Rockies at it again....

[CinnaMunMun]

Us Rockies fans know all too well the Rockies gameplan:

Use great farm system to get young talent.

Trade away good players that call for higher salaries.

Thus, the Rockies usually get a fan's lips wet at the end of a season, showing promise for the next, only to disappoint next year (due to offseason moves or whatnot).

Well, The Rockies actually have gotten me EXTREMELY excited for the next year. Record wasn't flashy, but they have a chance to push for a playoff spot in the near future.

Oh yea, point of the thread.


Saw this on ESPN:

Rockies and Angels in talks of trading away TODD HELTON.


..............

Sure he had a below average year last year, but he got EXTREMELY sick last year, lowering his strength!

ARRRGHHH!!!!!

[Denver Native]

There is only ONE thing that will save the Rockies - and that is new OWNERSHIP. The ownership stinks. And the only way to get new ownership is if the fans stop going to the games. The Rockies ownership was handed everything when they came, and so far it has been a "One Way Street" with them only, and I for one am sick and tired of the ownership. They feed you full of we want to bring up our own players, and BOOM, when it is time for their own players to want to receive street value, they are gone. How much longer are the Rockies Fans going to put up with this kind of crap?????????

[PsychoChicken]

I haven't visited in like a month, and when I saw posts about how much people hated the Jennings trade and how people are against this trade, I just had to say something.

Dan O'Dowd has actually done an excellent job this offseason.

Jason Hirsh, not Taveras, was the main prize in that trade. Hirsh has the potential to be an ace, the top pitcher in the rotation. That's something Jennings could never be. This year alone, Hirsh should definitely solidify the bottom end of the rotation.

Taylor Bucholz can compete with Josh Fogg, Oscar Rivera (another great O'Dowd signing this offseason), and Ubaldo Jimenez for the #5 spot in the rotation. Whoever wins it will have deserved it, and I'll be comfortable with him in that position.

So we fixed the centerfield issue and managed to keep a very respectable rotation of Cook, Francis, Kim, Hirsh, and Fogg/Bucholz/Rivera/Jimenez. The Astros got absolutely fleeced. And yet, the "fans" are outraged.

I hate to say it, being a huge fan of him and all, but we need to unload Todd Helton.

Let me put this in terms you guys might understand: What if Champ Bailey was taking up twice as much room on the salary cap as he currently is, and yet he was only providing Darrent Williams-like production this year? We'd obviously want to get rid of him so that we could use that cap space more effectively.

Well Helton is probably never going to hit more than 25 home runs in a season again. He has chronic back problems. He takes up over 16% of the payroll. We could be using that money on young, rising free agent stars. But instead, it's going to an overpaid first baseman who has passed his prime.

Furthermore, we've got plenty of people who can replace Helton at first base. Brad Hawpe used to play first base. He's currently platooned with Baker in right field, so he could easily make that switch. Garrett Atkins also played 1B and could move back when super third base prospect Ian Stewart gets called up. We've also got a slugging first base prospect by the name of Joe Koshansky who could be called up. Helton is currently blocking Koshansky the way he blocked Ryan Shealy.

Assuming we're able to unload most of his salary and get some good pieces in return, nothing but good can come out of trading Helton. It's too bad that most Rockies fans will never understand this.

[CinnaMunMun]

I haven't visited in like a month, and when I saw posts about how much people hated the Jennings trade and how people are against this trade, I just had to say something.

Dan O'Dowd has actually done an excellent job this offseason.

Jason Hirsh, not Taveras, was the main prize in that trade. Hirsh has the potential to be an ace, the top pitcher in the rotation. That's something Jennings could never be. This year alone, Hirsh should definitely solidify the bottom end of the rotation.

Taylor Bucholz can compete with Josh Fogg, Oscar Rivera (another great O'Dowd signing this offseason), and Ubaldo Jimenez for the #5 spot in the rotation. Whoever wins it will have deserved it, and I'll be comfortable with him in that position.

So we fixed the centerfield issue and managed to keep a very respectable rotation of Cook, Francis, Kim, Hirsh, and Fogg/Bucholz/Rivera/Jimenez. The Astros got absolutely fleeced. And yet, the "fans" are outraged.

I hate to say it, being a huge fan of him and all, but we need to unload Todd Helton.

Let me put this in terms you guys might understand: What if Champ Bailey was taking up twice as much room on the salary cap as he currently is, and yet he was only providing Darrent Williams-like production this year? We'd obviously want to get rid of him so that we could use that cap space more effectively.

Well Helton is probably never going to hit more than 25 home runs in a season again. He has chronic back problems. He takes up over 16% of the payroll. We could be using that money on young, rising free agent stars. But instead, it's going to an overpaid first baseman who has passed his prime.

Furthermore, we've got plenty of people who can replace Helton at first base. Brad Hawpe used to play first base. He's currently platooned with Baker in right field, so he could easily make that switch. Garrett Atkins also played 1B and could move back when super third base prospect Ian Stewart gets called up. We've also got a slugging first base prospect by the name of Joe Koshansky who could be called up. Helton is currently blocking Koshansky the way he blocked Ryan Shealy.

Assuming we're able to unload most of his salary and get some good pieces in return, nothing but good can come out of trading Helton. It's too bad that most Rockies fans will never understand this.

Good points! Nice to see ya again Psycho! :D

[The Executioner]

The Rockies manager and the owner probably smoking something to make them feels a mile high so they can see the Rockies. Im sick of the Rockies' stupid moves.

[stnzed]

anyone that gives the Rockies a dime is foolish.

Let me guess they're trying to trade Helton for some "prospects"?

Actually this would-be trade is probably for the better. Good for Helton!

The Monfords are L O S E R S!

(And after the trade they'll bad mouth Helton just like everyone else they trade)

LOSERS!

You absolutely know that Matt Holliday will not be long as well!

And btw psycho, as soon as Hirsh is any good (And therefor due for big money) they'll trade him too!

[BVP]

Who will we get out of the trade? And if we don't get an MLB 1B, who do we put there?

Also, trading Helton would be stupid because he is the fan favorite. He sells tickets, jerseys and other merchandise. He is the name of the franchise right now. Stupid move in my opinion if we trade. :mad:

[Denver Native]

There is NO salary cap in MLB, and the current Rockies's ownership is NOT willing to pay fair street value to their players when their contracts are up. I for one am TIRED of this. If the current ownership cannot compete with the big boys, get out and bring in ownership who can!!!!!! It is like the Rockies are a farm system for the other MLB teams. It seems like we have more X players on other teams than any other team.

[keithbishop]

Helton is owed $90 mil. from 2007-2011. His days as a star are over, IMO.

The Rockies should at least explore a trade, but are in the position to ask a lot in return for Helton. I'd insist on 24-year old starting pitcher Ervin Santana in any deal.

[PsychoChicken]

anyone that gives the Rockies a dime is foolish.

Let me guess they're trying to trade Helton for some "prospects"?

Actually this would-be trade is probably for the better. Good for Helton!

The Monfords are L O S E R S!

(And after the trade they'll bad mouth Helton just like everyone else they trade)

LOSERS!

You absolutely know that Matt Holliday will not be long as well!

And btw psycho, as soon as Hirsh is any good (And therefor due for big money) they'll trade him too!
Yeah, Matt Holliday hired superagent Scott Boras, so we'll probably see him in a Yankee uniform eventually. But we've got loads of prospects to replace him too.

We have, however, extended Jeff Francis which is a huge move. In addition, we re-signed Carroll and Matsui. O'Dowd has done great this offseason.

I think you guys fail to realize that "prospects" is not a bad word. At the beginning of last year, Francisco Liriano was a prospect. Jonathan Papelbon was a prospect. Everyone was a prospect at some point.

Low budget teams who stockpile these prospects in trades - teams like Oakland and Minnesota - are reaping the benefits. The Rockies, for a long time, had tried to make the big free agent signing and have suffered as a result. They are now doing the right thing.

By the way, Hirsh will be here for a long time as his arbitration years aren't until beyond 2010. So I wouldn't worry about that just yet.

It's not like the Rockies are going to suck this year. They're going to be right in the thick of things at the top of the NL West. I could definitely foresee 85-90 wins in this weak division, possibly more if we get the right pieces back in a Helton trade.

[Denver Native]

How can you say the Rockies are now doing the right thing by advertising they want a home grown team, or they sign prospects. In both cases, when these players contracts come up for renewal, and if any of these players are descent, the Rockies BAIL - they do not want to pay them fair market value. I am sick and tired of the Rockies basically being no more than a farm team. MANY players coming and going each year.

[CinnaMunMun]

Dan Odowd reported saying that the whole idea of trading Helton is bushwah. Its in the Rocky Mountain News today. So I guess we can put the rumors to rest.

Apparantly Helton doesn't want to play for a west coast team either. Perhaps he hates the ocean?

[str8jacket]

I would love to trade Helton, then he wouldnt have to put up with waiting 5 years to get into the playoffs

[Denver Native]

I would love to trade Helton, then he wouldnt have to put up with waiting 5 years to get into the playoffs

Then he would not have to put up with NEVER getting into the playoffs!!!!!

[BVP]

This year is our year for the playoffs, I can feel it. We got Willy Taveras, that = Playoffs. ;)

[CinnaMunMun]

This year is our year for the playoffs, I can feel it. We got Willy Taveras, that = Playoffs. ;)

I wonder who will step in for Jennings though. Perhaps Tsao or Sunni Kim.

On the bright side,

Affeldt was a very nice pickup for us late in the year.

Guys like Hawpe, Ianetta, Barmes, Tulo, Atkins, Ramirez, and Francis will have another year under their belts.

Hopefully Helton will be back to full strength. Holliday was on a roll last year.

Go Rockies! :D

[BVP]

I wonder who will step in for Jennings though. Perhaps Tsao or Sunni Kim.

On the bright side,

Affeldt was a very nice pickup for us late in the year.

Guys like Hawpe, Ianetta, Barmes, Tulo, Atkins, Ramirez, and Francis will have another year under their belts.

Hopefully Helton will be back to full strength. Holliday was on a roll last year.

Go Rockies! :D

Yeah, plus we have our rookie shortstop with some playing experiance, Troy Towliski(SP?), so that helps out the team.