Here’s the latest out of the Mile High City…
- Gerardo Parra has been getting time at first base for the Rockies, and manager Walt Weiss hinted to reporters (including MLB.com’s Ben Weinrib) that Parra could remain at the position for the rest of the season. Parra had never played first base at the professional level prior to August 24, though if the Rox are comfortable with him as a first base option going forward, it could solve their outfield logjam. Trade rumors have long swirled around Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon, given the presence of both Parra (who is signed through the 2018 season) and promising rookie David Dahl.
- The bullpen has to be GM Jeff Bridich’s “top offseason priority” given how the relief corps has struggled in 2016, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post writes. Colorado ranks near the bottom of the league in blown saves, bullpen K/9 and bullpen ERA, though some misfortune has been involved, as the advanced metrics indicate (4.20 FIP, 4.29 xFIP, 4.02 SIERA) that the Rockies’ relievers should have better results than their actual 5.03 ERA indicates. Of course, the bullpen was a major focus last winter for Colorado, but acquisitions like Jake McGee, Chad Qualls and Jason Motte simply haven’t panned out.
- In another piece from Saunders, he thinks Walt Weiss will keep his job through the rest of the season “but then the decision could come quickly.” The Rockies are 65-71 this year, which actually represents their best winning percentage (.478) in their four seasons under Weiss. The skipper is in the last year of his contract, and his future in Denver could hinge on “how much [Bridich] wants to clean house.” FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal also recently suggested that Weiss could be a managerial candidate with the Diamondbacks, given Weiss’ shared history with Tony La Russa and Dave Stewart. (Assuming, of course, that La Russa and Stewart still have their own jobs in Arizona.)
Reynolds is on the shelf, and Paulsen didn’t even show up this year. However, playing Parra and his .258/.276/.406 line at 1B beyond this fall–even against only RHP–would be as terrible as an idea as the FO decisions to trade Dickerson for McGee and sign Parra to that 3 yrs./$27.5M contract to begin with.
To be fair Dickerson has been putrid in Tampa.
Because that makes sense put one of the best defensive outfielders at first base
The rest of the guys are stars who won’t move. Parra is told here’s your first base glove or there’s the bench lol
Parra’s bat doesn’t play well as an outfielder. Why exactly do they want his bat at first base? Say all you want about Greinke or anyone else, but I think Parra is the worst FA signing of the offseason based on production and team need (both at the time and currently).
If Colorado had any sort of bullpen and one more quality arm in the rotation, they very well could be the best team in the major leagues. That offense is ridiculous, irregardless of Coors’ altitude.
They wouldn’t be better than the Cubs, I don’t think. Plus, the Cubs are only getting better as the young guys mature. Rockies might be good, but not the best team in the league.
The Cubs have 23 more wins. Keep dreaming.
Parra has one skill -he’s a very good defensive outfielder. He can’t hit. He’s drawn 7 walks this year in 340 PAs. Moving a guy with this extremely limited skillset to first base makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. The Rockies can always find some quad-A guy to play first and hit a few Coors Field dingers – this is a team that has employed Brad Hawpe, Garret Atkins and Ben Paulsen at first base, after all. Putting your defensive replacement 4th outfielder at first base is such an odd move.
I agree that moving a defensive outfielder like Parra to first is undeniably foolish, I do have to counter several of your arguments.
Brad Hawpe was a right fielder for the Rockies and a very good one for four years. He played a grand total of 6 games in 7 seasons at first base.
Garrett (two t’s) Atkins was primarily a third baseman. He only played first as a primary position for three months when Todd Helton was hurt in 2008.
Ben Paulsen has never been anything more than a platoon guy for the Rockies. He has never been the full time starter.
Up until 2014, first base has been the most consistent position for the Rockies. Only two men (Andres Galarraga and Todd Helton) were the Opening Day starter at the position for the first 21 years of the franchise. There have still only been 4 different starters in Rockies history. It is not a position that should have a AAAA guy at it. It is an insult to even consider. Moneyball is just a movie, first base matters.