Colorado Rockies blog Rockies writer Tracy Ringolsby answers readers' e-mails every Thursday. Send your questions to ringolsbyt@rockymountainnews.com and he'll answer the best questions.

First we’ll answer questions from readers, and then we have a few essays that readers have submitted in response to the Rockies success and those will run on this blog. Enjoy,
Tracy

Tim James is ready to designate a hitter.
Who is the most likely candidate for the Rockies DH while they're in the AL town for Games 1/2, and what changes will the Rockies make to the lineup?

Tim, I could see the Rockies primarily using Ryan Spilborghs, but given the lack of a quality left-hander in the Red Sox bullpen it wouldn’t surprise me to see Seth Smith get a shot in a game or two at Fenway.

Greg Phillips is looking for Buchholz.
I was a bit puzzled in the first two series that they always went to Herges for the long man and did not pitch Buchholz at all. He had been sharp in the end stretch run. What do you think?

Greg, Clint looks at match ups and sees Herges as having the type of off-speed pitches to work on left-handed hitters. As well as Herges has been pitching, and the fact the Rockies never played more than two games in a row, Herges was available so Hurdle stayed with him.

David Hill wants to know about the Tulo deal.
I noticed that Troy Tulowitski earns something like the MLB minimum (I only wish I was so underpaid). Will he be able to renegotiate at the end of this year or is he locked in at this salary? Do you think this is the beginning of long-term success for the Rockies, or is it just a flash in the pan?

David, Tulowitzki has five more years after this before free agency is possible. That being said, the Rockies will try and work out a multi-year deal with him to provide some cost certainty. I would expect this to be a start of some good seasons. The Rockies have a solid core that will benefit from this year, and there are good players still coming through the farm system.

John Pinkham has long-term concerns.
While I appreciate your column about the rosy future of the Rockies, you fail to mention the article that came out recently in which the brothers Monfort stated they would not offer/extend contracts beyond four years. I agree with you, the Rockies have some very nice players they have developed but what does it matter when future stars like Holliday and possibly Tulowitzki eventually go to teams willing to pay market value in terms of years and money once these players are no longer “controllable”. How will the Rockies be any different from the Pittsburgh’s and Kansas City’s of the world with this self imposed contract restriction? Yes, a Triple-A team for six or eight clubs willing to pay fair market value for premium talent (see Montreal Expos). Further, if a home grown star like Holliday isn’t worthy of an exception to this ownership rule who will be? He should be the face of this franchise for the next decade rather than just the upcoming two years before free agency. No one cares about the Monfort’s ability to hand this team down to their kids. We want an ownership committed to winning and retaining these kids like Holliday by paying fair market value to keep them in Colorado, not candy canes, unicorns and rainbows with four-year deals.

John, First it's not Kansas City or Pittsburgh because the Roickies have develooped a large group of young talent with more coming. I don't know that the Royals have really been haunted by losing an impact player, unless you would consider Johnny Damon impact as opposed to a solid performer. I don't know that the Pirates have ever had to let a top talent that came out of the system go.
Second, who says what is fair market value? Was A-Rod's 10-year, $240 million deal fair market value? By the way, did you notice, that the Mariners got to the post-season after A-Rod let and Texas never even had a winning record with A-Rod? Also was fair market value the 10-year deal Helton received from the Rockies that Helton was criticized by agents and the players association for signing because it wasn't worth enough?
The key is not just what the Rockies have now but what they have coming through the system and that they can continue to build the system.
Have you ever taken the time to check out the turnover of personnel in Atlanta, Minnesota or Oakland?
I just don't buy the criticism that comes in that regard. It's an easy way for certain members in the media with a personal agenda to whine and attack. When the Rockies paid fair market vlaue for Kile and Swift and Saberhagen and Hampton and Neagle, what did that get them?
The key is making quality signings, developing quality players and having a strong organizationt hat allows constant replinishment. The idea of not making changes assures a franchsie of a short lifespan of success because that team would get old togehter, like the 1984-87 Tigers.

Some feel good moments from readers:

Alan Bemis is beaming
Being from Wyoming, my first experience with professional baseball was in the late 80's when the Zephyrs were in Denver. My father would drive us down from Casper for a family vacation at least once a summer and we'd always go to at least one game at the old mile high. It was fun, even though it was minor league baseball.
When the Rockies arrived in '93, our trips increased to several times a summer to watch the new Major League Rockies. I now live in Denver and I've been to over 80 Rockies games over the years. I even have the ticket stubs for most of them going all the way back to the inaugural year.
I attended 4 games in this magical streak of 21 out of 22---including the now infamous "Helton Walkoff" on Sept 18th and the "Miracle on Blake Street" play-in game against the Padres.
I am seriously blessed to have grown up around this franchise and to have a Dad who could afford to expose me to pro baseball at such a young age and throughout my youth. I am completely blown away by what they are accomplishing. It is so special to follow a team from its conception, and after so many years see them within reach of a possible World Series Championship! And you know what's crazy about that? I'm a life-long Dodger fan!

But I've never appreciated the accomplishments of a pro baseball team like I now appreciate the Rockies, aside from maybe when Kirk Gibson hit that homerun in the '88 Series that propelled them to the title (when I was 7). But then again, that moment by Gibson and the Dodgers in '88 has been immortalized in baseball history and I have a feeling this 2007 Rockies team may be also be headed for immortality in the history books. Either way, this is really something special!

Michael Tenney is rooting afar.
Although I live in Seattle, the entire Mountain Time Zone and its ex-pats partied tonight. Such an amazing story if the east coast ever hears about it. Unbelievable run by the Rocks. It amazes me that they represent an entire time zone and people back east still don't know who Matt Holliday is. M-V-P! M-V-P! That has to be the greatest clutch hit ever - all those fans chanting M-V-P and he actually delivered.
Powder River, and we'll be reading into November.

Phil Ross is stunned.
I've watched big-league baseball for more than a half-century but have never seen anything like what's happening at present. Obviously, the record and statistics speak better than my emotional musings by now. Anybody in another part of the country (world?) who never knew much about the Rox before, now has to be standing with mouth agape as well!

William Anthony is looking for a monicker.
I would like to hear you call it "Rocky Power."
It's nothing more than unsurpassed motivation. The UNSELFISH desire for the players to see each other make a winning move. You can see it written on the face of Tulo and every other player in the line up. It's the "Stuff" of which winning teams are made.
Money cannot buy such a team and there is no one person responsible for this one. I have all the respect in the world for Clint Hurdle, the ownership, and a growing respect for Dan O'Dowd. However, to borrow a phrase, it is a team, management, and ownership working in concert.

Ryan Lawson has fond thoughts of baseball.
I want you to know how important Rockies baseball is to me, my parents and especially for my Grandparents. My Grandparents (now Great - Grandparents 3 times over) live in Greeley, CO. and have missed very few games from the comfort of there own home. They have watched just about every game since opening day. The only games they missed were the one's not televised. We all have enjoyed baseball coming to Colorado. No one has been more loyal or accepting or patient as my Grandparents.
Both in there Mid 80's they are just the most special people to me in the world. They are both very knowledgable about the game of baseball. It is exciting to see the sparkle in their eyes. My Grandfather, my Dad and myself have all grown up playing the game and love it!
Definitely a family affair as my Aunt Pam Quick (Across the street from my grandparents) has worked in the lab for the Monfort meat packing plant for many, many years.
I thought it would be fun to include some of the older generation when we win the pennant. So if you can send a shout out to Rex A. Lawson Sr. and Eugenie Lawson of Greeley when you’re writing your article on loyal fans and how the Rockies won the pennant. That would be very special to them and to the entire Lawson family. I Love my grandparents more than anything and am so happy and proud they are here to see this unfold! The greatest thing that I own in this world isn't my home, a car or all the money in the world. It's family - It's that photo with my boys, myself, my Dad and his Dad. I don’t know to many families these days that have that opportunity.

Bryan Fagerholt can’t help but like this team.
I am originally from North Dakota and and still am a die-hard Twins fan. Though we lived about six hours from Minneapolis, my dad had season tickets to the Twins. He thought it was very important that my brother and I be able to go to a World Series game. In 1987, even though we were only in 4th grade, we got to go to 2 World Series games. Then in 1991, he took us to all four games at Metrodome. I was a Twins fan for life after watching those teams play.
Then I moved to Denver in 2002. Now I still am a Twins fan first, but if you love good baseball, this Rockies team is impossible not to cheer for. I don't just love watching them play because they're hot either. Watching them back in '04-'05, I couldn't help but admire what O'Dowd and Hurdle were doing, playing the guys they drafted, the guys they believed in - much like my Twins! How refreshing in this day-and-age of overpaying for mostly washed up has-beens? That's what builds a quality baseball team, and it is showing in the confidence that this team is now playing with.
The similarities to Tom Kelly's Twins teams make me smile. The team-first atmosphere, but with a few superstars in the middle of the lineup (Puckett/Holliday, Hrbek/Helton, Brunansky-Gaetti-Davis/Atkins-Hawpe-Tulowitszki). Sparkplugs at the top of the lineup and off the bench (Gladden/Taveras, Gagne/Matsui, Randy Bush/Carroll). One-game-at-a-time; day-in, day-out. everyone contributes. Do the little things correctly. Excellent bullpen work. Getting the right guys at the right time to solidify everything (Knoblauch/Tulowitzki and Reardon/Corpas). And, my favorite part, to have a home-grown group of guys that are so east to root for. How satisfying.

Bob McNally likes Hurdle’s approach.
Hurdle is a good manager of people, and not a bad baseball man besides. His players understand that he accepts failure when they work hard and give their best effort. Unlikely was the situation that this team found itself in with ten games to play despite having been on a win streak. Win /lose as a team. Leave everything on the field. Nice work, I look forward to reading your stuff

Tammy Sillstrop likes what she has seen.
I saw my first Colorado Rockies baseball game on July 3rd – my second pro baseball event ever. When I asked where the Mets were from, my husband made me promise I wouldn't speak loud at the game - asking question like that would embarrass him. I told him I would be doing my nails during the game - so don't worry. I came for the fireworks..
My measure of "good" isn't related to what is the norm, wouldn't stand up to any sports stats or baseball fan's understanding of what leads to winning the top honors, but I saw the magic then. Maybe because I didn't know those things – I could see it. I didn't see player's names associated with a story or previous accomplishment or failures. I've seen this before when the Oklahoma football team rode in with that spirit and won everything with a new coach. It's a beautiful thing to watch, and experience as a fan.
What I saw that night in July was not any single player, but a group of individuals that just was, magical. If I was to take a wild guess at what I saw it is the stuff they do off the game field, mixed with talent and that little thing called loving what they do. I saw it then and have been hooked ever since. It's not a hero worship, not a team loyalty. It is simply watching and roootin' for a group of individuals that have a chance to experience the honor of what happens when talent, hard work, focus, and a little magic intersects. Sprinkle in the spirit of those individuals participating and I believe too that they can win it all.

Chris Taylor has a message for the Rockies.
This is what we fans have been waiting for since you guys were welcomed into MLB. Speaking for myself, I am a lifelong baseball fan and am originally from Colorado Springs. I was heartbroken that the year after I moved away the team started playing games. Every year I spent more time and money than I can remember sitting in sports bars out in Hawaii watching the Rockies play. Every year I bought hats and shirts and loudly proclaimed that yes, the Rockies are 'my' team. Through all of the years I have watched, cheered, groaned and basically let myself be transported to a world free of every day toil and trouble. Now you men have the chance to make all of that time, money and emotion pay off. NOT just for me and all the other fans...but for YOU. Yes, you guys are superheroes. You guys are lucky enough to go out and get paid to play the game that the vast majority of us are not gifted enough to play in front of millions. This opportunity that you hold in your hands is also a gift...a gift to all of the fans, a gift to yourselves and your families, a gift to Todd and the front office guys who have labored for years to get here and a gift for Clint who has been there captaining the ship through all the rough seas of the baseball season.
You guys are awesome. You can actually SEE the camaraderie evident in every game you fellas play. Do it. Win these last three! We fans love watching you guys and it is your time. It's your turn.

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