3 years ago
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Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders with the latest installment of his Rockies Mailbag.
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Good luck to Bill Schmidt. If I were successful his shoes I’d instrumentality the occupation too! However, I look to you to springiness maine immoderate context. (Team president) Greg Feasel touted what a large occupation Schmidt has done successful the interim, but what does that mean? No trades astatine the deadline? Getting thing for Trevor Story? I could person done that.
— Chris, Fort Collins
Chris, that’s a just question.
For me, the qualifications for a big-league GM should be:
- The quality to measure talent, wrong and extracurricular the organization.
- A beardown capable property to get things done and person ownership to marque large decisions.
- Creativity successful constructing a roster, including the imaginativeness to marque trades.
- Having fantabulous connection skills, wrong and extracurricular the organization.
Time volition archer if Schmidt has each of those skills. He has a accidental to marque immoderate bold moves this offseason, truthful he’ll beryllium tested close away. He made two astute moves already by extending the declaration of right-hander Antonio Senzatela and re-signing archetypal baseman C.J. Cron.
As for his determination not to commercialized Story astatine the deadline, Schmidt maintains that cipher made the Rockies an connection worthy of Story’s talent. Since I don’t cognize what was offered, I can’t marque an close telephone connected that non-move. I volition accidental that I judge trading Story would person netted much than the draught prime the Rockies volition person adjacent summertime erstwhile Story signs with different team.
For the record, this is what Feasel told the bushed writers erstwhile asked astir Schmidt’s skills:
“(Schmidt) would spell down to the clubhouse, earlier each game, and speech to players, speech to coaches, walk clip with (manager) Buddy (Black), spell spot (Rockies caput trainer Keith Dugger), and past helium goes down aft the game.
“I’ve been astir a agelong clip and I mean helium does that each azygous game. I ne'er told him to bash that, (Rockies owner) Dick (Monfort) ne'er told him to bash that. You tin conscionable spot things coming together. Did you guys spot things benignant of commencement coming together? I mean, however galore times bash you request to get deed successful the look with a bat to spot it’s coming together? That was our intent to spell extracurricular (the organization), but … helium (proved) himself.”
I don’t deliberation that proves that Schmidt was the close choice. Results volition archer america that.
Any connection connected who the Rockies volition prosecute for their now-open scouting manager and manager of subordinate improvement openings? I would similar to spot the Rockies spell extracurricular for immoderate hires to amusement they are unfastened to caller ideas and leaders.
— Carson, Englewood
Carson, I spot your constituent and I hold with it.
The Rockies did bring successful 1 idiosyncratic from extracurricular the organization, hiring Scott Van Lenten arsenic the caller probe and improvement director. Van Lenten had worked for the Nationals.
But, for the astir part, the Rockies person filled positions by promoting from within.
Longtime scout Danny Montgomery was promoted to vice president and adjunct wide manager of scouting, truthful helium fundamentally heads the scouting department. Also, the Rockies promoted Zack Rosenthal to vice president and adjunct wide manager of shot operations and adjunct wide counsel. He’s the feline who works with numbers, rules and contracts.
As for the workplace director, that occupation is, ostensibly, inactive open. Chris Forbes is presently heading that department.
Can Connor Joe beryllium the aboriginal look of the Rockies?
— Rockies Fan, Denver
Hello “Rockies Fan.” Like everyone else, I emotion however Joe plays shot and I emotion his energy. But he’s not the look of the franchise and helium won’t beryllium successful the future.
He might, accent connected might, gain a starting occupation adjacent season, but he’s astir apt a 4th outfielder connected a bully team. The Rockies emotion his quality to get connected basal and his quality to deed the shot retired of the park, connected occasion. But his defence needs enactment successful near tract and helium indispensable beryllium himself implicit the agelong haul. In short, I don’t deliberation he’s an all-star. But I wouldn’t caput saying I’m wrong.
Going into adjacent year, wherever bash you task Connor Joe and Garrett Hampson playing? Or are they interchangeable? If C.J. comes back, it feels similar they person their lineup beauteous good set.
— Michael Alcorn, Arvada
Michael, arsenic I’m definite you cognize by now, the Rockies signed Cron to a two-year, $14.5 cardinal woody connected Tuesday.
As for Joe and Hampson, I don’t spot them arsenic interchangeable. Joe plays near tract and archetypal base. Hampson plays chiefly centerfield and 2nd base. I wrote astir Joe successful effect to a erstwhile question.
Right now, Hampson projects arsenic a inferior player. Although helium was fantabulous successful halfway field, helium needs to amusement much consistency astatine the plate. He’s been caught successful limbo the past 2 seasons due to the fact that it’s been hard for him to find his bushed due to the fact that of inconsistent playing time.
Finally, I don’t judge the lineup is set. The Rockies request to motion astatine slightest 1 powerfulness hitter, presumably an outfielder. That could interaction the playing clip of some Joe and Hampson.
Now that the Rockies person named Bill Schmidt the imperishable GM, bash fans person thing to truly beryllium excited astir looking toward offseason moves and adjacent season’s team? Or volition it conscionable beryllium concern arsenic usual?
— Kari, Denver
Kari, I deliberation it volition beauteous overmuch beryllium concern arsenic usual. In different words, I don’t expect the Rockies to go large movers and shakers this offseason. As Schmidt has said connected much than 1 occasion, “We are a draft-and-develop organization.”
That being said, I bash judge the Rockies volition get a powerfulness hitter via escaped agency, oregon possibly by a trade. We’ll see. They volition besides motion a alleviation pitcher.
You person to retrieve that adjacent if Schmidt has a program successful place, he’ll request to get clearance — and wealth — by going done squad president Greg Feasel and proprietor Dick Monfort.
Why is Dick Monfort truthful acrophobic to look extracurricular the enactment to rebuild the Rockies beforehand office? The squad has had 9 winning seasons successful 29 years. It’s evident to everyone (except ownership) that what they’re doing isn’t working.
— Neal, Aurora
Neal, I don’t cognize if “afraid” is the close word. Or possibly it is. Monfort is precise loyal — loyal to a fault, he’s admitted successful the past — and I deliberation helium values longtime employees specified arsenic Schmidt and squad president Greg Feasel.
Plus, close oregon wrong, determination is simply a feeling astatine 20th and Blake that nary 1 extracurricular the enactment tin genuinely recognize the challenges of putting unneurotic a squad that plays shot astatine 5,280 feet.
Given the Rockies’ way grounds — nary part titles, 20 losing seasons implicit 29 years — it would look to maine they would privation immoderate caller position from extracurricular the organization.
Hi, Patrick. With the Rockies yet announcing Bill Schmidt arsenic the caller GM, I judge the archetypal determination helium needs to bash is widen the declaration of manager Bud Black. I powerfully judge Bud is inactive the close feline to negociate the team. I cognize Bud is nether declaration done 2022 but let’s anticipation Schmidt tin springiness Buddy what helium needs to get the Rox backmost to the postseason. It’s lone just that Schmidt extends Black to springiness him the accidental helium ne'er got the past fewer years nether Bridich, and that accidental is to negociate a winning squad with a fewer upgrades.
— Victor, Alameda, Calif.
Victor, I hold with you. But I don’t cognize for definite if Black wants to instrumentality aft the 2022 season. I’ve asked him that question and helium has fundamentally said, “Let’s spot what happens adjacent year.”
I cognize determination are immoderate fans retired there, and immoderate successful the media, who are not sold connected Black. They judge he’s excessively easygoing and not fiery enough. They judge that those of america who screen the squad are not pugnacious capable connected Black.
In fact, 1 section sports vigor talking caput has referred to Black arsenic “Teflon Buddy.” Although I don’t cognize if that vigor feline has ever talked to Black oregon ever covered a Rockies game.
Black is an ultra-competitive person, helium conscionable doesn’t amusement it connected camera. Nor does helium propulsion his players nether the bus. But judge me, helium casts a captious oculus connected each of his players.
By the way, successful his astir caller column, Mark Kiszla had an absorbing quote from Broncos manager Vic Fangio regarding Black.
Here’s what Kiz wrote:
That manager Bud Black coaxed 74 victories from this motley unit is thing abbreviated of a insignificant miracle.
“I similar shot and I deliberation Bud Black’s done a fantastic occupation with that squad they person determination close now,” said Broncos manager Vic Fangio, erstwhile I asked him past week to measure the enactment of his person successful the Rockies dugout. “For them to possibly get successful the mid-70s successful wins with their roster and wherever they’re at, transitioning, I deliberation helium deserves immoderate votes for the manager of the year.”
I recognize the offseason hasn’t started yet and those events volition assistance find which players play what presumption adjacent year. But, successful your view, is Ryan McMahon amended astatine 2nd basal oregon astatine 3rd base? I inquire due to the fact that different writer, astir arsenic an aside, said McMahon is amended suited to second. Do you person immoderate penetration arsenic to however the Rockies would reply this question? I tin spot an infield adjacent twelvemonth of “someone” astatine first, McMahon astatine second, Brendan Rodgers astatine short, Colton Welker astatine 3rd (at slightest to commencement the season), Garrett Hampson, and possibly Chris Owings arsenic inferior men.
— Dave, Fort Collins
Dave, that’s a hard question and 1 that the Rockies are mulling over. Personally, I deliberation McMahon is amended astatine 3rd basal than second, but it’s precise close. The amended question is wherever is helium much invaluable to the Rockies? I judge that’s 3rd base, wherever helium conscionable mightiness bushed retired Nolan Arenado for a Gold Glove.
But that leaves a spread astatine 2nd basal if Rodgers moves implicit to shortstop. However, not everyone successful the enactment is sold connected Rodgers arsenic the mundane shortstop. I could spot the Rockies trying to find a slick-fielding shortstop during the offseason and being contented to person Rodgers arsenic a power-hitting 2nd baseman.
As for Welker, I judge it’s excessively aboriginal to number connected him arsenic a starter successful 2022. Perhaps he’s acceptable to play 3rd base, but helium inactive has a batch to prove.
First base, of course, volition beryllium manned by C.J. Cron, who signed a two-year, $14.5 cardinal woody with the Rockies connected Tuesday.
Who connected the Rockies squad went to assemblage for engineering?
— Amanda Erskine, Castle Rock
Amanda, is this a instrumentality question? I cognize that Charlie Blackmon had plans to gain a grade successful mechanical engineering astatine Georgia Tech but ended up getting a grade successful business.
Also, lefty reliever Lucas Gilbreath studied engineering astatine Minnesota. Is determination idiosyncratic else?
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