O'Dowd Cheap Moron Again at Deadline; 10 Things Rockies do to Catch Up
By Austin Swaim ,
Dan O'Dowd has been known as the "farm system GM", when it is clear now that he just goes the cheap route (i.e letting Holliday and Matsui walk) to avoid losing money for the organization. Being average at all spots except ace pitcher, left field, and shortstop, the Rockies remained quiet all day long and Tracy Ringolsby on MLB Network was just O'Dowd's minion in explaining depsite $75 million available in budget, the Rockies kept decent prospects and left Adam Dunn, Ty Wigginton, and Javier Lopez (Golden native) walk away from Denver. The Rockies now need to keep up with the San Diego Padres, who acquired a hopeful slumping bat in Ryan Ludwick, and the Dodgers. The Dodgers did what the Rockies needed to, by getting Ted Lilly, Ryan Theriot, and Octavio Dotel. The Giants also acquired Javy Lopez, which may be a good thing considering the Carlos Gonzalez 442 ft. homer off him. The Rockies need to make changes now to almost "act" as trades to keep up if they have a chance now against Dotel, Tejada, and others.
All Rockie fans fell in love with this kid and I just don't see it. Herrera is hitting .280, and has hit 3 hits in more in many games this season. That means he is 0-4 or 1-5 almost consistently with a great night once a week. Having Herrera is like another pitcher in the lineup. 8 games back needs the 17 runs scored against the Cubbies on Friday (which Herrera had no part of) and not 0-4 every night. Sure he was great, but Eric Young Jr. is coming back and so is #17, so my guess is we may (thank god) never see him again this season. Defense? Please..not 8 games back.
Todd Helton need to step it up again and be the #3 hitter, because we need 3 powerful guys in the lineup. I pushed so hard for Adam Dunn, but Dan O'Dowd stayed content. Well Buttface O'Dowd, Todd better come back and produce big time, otherwise it may be time to clear someone through waivers. We can't possibly have another .250, 8 HR guy to win the NL West.
Chacin was a great pitcher in his last few starts, including 12 Ks against Anaheim in his last one. He is not a bullpen guy, and he knows that. Even if we get Top Performance from Cook, JDLR, Francis, and Hammel, put Ubaldo on the DL if we get on a run. He says he's tired, so he needs some time. And if one of our pitchers flutters, replace him with your 2nd best starter behind The Chief, which is that guy. Yo-Lease!
EY says he likes the challenge of 2nd base, not center. Besides, we already have a star pinch hitter in #23 and a fast mofo in Center Field named Fowler. The only great role for him is his dad's position: 2B. If Fowler and EY Jr. were the Top 2 in the lineup, we could be two bunts from 1st and 2nd and no outs. Plus, if we still have Barmes in the #8 hole, then the only logical leadoff hitter points to Gonzalez. And he is better utilized in the #3 or #5 hole.
Tulowitzki is a great player, don't get me wrong, put the kid may never hit 30 HRs in a season because he is a such a great 5-tool player. He isn't a 30-35-40 HR player to hit cleanup like Larry Walker. Brad Eldred may only get 50 hits a year, but 40 of them would be home runs. He can play 1B if Todd doesn't produce a ton. I don't know who the next cleanup hitter would be, but Tulowitzki, like Gonzalez, is better suited as a #2,3, or 5 hole hitter.
Betancourt was a great add last deadline, and is a perfect 8th inning guy. And then of course we know what Street the 9th will go down, but the 7th and maybe 6 2/3rds inning guys are not set. Manuel Corpas has closed before, and so has minor leaguer Franklin Morales, but both have trouble spotting location. The two I had in my mind were Taylor Buchholz in the 6th and Matt Daley in the 7th. I'm not quite sure where Daley is, but we need him. He is a strikeout ace. Those 4 guys I lined up would allow JDLR or Francis to go 5 innings and give up 3 or 4 runs. The Rockies have a great pen, second in the division and maybe 5th in baseball, when healthy.
Esmil Rogers has been the best bullpen reliever in Colorado this season. In his last two appearances, he has 7 IP and an ERA of 0.00. Esmil is solid out of the pen, and struggled as a starter. With his stamina, the solution is a long reliever, in case de la Rosa, Cook, or Francis blowup in the 3rd. Our long guy is Matt Belisle, who should be a middle reliever type. Esmil is a great long guy and should spend every pennant race moment.
If Esmil comes up, one of our middle guys has to go down. The need for lefty specialists is too high to have one, and that leaves Belisle and Corpas. I cannot pick, but one would need to go.
Jason Giambi has been the one who fans stand and cheer for. Why? We say Larry Walker in him. He hits big hits, and if he needed to, could hit a home run every other time. Giambi reminds of our great, and his play gets the fans into it, the players into it, and he also is pretty good. He mentors young guns like Fowler, Gonzalez, Stewart, and his protege over the last 2 weeks, Brad Eldred. Giambi may very well be the second MVP behind CarGo on this team.
1. Carlos Gonzalez's role in the field or the lineup (#3 is where to be)
2. Troy Tulowitzki's position (rumors had him at 3rd base)
3. Ubaldo's arm (put him on the DL for rest)
4. Hammel's role (#2 starter has been great for him)
5. Aaron Cook (get rid of him)
6. Jason Giambi's hair
7. The Lefty Lineup (Spilborghs, Mora, Eldred)
8. Chris Nelson (he's not quite ready)
9. The Run Support for Ubaldo
10. Jim Tracy's game calling (the Little League mentality of his sucks)
I also predict a no hitter by Jason Hammel in August.
