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.
Recently, your esteemed colleague, Kiz (columnist Mark Kiszla), suggested that the Rockies should move Kris Bryant to third base, a position in which he has a lot of experience and has been successful. Have the Rockies even considered this possibility? If not, why not? It seems to make sense since third base is still a question mark.
— Tony, Greeley
Tony, that’s a great question. From what I have been told, Bryant was not really interested in playing third base when he was looking for a team when he was a free agent. That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t play there if needed. But, in my opinion, he would not have signed with Colorado if he was expected to be its starter at the hot corner.
But there’s more to it than that. General manager Bill Schmidt has told me, more than once, that when the Rockies signed Bryant that they didn’t want him to block any young players. In this case, that means giving rookie Elehuris Montero every chance to win the third base job during spring training. When second baseman Brendan Rodgers went down with a shoulder injury and Ryan McMahon moved from third to second, it opened the door for Montero. He’s had a good spring training. Now we have to see if he can carry that over to the regular season.
Patrick, I think Kyle Freeland has only pitched once for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic (entering Tuesday night’s championship game against Japan). Will this put him behind in his preparation for the season? Is Daniel Bard’s outing against Team Venezuela worrisome considering his past issues, or do you think it was just a unique situation?
— Frank, Denver
Frank, you raise two excellent points. Freeland has been used sparingly, for sure, but he’s kept up his pitch count throwing bullpens, etc. with Team USA. Will the lefty be rusty because he hasn’t pitched very many Cactus League innings? Perhaps a little bit, but Freeland’s a pro and he knows how to prepare.
Bard’s disastrous outing vs. Venezuela — four earned runs on two walks, a hit batsmen, a single and a wild pitch while not recording an out — raised a red flag. Given Bard’s past history with wildness and the yips, it’s concerning. Plus, Bard has had an inconsistent spring.
Manager Bud Black, however, said he doesn’t believe his closer is regressing.
“I can’t speak for Daniel because I’m just observing from 3,000 miles away,” Black told MLB.com. “But I think he might have gotten caught up in the moment. … He’s pitching for his country in front of a big crowd. He only had three or four outings with us this spring and Daniel’s got a lot of moving parts in his delivery. He was just out of whack.”
Maybe so, but the Rockies will breathe a lot easier if Bard returns from the WBC and tosses a couple of clean innings in the Cactus League.
It feels a little defeatist to be thinking this way already, but with some injuries to key players and the depth of the other teams in the National League West, I am thinking the Rockies are likely to be out of it at the All-Star break. Is there any reason to believe the Dick Monfort-Bill Schmidt brain trust will actually be involved in the trade market this year and seek to deal veterans for young talent? Do other clubs even consider the Rockies a viable trade partner?
— Joe C., Denver
Joe, I was baffled when the Rockies didn’t trade either Trevor Story or Jon Gray at the deadline in 2021. However, given the club’s youth movement, I do think that the Rockies will be active at the deadline. First baseman C.J. Cron, certainly, is a candidate if he’s hitting well. Veteran relievers Brad Hand, Pierce Johnson and Dinelson Lamet, all playing on one-year contracts, could also be in the mix if the Rockies are out of contention at the All-Star break and if they are pitching well. Playoff contenders always need relievers for the second half.
Greetings, Patrick. I pose two questions if I may. What are your takeaways from the WBC (besides Daniel Bard) — excitement or injury issues? Also, will you be presiding over a Purple Row breakfast on April 6?
— Robert, Limon
Robert, the WBC has been a smashing success. Injuries could happen in Cactus League games just as easily. Baseball is trying to become a worldwide game and the crowds have been terrific. The best players in the world are wrapping their arms around the event.
“This really is a great tournament,” Nolan Arenado told The New York Times. “There’s no reason why the stars of our game should not be playing in this. I’m thankful that we got Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, the faces of our game that are playing this thing.”
As for the Purple Row breakfast before the home opener, that event won’t be held this season.
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