Casey Blake was released by the Rockies today
Just coming across the Twittersphere from Troy Renck is that the Rockies released Casey Blake (Tweet is here). This is sort of a shocker as Blake hit a deep home run on Sunday and seemingly was going to make a case to be on the Rockies squad that breaks camp in about a week. Apparently the spring play of guys like Chris Nelson and Jordan Pacheco was enough to give Dan O’Dowd and Jim Tracy enough confidence that they didn’t want to pick up the $2 million price tag that Blake carried.
That salary and Blake’s injury history is a scary proposition. The fact that Blake has been hurt for a chunk of spring doesn’t leave many with enough confidence that he can play 100 games in 2012 much less 130 or 140. I am not sold that the plan for Blake in 2012 was to play in that many games because I think the team wants Arenado to start his big league career, but Blake cannot break camp with the team and then end up on the 15-day disabled list before April is over. The Rockies used to have a team full of guys with options that allowed them the flexibility to move guys back and forth between Denver and the minor leagues but a lot of those options have run out, including those on Nelson. If the Rockies option Nelson to the minor leagues he has to clear waivers first and they must believe he would not clear waivers.
The Rockies need to be healthy this year and carrying an aging veteran with an injury history is not something the team wanted to pursue.
At the start of Spring Training the third base job seemingly was either Blake’s or super prospect Nolan Arenado’s job to take, but just a few days ago the Rockies made a few roster moves and included in those moves was Arenado being reassigned to minor league camp.
Nelson has been getting quite a few starts at third base and with Pacheco hitting over .400 this spring the Rockies figure that the two of them can fill the position until Arenado is ready to be promoted.
Maybe the team looks for another veteran to sign late that can play the position occasionally but it appears Nelson and Pacheco each are a lock to make the 25-man roster on Opening Day.
Loading ...
Loading tweets...
6 comments
1 ping
Travis Lay
March 27, 2012 at 2:43 PM (UTC -6)
I guess the average age of the Rockies Opening Day roster just got a whole lot younger.
Mike
March 27, 2012 at 8:12 PM (UTC -6)
But I would guess the lineup will get older again when Nelson is hitting .220 on April 16 and is sent back to Colorado Springs and Tracy decides that Pacheco is really the backup catcher and can’t be used at third…..sigh…..
Montana Steve
March 28, 2012 at 8:38 AM (UTC -6)
Yeah we’ll get a lot older. My unnamed sources are telling me O’Dowd is reaching out to Boggs and Schmidt for a comeback tour.
Kevin Kroh
March 28, 2012 at 3:38 AM (UTC -6)
Saw this one coming. It’s the right move. If Nelson struggles, we should just calm ourselves down by remembering that time he accomplished the impossible: a straight steal of home. Then, calmly get used to seeing Pacheco at the hot-corner, hitting in the 8-hole, and finally getting infuriated when Nelson is traded for nothing.
Brendan Giles
March 28, 2012 at 9:29 AM (UTC -6)
This move was a real head scatcher at first, but looking at the roster it starts to make sense. There are 4-5 spots for bench players. Releasing Blake enables a platoon situation at third and frees up another roster spot so there are now 5-6 available. Giambi is a lock because he is the go-to pinch hitter (for better or worse). Pacheco has been a monster at the plate and needs a place to play everyday, not be a backup to Ramon Hernandez. As mentioned, Nelson is out of options, but so is EY Jr. so they are both going to be given the first chances to fail. That leaves Rosario as being able to make the club with the option of adding another OF bat (Tyler Colvin? Charlie Blackmon?). I think this move was made to make room for Rosario to back up Hernandez and enable Pacheco to get more regular playing time. Bottom line is that the production form 3B last season was below replacement level, so the bar is not set too high for improvement.
Logan Burdine
March 28, 2012 at 12:50 PM (UTC -6)
Not that I was all that enthused about Blake to begin with, but I did have hope he would stabilize the position. I think the 3rd base position is going to be a black hole again this year. I hope that doesn’t force them to promote Arenado too early.
Rockies spring stats review - Blake Street Bulletin » Blake Street Bulletin
March 29, 2012 at 9:15 AM (UTC -6)
[...] « Casey Blake released and Nolan Arenado was sent to minor leagues: who plays third? [...]