Rockies' bruises of 2008 quickly fading

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 29, 2008 at 2:19 p.m.

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David Zalubowski / Associated Press

Colorado's Garrett Atkins, right, is congratulated by Matt Holliday after belting a three-run homer against the Padres in July. Atkins and Holliday may be candidates to be traded in the offseason.

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The Rockies are tainted by the struggles of this season, but not jaded.

Disappointments have not caused dismay.

Manager Clint Hurdle and general manager Dan O'Dowd met Monday to start finalizing an offseason approach that will carry into 2009. They admit changes are pending, including on the coaching staff, but the feeling remains the Rockies have the foundation to contend in the National League West.

"With all that didn't go the way we had envisioned, I also saw some encouraging standpoints," O'Dowd said. "The emergence of (catcher Chris) Iannetta and (third baseman Ian) Stewart give us reason to feel the future is bright. The development of Ubaldo Jimenez and the evolution of Jorge De La Rosa to go with Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook give us four good starters going into next year.

"We don't have to rebuild our staff, but we need to complement it. It could come from outside the organization or we could have one of three in-house candidates (Jason Hirsh, Franklin Morales or Greg Reynolds) step forward."

None of the Rockies coaches has been told whether they will be invited back for 2009, and it could be a couple of weeks before those decisions are finalized. There is no guarantee any of the members of Hurdle's 2008 staff will return.

"We aren't going to hurry into anything," O'Dowd said. "They each know where we are. We've met with each coach."

The spring training focus will be reshaped, with the Rockies looking to regain the emphasis on day-to-day execution, which was so critical in their drive to the first NL pennant in franchise history in 2007.

"We're not going to try and reinvent spring training," O'Dowd said. "But we need to review our focus. What's the value of playing in 'A' games compared to 'B' games? What's the value of making the road trips? How many innings or at-bats do we need players to get? The little things can become big things. We don't want to have things get away from us."

But there will be some players who might get away, particularly closer Brian Fuentes, who is free-agent eligible.

The Rockies will offer arbitration, and even though Fuentes likely would command at least $10 million in that process, the Rockies would be thrilled if he accepted. But the reality is, he most likely is going to get a three-year deal from a team that will be worth closer to $36 million.

The Rockies, though, do have the type of talent that could lead to front-page-type trades, including third baseman Garrett Atkins, made expendable by the development of Stewart, and left fielder Matt Holliday, whose value will diminish once next season begins in light of his pending free agency and the presence of agent Scott Boras.

"We are extremely happy with who we are as an organization, but we do have personnel decisions to make," O'Dowd said. "We have the depth that will allow us to make the club better overall."

Spring training is Tulo's salve for 2008 disappointment

Troy Tulowitzki is ready for spring training to start.

"The sooner the better," he said. "We can put (the 2008 season) behind us."

As bad as things went in 2008, the Rockies are looking forward to 2009, and Tulowitzki as much as anyone is a symbol of why the Rockies can see hope for the future out of the disappointment of the recent past.

Troubled by self-imposed pressures and injuries in the first half of the season, Tulowitzki reaffirmed his status among the elite players with a strong second half.

After hitting .166 with only three home runs and 16 RBI in a first half that was limited to 151 at-bats by disabled-list stints for a torn tendon in his left quadriceps and a right hand laceration, Tulowitzki finished by hitting .327 with five home runs and 30 RBI in 226 at-bats in the second half of the season.

"The second half, I felt I was the same player, and that was encouraging," Tulowitzki said. "I wasn't a total failure."

The challenge, Tulowitzki said, was a benefit.

"I learned a lot to make me better," he said. "I learned to deal with failure better. It brought back reality. I realize how tough the game is and that you have to keep working. If you take this game for granted, it will teach you a lesson."

• September 30, 2008

  5:59 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  moose writes:

  Holliday to the Rays for David Price

• September 30, 2008

  6:51 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  RockiesWin writes:

  As excellent as Matt Cain is and will be, you can't trade within the division. That would haunt us for years!

• September 30, 2008

  10:51 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  fjv1026 writes:

  "...we could have one of three in-house candidates (Jason Hirsh, Franklin Morales or Greg Reynolds) step forward."

  OK...do you see where this is going? Nice graphics on the "Holliday/Atkins trade wish list" but the above statement reaffirms management's (Monforts/O'Dowd) total lack of interest in spending money for QUALITY arms. They are opening the door for these losers to pitch again.

  Put up or shut up Monfarts/O'Dud. I love the Rockies but as the great rock band "The Who" said, "....won't get fooled again...."

• October 4, 2008

  6:57 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  LockeRobster writes:

  If they could get Saunders AND Santana from the Angels for Atkins, they should pull that trigger as soon as it is possible. I can't see the Halos parting with both of those guys for Garret, though. But either of them plus another pitching prospect and a position prospect (2B or CF) would do.

  I still wish they could find a way to move Helton and keep Atkins, though. He's twice the hitter Helton is at this point.

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