Another unsuccesful try to reach Chacin
According to Baseball Reference, in 2011, Jhoulys Chacin had the fifth best season ever by a Rockies’ pitcher. Also according to BR, Chacin’s career WAR already ranks 10th in franchise history, which is pretty amazing considering he’s just 24 and only has 53 career starts under his belt. For those that tend to favor more conventional stats, Jhoulys’ ERA in both 2010 and 2011 rank among the five best seasons in organization history. Now, Fangraphs paints a little different picture in terms of WAR, but we could spend all day discussing the difference between BR’s and Fangraphs’ versions of WAR. The point is that Chacin is well on his way to being one of the best pitchers to ever wear the purple pinstripes and should have his best years in front of him.
This offseason, the word on everyone’s lips has been culture. Dan O’Dowd’s belief that last year’s team was flawed in the clubhouse has been the impetus behind nearly every move that has been made dating back to the Ubaldo trade. They traded the best pitcher in franchise history, a catcher that gets on base nearly as well as any catcher in baseball, and an outfielder that scorches right-handed pitching. In addition, the pitching staff is now filled with guys who may or may not be terrible fits for Coors Field and the lineup is suddenly very old. All of this was done in an effort to improve the culture, or accountability, or whatever you want to call it. The message has been sent – fall in line, or get out of it.
However, at some point, it all becomes overkill. Without a doubt, losing often wreaks havoc on a team’s chemistry. This is especially true when your team is suppose to win their division, and finishes 16 games under .500 instead. To be honest, that type of disappointing result had more to do with an ill built team than what was going on behind the closed doors of the Rox clubhouse. Axing a bunch of players may be of some help, but at what point does it stop?
That’s why this recent controversy surrounding O’Dowd and his best pitcher is so alarming. It’s hard to believe that a guy like Chacin would be placed under the microscope, yet here we are a week from spring training and the GM has already called out the young pitcher in the Denver Post. If you are to believe Dan O’Dowd, Chacin was completely unreachable in Venezuela this offseason and has reported to Arizona over weight. Apparently, the organization is quite disappointed.
Through Venezuelan writer, Rafael Rojas Cremonesi**, Chacin denied pretty much all of this. He claims that the Rockies knew where to reach him this offseason and also says that he’s lighter and in better shape than he was last year coming into spring training. I have a hard time believing that Chacin went dark on the Rockies this winter. And I also have to wonder if we would be hearing all of this pointless noise if Chacin had spent his winter in the States. At this point in his career, Jhoulys has earned the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, the GM doesn’t see it that way. So, we are left wondering if another rare commodity is about to be shipped out just because the GM has perceived some kind of flaw in Chacin’s makeup.
In the end, this just reeks of O’Dowd throwing another player under the bus. He’s done it recently to Ubaldo, Iannetta, and Seth Smith, just to name a few. Now, it’s Jhoulys’ turn. If Chacin has a letdown this year, it will be because he was out of shape coming into spring training, not because he’s just 24 years-old and still learning. That’s highly unfortunate. He basically has no wiggle room at this point. Perform and all will be forgotten. Fail and he’ll likely be shipped out of town.
More than likely, DOD is trying to send a message. However, he’s already sent that same message about 20 times this winter and now he’s alienated his best pitcher. Even if he was rightfully upset with Chacin, this was completely unnecessary. Why air out your grievances in a public forum like this? Do it behind closed doors.
Accountability starts at the top. The Rockies expect the players to regulate themselves in that department, but with the finger being pointed at this many players, maybe management needs to take a step back for some self reflection. When you look around the room and have a problem with nearly everyone in it, it’s probably time to look in the mirror, especially when you extended all of the invitations.
**Rafael writes for the Venezuelan newspaper Meridiano and formerly wrote for Viva Colorado, a Spanish language extension of the Denver Post. He has been invaluable during this Chacin mess. And considering that seemingly half the Rockies’ roster is from Venezuela, he’s someone that should be on the radar of every Rockies’ fan. You can follow him on Twitter @RafaelRojasC. He does tweet in English.
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8 comments
Sean D.
February 14, 2012 at 10:01 AM (UTC -6)
Alienating Chacin is not a good move. He seems to handle himself better than other 24 year-olds in the league and he needs to be rewarded, not chastised for something that probably didn’t happen. O’Dowd needs to learn to keep his mouth shut when it comes to this stuff or he will end up ruining great players before he has the chance to shuttle them off to the Mets for whatever mid-level prospect they have in AA. Chacin knows what he needs to do because he knows what O’Dowd does to players who slight him in the least. He appears to like pitching here, he’s successful here, and he is going to be the Ace until DLR comes back. I’m sure he’s been working hard and focusing in the off-season and he doesn’t need this in the back of his mind.
Also, with regard for the point made earlier about the clubhouse atmosphere, I know for a fact from playing sports that a clubhouse/locker room atmosphere is important, but replacing young guys who might be afraid of losing with veterans is not the solution. You are just replacing guys who are not experienced or mature enough to deal with losing with guys who may not care anymore. I think the mix they had last season was good but they didn’t have enough time to gel with guys being constantly yo-yoing between Denver and Co. Springs, which was probably more a result of O’Dowd’s meddling and not Tracy’s tinkering.
In short: O’Dowd needs to go.
Logan Burdine
February 14, 2012 at 10:57 AM (UTC -6)
Can’t disagree with any of this. It’s been long past time.
CUBUFFSPAC12
February 14, 2012 at 11:06 AM (UTC -6)
Whether or not his comments affect Chacin’s performance remains to be seen. What is more alarming to me is an aging infield, 38 year old, 3B, 1B, 36 at 2B and 35 at C. How that group holds up is a major concern. I understand getting some stability and veterans at those positions (Helton can stay for as long as he wants) but signing players with one ass cheek in the rocking chair, hoping to make the playoffs is a risk.
Logan Burdine
February 14, 2012 at 12:28 PM (UTC -6)
For the record, I don’t think the controversy will affect Chacin. However, I do think O’Dowd will deal anyone he grows disenchanted with and that’s what scares me about this.
Mike
February 14, 2012 at 8:14 PM (UTC -6)
My first thought on reading all of this is “NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!” That said, I have to agree on O’Dowd. Keith Law interpreted this offseason’s exploitation of the market inefficiencies of aging players who weren’t all that good to start with and #6 starter types who don’t strike out batters but do have strong fly ball tendencies as indicating an organization that is out of ideas. If that is the case, fire em all and start over.
Brandon
February 14, 2012 at 8:43 PM (UTC -6)
I must say that while I will wait to judge OD on this particular episode until I hear if there is more to the story (seems as thought there must be) I am not concerned with the thought of OD trading away Chacin. He has yet to trade someone away who is performing well (or is forecast to perform well). I realize a case could be made for Iannetta/Street/Ubaldo but they all under performed in my estimation. If OD was to trade Chacin I would think it was because he got a haul in return, not just because he was disenchanted with Chacin. We can disagree with OD’s talent evaluation/team strategy but I am not concerned with him whisking away a player based on emotion.
Lets hope OD knows Chacin better than we do and gave him a kick that he will respond well to…
Logan Burdine
February 14, 2012 at 10:30 PM (UTC -6)
I don’t feel like any of this is based on emotion. It’s about O’Dowd putting his perceptions about character above talent. As far as Iannetta, Street, and Ubaldo, I can really only get behind the Street move and that’s just because it freed up money on Scutaro. They dumped Iannetta for a AAAA pitcher, and let’s face it, there aren’t many productive catchers out there. Three wins above replacement behind the dish is pretty valuable. If you want Rosario to take over, fine, but don’t just dump an asset like that. I still think they will wind up regretting Ubaldo, but we will see. I have a tough time with getting rid of a guy, coming off the two best pitching seasons in franchise history, after one down season, which was still slightly above average for most pitchers. If he’s hurt, I’m glad for it, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Good news is that Pomeranz looks like a solid pickup.
Brendan Giles
February 15, 2012 at 6:43 PM (UTC -6)
I completely agree with taking care of this behind closed doors. Publicly berating a player is never a good way to develop trust within the organization, especially when it is your best pitcher. Trying to improve the clubchouse atmosphere using fear tactics and intimidation will never work over the course of the long season. Maybe DOD was trying to send a message to the rest of the team by atacking the top dog, but I think he made his point with the roster overhaul. Let’s hope this all a big misunderstanding and it is simply a poor motivational attempt on the part of DOD.