Spring is Here!!!

Even though it is snowing outside and its only February, for me spring has officially arrived.  Pitchers and catchers (as well as the Todd-father!) have reported to camp.  That means that baseball is just around the corner.  I saw on the Rox website that there is just thirteen day till the first spring training game.  Oh how my heart flutters!

Now since I can’t afford to pay for the insiders package on ESPN, all I could do was look at the title page.  However, it seems like some people are thinking that the Rox will win the west.  Who would have ever thought that. ESPN actually thinking the Rox are worth anything.  
I don’t have much today.  The only thing that baseball is doing for me is keeping me going one step in front of the other.  Hope all is well
Bleeding Purple

My Version of the Hot Stove

Holy huge biceps Rockies Fans!!!  Let me the first out here in the blogsphere to welcome back
the hulking, heaving bulk that is Jason Giambi.  Now, this isn’t the greatest of signings or the biggest of
announcements, but it definitely crosses off something that needed to be
addressed.  With the departure of
Garret Atkins, the Rox had no sure back up at first base.  Now, we have someone who is solid at
the position as well as a monster at the dish.  The Hulk (which is what I like to call Giambi) hit .292 with
2 dingers and 11 RBIs in 19 games is the Rockies.  Welcome back Hulk, I hope my nickname for you sticks!

 

As I was waiting for my truck to get its alignment done, I
happened to pick up a copy of the Sporting News.  In it was an article where they asked front office types a
whole bunch of questions and had list answer with a player or executive.  One of the questions that I read was
who is the best defensive shortstop. 
Overwhelmingly, the execs stated that Troy Tulowitzki was the best.  When are the sports media going to
realize that and give him his much deserved gold glove? 

 

That’s all that I have for today kids.  Stay stoked on the game!!!!

 

Peace out

Bleeding Purple

Steroids a go-go

Now that I’m back, it’s time for me to comment on this whole
McGwire thing.  First off, it’s
about time.  Some one needed to
come forward from that home run race in ’98.  You had to think that those guys had to be on
something.  It seemed like all of a
sudden, the players were HUGE!!!!! 
Am I gonna say that I was questioning them then?  Of course not.  Now, I’ve never been a huge fan of
glorifying the long ball.  I have
always loved pitching and solid defense as well as playing the game station to
station.  Homers do have their
place and I will cheer as much as the next dude.  But this was the year that “saved” baseball.  Every single one of us was glued to our
TVs, asking our friends or listening to sports radio trying to find out if the
boys (McGwire and Sosa) had hit another one.  Now, for a young buck like I was then (16), it never
occurred to me that these guys might be chemically enhanced.  Looking back now, I don’t know how I
missed it.

 

I’m very glad that Mac came out and finally told the
truth.  My issue here is not that
he did it. My issue isn’t even the fact that other then breaking federal laws,
he didn’t break any baseball rules. 
My issue is that steroids use is still viewed as a smaller crime then that
committed by Pete Rose.  Don’t get
me wrong, betting on you own team in any way is not something that the baseball
world ever looks kindly on.  But
does that mean that we should accept Big Mac with open arms? Ray S. Johnson
writes a great article about Bud Selig having to come forward to accept some responsibility.
(Read it here http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=johnson/100114)
 In it, he questions the rationality
of keeping Pete banned for life but allowing some one like Mac to be the
hitting coach of the Cards.  It
doesn’t float with me.

 

Go Rox.  Welcome
back DLR.  Here comes another
postseason.

 

Peace out,

Bleeding Purple

Frustration

Sometimes I am just super frustrated to be a Rockies
fan.  Through out the whole off
season so far, there has been tons of talk about possible trades, free agents,
and so on.  Not once did I hear the
Rockies name in there.  I hate the
fact that we never seem to look for the top-notch talent.  I know that the Rox have been burnt in
the past by some of the big time contracts that they have put out there.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but those were
all pitchers.  We have been doing a
killer job of developing pitching talent though our farm system so we don’t
need to look for that.  But unfortunately,
Helton isn’t going to be around forever, we have never seemed to have a second
baseman for more than a year or two, and these are just things that pop in my
head at this instant.  I know that
we are a mid market team, but lets at least through our name out there.  Lets look to the future.  Lets at least pretend that we want to
stay a contender.

Wild Thing, Jake Taylor and more

Major League. What a classic flick.  I’m watching one of my all time favorites here (and the reason that I’m a life long Indians fan) and wondering were some of the great styles of baseball went to.  Today, big leaguers wear pajama pants and baggy tops. Back then, guys wore high socks and still had there caps on under there helmets.  Stirrups were still the rage. Where has the classic look gone?  I was watching the MLB network at work (don’t tell my boss) and saw that one of the old timers started a league where the classic style are still worn.  Don’t get me wrong, I love those loose pants. I wear them when I play fast pitch softball. But I think that players of today should have a little more respect for the history of the game.  In essence, baseball unis haven’t changed that much.  Pants, shirt, socks and cleats.  But now we have dudes like ManRam who look like they’re getting ready to cuddle up with there lady out there swinging the bat! 

Now there are a few players out there who are rocking the old styles.  Alex Rodriguez (love him or hate him), Ubaldo Jimenez and Seth Smith are the few that come to my mind when it comes to classic baseball style.  When I played in the wood bat league in Denver and in Italy I wore the classic high socks.  I just wish more players would get with it.  Jeter has some classic style and he makes it his own, (Congrats on tying up with the Iron Man.  Couldn’t have happened to a classier player!) 
In the end, most players are gonna do what works for them and I really can’t argue with that.  After all, they are the ones making the big bucks to swing the bat while I sit here and make nothing to write about it.  Here is to the Rox making the playoffs and looking good while doing it!

Rock Star

Brad Hawpe needs to think about changing his walk up and song so another of the Rockies can use his.  Hawpe has been walking up to Nickleback’s song “Rock Star” year, but one young gun proved that he is the true rock star of the Rox lineup.  Troy Tulowitzki went 5-5 with 7 RBIs last night in a romp of the Cubs.  Tulo had two singles, a double, triple and a home run.  Yes, you read that right.  Cycle time in the 303.  Young Troy not only made history by hitting for the cycle but also became only the second player ever to hit for the cycle and have an unassisted triple play.  Red Sox shortstop John Valetin is the other player.  Now tell me that isn’t something special.  

Now this brings me to something that has always bugged me but even more so now.  It’s time that the national media starts to recognize the greatness of west coast baseball.  I know that the Rox are really no where close to the coast but we are in the NL West so it counts the same. How is it that Tulo hits for the cycle and he is not the headliner on ESPN’s baseball page?  Both wild card leader are from the western divisions.  The Dodgers lead the MLB in wins until just recently.  It bugs me that there is not more talk about how good ball out west is.
That is it for today children.  Have fun at the ballpark
Peace,
Bleeding Purple

Trouble at Second

340x.jpgAs I sit here listening to the brilliant guys from Rockiescast, a few thoughts crossed my mind.  Second base has been an issue for the boys in purple for quite some time.  We can never seem to have a complete second baseman.  Either we have a guy who is phenomenal defensively or some one who can crush the ball.  What should we do about this? (I say this with no real chance of my advice being heeded.)  We have a guy that everyone seems to be pretty hyped up on in C. Springs.  Eric Young Jr is on the 40 man roster which means that they can bring him up easily.  Lets make room for him and see if he can live up not only to the hype, but to the big expectations that goes along with having the name Eric Young and being in a Rockies uniform.  
Now here are a couple of other options that really have no chance of coming true.  We have an amazing athlete and ball player out in center field.  Lets just clone a buttload of Dexter Fowlers and teach them how to play all of the other eight positions in the field and we would have a crazy good team.  My last option (and my favorite) is to just put me at second base.  I played a little second base in my day and I know that I could handle the pressures of being a big leaguer!  
Are some of these options realistic?  No.  Are they fun to think about? Yes.  All joking aside, the Kid Rox really need to find some kind of solution the this craziness that is second base.  If we can figure that out then we could go back to having a super potent lineup that could help us go to the playoffs.

I Don’t Think We Should

With the trade deadline looking us square in the face, rumors amount were some of the big name players with little time on their contracts will end up.  A lot of people in the Denver area have been saying that we should throw our hats in to the three ring circus that is the talks for Roy “Doc” Halladay.  Lets go get the local boy and see what happens, right? 

I’ve asked a lot of those people, many being friends of mine, what they think that we should give up to get a star like the Doc.  Most of the time, their response are like something out of an Archie comic.  I have heard everything from “we should trade Todd” (yeah right) to “can’t we just give them a bunch of minor league guys?”
No one really seems to know what the Jays want in return for Halladay but I think I have a pretty good idea and it won’t be cheap.  To get a guy like Halladay, we would have to give up a couple of really good arms and probably a position player or two.  Here is what I see we would have to give up:  Franklin Morales, Ubaldo Jimenez, and either Garret Atkins or Ian Stewart.  
That is a scary prospect right there.  Taking apart the rotation that has been killing it this year, letting go of one of the most exciting pitching prospects in baseball and possible losing some of our biggest power bats.  That is enough to give this humble blogger chills and a few nightmares!
Now, do I really think this is a likely possibility?  No in the slightest.  But it is something that I thought that I should address.  Something fun to discuss over a good cigar. (Thanks Pinky!!!)  I think that the Kid Rox are going to be pretty quite in the trade talks this year.
Well, there is a lot of good baseball to listen to today.  Enjoy the weekend and the baseball.
Peace,
Bleeding Purple

All Star Madness

The mid summer classic has been officially completed, and it was an alright one.  The Rox had two players there, Jason Marquis and Brad Hawpe, but only one of them got into the game.  As my boy Evan said, apparently leading the NL in wins isn’t good enough to get you into the All Star Game.  Now I understand it can be hard to get everyone into a game, especially on filled with so much talent, but c’mon guy.  

Now on a good note, Hawper go in there and went 0fer but just barely.  In the bottom of the seventh, Hawpe got a hold of a ball and it was heading over the fence when Carl Crawford reached up and stole All Star home run glory.  Now that was a catch.  I ain’t even mad at ya, Mr. Crawford.  Gotta love a play like that.  Carl was even named MVP of the game for that defensive play. 
The first half is over and its time to finish the season like the beginning.  The Rockies ended the first half over .500.  That is the first time that I can remember.  I am very happy with the way things have gone so far.  Now lets hope they can keep it up.
Not so much good stuff, but thats what I got.
Peace
Bleeding Purple

Happy America Day!!!

The fourth of July weekend is one where the MLB salutes the men and women in uniform by wearing those awesome red hats with the stars and stripes in the team logos.  Way cool.

Now, I’m an Iraqi and Afghani veteran and I have a few dreams involving the Rockies.  Hopefully someone from the front office will read this and grant my wish.  Its real easy for this to be completed and in just one day!  Just spend some time with the team in the clubhouse, take BP with the guys at Coors, and watch the game from a box seat.  See, not that difficult.
Now I know that I’m pulling on heart strings to try and get something that I want, but for those of you that know me personally, you know that I never use the fact that I’m a Vet to my advantage.  Serving was a privilege and an honor and a reward on its on.  But this one time I would love to get something out of it.  
Heres to hoping!
Peace,
Bleeding Purple
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