Rockies fire Bench Coach - Jamie Quirk, Hitting Coach - Allen Cockrell, and 3rd Base Coach - Mike Gallegos.  Also, decline option on Matt Herges and exercise buyout of 250k.  See everyone's favorite local sportswriters for more details.

I think we all assumed that this was coming, they didn't wait too long. I am interested to see what changes we are in store for over the coming months.  I feel like drastic changes are coming - I'm just not sure what.

John Sickles has a decent report on a few of the Rockies prospects on the Drillers over at Minor League Ball. 

The link is here.

I've never been that interested in the Minor League systems until a couple years ago, the work that Rox Girl does is great, just want to say thanks!

Also - I'm going down to a game in Colorado springs in a couple weeks.  Does anyone have any advice?  I've never been to a game down there.

[editor's note, by Russ] Promoted from the diaries. Metsblog.com has more on this.

According to mlbtraderumors - the deal between Yorvit and the Mets has fallen apart and there are no ongoing talks.  I assume that Mets fans will appreciate this.  I would still be ok bringing him back for a couple years, but I would hope that the Rockies would give Ianetta a chance to win the job.  Someone a few weeks back proposed letting Yorvit catch for the young guys and letting Ianetta catch for Francis, Cook and Hirsch.  Anyway - thought some of you would like to hear this news.

Has anyone else noticed that the Rockies have a glut of capable Center Fielders?  It seems that they are fairly committed to Willy T - although benching him in the World Series might make some question that.  Anyway what I am getting at is I am curious what people think they could get/want for one of them?  I sort of feel like they are better off trading one of them to get a piece they can actually use.  Feel free to disagree.  Atlanta is looking for a low cost CF while they develop their talent - although I'm not sure what they have to offer.

Per the AJC and ESPN - the Braves will not attempt to re-sign Andrw Jones.
Rather than offer my opinion on the matter - I will say that Andruw has had a great career in Atlanta, and I wish him well wherever he ends up.  Anyone have any thoughts as to who will be playing CF in 2008?  Please don't say Frenchy - it won't happen.

For those of you who dont have time to waste on ESPN Inisder, this today from Peter Gammons:
"The Braves will deal kids, but not Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Yunel Escobar, to find someone to fill in at the end of the rotation; John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, Chuck James and Buddy Carlyle are 31-19, but the other starters are an ugly 4-17, 6.41."

I think that there is no way that July 31 passes without a move for a starter from JS.  I think that it is pretty likely that we get someone to plug in at #5 as there will probably be alot of sellers (Washington, St. Louis, Oakland) that would be willing to take talent that is not major league ready.  But I also thing that we are going to get what we are missing and no more, a #5 guy.
I think that the next week and a half will make or break the season.

Can someone explain to me why Chuck James is getting at bats when we still have hitters on the bench, especially when he is scheduled to pitch tomrrow?  I didn't watch the game so I would be curious to hear some input.  This worries me for two reasons - why do we not have enough bench players, and what happens if he gets hurt pinch hitting?

According to ESPN Buehrle and Chicago reached terms on an extension of 4 years and $56 million, but talks fell apart because Chicago refused to give him a no-trade clause.

While this may mean that he is still available to Atlanta in trade, it seems unlikely to me that we will try and get him.  There is no way JS would give him a no-trade clause, and there is no way they will trade for him without wrapping him up long-term.  Maybe the Braves can find pitching elsewhere - any thoughts?

Not sure how far this has gotten out yet.  I am a little skeptical, but who knows what will happen if MLB looks into it.  Who is to say what happened for sure, all I have to say is that there is no place in baseball for cheating and cheaters - weather it be doctoring the ball or taking performance enhancing drugs.

http://www.zumsteg.net/cheatersguide/2007/04/03/francisco-rodriguez-doctoring-the-ball/

I just want to get everyones thoughts on our 2 major bullpen acquisitions this year.  Both of these guys missed significant time at the end of the year due to injury.  I don't know much about Gonzalez and his injury, but I am sure we all saw the ball that Soriano took to the head.  Is he ok physically (I assume so since he passed the Braves physical) - is he ok mentally?  I know an inury like that is probably pretty traumatic.  Somebody had mentioned that he was pitching in winter ball and had maybe lost some velocity?  Hope to hear your thoughts.

I like to speculate about these things as much as the next person so i'll pass this along:  Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times today wrote

"Meanwhile, Angels General Manager Bill Stoneman is believed to have met Monday night with Atlanta GM John Schuerholz to discuss a trade for Adam LaRoche, the Braves' 27-year-old first baseman who hit .285 with 32 home runs and 90 runs batted in last season

The appeal of LaRoche -- beyond being young, productive and, as a player in his first year of arbitration, relatively cheap -- is that the Angels believe they can swing a deal for him without giving up pitching.

The Braves, in need of a leadoff man and a second baseman to replace Marcus Giles, who is expected to be traded, are interested in speedy utility player Chone Figgins and first baseman Casey Kotchman."

I for one would be happy with figgins as our leadoff man - especially because of his defensive versatility and some of our players penchants for missing time.