Thanks to some creative shuffling, the Rockies will open their 2012 season this Friday sporting several surprise players on their 25 man roster. While the debate here on Rox Walk Off has centered around “which platoon player will make the team, Eric Young Jr., Herrera or Nelson” the announcement that all three will make the squad seems to be a politicians way of pleasing everyone.
Another slight surprise is Wilin Rosario, also making the club, with Jordan Pacheco as a potential third catcher (when he isn’t covering the hot corner or spelling Helton/Giambi.)
The team will carry g a 5th outfielder in Tyler Colvin. Not a surprise with the way he has been playing this spring, but a surprise having so many gloves in the outfield.
Perhaps the biggest head-scratcher is Matt Reynolds making the bullpen after his horrible Spring against lefties.
Don’t get too comfortable with all of these extra players on the team though because one will have to say goodbye come Saturday as Moyer is activated and another on April 15th when Drew Pomeranz makes his first start.
I guess we can view this as an “Extended Spring Training Tryout” of sorts, waiting to see which of the “extras” shakes out, making April 16th the “true” 25 man roster for team.
Those making the opening day roster:
PITCHERS
Jeremy Guthrie
Juan Nicasio
Jhoulys Chacin
Matt Belisle
Rafael Betancourt
Rex Brothers
Tyler Chatwood
Matt Reynolds
Josh Roenicke
Esmil Rogers
Josh Outman (food poisoning, so if not ready then White might take place)
CATCHERS
Ramon Hernandez
Wilin Rosario
INFIELDERS
Todd Helton
Marco Scutaro
Troy Tulowitzki
Jordan Pacheco
Chris Nelson
Jason Giambi
Jonathan Herrera
OUTFIELDERS
Carlos Gonzalez
Dexter Fowler
Michael Cuddyer
Tyler Colvin
Eric Young Jr.
I was reading MLBTR and saw that the Reds likely won’t resign Brandon Phillips until after the season if at all. So here’s the fun question to ponder, though I know the finances probably would preclude the Rockies for doing this, but just for fun, what would you offer? Even knowing that the Rockies can’t afford him, here’s what I’d do for a 1 year rental knowing you’d get at least 1 draft pick, probably 2, when he leaves. One… Read more »
Last I heard a couple of days ago, it was alleged Pacheco and Nelson would be platooned at 3rd. This came from the Texas tv guys doing the game.
I read that too. Since they both hit from the right I wouldn’t consider it a platoon, per se, but I think rotating them a bit to keep them both active is a good call. Primarily I would play Nelson and as long as Nelson hits there is no reason to play Pacheco too much. Maybe once a week? But if Nelson doesn’t hit then going 60/40 in favor of Nelson would be ok. But I really hope Nelson takes… Read more »
Did the Rockies just release White?
If you read the update, Alex White was optioned to the minor leagues.
Sorry, never mind. I found it. He was not released just optioned to the Springs.
Thanks RMH. We just had a minor scare based on an update someone received. Your’e right I didn’t read your update.
The OD roster is interesting as it is – only three starting pitchers while carrying an extra bench player AND an extra arm in the bullpen. Saturday when Moyer is activated, that will obviously squeeze someone out and then again another roster move when DrewPo is recalled to start on the 15th.
Has the team announced yet announced the rosters for Colorado Springs and Tulsa? Tulsa?
Woke up at 4:00 in the morning today (in the Philippines) to watch the game and heard Jeff Huson announce EYj had made the team. So, got up, put together a news item for the front with all of the announcements and then after I posted it I noticed this post by RMH…I should combine it so the comments are together, but i’m pretty exhausted! Wow, fun fun fun – can’t wait for Friday (or my Saturday Morning actually!)
Ok, decided to combine the two posts so these comments were put together with the new one…thanks again RMH for keeping on top of the news…
The math’s not really working here.
8 starters in the field. 5 SPs. Then you have 15 players listed above. Even subtracting 1 off the bench to start at 3rd I think you’re still at 27 players. So what am I missing?
Sorry Prog, i reformatted it and added the starters to make it more clear…
ah there it is. Thanks.
Wow, 2 must go. Esmil and EYJ seem to make good trade bait. Hope they don’t sell low on Nelson.
Esmil was legit at the end of todays game – i still have hope in him. I think Reynolds would be the safter bet to bounce down…
sorry, misread your comment Prog – you are right about trading potential – thought you were talking about them being sent down…
Prog, that’s my thought also that we see one or two guys get traded, and EY and Rogers seem like good candidates.
Everyone has their favorites sure but I hope that it is Chatwood and Herrara that get sent down. The Springs actually needs a starting pitcher since all the really good starters and injured Bettis are on the Tulsa squad, so that’s why I say Chatwood. He is very young, needs a lot of innings, and should still be “starter” material rather than relagated to the bullpen. Herrara, just because I really don’t like Johnny’s game – all defense with little… Read more »
One thing I have trouble figuring out is why Pacheco has never been in the conversation at 2B. If I remember right, it is his natural position, and a bat like that would be welcome at 2B. Yes, I understand that Scutaro was brought in to play 2B, but looking ahead to 2013, what would be wrong with Pacheco at 2B, Nelson at Util, Areando at 3B? Or am I just a lousy judge of talent? Had Ubaldo’s fastball put… Read more »
One more interesting question… why wasn’t DLR on the roster, then immediately DL’d?
Iggy,
At this time there are only 37 on the 40 man roster so there is no need to put De La Rosa on the DL. He would have to be placed on the 60 day DL to affect the 40 man roster.
All this maneuvering is for one game on Friday, right? I know the Rockies love nothing more than options and flexibility, but this strikes me as a bit over the top. Haven’t they seen enough this spring to be able to know who they want on the team? As an earlier comment said, a player will have to be removed Saturday when Moyer is put on the roster…so why not just make the move now?
Iggy, I was thinking the same thing about O’Dowd pulling off a deal. He’s going to great lengths to keep guys who are out of options on the roster – Nelson, EY Jr., Roenicke (I think he could refuse a minor league assignment), as well as Herrera. That buys him a few extra days time to avoid the bottom feeders (think the Astros, our first opponent) picking up somebody like EY for nothing. Escalona is probably also going to be… Read more »
Just don’t anybody b**** if Dan deals some of these guys for prospects. I think it’s an OK team to go into the season.
You hit the nail on the head re: bullpen. I don’t worry about the pen too much. There are plenty of interchangeable options. It’s going to be a fun year. Can’t wait, and glad I found you guys to talk baseball with!
Good job Iggy. Your comments are right-on.
OrangeRocks, Pacheco started as a 2B, but he wasn’t mobile enough to play that position, so that’s why he was turned into a catcher/3B/1B. By late 2013 or early 2014 I think that Ruttledge is playing 2B for the Rockies (he’ll be at Tulsa to start this season). I think that Chatwood gets sent down when Moyer gets added. And I think that EY gets traded (sorry Pooter) by the time that it’s time to add Pomeranz. I think that… Read more »
I think it will be Chatwood down for starter innings work when Moyer is activated. Then Herrera with option down for DrewPo start. You can expect EY and Colvin in the Sunday lineup along with Pacheco at 1B.
RMH..wish you would have posted this before I selected my games last Sunday. I would have passed on Sunday games…and not because of Colvin which I hope continues his success this spring ; )
LOL I forgot about the “Sunday is a day of rest” thing.
Purple Mondays preceeded by Sangria Sundays!
Eric Young Jr. and Fowler 1 and 2 in the lineup is sure proved to be a deadly combo!! HA HA!! I am glad EYJ made the team and I look foward to him proving his worth and eventually taking over for Fowler in CF.
i think EYj will be the DH when Bud changes the NL to match the AL crap way of doing business!
Just imagine fellow Rockies fans…….. Rockies down one in the bottom of the 9th. The Rockies will most likely have one of these people hitting in the crucial moment: Scutaro, Tulo, Cargo, Helton, Cuddyer, or Giambi. The other team will also know that the Rockies have either EYJ or Fowler waiting to pinch run. I think the 2012 Rockies team is much more dangerous than last years squad. Looking foward to what is to come!
Unfortunately Pooter, in my imagination that scenario ends with EYJ or Fowler getting picked off 1st to end the game.
LMAO..good one Prog
Come on man! Ha Ha!!
dude, Prog, one of the best comments you’ve ever presented to us!
Seems fairly obvious DOD is hanging on to these guys as long as possible in hopes of a trade. If nothing shakes out right away, then Chatwood and Herrera go to AAA and DOD lets the season run its course. Injuries and prolonged slumps will take their due course. That said, I’ll be surprised if EY and Rogers are with the Rox by Sept.
The common baseball expert opinion (although I don’t agree) is that Pacheco does not have the range to play everyday at second base – as such he has been moved to catcher, 3rd and 1st.
They (those experts) said EY2 couldn’t play 2nd as well, but I still like him there. Ducks!
You are right defense is not my biggest priority for the Rocks!
With that swiss cheese defense / off by six clicks cannon of an arm on EYj, you are correct – not your biggest priority…
Actually he was only moved to catcher. It was last season when this whole 3rd base thing came about. I believe he had a grand total of 5 games at 3rd before his major league debut playing 3rd. True enough, he may get some time at 1st but I will wait to see how that plays out. There are 2 stories you can read for background on Pacheco. Do a search for an article by Jack Etkin. In that article… Read more »
I like Jordan and think he offers a lot of utility to the Rox. I just hope Drew can figure out that his first name is Jordan and not something else. It used to drive me nuts to hear him refer to Jordan by some other name. I guess if your name is Pacheco then you must be Juan or Luis or something like that:-)
I think the reason we are holding on to Rogers as long as possible is that his heaters are nice when coming out of the bullpen. Rogers throws 95-98 with quick short arm action. He didn’t have the above average secondary pitches required of a starter. So the Rox are going to run with him in the pen and see if he can blow by the batters with occasional curves to keep the hitters honest. In my view, he will… Read more »
worked for Papebon ; )
you know, i really like that Pap is the Phils closer cause we seem to T-Off on that guy…if memory serves the Red Sox v Rockies game where Giambi walked off on him was followed the next night by us again “blowing his save”…sure, he got the win after we lost the game because JT didn’t intentionally walk Pedroia, who came to the plate in the 10th having gone 4 for 4 with 2 HR’s already…i was SCREAMING (from right… Read more »
Agreed RMH. I still wonder why they don’t give him a shot at closing. He has a flame thrower for an inning. If his head is into it, he might be very good at it.
and by the time he comes in late batters are usually tired so those 95-98’s look much faster…i like the idea of having him be a shutdown guy later in games, possible the 7th or 8th if Brothers is slated to close…
Rogers control problems and mental make-up would worry me as a closer.
Is one of those pictures above Jay Payton?
Ha! nice catch…it was labeled “Chris Nelson” and i didn’t even look closely at it when i created that, but after you asked i look at it and it totally looked like Jay Payton – i went back to the PhotoStream i got it from and all of the images were of Jay Payton, but this one was tagged Chris Nelson! I can’t even say it was an april fools thing cause i posted it on the 2nd! It will… Read more »
Outman placed on DL; no corresponding move yet; probably will be White recalled to take his place.
Outman hurt himself throwing up!!! He makes the roster only to hurt himself puking!!! This would be my lineup opening day: Scutaro 2b Pacheco 3b Cargo RF Tulo SS Cuddyer LF Helton 1B Hernandez C Fowler CF pitcher I know this isn’t going to happen because I aready read that he is penciled in at the 2 hole. However, I think Pacheco and Nelson could capitalize on hitting before the studs and could resemble Mike (“The Laser”) Lansing doing so.… Read more »
If I was making the lineup card, I would put Helton 2nd and Dex 6th or 7th. I’ve thought that Todd would be a great 2 hole hitter for a couple of years now. Only problem is he would be easy to double up, but with his bat control, some of that could be overcome. Scutaro can lead off until Dex gets off the schneid, then the lineup could be tweaked to put them all back where we originally thought… Read more »
Iggy, Helton did bat 2nd for maybe a couple games last year. The Rockies’ thinking was the same as yours, and I think it made a lot of sense. But Jim Tracy gave up on that batting order without even giving it a chance. He never explained why. Actually, I’d go one step further and bat Helton leadoff. Unorthodox, but he’s the expert at making pitchers work. And at this late stage of his career, his whole game is about… Read more »