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Now official: Jason Marquis a Rockie

By Tom Stephenson | January 7, 2009 | Up in the Rockies

Jason Marquis Warms Up. Uploaded on June 22, 2008 by flickr user Hillarie.

As was rumored last week, Jason Marquis is now a Rockie, completing a trade that sent Luis Vizcaino to the Cubs. Reportedly, no other players changed teams; this is a straight Vizcaino-for-Marquis trade.Marquis comes to the Rockies as a career 79-70 pitcher, including 23-18 the last two years with the Cubs. Of course, as we all know about a pitcher's won-loss record, Marquis's record is misleading. Marquis has pitched all or part of nine different seasons in the major leagues, and he's managed to pitch for nine division winners, including four different teams that won 100 games. Yes, you're reading that correctly: Marquis has played for a division winner every year he's been in the majors.If that trend continues, I'll be a happy man, of course. Undoubtedly, though, Marquis has just had the good fortune of playing for some very good teams (and the 2006 Cardinals and 2007 Cubs, division...

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Initial Thoughts of MLB Network

By Alan Smodic | January 6, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Much like DirecTV's MLB Extra Innings package, the MLB Network is more baseball than one can handle. -- programwitch/Flickr.com

On January 1, Major League Baseball followed in the footsteps of the NFL and NHL by unveiling its own channel -- the MLB Network.If you don't already know what this exactly is, MLBNetwork.com's about page helps:MLB Network stands for Major League Baseball Network, which means access to more baseball than America's ever seen! This new 24-hour network delves into the world of baseball, going far beyond the field. Fans can tune in at any time for fresh perspectives, current news, the latest trade rumors, pre and post-game banter, highlights and more.Again, if you've seen the NFL or NHL networks, just picture those and think baseball. I wasn't sure if I'd receive the channel (I get the NFL network, but not the NHL), so I was surprised to see it coming in through my satellite. Obviously, I checked it out.I was impressed with my first viewing. The first show I saw...

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Luis Gonzalez is back.

By Tom Stephenson | January 4, 2009 | Up in the Rockies

No, not THAT Luis Gonzalez. The other Luis Gonzalez, who played for the Rockies from 2004-06, is back.The Rockies picked up Gonzalez as a Rule 5 selection from Cleveland in 2004, and he stuck with the team all season, appearing in 102 games and batting .292/.330/.469. In 2005, he played in 126 games and hit .292/.333/.421. Fine stats, it would seem, and with Aaron Miles traded following the 2005 season, it looked like Gonzalez would be the starter at second.It didn't quite happen that way, though, as Gonzalez got off to a slow start and Jamey Carroll turned into a .300 hitter; the Rockies later acquired Kaz Matsui from the Mets, making Gonzalez expendable. He spent 2007 and 2008 in Japan, but was banned from Japanese baseball for a year for testing positive from amphetamines.Now the Rockies have brought him back on a minor league contract. With the situation at...

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Latest rumor: Vizcaino for Marquis?

By Tom Stephenson | January 2, 2009 | Up in the Rockies

The latest Rockies rumor floating out there has relief pitcher Luis Vizcaino going to the Cubs, with Jason Marquis coming back to the Rockies.Nothing has been finalized yet, but assuming the trade is Vizcaino-for-Marquis straight up, it's not a bad deal for the Rockies. Vizcaino is pretty expendable, as the Rockies have some decent depth in the bullpen, while Marquis, though no top-of-the-line starting pitcher, has been decent over the last two years. Most likely, he'd slot in the fourth spot in the rotation behind Cook, Francis, and Jimenez. De La Rosa might be better, but it's hard to know what kind of pitcher you're getting with him.Marquis, on the other hand, is a pretty sure bet to have an ERA around 4.50, or basically league-average. He was once a 15-game winner in St. Louis, but that was back in 2004, and just a guess that the Rockies' offense in...

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Cubs about to send Jason Marquis to the Rockies

By Bryan | December 30, 2008 | Out of Right Field

According to the sources of Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs are very close to sending Jason Marquis and cash to the Colorado Rockies for reliever Luis Vizcaino.According to his report, the Cubs would only be sending $1 million to the Rockies. With Vizcaino's '09 salary at $3.5 million, the Cubs would be freeing up over $5 million on their payroll. Hopefully that free up will go towards the signing of a left-handed bat in Milton Bradley....

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The annual month of boredom

By Tom Stephenson | December 22, 2008 | Up in the Rockies

As much as we might like to, we can't make up news. And the truth of the matter is, since the Holliday trade, the Rockies still have done basically nothing.There was the signing of Alan Embree. Glendon Rusch got signed to a minor-league deal. Willy Taveras got dumped. There are rumors that Tim Redding might come on board.Other than that... nothing.The Rockies' roster, as it's currently constructed, won't be a complete embarrassment. On offense, the Rockies have one of the better young catchers in the league in Iannetta, Tulowitzki due for a bounce-back season (we think), some combination of Atkins, Stewart, and Helton at the corners, and, I guess, Baker or Barmes at second. Spilborghs, Smith, and Hawpe is a halfway-decent outfield, but the truth is, unless Fowler or Gonzalez is ready to step in and contribute Holliday-like numbers from the outset, this isn't the offense of a contending team.Neither...

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Rockies dump Taveras

By Tom Stephenson | December 13, 2008 | Up in the Rockies

That's two starting outfielders from last year, now gone.The Rockies non-tendered Willy Taveras last night, making him a free agent and probably ushering in the Dexter Fowler era in Denver. Taveras had a decent year in 2007, hitting .320/.367/.382 while mostly batting out of the leadoff spot. But that turned into a .251 average in 2008, and the development of Fowler, plus the acquisition of Carlos Gonzalez via trade, made Taveras expendable.Assuming the Rockies don't decide to do anything with Hawpe, the Rockies' outfield looks pretty well set. I'd expect to see Hawpe continue to man right field, some combination of Smith and Spilborghs in left, and Fowler/Gonzalez in center. That is, assuming the Rockies aren't done acquiring players. The outfield should be decent, not terrible, in 2009....

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Cabrera, Patton gone

By Tom Stephenson | December 11, 2008 | Up in the Rockies

You can cross Everth Cabrera and David Patton off the Rockies prospect lists.For now, anyway. Cabrera and Patton were both selected in today's Rule V Draft. The Rockies passed on their pick in the draft.Cabrera hit .284/.361/.399 in 121 games at Asheville this year. His main value to a major league team right now is in speed: he stole 73 bases in 89 tries in 2008. But he's probably not ready to contribute in the majors otherwise. The MLE calculator at minorleaguesplits.com gives him a .175/.224/.234 line in San Diego, based on his 2008 stats in Asheville. Even giving him the benefit of the doubt development-wise, that's pretty awful. Unless the Padres are willing to live with a middle infielder whose average floats around the Mendoza line, Cabrera will probably be back in the Rockies fold sometime in 2009.I'm not so sold that Patton will be back. As a power...

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Initial Thoughts of MLB Network

By Alan Smodic | January 6, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Much like DirecTV's MLB Extra Innings package, the MLB Network is more baseball than one can handle. -- programwitch/Flickr.com

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Friday's Hot Stove Dishes - November 7, 2008

By Brian Joseph | November 7, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Check MVN Outsider ever Friday for the ten hottest rumors during the Hot Stove League and a recap of all of the latest moves in Major League Baseball: Peavy's days numbered in San Diego. Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves highlight possible destinations. As San Diego Padres GM has stated, the Jake Peavy "train has kind of left the station." Since the Peavy rumors started, he has informed the Padres that he will lift his no-trade clause for seven teams -- the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. Of that group, the Braves and Cubs have emerged as the front-runners. The Braves seem to be dangling Yunel Escobar and young pitching but not prospect Tommy Hanson who the Padres have been rumored to be interested in. Also, the talk of Escobar being part of the deal has Peavy concerned about Atlanta's...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Andy Sonnanstine, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Coco Crisp, Colorado Rockies, Edwin Jackson, Hot Stove, Jake Peavy, Jason Varitek, Junichi Tazawa, Matt Holliday, MLB, New York Mets, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers

MLB '09 off-season starter: Can LA afford to lose Manny? The Obama Effect on free contracts; Big name pitchers cut loose

By Brandon Rosage | November 7, 2008 | MVN Outsider

To celebrate the start of what looks to be a competitive and active winter of dealing among big league clubs, The Pitch's Joe Aiello and Brandon Rosage weigh in on the biggest stories effecting the market this week in Major League Baseball, including... Dodgers GM Ned Colleti makes A-Rod-like offer to Manny Ramirez The Barack Obama tax plan's effect on player negotiations this winter Matt Holliday's desire to skip a pay day in favor of postseason plans A.J. Burnett walks away from $24 million and two years with Toronto to hit the free agent market Cubs leading the Jake Peavy sweepstakes Nationals unveil some sharp and fugly new jerseys The guys also rewind to their 2008 predictions from March 2008 and relive the embarrassment and glory of sounding like naive idiots. Listen in and participate via e-mail (thepitch@mvn.com) or in the comments....Read more

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: audio, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals

How Do You Raise a Relief Prospect?

By EJ Fagan | November 2, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Teams generally have the same plan for raising a starting pitcher through the minor leagues. They let him pitch at a level for a prescribed period of time every 5 days, evaluate him, and determine whether or not he has learned enough to be promoted to the next level. The criteria that they use to determine how long a pitcher has to spend at a level or for how he has learned varies from team to team, but the overall strategy is pretty static.Relief pitchers are a whole different animal. The emergence of the closer position in college has put Major League organizations into a bind. They are not sure how to take these relief pitchers and make them into major league assets. In the old days, relief pitchers generally emerged from failed starting pitchers. Guys like Mariano Rivera and Eric Gagne were bad starters, but electric relievers, due to...Read more

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: Colorado Rockies, Milb, MLB, New York Yankees, Player Development, Relief Pitching

Being the GM: 2009 Colorado Rockies

By Evan | October 31, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Ryan Dempster - edorf81

This series is predicated on educated guesses, past history of the team/general manager, rumors that have been out there for a while, and actions that I feel could be taken. This exercise is me playing GM to inspire conversation and a new way of approaching things. Moves that I complete as previous GMs of teams will carry over here. Trades only include principal, significant players. The Colorado Rockies followed up a magical 2008 season by regressing to the mean in 2008. It was expected, at least by every non-Rockie fan, and the club now has a far better grip on what they need to ascend to the World Series again.Colorado Rockies trade first-baseman/third-baseman Garrett Atkins to the Milwaukee Brewers for Rickie Weeks and a prospect.The Rockies are in need of a second baseman (Jayson Nix isn't cutting it) and Rickie Weeks needs a change of scenery. It's very apparent that...Read more

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MLB Power Rankings

By Daniel Rathman | September 22, 2008 | MVN Outsider

The MLB Power Rankings will run on Outsider every Monday night until the conclusion of the regular season.� This is the second-to-last edition of the Rankings; next Monday's edition will be the last.� The final week of the regular season is upon us.� Yeah, already.� Hard to believe, isn't it?� The Halos, Rays, and Cubs are into the playoffs.� The Dodgers and Red Sox are, for all practical purposes, in.� Two of the Mets, Phillies, and Brewers will make it, as will either the White Sox or Twins.� All the other teams will be hitting their La-Z-Boys when the final outs of their games are recorded on Sunday.� Here's how the league stacks up in the penultimate edition of the Power Rankings. Note: some of the statistics and records below are through SATURDAY's games. 1.� Los Angeles Angels, 95-59 With the AL West division locked up and home-field advantage essentially...Read more

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