Colorado Rockies Team Information |
| 2004 RECORD: 68 WINS 94 LOSSES |
Prospecting:
Farm Teams: AAA: Colorado Springs Sky Sox AA: Tulsa Drillers A: Modesto Nuts, Asheville Tourists, Tri-City Dust Devils Rookie: Casper Rockies
The Rockies are blessed with a combination of high-profile prospects and players who may be able to fill a need somewhere this season in Denver, lan Stewart, who has plus bat speed and an uppercut swing, hit .319-30-101 with 19 steals in low Class A last summer and his defense was much improved. Jeff Francis is a complete pitcher, possessing quality stuff, a deceptive delivery and plus command. He went 16-3 with a .198 opponents' average between Class AAA and AA in 2004. Chris Nelson was impressive in his pro debut, hitting .347 with a .510 slugging percentage in short-season baseball. Highly athletic, he rates above average with all five tools.
Ubaldo Jimenez was limited to 44.1 innings due to a strained back last season, but was dominant in that short time, spinning a 2.23 ERA, 5.0 strikeout/walk ratio and 12.4 strikeouts per game. He has a plus curveball and 91-96-mph sinking fastball. Jeff Baker has battled injuries, but he hit .318-15-84 between Class AA and high Class A. Despite playing good defense at third base, he may be moved to right field. J.D. Closser should get most of the playing time at catcher in Colorado after hitting .299 in Triple-A and .319 in 113 at-bats with the Rockies. He is agile and a good receiver.
Clint Barmes hit .328 with extra-base power (42 doubles, 16 homers) in Triple-A. Coupled with his improved defense, his offense makes him a candidate for the Rockies' short-stop job. Jayson Nix struggled offensively in Double-A, hitting .213-14-58, but he improved his defense. Brad Hawpe is a pure hitter who can hit for average and power. |
2004-05 Offseason Transactions
Aquired:
INF - Alfredo Amezega (Angels)
RHP - Aaron Taylor (traded to Mariners)
OF - Dustan Mohr (Giants)
INF - Desi Relaford (Royals) |
Losses:
SS - Royce Clayton (Diamondbacks)
3B - Vinny Castilla (Natonals)
OF -Mark Sweeney (Padres)
LHP - Denny Neagle (released) |
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2004 Team Leaders and History |
| Team History |
| YEAR |
W |
L |
RS |
RA |
| 2004 |
68 |
94 |
833 |
923 |
| 2003 |
74 |
88 |
853 |
892 |
| 2002 |
73 |
89 |
778 |
898 |
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| POS. |
BATTER |
AMT |
| BA |
Todd Helton |
.347 |
| HR |
Jeremy Burnitz |
37 |
| RBI |
Vinny Castilla |
131 |
| R |
Todd Helton |
115 |
| SB |
Aaron Miles |
12 |
| OBP |
Todd Helton |
.469 |
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| POS. |
PITCHER |
AMT |
| W |
Shawn Estes |
15 |
| Sv |
Shawn Chacon |
35 |
| IP |
Shawn Estes |
202.0 |
| ERA |
Joe Kennedy |
3.66 |
| SO |
Jason Jennings |
133 |
| G |
Shawn Chaco |
66 |
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| 2005 Team Salaries |
Rank |
Player |
Salary (US$) |
| 1. |
Todd Helton |
12,600,000 |
| 2. |
Preston Wilson |
12,500,000 |
| 3. |
Byung-Hyun Kim |
6,575,000 |
| 4. |
Jason Jennings |
2,400,000 |
|
Team Total |
48,107,500 |
|
Team Rank |
24th |
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Jeff Francis was named the Class AA Texas League Pitcher of the Year, putting a cap on an impressive season |
that eventually saw him hold his own in the majors (3-2 5.15 ERA).
His plus command (6.8 K/BB) is his best attribute, as he's able to place all four of his pitches where he wants. He possesses two- and four-seam fastballs in the 86-91-mph range, complementing them with a 78-80-mph curveball, 81-82-mph slurve and 78-80-mph straight changeup. He is consistent with his arm speed and low, three-quarters delivery. |
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Major League Baseball Tix |
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"They said it" - Clint Barmes |
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"He's the type of player you root for. He's a blue-collar shortstop. You have to see him a couple times before you appreciate him, but if you watch you are going to like what you see. He has a little bit of jolt in his bat. He is a nice guy to hit second because he can drive the ball the opposite way and he'll battle pitchers. He's at least adequate defensively, and he just keeps getting better. He picks up tendencies and can move to give himself a better chance at making a play. He's the kind of guy who figures out how to get the job done." |
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