I work for the Rockies rookie league affiliate. While getting ready for opening day next month I came across boxes of programs dating back as far as 2003 and as recent as 2009. I also happened across baseballs signed by complete teams. Below is a brief list of players of interest from the teams, I have multiples of each:

Butte Copperheads 1998 (The Pioneer affiliate of the Anaheim Angels, turned Casper Rockies): No one special.

Butte Copperheads 1999: Francisco Rodriguez and Alfredo Almezaga.

Casper Ghosts 2003:Ian Stewart, Jonathan Herrera, Pedro Strop, Juan Morillo,and Alberto Arias.

Casper Ghosts 2004: Seth Smith, Chris Nelson, Eric Young Jr., Matt Daley, Samuel Deduno, and Franklin Morales.

Casper Ghosts 2005: Dexter Fowler, Cole Gardner, Corey Wimberly, and Chaz Roe.

Casper Ghosts 2007: Willin Rosario, Jhoulys Chacin, and Parker Frazier.

Casper Ghosts 2008: Tyler Massey and Willin Rosario.

Casper Ghosts 2009: Nolan Arenado and Chris Balcom Miller.

Finally, I have about a hundred sheets of uncut baseball cards from the 2006 Casper Rockies team, including: Brandon Hynick, Pedro Strop, Everth Cabrera, Hector Gomez, Dave Christensen, and Esmil Rogers. 

The team is looking to move a lot of these items, and because I lurk on this site often I thought maybe some of you would be interested in picking them up on the cheap. I'll have pricing up later today or tomorrow but can tell you programs are two dollars+shipping. 

Also, I know that some of you have Purple Row BBQ's during the season. Should you want to have a group up to Casper for a Ghosts game let me know. Thanks.

Chris Babb

Casper Ghosts

307.232.1111

Food and Beverage

chris_babb@yahoo.com 

I grew up long enough in Michigan to be imprinted with the Lions as my team. In Jr. High I moved to the Rocky Mountain region and have endured unceasing mockery from fans of any and all teams. That was about 12 yrs ago.

I've told myself "this is it". Rod's going to lead either turn this boat around or I'm going divorce the lions and find a new team. Yesterday was the straw that broke my back. I don't root for them-I root against them hoping for games like yesterday to confirm what the Millen ERA has taught me. There is no hope.

I haven't decieded what team to root for but it can't be a perrenial powerhouse (Pats, Colt, Cowboys)-it wouldn't be right. Whoever it is needs to be smart in the FO.

If you have a recommendation let me know or better yet if you can form a convincing arguement to stick around for the circus I'm all ears.

Intoddwetrust

Lions fan 9/01/1995 to 9/14/08

With the release of this year's game right around the corner I thought it would be interesting to predict who the highest and lowest rated players on this year's roster would be.

I'm going with Shaun Roger-92

Ramzee Robinson might be the chic pick living up to his billing as mr.irrelevant but I'm saying that in an upset win Eric (give me the damn ball) Beverly beats him with a 67.

 Simeon Rice was released today when a nagging shoulder injury was comfirmed through a failed physical. While the degree of the injury is not yet known early prediction make detroit a likely landing spot for the former pro bowler with Marinelli's relationship aiding as a heavy influence.

 I figure a signing will be put off a few days while the team's focus is on getting Johnson signed. But, it would be encouraging to trot out a front four of Rice/Rogers/Redding/and White with Cody/Franics/Edwards cycling in.

 Speaking of Francis and Edwards I'm wondering if Training camp might not be a time to try a switch to LB. Edwards has the experience from his days at South Carolina while Francis has the edge quickness that makes Shawn Merriman such a success (well, that and steroids). Simms looks like a stalwart but Paris who has the edge over Lehman at MLB is unproven and Bailey/Lehman are made of glass.

 Kitna and others are either crazy or right on about finishing 10-6 or better. Once CJ signs (pay the man) the team can turn its attention towards Sept 9.

Here's to a slighty less embarrassing season. GO LIONS!

scenerio 1: Trade down one spot with clevland for the 3rd pick, pick up Thomas there, gain MLB Andra Davis and thier 2nd rounder.

scenerio 2: go crazy...swap with ATL. Get CB Hall, eight pick, and a second maybe even a third rounder.Draft MLB Willis in the 1st, Neb DE Carriker in the 2nd along with OT Joe Staley. Extremely hypothetical but wouldn't that be nice?

You're the GM and you've got a chance to put the team over the hump. Which philosophy do you abide by? Do you do for long ball with Jones, Cameron, and sometimes Rowand or Gold Glove D with Ichiro and Baldelli?
 I've had this fasination with Hawpe in Center. He's got the arm but does he have the wheels? He would put up + numbers for a center fielder assuming the second half of last year was him trying too hard which I think is true.

29. Dan O'Dowd, Rockies
On the job since ... September 1999
Playoff appearances: 0

One of the modern world's great mysteries is how O'Dowd is still employed as a Major League GM. He discards prevailing strategies like used tissue, and the farm system has churned out precious little on his watch. He's the guy who gave Mike Hampton the 15th-largest contract in sports history and signed Todd Helton through 2011. `Nuff said.

According to this only Bavarsi of the Mariners is worse at evaluating talent/getting deals done. I hate O'Dowd so I ask you out there...where would you put Dan.

No mention of Atkins or Holiday here. Are they from the previous regime?

So I'm spending my spring break in AZ this year getting a head start on the season. It'll be my first time going down and I was wondering if anybody had any tips/suggestions such as places to stay for cheap/eat, parks to visit, times to get autographs etc...thanks for the help.

Also, with talk about how terrible Hurdle is (which I agree with) I was curious who should take over with the impending firing of clint hurdle. My vote goes to Don Baylor.

Barmes, if you are reading this...you suck.

LA Times is reporting that Stoneman offered Figgins, Kotchman and Aybar for Helton. The Rockies would have to pick up a significant portion of the money due and the Angels are timid due to Todd's recent decline. Talks are quite right now but not completely dead

Not sure who initiated talks but interesting nonetheless. I would really like to see Todd get it done in Denver, he's worked so hard. When I look at it as a buisness move however it's hard to see Todd's income as a good thing for the franchise.

Gosh Dan, it would have been nice if we could have hung onto Figgins in the first place but hey, Kimera Bartee was what we needed to reach the top right?

I've shivered at the trade market offerings I've read about so far. Jason for a box of ho-hos and a few carwash tokens etc...
Then I read that the phillies are willing to send Rowand AND Gavin Floyd to Texas for Akinori Otsuka.  

B Fuentes
 COL 3 4 3.44 66 0 0 0 30 36 65.1 50 25 25 8 6 26 73

  A Otsuka
 TEX 2 4 2.11 63 0 0 0 32 36 59.2 53 17 14 3 0 11 47

There is a bit of a difference in ERA but when you remember who pitches at Coors(humidor or not) or Arrlington, I would think that the better strikeout threat at the end of the game would negate other stats.

Now, I say all this to say would the rockies be a better team if they moved fuentes for these two? We could fill the need for a young end of the rotation started and an offensive centerfielder who flashes glove. Hawkins could close and the phillies would go on to another medicore finish.

I like fuentes because he stands as the only player to be "stolen" in a deal completed by O'dowd but you have to break a few eggs to make an omlette

Just read that Juan Pierre has a deal in place to pay him a contract in the mid 40s and Alou left San Fran for Shea Stadium and the mets.

With Pierre in place should the Dodgers offer Kemp plus others for Jennings I think we should take that. I remember when Kemp came to Coors and put on a clinic. I saw him at a game in Las Vegas later that summer and asked him about playing in coors, he just laughted.

The Tigers announced today they had acquired outfielder Gary Sheffield from the New York Yankees in exchange for right-handed pitchers Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan and Anthony Claggett.

The Tigers and Sheffield have agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2009 season.

Over at Freep.com

I've posted before about the Rockies need for a dramatic change in their attire. I recently saw at mlb.com that the d-backs new uniforms are out which look one part Astros and one part Nationals. I feel that it sure beats southwest. I feel however that the rockies have some of the fuglyiest stiches around. To scientifically test this I offer the following poll...

Over at mlbtraderumors.com they had this to say about the top 50 FAs and their possible place of employment next season.

33. Dave Roberts - Rockies. The Rox are going to find a center fielder one way or another.  If they miss out on Gary Matthews Jr. Roberts looks like the guy.  He's a helpful player but may have a hard time playing above average CF defense and staying healthy.
50. Miguel Batista - Rockies. One of the game's best groundballers would work in the Colorado rotation.  He wouldn't be spectacular, but the Rockies need a starter or two.  Three if they trade Jason Jennings.  

Also, Bautista wouldn't be a bad move. He's an innings eater of the Livan Hernandez type.

Jennings
Francis
Cook
Bautista
Kim

Just read over at rockymountain news that J.D. was claimed by the brewers earlier today for $20,000. The promise of Colina and Iannetta along with Torrealba makes the sting of another "future catcher" becoming rockies alumni a bit less painful.

I wonder what we could have gained through trade for a young swith hitting catcher?

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, a 31-year-old who has hit 464 home runs, could be dealt because of apparent problems coping with New York pressures. He is guaranteed $98 million from 2007 through 2010, and it's reasonable to conclude that he would find San Diego more relaxing than the Bronx. Count on the Padres being among several clubs linked to a potential Rodriguez trade, but Kevin Towers said, "I think what's out there is pure speculation."

Also, Zito is expected to be enticing to his hometown padres. I wouldn't bank on the dodgers allowing that to happen however.

Rockies need to find the '05 Barmes and put him in Center, deal a Baker or Hawpe for somone like Detroit's Mike Maroth and then print playoff tickets.

So I was over at mlbtraderumors.com looking at potential FAs for the rotation when I was taken back at what I saw:

Want someone who's plain tough to hit?  Good luck with that.  With BABIPs adjusted to the league average, here are the best free agent pitchers in hits per nine innings.  The following group allowed fewer than a hit per inning.

Jason Schmidt
Ted Lilly
Barry Zito
Mike Mussina
Roger Clemens
BYUNG HYUN KIM
Andy Pettitte

These are your best bets to miss bats.  Strikeout rate leaders:

Roger Clemens
Ted Lilly
Mike Mussina
Jason Schmidt
Gil Meche
BYUNG-HYUN KIM
Andy Pettitte
Vicente Padilla
Randy Wolf

Is this the same guy that tried his hardest to lose the series for the D-backs but atleast managed to tie the all-star game? This guy consistently forgot to record the third out and pitched down the stretch as if his name were bung hole kim or Sunny Kim.

 Kim COL 5.57  155.0 innings pitched 179 hits 103 runs 96 Earned runs 18 Dingers 8 HB 61 BB 129 Ks.

Stop celebtating mediocrity.

Because we as Rockies fans live in two worlds, the actual and the what if, I was wondering what is within the realm of reality when it comes to off season acquisitions for the team.

For instance Andy Marte the highly touted thirdbase prospect of the braves changed hands a couple of times in return for coco crisp, and Edgar Renteria respectively. With the emerging play of Garret Atkins what kind of bounty could we get for Ian Stewart. What about Ian Stewart for Vernon Wells straight up (assuming that he signs an exstension). How about Stewart and Ubaldo for the Phillies Rowand and Coles?

Just throwing it out there...

We've all stuck through the threads of the 90's (heavy on the silver stitching) and those alternate solid purple aways that made Jennings look like Dinger but I draw a line in the sand when it comes to the sleeveless black. These do not say marketability. These say highway cleanup crew.

What if we went to something like navy blue and white or forest green/white? Or we could sift through the dumpster and come up with those crazy camo jerseys the padres wear, whatever I don't care.

My point is that anyone not named Choo Freeman should not have to endure this travesty.