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Sulking isn't Fuentes' way

Reliever motivated, but not by arbitration loss

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 18, 2008 at 12:45 a.m.
Updated February 18, 2008 at 3:26 p.m.

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Photo by Barry Gutierrez © The Rocky

Brian Fuentes was the Rockies' closer from mid-May 2005 until early July last season, when he blew four consecutive save opportunities.

Photo by Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky

Brian Fuentes was the Rockies' closer from mid-May 2005 until early July last season, when he blew four consecutive save opportunities.

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Brian Fuentes was cut from his high school baseball team. He was told he wasn't good enough to play his first year in junior college and had to redshirt. In the minor leagues, he was told to develop an unorthodox throwing style to try to survive in pro ball.

So when he showed up a day late for spring training Sunday morning, the left- hander just shrugged at suggestions that losing his salary arbitration case to the Rockies could affect him adversely.

The team, after all, did emphasize the negative in justifying the $5.05 million salary he was awarded - $1.45 million less than the figure his agents filed.

"Mentally, I feel I am strong enough to overcome just about everything," Fuentes said. "That's what made me successful as a closer. If I was going to let what was said beat me down, I wouldn't be here today."

Fuentes is at a career crossroads. He was an All-Star as the Rockies closer each of the past three seasons. But his weeklong slump in late June, combined with a month on the disabled list because of a strained muscle in his side, provided Manny Corpas an opportunity to close, leaving Fuentes in a setup role.

Fuentes' preference is to close. And he expects to get that opportunity again.

His focus now is on pitching well so he can be ready when that opportunity comes. It might be this season. It could be next. It might be with the Rockies. It could be with another team.

Fuentes is a potential free agent after the season. It also creates the possibility that, depending on who emerges in the bullpen and how the Rockies perform, he could be traded during the season.

"If the organization feels it makes the team better to trade me, so be it," Fuentes said. "That's not my decision. It's my job to come in and get guys out, no matter when I am pitching. I am (the Rockies') pawn."

He has been a valuable commodity in two aspects - a proven closer and a quality left-handed reliever who can get out right-handed hitters.

For Fuentes to have value, he needs to pitch well. But that's not what drives him.

"I want to pitch well no matter what," he said. "If I knew this was going to be my last year, I would want to do well. That's my competitive nature."

He is realistic, though. He and several teammates talked Sunday morning about players still looking for work, including Josh Fogg, a consistent member of the Rockies rotation the past two years unable so far to catch on with any team in spring training.

The Rockies had initial talks last fall with Fogg's agent. At the time, the expectation was Fogg would get a three-year guarantee, so the Rockies' thoughts of a one-year deal worth around $5 million quickly were put to rest.

That was a reminder for Fuentes about the positives of his situation, particularly after spending Thursday in the arbitration hearing listening to Rockies front office personnel dwell on negatives in an effort to win the arbitration case. They brought up those four blown saves in June. They made sure the arbitration panel knew Fuentes no longer was a closer.

The bottom line, though, was they were offering him $5.05 million - a sizable increase from the $3.5 million he was paid a year ago - so they do feel he has value.

"It's tough (hearing the negatives), but they are trying to put up the best argument they can for their case and, obviously, my guys were doing the same thing on our side," Fuentes said. "At times, it is difficult to look across the table (at the hearing) and see guys who are normally on your side, but you have to realize they are trying to get to the market value and apparently what I thought it was was too high. I'm happy to have a job. A lot of guys don't have one right now."

So for now, Fuentes will do his job as a setup man at the same time longing to get back into the ninth-inning role.

"I have complete faith in my ability to do the job throughout the year, but I also know ultimately I can close," he said. "It is hard to find someone who has done what I have done at Coors Field. I am not gloating but I feel I've proven myself."

Fuentes also knows the proving never ends.

"I have one more year (before free agency). I understand that if you pitch well, good things happen," he said. "It falls on me."

NUMBERS GAME

3 wins for right-handed reliever Ryan Speier during the Rockies' 14-1 finish to the 2007 regular season, the most of any pitcher on the staff. Franklin Morales, Jeff Francis and Brian Fuentes had two wins apiece. Mark Redman, Josh Fogg, Ubaldo Jimenez, Matt Herges and Ramon Ortiz each had one victory.

ARRIVAL

Right-hander Luis Vizcaino cleared up visa problems in his native Dominican Republic and joined the Rockies for their Sunday workout, one day late. Vizcaino is going to handle a right-handed late-inning role in the bullpen.

"We don't have anything in the cement except that Manny (Corpas) will be at the back end and (Brian Fuentes) will pitch in front of him," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Vizcaino has shown he has been able to do that, too, which is important because Brian and Manny are not going to be available every day."

ASSISTANCE

Right-handers Kip Wells and Aaron Cook have a bond that extends past baseball. Two spring trainings ago, Wells was diagnosed with a blood clot and underwent surgery to transplant a vein from his leg into his right shoulder.

Fogg, a Rockies teammate of Cook who had been a teammate of Wells with the White Sox and Pittsburgh, arranged for Wells to talk with Cook, who dealt with a more severe blood clot problem that led to Cook having some ribs removed, in addition to the transplant.

"My situation wasn't as invasive as Aaron and wasn't life-threatening, but it helped to have someone to talk to about the situation," Wells said.

HE SAID IT

"I don't think that the second day of spring training we need to announce the Opening Day starter. That will take care of itself. There won't be any competition."

Hurdle, who will give the honor to 17-game winner Francis.

Tracy Ringolsby

Comments

  • February 18, 2008

    11:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    chartguy writes:

    Anybody else notice how the Rockies are only giving out 1-year contracts? That buys them this season, but an awful lot of last season's stars are going to be free agents in a year. Unless the Monforts are willing to pay to keep players like Matt Holliday, the Rockies will be back in the cellar by 2009.

  • February 18, 2008

    12:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    warrengfunk7 writes:

    It means they need the fans to show up this season, to generate the funds to re-sign them to long-term contracts.

  • February 18, 2008

    2:47 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    atfisher writes:

    Are you paying attention? Tulo got a SIX year deal. The overpaid Luis Vizcaino for a TWO year deal. Aaron Cook inked a FOUR year contract. Holliday signed a TWO year deal. Holliday has only two years left before his arbitration years are up and he becomes a full-fledged free agent. We signed him for the max years possible. That's not exactly a slew of one year deals. Atkins is the only notable name I can think of. I think the Monforts have really stepped up to the plate this offseason so far.

  • February 18, 2008

    3:22 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DeimosJB writes:

    The 1 year deals the Rockies are passing out are mostly to their arbitration-eligible players, which is the norm. I think the initiator of this thread was probably not familiar with MLB.