November 21, 2008 6:46 AM

Holliday Feedback IV

Writer's note: I will attempt to answer these questions as they are asked. My answers will be in bold italics.

Christopher Morton writes, ``I know the Rockies have been getting killed for letting go of Matt Holliday. We all want an owner who will spend lavishly, but the fact remains that only teams with strong and relatively sure revenue streams can spend money without concerns about the risk of injury or declining revenues. I don't know the Monforts, and yes, they treat the Rockies from a business perspective, but I do not think they are the Bidwells of the Major Leagues. Why is it those who complain about them fail to realize that they have spent money to sign their top two pitchers (Aaron Cook and Jeff Francis), their infield and dugout cornerstone (Troy Tulowitzki) within the past year. They also made offers that were fair (yes, below market, but fair) to Holliday and Atkins. They were turned down. Which brings me to a couple of questions.

1) Did the uncertainty of Matt's and Garrett's future hold the Rockies from dealing prospects last winter to the A's or others with pitching to sell? The names being asked about were (Ian) Stewart, (Dexter) Fowler and (Ubaldo) Jimenez. Given the fact we were going to need to possibly replace a 3B and OF, how could we make a deal?

Tracy: In making long-range plans, the future of players such as Holliday and Atkins have to be considered, but to be honest, I don't think the Rockies gave the idea serious talk when those three names were mentioned. Those are three impact players. While Arizona gave up a large number of players, was there an impact player? The key player in the deal was supposed to have been Carlos Gonzalez, and if he is the player that some feel he can become, then the Rockies actually will have long-term gain from trading Holliday to the A's.

2) Are the Rockies looking to parlay the savings from Matt's contract (and possibly Garrett's if he is traded) to go after Orlando Hudson? Aside from Tulo's lost sophomore season, I would say the complete dropoff of Francis and the loss of Matsui caused the team to finish below .500. It seems the Rockies need to shore up their infield D again and they need speed at the top of the lineup, and Hudson would be a great pickup. Is that why EY Jr. is being tried out in CF?

Tracy: Hudson is one free agent who has caught the Rockies attention. He would give them a leadoff hitter, but defensively, as good as he is, I don't see him as being markedly better in the field than Clint Barmes. I really wasn't one of those who felt the loss of Matsui hurt the Rockies, given his injury problems that limited his playing time and continued to be a problem in Houston. The Rockies are look at EY Jr., in center field because they are trying to expand his options. There are major concerns about his defense at second base. With his offensive skills, the Rockies want to see if they can find a better fit.

3) My fellow Rockies fans are saying we got robbed for Matt (why didn't we get a #1 or a #2?). Of course, a potentially ready 5 tool player, an innings-eater and a solid bullpen arm are not exactly leftovers, but how much did the 1) Coors Field factor, 2) 2008 lower numbers and 3) his one-year rental factor in? In that case, did O'Dowd and the Monforts make a mistake in not dealing him last winter? Would that have been possible coming off a World Series, or do you think it would have been the wrong signal to the fans?

Tracy: When teams talk to the Rockies, the Coors Field factor always surfaces, but how much it really affects interest in Holliday will be better examined next year when he is on the open market. The one-year factor was probably the overriding issue, but the Rockies were not about to move him a year ago because, as you point out, they were coming off a World Series and wanted to try to keep the core of the team together for a second run, and also when they were able to get the two-year contract in place covering his final two years of arbitration there was a feeling that could be a prelude to an extension covering free agency. That didn't work out, however, and so the Rockies decided to make a move.

Unlike a lot of fans, I am hopeful for 2009. If Cook can continue to develop and not tire late in the season, Francis returns to his norm and Jimenez grows into his talent, that is a sold 1-3. With our new arm, there are Morales, De La Rosa, Reynolds and Hirsch to fill out the final two spots in the rotation. That is not a great 1-5, but will match up with the division (save the Giants), especially with Peavy, Penny and Lowe leaving. They do have to find a way to replace the production from Matt and Garrett, but if Stewart is the player of July-August, that will help. It's not a strong division, but baseball always is full of surprises.

Tracy: A key will be Tulowitzki bouncing back and building off his second half. There is no way to ignore the need the Rockies will have for a right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup in light of the loss of Holliday.

Posted by Tracy Ringolsby at 6:46 AM | Comments (4)