Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders with the latest installment of his Rockies Mailbag.
Pose a Rockies — or MLB — related question for the Rockies Mailbag.
Who’s on your All-Rockies team — one player per position — using the criteria of your choice?
— Greg, Estes Park
Wow, Greg, that’s not an easy assignment and I’m sure my choices will tick off some people. But I’ll give it my best shot. And I’m so sorry, CarGo, but you didn’t make the cut. It’s Greg’s fault.
• Right-hander starter: Ubaldo Jimenez. He burned out quickly, but from 2007-10 he was sensational, especially by Rockies standards.
• Left-handed starter: Kyle Freeland. His 2018 season (17-7, 2.85 ERA), capped off by his gem in the wild-card game at Wrigley Field against the Cubs, was magical. He’s remained a team leader and a tough-as-nails pitcher even though he’s never come close to matching his ’18 season.
• Closer: Brian Fuentes. Coors Field tends to chew up relievers but the lefty was good for a number of years. He’s Colorado’s career leader in saves (115), was a three-time All-Star with the Rockies and was the primary closer on the 2007 World Series team.
• Catcher: Yorvit Torrealba. I’m going to get pushback on this choice, I’m sure. Torrealba only hit 23 homers in 373 games with the Rockies. But his presence behind the plate in 2007 and ’09 was a key to two of the best teams in franchise history. Plus, he delivered in the postseason. He was the ultimate boss on the field.
• First base: Todd Helton. Next stop Cooperstown, N.Y., summer 2024. All things considered, the best player in Rockies history.
• Second base: DJ LeMahieu. Range, toughness, beloved teammate, Gold Glove, smart hitter, decent power. Why, oh why, did the Rockies let him go?
• Third base: Nolan Arenado. The best defensive player in franchise history who also happened to slash .293/.349/.541 with 235 homers in eight seasons with the Rockies. A human highlight reel at the hot corner and destined for the Hall of Fame.
• Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki. Sometimes I think we tend to forget just how good Tulo was before injuries sabotaged his career. He was a five-time All-Star, should have been the NL rookie-of-the-year in 2007, and set a high bar for everyone who played with him. Tulo had a .885 OPS during his nine-plus season in Colorado.
• Left field: Matt Holliday. Lots of competition here, but my vote goes to Holliday, who might have touched home plate in Game 163 vs. the Padres. Before he became a star in St. Louis, Holliday was a stud in Colorado with a .319/.387/.550 slash line, 131 OPS+, and 18.5 WAR in six seasons.
• Center field: Charlie Blackmon. We now tend to think of Blackmon as a right fielder, but during his best seasons, he played center. He has to be on my team in center because there is another guy starting in right field on my team.
Blackmon wasn’t a great fielder in center but was solid. His 2017 season was one of the best in Rockies history. He set career highs in batting average (.331), games (159), runs, hits, triples (14), home runs (37), total bases, RBI (104), walks (65), on-base percentage (.399) and slugging percentage (.601).
Plus, he set a major league record with 103 RBI from the leadoff position, surpassing Darin Erstad’s previous mark of 100 set with the Angels in 2000. His 86 extra-base hits were the third-most by a leadoff hitter in major league history and the highest ever by a National League leadoff hitter.
• Right field: Larry Walker. The Rockies’ only league MVP when, in 1997, he slashed .366/.452/.720 with 49 homers, 130 RBIs and 409 total bases. That’s right 409. He’s already in Cooperstown, waiting for Helton.
I heard a rumor that Major League Baseball might pressure the Monforts into selling the team. I recognize this is crazy, but it holds some logic. Colorado has a great fan base and (the Monforts) aren’t willing to field a competitive team. MLB doesn’t want to lose the fan base. Thoughts?
— Eric Swanson, Aurora
Eric, I’m not sure where you heard that rumor, but if it’s true you’ve got yourself quite a scoop.
I can’t imagine that Dick Monfort would sell the team. For one thing, despite the heat he’s been feeling for the Rockies’ losing ways, he still loves being an owner. As one agent told me this summer: “The Rockies are his baby.”
For another, the expectation is that he is going to pass on the team to his sons, Walker and Sterling.
Walker is the vice president of corporate partnerships and is responsible for the oversight and management of the club’s revenue generated through sponsorships. He works on the business side.
Sterling works on the baseball side as the director of professional scouting.
Your contention that MLB believes that the Rockies are in danger of losing their fan base is way off base. Commissioner Rob Manfred, as well as a number of other owners, admire the Rockies’ ability to keep fans coming to Coors Field. By all accounts, Manfred and Monfort have grown pretty tight, especially since the Rockies took over the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta on short notice.
Also, Monfort was the chairman of the labor policy committee for MLB in 2021-22 during the lockout prior to the new CBA being signed.
Finally, the Rockies’ value in May 2023, according to Forbes, was $1.475 billion. The Rockies don’t win on the baseball diamond but the team’s value has soared.
Clearly, this “draft-and-develop” mentality that the Rockies have just isn’t cutting it. I am well aware that the Rockies’ track record with free-agent signings hasn’t fared much better in recent years but I blame that more on the lack of competency in the front office. The front office has a tendency to sign players (especially pitchers) who don’t have the necessary tools to pitch at altitude. While I’m beginning to feel more optimistic about our young hitters, where do the Rockies go from here, especially considering we have a front office and owner that refuses to leave its comfort zone?
— Leo, Boulder
Leo, you and I disagree. I think a mid-market team like the Rockies should be a draft-and-develop team — with some smart trades and free-agent acquisitions in the mix. There’s nothing wrong with the philosophy. The Diamondbacks and Orioles made it work this past season.
The problem is, the Rockies just haven’t done it very well. I believe we made that clear in our end-of-the-season “Rockie Way” project.
Outside of the signing of Kris Bryant — a move that was steered by owner Dick Monfort — I think general manager Bill Schmidt has done some smart things, chief among them acquiring outfielder Nolan Jones in a trade from the Guardians. That said, some of the draft picks that he helped make when he was scouting director have busted.
I’ll be curious to see if Schmidt can make any deals this offseason to improve Colorado’s pitching.
Hey Patrick, I was reminiscing about the time we won the NL pennant and then I realized it was 16 years ago. Do you see the team moving in a direction that could get us our first NL West pennant in the next few years? I like that Nolan Jones and Brenton Doyle look like fixtures in the outfield. But we need a lot more to be a .500 team, let alone a contender. What would you do this offseason if you had the GM hat?
— Marvin, Wheat Ridge
Marvin, first, I’d ask for a big raise. Then I would have a sit-down with owner Dick Monfort and make it clear that some things need to be shaken up, even if it means trading homegrown players such as Brendan Rodgers or Ryan McMahon.
I would attempt to trade established position players, such as Rodgers or McMahon, in an attempt to land a pitching prospect who would be ready to make an impact by 2025, when I think the offense has a chance to be better.
I would convince Monfort to spend money on a free-agent slugger because the Rockies need a dangerous power hitter and they don’t really have one.
Then I’d go out to the pitching mound at Coors Field and make an offering to the baseball gods asking for the Rockies’ rash of pitching injuries to end.
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