Some Rockies-centric Odds and Ends

Here’s what’s on my mind this first week of Spring Training.

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Generally, Fridays are dedicated to an essay exploring something about the Rockies. It’s a part of my week I look forward to, and I spend a lot of time thinking about what I want to write.

The last two weeks, however, have found me in a bit of a crunch since I’m overseeing our first four-year degree, and we’ve moved into some significant curricular and assessment work. Also, we’re on a deadline. For me, assessment is like math: When I’m working on it, I have to give it my full attention, which is a long way of saying that I haven’t had the time to really put my mind to this week’s column.

I do have a few unfinished thoughts, however, that I want to share.

Spring Training is back, and it’s beautiful! — The players are back, and they’re healthy, and they’re optimistic, and it’s pretty terrific. We may be looking for a temperature high of 0 next Thursday, but knowing that there’s baseball coming gives me hope.

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Check out the Rockies’ 2023 hype video — Pay attention to the very first player shown.

Colorado Rockies @Rockies

About that time…

It’s not Kris Bryant or Charlie Blackmon. It’s not Kyle Freeland or Germán Márquez. Here’s a screenshot:

Yes, 2023 looks to be the year of Zac Veen. Ezequiel Tovar makes an appearance later, but Veen is front and center. Unless something unexpected happens, look for him to make his Coors Field debut this season. The Rockies are leaning into it.

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Soon, we’ll see the new rules in effect — There has been some good writing about what the new rules will mean, and I’m eager to see the Spring Training test drive, but Matt Winkelman’s take has stayed with me because I had never thought about it in this way.

Matt Winkelman @Matt_Winkelman

The thing about the new shift rules is that they really don't ban shifts as much as they change incentives. To deny single base hits you now have to risk extra base hits. Previously you removed single base hits and risked a bunt base hit.

Lindsey Adler @lindseyadler

One thing about the shift ban I learned from today's MLB presentation: Teams can call in an outfielder to serve as a fifth infielder. (They cannot send an INF to the OF anymore.) Would run the risk of more easily allowing an XBH while increasing likelihood of ground ball outs.

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Baseball Prospectus released their PECOTA projections — As you can imagine, they are not optimistic about the Rockies.

I do not think the Rockies will be good, but I also don’t think they’ll be this bad; however, I don’t think the Giants will be that good, either. And I think PECOTA is underestimating the Padres (who signed Michael Wacha this week) and overestimating the Dodgers who will be good, but probably not that good.

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Of course, there’s LOLRockies content — This is from Bradford Doolittle in “Why Your MLB Team Didn’t Do What You Wanted This Winter.”

Why the heck didn't the Rockies get ... anybody?

The soothing response: Ownership believes in what we have, or something.

We hear you. Last year, we lost 94 games, up from 87 the year before. Our big free agent signee, Kris Bryant, played just 42 games and never homered at Coors Field. We're not rebuilding exactly and yet this winter, all we did was add depth candidates and a decent second-chance prospect in Nolan Jones. There are some other interesting prospects on the way, even if McDaniel has our system in the middle of the pack. Where is this explanation going? Heck, we don't know. Anyway, if you feel down, try to grab a copy of Emil Cioran's "The Trouble With Being Born." Now there's someone with real problems.

Pretty clever, the whole Emil Cioran allusion, amirite?

We’ve been through this: The Rockies did not do much in the offseason because they want to inventory what they have. This year is about playing the prospects. Apologies that this explanation is less clever than cynical allusions to Cioran’s work.

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The Rockies got some outfield space — Thomas Harding reported that Randal Gricuk recently underwent surgery for a sports hernia and will be out at the beginning of the season.

Thomas Harding @harding_at_mlb

#Rockies' Grichuk has sports hernia surgery, likely to miss start of season

mlb.comGrichuk (hernia surgery) likely to miss start of seasonSCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies outfielder Randal Grichuk said on Tuesday that he underwent surgery for a bilateral sports hernia a week ago. Grichuk said if all goes well with his rehab, he should be ready for game action in six weeks, but it will likely delay the start to his

This gives the Rockies room to play prospects like Sean Bouchard, Michael Toglia, Brenton Doyle, and Nolan Jones, so one player who was probably headed to Albuquerque instead will get to spend some time with the Rockies showing what he can do. While we all wish Grichuk a speedy recovery, this is an opportunity for these young players.

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MLB broadcasting may be changing fast — We learned this week that the Bally RSNs will be filing for bankruptcy and that three AT&T SportsNet RSN’s delivered smaller checks than expected to the Rockies, Pirates, and Astros. Rob Manfred said that MLB is prepared to step in to ensure fans have uninterrupted coverage. It just seems like the television landscape is changing quickly.

Evan Drellich @EvanDrellich

If Bally RSNs go bankrupt, MLB has ‘opportunity to fix this blackout problem,’ at least for some teams, says Rob Manfred

theathletic.comIf Bally RSNs go bankrupt, MLB has ‘opportunity to fix this blackout problem,’ says Rob ManfredThe commissioner talked about MLB’s plans to produce games if needed, and the need for realignment with expansion.

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What is wrong with MLB owners? — I just can’t.

Adam McCalvy @AdamMcCalvy

Every fear that going to an arbitration hearing against Corbin Burnes could harm his relationship with the Brewers was founded. “There’s no denying that the relationship is definitely hurt from what [transpired],” Burnes said.

One of the most talented pitchers in baseball, and this is how his team treats him over $600,000? That’s a choice.

Still, baseball is back, so life is better now than it was a week ago.

What I’m Reading & Listening To

• Thomas Harding’s “Relentlessly Positive Bryant Ready for Rebound” (MLB.com) — Kris Bryant explains why the glass is half full.

• Drew Goodman’s conversation with Warren Schaefer is worth your time.

Weekend Walk-off

This video is a compilation of player interview clips from Thursday. Check out Brent Suter at the end — notice his enthusiasm.

Renee Dechert | reneedechert@masto.ai @ReneeDechert

Assorted Interviews:

mlb.comRockies on preparation at camp | 02/16/2023Members of the Rockies talk about being back in Spring Training and what they hope for this upcoming season

When talking with reporters, Suter described changes he’s made to his slider. As he’s speaking, he gets excited, takes off his wedding ring to demonstrate more accurately his new grip — Taylor Rogers showed it to him — and Suter has this elaborate dating/marriage metaphor for his new slider grip. He goes complete pitching nerd with all these details, and it rules. (I’ll try to find a clip this weekend.)

Last time, I promise: Baseball is back.

Thanks for reading —

Renee

@ReneeDechert (Twitter) ★ @ReneeDechert (Mastodon) ★ @Renee.Dechert (Instagram) ★ @ReneeDechert (Post)