KRIEGER: Top 10 good moves by Rockies' O'Dowd

By Dave Krieger, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Dan O'Dowd has taken so much grief for so long as the hapless general manager of a hopeless baseball team that you are to be forgiven if you think the recent Rockies renaissance must be a miracle.

After all, how can a team possibly have a winning record when its general manager is so routinely disparaged?

In fact, when you look at the criticism closely, most of it is either dated (Mike Hampton, Jacob Cruz, Chone Figgins) or simple name-calling. Nothing is safer, especially if you're not really paying attention, than flogging a usual suspect.

At the risk of endangering this regional hobby, let's pause a moment to, you know, actually take a look.

Painstaking research, some of it with magnifying reading glasses, has revealed that the Rockies GM has made a few good moves, after all. Especially lately.

In fact, enough to make a top 10 list of O'Dowd moves that helped to produce this year's entertaining, young team:

• No. 10: Trading pitcher Marcos Carvajal to Seattle for catcher Yorvit Torrealba on Dec. 7, 2005.

Carvajal has since been released by Seattle and Tampa. He's now with Double-A Birmingham in the Mets organization. Torrealba has become the Rocks' principal catcher, providing passion, leadership with the young pitching staff, solid defense and clutch RBI.

• No. 9: Trading pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim to Florida for pitcher Jorge Julio last month.

Kim was past done with his Rockies teammates and had to go. O'Dowd assigned former Orioles pitching coach Mark Wiley to work with Julio, who was an effective closer for Baltimore. Presto. In 14 appearances for the kid Rocks, Julio has added needed depth to the bullpen.

• No. 8: Trading first baseman Ryan Shealy and pitcher Scott Dohmann to Kansas City for pitchers Jeremy Affeldt and Denny Bautista on July 31, 2006.

Shealy is a good guy and good hitter, but he's struggling this year, and with Todd Helton at first, there was no room for him anyway. Affeldt has given the Rockies a reliable late-inning lefty in addition to their closer.

• No. 7: Trading minor league pitchers Jim Miller and Jason Burch to Baltimore for starting pitcher Rodrigo Lopez in January.

Miller is at Triple-A Norfolk. Burch is at Single-A Frederick. Despite a short stint on the DL, Lopez is 4-0 with a 2.93 ERA. He's been Colorado's most consistent starter and adds a steady, veteran presence to a young rotation.

• No. 6: Drafting Jeff Francis in June 2002.

Five years later, Francis is an emerging ace. After a tough April, he has lowered his ERA to 3.44 and is 6-1 in his last seven decisions. In his last 12 innings, against the Red Sox and Yankees, he gave up one run.

• No. 5: Drafting Troy Tulowitzki in June 2005.

After a brief stop in the minor leagues, Tulo is a budding star at the most challenging defensive position, shortstop, with a huge upside.

• No. 4: Trading infielder Jeff Cirillo to Seattle for closer Brian Fuentes and two other pitchers on Dec. 15, 2001.

Since his departure, Cirillo has been a journeyman third baseman with no power. He's on his fourth team since leaving. Fuentes has been one of the most reliable closers in the game.

• No. 3: Trading pitcher Jason Jennings to Houston for center fielder Willy Taveras and pitchers Jason Hirsh and Taylor Buchholz.

Jennings has been hurt twice and made just seven starts for the Astros, going 1-1. He still appears likely to become a free agent at season's end. Taveras is batting over .300 as the Rockies' leadoff man and has helped to create the most disruptive top of the order they've had. Hirsh is starting and Buchholz relieving and spot-starting for the major league club.

• No. 2: Trading veteran outfielder Eli Marrero to the Mets for second baseman Kaz Matsui on June 9, 2006.

Unemployed for most of the season, Marrero just hooked on with Triple-A Memphis in the Cardinals organization. Matsui has given the Rocks an electric offensive presence in the No. 2 hole, hitting over .300 and stealing 13 of 14 bases. He and Tulowitzki have provided outstanding middle infield defense. Suddenly, everyone can see why he was hyped as one of the best players in Japan before coming to the States and disappointing in his stint with the Mets.

• No. 1: Not trading Todd Helton to Boston during the last offseason.

O'Dowd was willing to take back veteran third baseman Mike Lowell from the Red Sox if he also could get minor league pitchers Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen.

When the Red Sox countered with Lowell and veteran pitcher Julian Tavarez, O'Dowd walked away. For all the accusations that money is all the Rocks care about, they passed on an opportunity to save a bundle on Helton. In exchange, they retained a Hall of Fame-caliber role model and reliable gamer for an up-and-coming young team.

Not too bad. Upon further review, O'Dowd seems to have snuck in a good call here and there. Maybe it's time to take him off your dartboard.

kriegerd@RockyMountainNews.com