leagues is, at least in part, a concession to the fact that he was rushed into too big a role too early. I understand that a pitcher of his pedigree is expected to have an impact right away, but they asked too much of him. There is still plenty of time for Pomeranz to be a big time player at a very young age. Pomeranz joins the less-ballyhooed Tyler Chatwood on a short list of pitchers who were rushed to the big leagues by circumstance/injuries/hastened expectations. It’s time to take a breath and let them resume their development as prospects.

If nothing else this season (and seriously, it might be nothing else), we can at least thank Jon Garland for that.

Post Author: Rockies: Fansided Roxpile.

Carlos Gonzalez is a Hollywood kind of guy. His star appeal ranks up there with any athlete not named Peyton Manning in the state of Colorado. If he plays like he did in 2009, he has the kind of appeal that extends outside of Colorado. As such, CarGo might be interested in connecting with other star MLB players. He might also be interested in connecting with stars from other walks of life. Like, say, the NBA…

Yesterday with “The Black Mamba” was great sharing experiences with this awesome competitor @kobebryant twitter.com/CarGoMedia5/st…

— Car Go (@CarGoMedia5) March 19, 2013

Kobe Bryant gets booed, taunted, and jeered when he visits the Pepsi Center. He also consistently kills the Denver Nuggets. I cannot speak for everybody, but I feel safe in saying that Bryant is not popular among Colorado sports fans.

Like, at all. I hate the guy (sports hate, not real hate. I’ve never met him).

CarGo. Image: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

He is also a notoriously wicked and difficult teammate. Odds are he did not talk to Gonzalez about clubhouse culture. Hopefully he did not discuss the art of belittling and screaming at your teammates when they do not play well. Hopefully their conversation did not include the art of throwing your teammates under the bus in the media (although CarGo already did a little bit of that this year).

I am all for Gonzalez connecting with championship players. Pick their brains, learn from them, and get hungry to lead your team to glory. That’s all good. Just any champion but Kobe Bean Bryant. Seriously, CarGo, anybody but Kobe Bryant. Know your audience.

Post Author: Rockies: Fansided Roxpile.

An awkward situation looms for the Colorado Rockies as they sort out their various pieces for the 2013 season.

Todd Helton will be a part time player. That much we know. Here is what we do not know: will that part time status truly be a concession to his age and his balky back and hip, or will it be based on play on the field? And how subtle can the distinction between those two reasons truly be?

Helton in a weird studio picture. Image: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

When I envision the best Rockies lineup this season, the kind with the offensive prowess to intimidate opponents, I rarely include Helton. That’s not an easy thing to deal with. But as they say, Father Time is undefeated.

Here is the worst part: when you adore Helton the way that so many Rockies fans do, the last thing you want to see is that player struggling mightily and limping to the end of his career. You do not want him to lose his shine so much, and that was true before Helton’s off-season DUI. You hate to hear people say: “It looks like he should have hung them up a while ago.” You hate that they might be right.

So far Helton is 3-for-12 in Cactus League play. That does include a home run. Additionally, he is still without question the best defensive option at first base. If his name were not Todd Helton, would that be enough to name him the opening day starter at first base?

See. I told you it’s awkward. And Walt Weiss played with the guy.

In the Denver Post yesterday, Troy Renck argued that Eric Young Jr. must play more this season. He notes that EY2′s playing time would likely come at Helton’s expense. Eric Young Jr.’s dad Eric Young also played with Helton.

Hence comes the moment when things get the most awkward. You would never cheer for Helton to get hurt again. Ever. In fact, good health for Helton is on my short wish list for the upcoming season. I desperately want to see him go out with some success. Having said all of that, it makes things undeniably easier for Weiss to get everybody playing time if Helton misses time.

We should be celebrating Todd Helton’s final season. Instead I am afraid that we will spend most of it cringing at an increasingly awkward situation.

Post Author: Rockies: Fansided Roxpile.

Let’s get optimistic and say that the Rockies will survive their tough schedule early and still be relevant come the end of June (OK, so it’s really optimistic). Let’s say that they are not necessarily in first place, but enjoy a competent enough record that they can still do something this season. If there is still at least that potential for success, then they need a lineup to get excited about. Presumably the team will have thumped their way to moderate success up to that point and will need to continue in that matter. So, how about this lineup?

But I do love this picture. Image: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Dexter Fowler CF
Josh Rutledge 2B
Carlos Gonzalez LF
Troy Tulowitzki SS
Wilin Rosario C
Michael Cuddyer 1B
Tyler Colvin RF
Nolan Arenado 3B
Starting Pitcher

Once you get to spots 5-8 you could debate the exact order in which those guys would fall, but the point is this: that lineup looks like it can rake, right? You definitely would not want to face that group at Coors Field, and you might even be nervous about them if they were playing away from home. That leaves Rockies GOAT Todd Helton, who will presumably start plenty of games, as a nice pinch hitting option and late defensive replacement. It also gives you DJ LeMahieu as a plus glove off the bench, Jordan Pacheco‘s amazingly consistent bat, and Eric Young Jr.’s speed to play with. So yes, the Rockies might just have a good offense, but it should start with Walt Weiss writing in the best possible starting lineup every day.

That lineup presumes one of two things about the third base position. Either Nolan Arenado wowed enough people that the Rockies elevated him all the way up to the Opening Day roster, or they let him season in Triple A for enough time to keep him under team control for more years and then brought him up to the big club. Either way, his eventual arrival to the Rockies roster means somebody has got to go. And that somebody should be Chris Nelson.

The Rockies should trade Chris Nelson.

A former first round pick, Nelson was a disappointment until the second half of last season. He then enjoyed a mini-explosion of sorts on offense, finally flashing the skills that made him a high pick in the first place. But before that, Nelson came up short in a series of chances to seize a permanent spot with the Rockies, including multiple shortcomings at 2nd base. So the Rockies might not have much leverage in a potential deal that would include Nelson right now, but they also have to worry about another swoon from him to start 2013 that would lampoon his value completely.

If a team like the Oakland Athletics (as Troy Renck suggested last week in the Denver Post) or the New York Yankees (whose desperation is getting depressing) buy into Nelson’s last two months of 2012 as justification to pursue a trade for him right now, the Rockies should seize that opportunity. If they must wait and trade him during the regular season, they will gamble on the fact he can continue to produce and retain his value. And if he does, they should trade him before the middle of the summer.

Trading Nelson opens up a path for Arenado whenever he is ready this season. What if Arenado regresses and needs to spend the entire season in Triple A? What if the Rockies dig themselves a last place hole right away, such that it makes sense to keep Arenado in the minor leagues? Even in those scenarios, it still makes sense to trade Nelson right now.

The Rockies have plenty of placeholders at third base, and their production does not drop off much from Nelson’s (if at all). Start with Jordan Pacheco, a .300 hitter last season. His 2013 Steamer and Bill James projections are eerily similar to Nelson’s, albeit with less power. But it’s all relative, as they say. We’re talking about 5 home runs instead of 9 or 4 home runs instead of 7, and nearly identical projected OPS marks.

Worried about defense? First of all, you should be. But second of all, just because Nelson was better than Pacheco does not mean he was a good or even average defender last season. As long as the person playing third is not Arenado, the Rockies have a hole there on defense. It will be more glaring with Pacheco or Eric Young Jr. (if he ever actually plays there), and perhaps less glaring if DJ LeMahieu plays some time at the hot corner. Either way, defense is certainly no reason to keep the more athletic Nelson around.

Nelson, LeMahieu, Pacheco, and Josh Rutledge have all earned playing time for the Rockies this season (not to mention Jonathan Herrera). At some point one of them needs to go in a trade. If there is a market for Nelson, and even if that market is underwhelming in many regards, he needs to be the one traded. If it’s possible, this should happen sooner rather than later as the Rockies juggle their glut of infielders in preparation for Opening Day.

Post Author: Rockies: Fansided Roxpile.

To be clear, this question is based on nothing more than speculation from ESPN baseball analyst/New York Yankees expert Buster Olney. He was sure to make that clear in his tweet:

SPECULATION: You wonder if there is a deal to be made for the Rockies-Yankees in which COL eats a lot of Michael Cuddyer $ to move him.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 8, 2013

If the Rockies traded Michael Cuddyer it would be an acknowledgment of the fact that they have a surplus of position players. It would clear the way for playing time for some of their younger talent and, in the case of the New York Yankees, it would capitalize on another team’s desperation for offensive help. Struggled though he did in 2012, Cuddyer is still a coveted commodity as a right-handed power hitter.

Not pictured: his custom-designed team t-shirts. Image: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

I have said for a while now that the Rockies should shop Cuddyer and his burdensome contract for any kind of pitching help. If a team is willing to take on that contract and give the Rockies even $0.40 on the dollar in pitching help for Cuddyer’s services, then it makes sense. The hang-up in a potential deal has been and will continue to be that any trading partners do not want to take on Cuddy’s contract. Hence Olney’s speculation that the Rockies would eat the money.

If trading Cuddyer is only possible if the Rockies absorb the financial hit, then they absolutely, positively should not trade him. If the Rockies are paying Cuddyer than he darn well better be playing for the Rockies, protecting CarGo and Tulo in the lineup, doing card tricks, being a clubhouse leader, and fashioning ‘PG’ t-shirts for his teammates.

In any hypothetical scenario where these two teams might be trade partners, the Rockies should never be the ones absorbing extra money. Ever. If the Yankees, the New York frickin’ Yankees, the evil empire, are hard-lining the Rockies on a trade because they will not eat extra money, then Dan O’Dowd and co. better turn and run from those negotiations.

If Olney is right about that being the case in a potential Cuddyer-to-the-Yankees deal, then the Rockies absolutely should not engage the evil empire in trade talks.

Post Author: Rockies: Fansided Roxpile.

I really wasn’t going to do another blog post on baseball caps, but maybe it’s my niche. I love baseball caps and if wearing them in a corporate office wasn’t so frowned upon I’d wear one daily.

The Rockies St Patrick’s Day hats are in and I’m sure you’ve seen them. If you haven’t here is a pic from the Rockies Facebook Page:

I really do not care for them. And that’s being nice. They rank up there with the Independence Day hats that the Rox wore a few years ago, with a flag CR and red brim. What’s my beef with these green delights? The purple CR! Come on, you don’t have to be a fashionista to know that purple and green just don’t jive, or at least not on a man’s head. What would make this hat wearable? A white CR. Simple right? It’s sad not one person stood up and said “You do realize no one is going to buy these, right?”

Hey, I’m just saying that they could’ve at least added a little stitched-in ”Kiss me, I’m a Rockie” on the side/back to sweeten the pot for consumers. See? I am full of ideas. Here is another one, while I’m posting all of my fashion expertise to the world — bring back this alternate jersey which would completely compliment the Rox new batting practice hats. I don’t know how the Rockies only wore this one time in 20 years… this is beautiful:

If anyone from the Rockies organization wants to give me a job I’m all ears. No? Oh well. This bright green/purple mess hat won’t be finding it’s way into my hat closet (yes I have a whole hat closet) anytime soon. What do you guys think?

Post Author: Rockies: Fansided Roxpile.

One player I always enjoyed watching with the Colorado Rockies was outfielder Ryan Spilborghs. Sure, he was a marginal outfielder at best, but he always seemed to come through in the clutch. Actually I will never forget his walk-off, grand slam bomb he blasted to win against the Giants in 2009. Any win against the Giants is a good win!

After a solid 7-year career with the Rockies in which he played a platoon outfield, Spilly turned to the Indians last year and just didn’t pan out. Between the Rangers and Indians he spent all of 2012 in the minor leagues batting a triple split of .288/.358/.418 at the AAA level. That just flat didn’t cut it and he was released. But never fear because the ever-resourceful Spilborghs has found a new home — in Japan.

July 17, 2011; Denver CO, USA; Colorado Rockies left fielder Ryan Spilborghs drapes a towel over his head while playing the Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field. Milwaukee won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Carpenean-USA TODAY Sports

The Seibu Lions have signed the 33 year old Spilborghs for one year to play both right field and some first base. The greatest part for baseball fans? He is documenting his experience for the Denver Post as a guest blogger. The first post was up today on the website, and if any of you have ever followed Spilly you can only imagine how entertaining it is. He also is keeping up on a twitter account (@spillygoat19) for anyone who is interested.

Personally I love the move to the Nippon League. If we as baseball fans would be honest with ourselves, the Nippon is a high quality baseball league. Japan owns the WBC, and countless Japanese players have been stars in the MLB. Even at the little league level Japan dominates. There are actually quite a few American’s who chose a little more money to play over in Japan with former Rockie Matt Murton being one, Willy Mo Pena another. The game is much different than we are used to in America as the fans are crazy, the games actually have a time limit, and they can end in ties. The Lions are actually my favorite team to follow overseas and carry some big expectations after a 72-63-9 2012 campaign in which they lost in Pacific League First Stage Climax Series (think ALDS). It will be even more fun to follow a favorite player of mine with the team in 2013.

Good Luck Spilly!

Post Author: Rockies: Fansided Roxpile.