Building a Rock-Solid Rockies Ballclub

BUILDING A ROCK-SOLID ROCKIES BALLCLUB
A Layman’s theory to end the suffering in Denver


Describing the Colorado Rockies draws several underwhelming adjectives: mediocre, borderline, so-so, the list goes on and on. Compiling a whopping 882-918 record in franchise history, reaching the Major League Baseball playoffs just once via the wild card, and faltering in the shadow of Colorado’s other major sports teams’ success in years past, the Rockies lack a compelling portfolio to gain support in the area. Without the presence of a lineup to surround perennial All-Star Todd Helton, the Rockies continue down the path towards persistent mediocrity, consistent losing, and perhaps a repeating role as the league’s cellar dweller. That being said, the Rockies hopes remain alive. Baseball is not dead in Denver. With the proper personnel, more flexibility from ownership, and a better understanding of the ballpark in which they play, the Rockies organization can move back towards the contender’s side of baseball, and future success as a franchise.

The Outfield

If a team plays in a large space, where the ball flies farther than anywhere else, why not fill the outfield with speedy players? Speed remains present on the road as well, and would help the Rockies both at home and away. Allowing Juan Pierre to leave boggles the mind of any Rockies fan with a brain. The current outfield leaves a lot of space uncovered at Coors Field, or any other field for that matter. The injury-prone Preston Wilson soaks up barely enough of the area around him to remain effective, let alone absorbing major amounts of contract money from an already meager Rockies budget. First of all, trade Preston Wilson for pitching, preferably starters to replace the pitchers leaving Colorado. The Washington Nationals, eager to find a player to add some hitting, show interest in Wilson. With supposedly Zach Day and J.J. Davis available, the Rockies could move some money despite having to inevitably contribute to Wilson's whopping $12.5-million contract, while acquiring a solid sinkerball pitcher and a strong corner outfielder with growing potential. If the Rockies release or trade Brad Hawpe and Dustan Mohr, $1.2-million frees up for the collection of faster players and better pitching. With a serviceable outfielder in up-and-coming Jorge Piedra, a player that can play any outfield slot, and quality Cory Sullivan in center or left, the Rockies would then have space for Davis in left. The Rockies still lack a proven veteran outfielder, however, and in moving Todd Helton, would need to get a quality position player to help in the outfield.

Acquiring an available outfielder with Major League-ready tools necessitates moving Todd Helton and his $12.6-million contract. Any ball club desiring a career .339-hitter with opposite-field power and capable hands for a firstbaseman would love to move players to gain a future Hall of Famer. That brings us to the Baltimore Orioles, a team fighting to stay in step with the Yankees and Red Sox that is desperate to add another bat to its already powerful lineup. Where else will teams in 2005 look other than Colorado, where a future Hall of Famer waits to move? The Orioles possess three very likeable players that would immediately help the Rockies. Granted this deal would be a blockbuster, both teams would benefit greatly if it occurred. The Rockies would send Todd Helton ($12.6-million), with Brad Hawpe ($317k) in exchange for lefty reliever Steve Kline ($2.5-million); Jason Grimsley ($2-million); Luis Matos ($1.025-million); and BJ Surhoff ($1.1-million). The Rockies' front office still needs to pay some of Helton's contract surely, but they receive two ready-made relievers and two quality outfielders. With Surhoff getting spot starts all over the outfield and first base, and Matos seeing major time in center or left, the Rockies improve their fielding and gain back at least part of the hitting void left by Helton.

With a quality outfield of Luis Matos, Cory Sullivan, Jorge Piedra, J.J. Davis, and BJ Surhoff, the Rockies pitchers would be more comfortable tossing the occasional curveball and letting their outfielders chase them down. Not only would this outfield provide quality fielding, they would also get on base, steal bases, and generate a little excitement for the fans.

The Infield

With the departure of Todd Helton, the Rockies would then be able to employ Ryan Shealy, their promising young prospect with pop in his bat. The rest of the infield would need to consistently practice feeding the alligator. Garrett Atkins, Clint Barmes, and Aaron Miles seem to be quality fielders. With Eddy Garabito filling in for the injury-prone middle infielders, the Rockies immediately obtain a serviceable infield.

These players all exemplify strong hitting as well. Clint Barmes, before his devastating injury, bolstered a .329-clip. As of June 19, Garrett Atkins hit a solid .284, while Ryan Shealy immediately showed his power, socking his first Major League home run in his third game in a Rockies uniform. Aaron Miles holds a career .295-batting average after one full season in the pros. With the youth and exuberance of the Rockies infield, gloves would meet groundballs making scoreless innings more likely, while gaining more hits from the batter’s box.

Pitching

Until now, pitchers throwing at Coors Field regularly suffer from high ERAs, exaggerated power numbers against, and poor won-loss records (thank you position players). Nonetheless, attaining a successful pitching staff remains a reachable goal. Jason Jennings and Jeff Francis pitch comfortably at Coors Field, meaning, among other things, that they can be successful with the right people around them. Jamey Wright, a 30-year-old right-hander with good stuff, remains a viable option as a third or fourth starter. With Zach Day in the mix, the Rockies starting rotation would seem far more imposing than the current staff. Groundball pitchers, with the exception of Joe Kennedy who needs to move on, would keep the Rockies in games longer.

The Rockies need to then show Shawn Chacon, Joe Kennedy, and Byung-Hyun Kim the door. For the most part, it hasn’t worked out here in Colorado for Chacon, who shows potential and will be successful, but not in Rockies’ purple. The Rockies missed out on a pitcher that certainly fits the description of a potential successful starter at Coors Field in Derek Lowe. Lowe gained his reputation as a quality starter several years ago and continues to possess a killer trio of moving fastballs with his sinker. With the movement of heavy contract money from the departures of Wilson, Helton, Chacon, Kennedy, and Kim, affording a quality groundball-starter becomes a pipe dream no more.

The Rockies bullpen, headed up by Kline, Grimsley, and Fuentes then becomes less used and more capable. With the acquisition of Kline and Grimsley, the Rockies possess three quality late-inning relievers. Marcos Carvajal and David Cortes show signs of becoming effective middle relievers, and with starters capable of pitching seven-plus innings, they would not be used every night. The money freed up then becomes available to improve their bullpen as there are plenty of relievers around Major League Baseball that can fill the middle and long relief roles well for fewer dollars.

The Colorado Rockies, like any other franchise in professional sports, can be successful. With an attitude that promotes winning, the ball club can improve itself greatly. Improvement only comes with the overhaul of big contracts, a focus on speed in the outfield, groundball pitchers, quality infielders, and a sturdy bullpen. J.D. Closser remains a strong prospect, along with Barmes, Shealy, Sullivan, and Piedra, but Major League experience goes a long way, with some of the young Rockies’ players already learning the ins and outs of playing for a losing ball club. The younger players carry a zest for the game that ailing veterans lose as they grind out losing season after losing season. The Colorado Rockies enjoyed the success of Todd Helton and even Preston Wilson, but for the Rockies to become collectively successful, these players must head for the exits.

The Rockies play in a division that consists of two hitters’ parks, two average parks, and one pitchers’ park. If the Rockies can counteract the mentality that Coors Field is a Home Run Paradise, and throw down in the zone with good groundball stuff, they can be a successful staff on the road and still win at home. That being said, the quality young players already showing signs of improvement for the Rockies would immediately swing the bats, field the grounders, and produce some wins.

Many people over the years have made several claims to the secret of success for the Colorado Rockies: ownership that’ll spend more, 8 field players that all hit 20-plus home runs, better management, etc. The Rockies cannot exist in the Major Leagues hoping to out-hit every opponent. They cannot simply hurl out any old starter and employ a zit-faced 18-year-old intern to clean up the remains in the third inning, when the Rockies trail 12-11. They must obtain starting pitchers that throw groundball-stuff, fielders that keep their butts down and feed the proverbial alligator, and speedy players in the outfield to shag down gap shots. They can do so by moving cash and players to bring in different talent.

J.R.R. Tolkien once said, “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” In Denver, Colorado, the road of baseball lies underneath the gloomy cloud that is losing, but there is still hope. If Rockies fans remain faithful, they will soon be rewarded. Management must see the need for different types of players and immediately pursue such talent. Fans will come to the ballpark to see a competitive club, the dollars will flow in, and hope will be restored.