Building the Rockies
One of my favorite features is to look at how teams were constructed. This is nothing new, as I have dissected other teams in the past that enjoy a rapid and somewhat unexpected turnaround season. One thing is always in common with the teams that have the biggest turnaround: A wealth of young talent.
If teams that have been stuck in the cellar haven’t taken notice, they should. If you don’t have a strong base of talent, you are going to have an incredibly hard time being successful. Rarely do you hear about a team dropping a boatload of cash on the free agent market and going from worst to first. Free agency really should be used to complement an already strong foundation of talent.
So in what specific areas did the Rockies succeed when it comes to scouting and player development? Really, all of them. Scouting Director Bill Schmidt is responsible for assembling most of the organization’s talent through the draft starting in the year 2000.
The Rockies are no strangers to the international market either, with a strong presence in both the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. They have even dabbled in Taiwan, an area they have seemed to back off from after dropping big money on pitchers Chin-Hui Tsao and Ching-Lung Lo, neither of whom have lived up to their previous billing.
General Manager Dan O’Dowd is the man that put it all together. He came from an extremely strong scouting and player development background from the Cleveland Indians, and brought that same emphasis to Colorado. It took a few years to assemble the talent, but it didn’t taken long at all to make a lasting impression.
The Draft
Look no further than almost the entire starting lineup for the Rockies to see how well the team has drafted under the guidance of Bill Schmidt. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (first round, 2005), third baseman Garrett Atkins (fifth round, 2000), centerfielder Ryan Spilborghs (seventh round, 2002) and right fielder Brad Hawpe (11th round, 2000), should help continue to carry the Rockies in the foreseeable future.
Matt Holliday and Todd Helton are not part of Schmidt’s prized drafts, but they have been completely procured from within the Rockies organization. Holliday was a seventh rounder in 2007, and is contention for the MVP award this year. Helton has been a mainstay with the Rockies since being selected eighth overall in 1995, and hasn’t missed a beat since his impressive 1997 debut.
A sign of the type of athletes the Rockies have always targeted, both Holliday and Helton were incredibly talented amateur quarterbacks. Holliday signed directly out of high school, while Helton starred for the Tennessee Volunteers in both baseball and football.
The starting pitchers for the Rockies in games one and four of the World Series were Jeff Franics (first round, 2002) and Aaron Cook (second round, 1997).
Key components off the bench include Cory Sullivan (seventh round, 2001), Jeff Baker (fourth round, 2002) and Seth Smith (second round, 2004).
The bullpen is the one area that did not have a significant presence from the Rockies impressive string of drafts in recent seasons.
International Scouting
The Rockies have also done a very good job signing players on the international front. As noted above, they spent big money on a pair of Taiwanese right-handed pitchers, although those resources now seem to be used more for scouting Latin America. While Chin-Hui Tsao is no longer with the organization, Ching-Lung Lo remains in the system, and still has some promise.
World Series Game Two starter Ulbado Jimenez (Dominican Republic, 2001) didn’t take long to figure out big-league hitters, and his presence along with players like Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook are big reasons why the Rockies success should continue. Lefty Franklin Morales (Venezuela, 2002) also made his big-league debut this past season with equally high expectations for continued improvement.
Manny Corpas’ (Panama, 1999) emergence a year ago carried over to this year, and he replaced incumbent closer Brian Fuentes at mid-season.
Another projected relief pitcher, Juan Morillo (Dominican Republic, 2001), also made his big-league debut in 2006, and spent a couple of more innings with the big-league team this past year. The Rockies decided to move his blazing fastball to the ‘pen in the hopes of speeding up his ascension to the majors, and he could be poised to replace one of either Matt Herges or LaTroy Hawkins to begin the 2008 season, both of whom are free agents.
Free Agents
The Rockies haven’t spent a lot of resources on the free agent market in recent years, with LaTroy Hawkins, Matt Herges and Josh Fogg being the only players from the World Series team that were added this way. Incidentally, all three are now free agents this off-season, and the Rockies may let all three depart given the young players they have ready to step in and take their places.
Shrewd Trades
O’Dowd has never been shy about making trades, although the size and scope of those trades have lessened since he took over late in 1999.
The biggest trade he has made may have taken place at this time last off-season when he dealt Jason Jennings for a pair of right-handed starters, Taylor Buccholz and Jason Hirsch, as well as speedy centerfielder Willy Taveras. I’m sure if given the opportunity, the Astros would love to have that trade back, as Buccholz and Hirsch in particular could make the Rockies starting staff from one through five one of the best in all of baseball.
Former closer and current setup man Brian Fuentes was acquired in a package for Jeff Cirillo several years ago. Second baseman Kaz Matsui was traded for Eli Marrero. Yorvit Torrealba came in return for Marcos Carvajal, and utility man Jamey Carroll was acquired in exchange for cash from the Nationals.
More Help On the Way
Arguably the most impressive part about the Rockies is that they have a lot more high level talent moving up the ladder, with several players on the cusp of contributing.
Players not mentioned above include seven members from the Rockies draft classes of 2003 through 2007. This includes the 10th overall pick from 2003, third baseman Ian Stewart, catcher Iannetta (fourth round, 2004), first baseman Joe Koshansky (sixth round, 2004), centerfielder Dexter Fowler (14th round, 2004), the second overall pick from 2006, right-handed starter Greg Reynolds, another righty, Chaz Roe (1s, 2005) and the eighth overall pick from last year, fire-balling reliever Casey Weathers (first round, 2007).
Stewart reportedly has been playing second base this fall to see if he is a possible replacement for free agent Kaz Matsui, while Iannetta may replace another free agent, Yorvit Torrealba. Koshansky may have a hard time making the time given the glut of big bats at the corner infield and outfield positions.
Greg Reynolds handled AA in his first full, professional season rather easily, while Casey Weathers could make the big-league team out of spring training, and may prompt the Rockies to deal Brian Fuentes.
Five-tool shortstop Hector Gomez, signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2004, was one of the top players in low-A ball this past year. He has a ways to go, and even then is unlikely to replace Troy Tulowitzki, but he’s another talented chip the Rockies boast.
So once again it comes down to talent, and when it comes to the Rockies, we’re talking about a lot of talent. The quality and quantity of that talent is incredibly important for a team like the Rockies for long-term, sustained success since their payroll likely will never elevate for them to compete financially with the usual suspects. As noted several times above, there are plenty of current examples to point to, as the team does have quite a few free agents that they more than likely have to replace between now and April.
The good thing for them is that they have plenty of players poised to step up and embrace that challenge.
The thoughts and opinions listed here do not necessarily reflect those of Perfect Game USA. Patrick Ebert is affiliated with both Perfect Game USA and Brewerfan.net, and can be contacted via email at pebert@brewerfan.net.