Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Re-signing of Podsednik key move in Rockies' outfield

Center fielder is flexible; eight invited to camp

By Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 14, 2009 at 3:07 p.m.

Text size  
Podsednik had 12 stolen bases last season with the Rockies.

Photo by © AP

Podsednik had 12 stolen bases last season with the Rockies.

More Colorado Rockies

More stories »

The Rockies re-signed outfielder Scott Podsednik on Wednesday, giving them the veteran left-handed hitting center fielder they were seeking to back up Ryan Spilborghs and a welcome base-stealing threat in the absence of Willy Taveras.

Like he did last year, Podsednik will come to spring training as a nonroster invitee and will make $800,000 if he's added to the Rockies roster.

He made $750,000 last year when he parlayed that same opportunity into a spot on the Opening Day roster. In 93 games, he batted .253 with one home run and 15 RBI.

His 12 steals (in 16 attempts) were more stolen bases than any returning Rockies player other than Clint Barmes (13). As a pinch hitter Podsednik went 9-for-50.

The Rockies were happy with Podsednik's performance in his limited role off the bench and felt he was a very good influence in the clubhouse.

The return of Podsednik, who turns 33 in March, means the Rockies won't have to force left- handed hitting Carlos Gonzalez and switch-hitting Dexter Fowler, both center fielders, onto the major league roster where their development might be slowed as a result of not playing regularly.

In addition to Podsednik, the Rockies gave nonroster invitations to spring training to pitchers Matt Belisle, Glendon Rusch and Cedrick Bowers; outfielder Dan Ortmeier; catcher Paul Phillips, and infielders Luis Gonzalez and Jonathan Herrera.

Belisle, 28, has pitched in 132 major league games (43 starts), all with Cincinnati during the past five seasons.

He went 1-4 with a 7.28 ERA in six starts for the Reds last year. A sore right forearm delayed the start of Belisle's season until April 21.

After his sixth start May 25, the Reds sent him to Triple-A Louisville (Ky.) to work as a reliever.

He never made it back to the majors.

Belisle went 5-1 with a 4.26 ERA in 26 games at Louisville.

But a torn right anterior cruciate ligament ended his season in mid-August, and he underwent surgery Aug. 19.

Rusch, like Podsednik, stands a good chance of ending up on the Opening Day roster.

He went 4-3 with a 4.78 ERA in 23 games (nine starts) for Colorado last year.

Bowers was with the Rockies briefly in early July and had a 13.50 ERA in five relief appearances before returning to Colorado Springs, where he went 6-1 with a 3.74 ERA in 35 games.

Ortmeier, 27, has played in 124 games during the past four years with San Francisco.

In 38 games last year, he batted .219 with five RBI.

A one-time switch-hitter who is concentrating on batting right-handed, Ortmeier can play center field but played the corner outfield positions with the Giants as well as 13 games at first base.

Phillips, 31, went 0-for-2 in four games for the Chicago White Sox last year and hit .269 with two homers and 17 RBI in 73 games for Triple-A Charlotte (N.C.)

Phillips is likely to end up sharing the catching load at Triple-A Colorado Springs with Edwin Bellorin, whom the Rockies took off their 40-man roster earlier in the offseason but who also will come to camp as a nonroster invitee.

Gonzalez played the past two years with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan and will be seeking to return to the Rockies organization.

He was the Rockies' Opening Day second baseman in 2004 and 2006 and hit .283 with 23 home runs and 98 RBI in 291 games for the Rockies from 2004 to 2006.

Herrera was taken off the 40-man roster earlier in the offseason.

In 28 games with the Rockies, the last June 14, he hit .230 with three RBI.

Comments

  • January 14, 2009

    6:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Juice writes:

    Posednik will be needed as I feel Spilbroughs is not an everyday starter. I think Posednik will start in center unless Gonzalez or Fowler take the next step in spring training and Spilbroughs will be in left. Left to right will probably be Spilly, Posednik, Hawpe, then Stewart, Tulo, Barmes and Atkins on the infield. I feel that is the best and most consistant team we can put on the field. Now, if Gonzalez or Fowler take the next step we only get a little stronger.

  • January 14, 2009

    7:37 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    robo5555 writes:

    I see no mention of Todd Helton.....

  • January 14, 2009

    11:16 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    1somelikeithot writes:

    Wow, so this is the big off-season signing for an outfield without Holliday. I know Podsednik isn't a replacement for Holliday, but none of these guys can replace Matt. But, I will say this, I believe Spilborghs should be given every chance to be the everyday starter, he has more than earned it. Even if he can't steal 68 bags, he'll be a good leadoff guy because he can actually get on base. I say give the younguns a chance too. If Fowler and Gonzalez have a good spring, I would like to see them playing. Put Spilly in LF, Fowler in CF and use Gonzalez as a backup for both. You also have Seth Smith and Stewart. Podsednik will have his work cut out for him with Gonzalez, Fowler and Spilly. I also read that Pods as a pinch-hitter hit 9 out of 50, is that good or bad? Oh well, I'll be watching spring training, not just to observe the players, but Hurdle as well.

  • January 15, 2009

    1:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    AvsIn7 writes:

    What has Spilborghs done so far to indicate he's not an everyday starter? I don't have the BA with RISP but i'd bet he's near the top of the roster. If you extrapolated his 2007 stats into a regular starter he easily would have exceeded 100 RBIs.

    Given our ownership, Pods is a decent signing, but he'll be in a platoon role at best.

  • January 15, 2009

    5:38 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Juice writes:

    I would have loved to include Helton. If you put him at 1B we actually get close to being solid with Atkins at 3B and Stewart in LF. But (and that is a BIG but), Helton is a long way away right now with very little progress.

    AvsIn7... did you check out Spibroughs' numbers from winter league? That is what I thought... started well and fell apart. I hope he can play everyday, I WANT him to play too, but I am just skeptical. I'm not against any of these guys, I pull for them all and I want them all to succeed.

    1some...replacing Holliday is not done with one person, but you put it on everybody. I don't know his numbers, but lets say last year he had 100 RBI. So you say to the players, "can everybody get 8 more RBI's than last year?" I figured there are 13 position players and divide that by the number of RBI. I know there is not one player that won't think they can get 8 more RBI's than last year... most will get more, especially Tulo, Spilbroughs, Stewart. Point is if everyone steps up a bit, they can replace Holliday as a team. It is a mental approach and it is reality.

    I live in Arizona so I plan to make several trips to check on these guys. I can't wait for spring...

  • January 15, 2009

    7:49 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ElwayGod7 writes:

    Nice, I like Scotty Pod's in center a hell of alot more than Spilly. I like Spilly but he's not an every day player and I think he is better suited for a corner outfield spot than center, plus Pod's will balance out the lineup more given the fact that he's probably the only true leadoff type hitter we have, who else is going to hit leadoff, Barmes? Pod's should be the starting CF on opening day with Spilly/Stewart in left and Hawpe in right.

  • January 15, 2009

    9:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    dgocoman writes:

    I think Spilly can handle playing everyday, which really means playing about 5 times per week. He was one of our most consistent hitters before he got hurt last year and was coming on as an RBI producer. He could put up a .300/20/80 year if he starts at least 130 games. Putting Seth Smith in left probably makes the most sense with Stewart at 3rd as I would be very surprised if Helton is ready on April 1st. In fact, Helton is one swing away from the 60-day DL and I think while the Rockies are publicly saying he will be back, I bet that privately they are not counting on him.

  • January 15, 2009

    11:04 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    1somelikeithot writes:

    ElwayGod, I disagree with you when you say Podsednik is a true leadoff hitter. You always want to put the guy with the better OBP in your leadoff spot, with a .350 OBP or better. Podsednik has only done that twice in the past 8 seasons. In 2003 he posted a .379, and in 2005 at .351. While Spilly has posted above .350 in three of the last four seasons. Last year a .407. You want a guy who can get on base on a consistent basis. This is what helps the team. This is what makes a true leadoff hitter. Spilborghs/Podsednik? I choose Spilly!

  • January 15, 2009

    3:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    arvada_mark writes:

    I'm still waiting for that top of the rotation starting pitcher the Brothers Monfort told us we'd get when they dumped Holliday for a bag of balls & a Peruvian Winter League bat boy. Look, Podsy is nice, he's solid, but we already had a center fielder. And we already had 3 others set to replace him. W-T-F? How about addressing the rotation? Or our lack of right handed power bats? Do you guys, Brothers Monfort, even care about winning? A quality 2nd baseman maybe? Somebody to play short until Tulo can pull his head out...maybe? A big league left fielder? You have two 3rd basemen, one that is already All*Star caliber, & the other could be all world...soon. Trade one of them for somebody who will help this freakin' team...and I don't mean help for the Sky Sox. I love the Rox, I just can't stand to see the front office strive for mediocraty, & actually be happy with that. I know we're all supposed to be hating on Marc Cuban right now, but you have to respect how much winning means to the guy. I mean, why else would you own a professional sports team? To strive to do better than the next guy does, of coarse. It's the American way. [salute here]

    The Broncos have been mediocre the past few seasons, & they still felt the need to make significant changes. The Nuggets have shed a substantial amount of their payroll this year, yet they are still winning. So get a clue, or at least a different toy to show off to your friends.

  • January 15, 2009

    3:40 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    wharfratg writes:

    arvada_mark, do you have a cite to ownership promising a top of the rotation starting pitcher for Holliday? I might be wrong, but my understanding is that was what they were looking for. If you don't have a trade partner, you can't get one. Are you suggesting the Rox should have held on to Holliday and lost him to free agency for nothing?

  • January 16, 2009

    9:10 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    wxweasel writes:

    What I think a lot of people are missing is that we are massively upgrading our CF position from Taveras last year. Sure, he stole a ton of bags, but his OBP/OPS was so low, that Spilly's production increase could certainly be greater than the expected decrease of losing Holliday and replacing him with Seth Smith. If that works (yeah I know...conjecture...) then the offense will be better in the OF than last year.

  • January 19, 2009

    9:16 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    denverjohn writes:

    Wharfratg, we were told the Rocks were expecting a front of the rotation starter in return for Holliday. You’re correct it takes two to tango but that indicates to me we kept Holliday too long. The Rockies seem to overvalue their players either because they become so enchanted with them they don’t take reasonable offers seriously or because they want to keep them because they can “control” them until they have been here long enough to become free agents. I don’t think the package we received for Holliday was as good as what we could have gotten had management had the foresight to trade him earlier. As for holding on to him until he becomes a free agent, it was good enough for Fuentes wasn’t it? I’m with arvada_mark, while he’s a bit strong on some of his points they’re valid about management. I would like to see them trade Atkins for pitching/left fielder/second base/new manager (haha) since we do have two third basemen. Yeah I know Helton is a BIG if but Koshansky would do an adequate job if Helton is not ready to start the year. Spilly isn’t an everyday player, nice platoon guy so here’s hoping Fowler is ready in center and Spilly and Smith can platoon in left.

  • January 20, 2009

    12:48 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    wharfratg writes:

    Well, denverjohn, the Rox could have landed Casey Kotchman (yee haw) and a mid-range AA pitching prospect had they moved him at last year's trade deadline. I think some of you are seriously overestimating the trade value of soon-to-be-free agents. Teams are holding onto their prospects longer, and it doesn't make sense to move a player like Holliday two years or more before they reach free agency. Besides, then you get arvada_mark calling your ownership "cheap". I'm not saying the Holliday trade will end up being a good one--it's too early to tell. It certainly wasn't a bag of balls and Peruvian bat boy trade though.