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Parra thrilled to be reunited with Young Rockies’ first-base coach helped Gold Glove winner early in career By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | February 26
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Gerardo Parra suited up for the Brewers in the opening series last season and saw a lot to like
from their opponent, the Rockies -- on the field and in the first-base coaching box.
"They hit, like, 100 base hits and 12 homers, something like that," Parra said, smiling. And the Rockies rose in his eyes
because of Rockies first-base coach and outfield instructor Eric Young.
Parra was a young and quiet prospect with the D-backs several years ago when Young -- who was Arizona's Minor
League outfield coordinator before serving as first base coach in 2011-12 -- took an interest in helping him develop. Two
Gold Glove Awards later, Parra never forgot what Young did for him.
It all figured into Parra's signing with the Rockies for three years and $27.5 million during the offseason. Parra joined an
outfield already crowded with left-handed bats, but the Rockies later made room by trading Corey Dickerson to the Rays
for lefty reliever Jake McGee and righty starter German Marquez
"I was surprised a little bit, but when I listened to Colorado, I was happy, because I know the organization, I knew the
GM," said Parra, who batted a combined .291 with 14 home runs and 51 RBIs with the Brewers and the Orioles. "I knew a
couple players here. I talked to my agent and said I want to try to sign here. This is going to be a great team. And also,
when you play there, the fans come to the stadium -- a lot of them."
MEDIA CLIPS – February 27, 2016
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The relationship with Young helped make Parra's career.
As a prospect with Arizona, Parra was clearly behind Justin Upton and Chris Young on the Spring Training depth chart.
And Young detected a wait-your-turn attitude. For Parra to develop into a two-time Gold Glove Award winner -- in left field
in 2011 and right in '13 -- he needed to become bolder.
"He was a shy kid who wanted to stay in the background in individual drills," Young said. "I just gave him a look, and we
made eye contact. I said, 'No. I want you in the front in every drill.'
"I'd watched film on him and heard good things about him. And as I saw him each and every day, I had to tell him as
reinforcement -- whether he thought it or not -- 'Hey, you're probably my best defensive player out here, better than Justin,
better than Chris. You can play.' He looked me in the eye like, 'You believe in me.'"
It wasn't all sweetness. Parra, with one of the Major Leagues' strongest throwing arms, at times would lay back in an
attempt to fool opposing runners into going for the extra base. Young didn't want him risking a runner gaining 90 feet.
"It's like my son -- there's that tone that I mean business, and that tone that we're going to have fun, and I was on him,"
Young said. "After a while, I could look at him and he was like, 'My bad, Papi.'
"I had to convince him that it looks just as good -- and you gain even more respect -- by charging and throwing a bullet to
that cutoff man and holding him to second base. Word got around and fewer guys started running, because in scouting
reports it said, 'This guy has a cannon, but more importantly he's very accurate.' You're more accurate when you charge,
because you cut that distance.
"You know what was tremendous? When he won the Gold Glove [in 2011], he asked me to present it to him out there on
the field. That was an honor. And he was adamant about this."
Parra said, "When I won my Gold Gloves it was, like, 50 percent to him. He helped me a lot, like how to catch a fly ball,
how you throw it. He's got good points for big league outfielders. That's my best outfield coach.
"Right after I signed, he called me and said he was happy I signed, and I could help us win. I want to win another Gold
Glove this year."
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Parra said playing left in an outfield with two-time Gold Glove winner Carlos Gonzalez in right and 2014 All-Star Charlie
Blackmon in center will make the Rockies' defensive outfield "the best in the National League." Maybe the Rockies will
live up to last year's first impression, which faded into a 68-94 finish.
"I saw a really good team, really good players," Parra said. "I like the adrenaline when the guys played baseball.
Everybody played happy."
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Veteran pitcher Betancourt to retire
Rockies hoping prospects can match their speed skills with power bats
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | February 26
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rafael Betancourt, who joined the Rockies in a trade with the Indians during a 2009 playoff run
and ended up fifth in club history in saves and sixth in appearances, revealed Friday to a Venezuelan blogger that he is
retiring.
In a series of tweets in Spanish from a blogger for Diego Panorama in his home country of Venezuela, Betancourt, who
turns 41 on April 29, said "it was time." He also said he would love to be "linked" to baseball, but it's not clear if he'll
pursue coaching opportunities.
Betancourt originally signed with the Red Sox as a shortstop in 1993, but soon converted to pitcher and made the Majors
with the Indians in 2003. Betancourt pitched for the Rockies from midseason 2009 to '13, missed '14 because of Tommy
John right elbow surgery, then made the Rockies team again last Spring Training.
In his career, Betancourt was 38-37 with a 3.36 ERA in 680 appearances, and since his Major League debut on July 13,
2003, was never optioned to the Minors. With the Rockies, he appeared in 309 games and was 15-15 with 58 of his 75
career saves.
Betancourt's career was a testament to control.
According to Stats Inc., Betancourt threw 11,098 pitches in the regular season and postseason. In his 10th game, on Aug.
3, 2003, with the 142nd career pitch, Betancourt hit the Rangers' Marcus Thames on an 0-2 count. He completed his
career with a run of 10,956 pitches without another hit batsman.
In 2010 with the Rockies, Betancourt posted a whopping 11.13 strikeouts-per-walk rate. According to Tavis Strand of Root
Sports Rocky Mountain, Betancourt's 4.41 career strikeouts per walk ranks second in MLB history among pitchers with at
least 600 career appearances to Jonathan Papelbon's 4.54.
• The wave of prospects either hitting or about to hit the Majors consists mainly of solid hitters with speed --
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shortstop Cristhian Adames and outfielders David Dahl and Raimel Tapia. Others have hinted at power -- catcher Tom
Murphy (career high 22 homers in 2013), shortstop Trevor Story (20 last year) and third baseman Ryan McMahon (18
each of the last two years) -- but there isn't a monster home run hitter.
The Rockies' biggest chance to draft a ready-made power bat was in 2013, but the Cubs selected University of San Diego
slugger Kris Bryant second overall, which made drafting righty pitcher Jon Gray from the University of Oklahoma a no-
brainer.
The Rockies, who have happily accumulated hard-throwing pitching through the amateur ranks and through acquisitions,
aren't the only team noticing that power is scarce. Manager Walt Weiss noted that throughout the game the pendulum has
swung toward pitching.
Physical athletes also are gravitating toward the mound.
"There are plenty of athletic pitchers; pitchers, I will say, are getting bigger," Weiss said. "Obviously, we've seen the
velocity. It can be cyclical. The pitchers took a big leap and, generally speaking, have left hitters behind a little bit. But I
imagine hitters will close that gap at some point."
But with the Royals having won last year's World Series with quality at-bats rather than power, it could be that the
Rockies' system is moving in a successful direction.
"The game has changed the last few years," Weiss said. "Those [power] guys are harder to find. Ideally, you want those
guys sprinkled throughout your lineup. You can't have a whole lineup of those guys. There are too many empty at-bats,
typically. You want to be a complete lineup -- you want guys to handle the bat, the guys that can run and the guys that can
get you quick strikes, the big boppers."
Also, it's instructive not to put too much stock in Minor League power numbers. Of the aforementioned prospects, only
Murphy played college ball, so it could be a matter of players still growing and learning.
And, don't forget, two of the greatest power hitters in Rockies history -- Todd Helton and Matt Holliday -- each had a
career Minor League high of 16 homers.
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Arenado lets glove offer defense of ability
Third baseman says turnaround for Rockies hinges on starting pitching
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | February 26
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is such a standout defender that he doesn't need anyone
defending his reputation.
Shock arose in Denver and points beyond recently, when the MLB Network show "Top 10 Right Now" found five -- five? --
current third basemen better than Arenado. All Arenado has done is become the first National League player at his
position to win Rawlings Gold Glove Awards his first three seasons in the Majors, and he hit 42 home runs and led the
Majors with 130 RBIs last season.
A good list, of course, sparks debate. Just don't involve Arenado.
"I started getting texts. 'I can't believe you're ranked so low,' this and that," Arenado, who turns 25 on April 16, said. "I was
actually more mad about the people texting me than I was about the list that came out. That's just because I don't care. I
know my peers in this game respect me for how I play the game."
Besides, if Arenado wants to be in a bad mood, all he has to do is listen to predictions for the Rockies. Unlike Arenado's
play, which offers strong visual and statistical evidence for its quality, there's not much to say about five straight sub-.500
seasons and last year's 68-94 record.
Arenado greets a roster many see as curious. Starting pitching has lingered near the bottom of most statistical categories
for years, but several moves beefed up the bullpen (Jason Motte, Chad Qualls and Jake McGee) and reshuffled the
outfield (free agent Gerardo Parra in, Corey Dickerson gone to the Rays for McGee).
So Arenado is part of an offense that too often last year was submerged in deficits created by the starting staff. But the
plan is for Tyler Chatwood and Jordan Lyles to return from lengthy injury periods and for young pitchers who have
arrived over the last two years to continue their development. No free agent came riding on a new contract to save the
day.
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"Listen, we've got some young guys," Arenado said. "We need to grow and get better, and we need to step up. And we're
healthier than we were last year coming in. That could play a factor for us. This is going to be an interesting year. We
don't know how good we can be. I don't know how good we can be.
"Last year, you went into games and you were like, 'The odds aren't really in our favor.' Then you get off to a slow start or
you're down a couple of runs in the first inning, it plays a factor. If our pitchers and our guys can keep us in the game,
good things can happen."
Rockies manager Walt Weiss called Arenado "a pretty special kid -- his heart is right, his head is right, and it gives me
comfort knowing that he's one of the guys the rest of our guys look to."
The trade of shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays last summer and Arenado's high-energy approach and easy
accessibility make him the logical new face of the Rockies. But what's more meaningful is the work he puts in when fans
aren't watching.
"It's not like we have a tarp down the line and he's going to jump on tarps and stuff like that, but all those range plays he
makes to both sides, he practices that," Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich said. "All those plays coming in, throwing
from different angles, throwing from different body positions, awkward body positions, he practices all that stuff."
Arenado is taking the same approach to his offensive game, where last season he barely increased the number of pitches
seen per plate appearance (from 3.43 to 3.49) but had higher quality by decreasing the number of poor swings because of
impatience. He's going to swing away and swing hard, but he is getting better at making those passes efficient.
He's calling for the same from a team that needs the respect that comes with winning.
"There's a lot driving me -- obviously, winning," Arenado said. "A lot of people are counting us out. It would be nice to
prove some of those haters wrong as a group. Individually, I just want to stay as consistent as I can. Whatever I did last
year, it's going to be hard to get back to that. But I can find ways to keep learning, keep growing and just find ways to
keep getting better at this game."
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New drill simulates game action
MLB introduces new sliding, pace initiatives
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | February 26
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies manager Walt Weiss' background as a youth and high school football coach had him
wondering how to replicate game speed in baseball practice. The result was the "Win the Inning" drill that he unveiled in a
test-market fashion during Thursday's first full-squad Spring Training workout.
It was a rapid-fire succession of offense vs. defense innings. Catching and defensive positioning coach Rene Lachemann
served as the plate umpire, who would accelerate a count -- say, 2-1 after the first pitch. Minor League pitching
coordinator Doug Linton threw fastballs and offspeed pitches from behind a screen set up in front of the pitcher's mound,
to simulate the ball getting to the hitter faster. The idea was to think and execute offensively and defensively.
There were some good moments: Raimel Tapia tripled down the left-field line, and Will Swanner's single to right scored
him. Defensively, outfielder Brandon Barnes moved to second base and made a nice play to his left on a Tony
Wolters grounder.
On the flip side, Rafael Ynoa was at second when he took off on a liner to right and was doubled up, and
shortstop Trevor Story let a bouncer through the middle tick off his glove for an error.
Weiss said the introduction went well. Players jumped into action after a brief meeting and understood it, and the inning
wasn't interrupted by lectures from coaches. There weren't even signs; players coached themselves on bunt or hit-and-
run attempts.
Thursday's innings took place without valuable information that will be included in future drills, such as inning and score.
"Typically, we'll start with situations, we just wanted to introduce it to them," Weiss said. "We just wanted to keep it
moving, but as we go on we'll put emphasis on it, on game-on-the-line situations."
Second baseman DJ LeMahieu said there is value in forcing players to think at game speed.
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"We're going to have a lot of different situations out there and hopefully we're ready for those situations come the season,"
LeMahieu said. "And defensively, you can take all the fungoes you want, but to get the speed of the ball off the bat is a lot
different."
Third baseman Nolan Arenado, however, said the Rockies have to be careful about not forcing everyone to react to
situations the same way.
"I'm a different hitter than, say, DJ LeMahieu," Arenado said. "I want him to hit the ball the other way because he knows
how to do it. He can do it on inside pitches and I can't. Usually, on inside pitches, I'm going to let it eat. I've got to find
ways to get guys in, but I don't believe everyone's on the same execution plan."
Worth noting
• LeMahieu said he'd have voted for half of the rule MLB introduced, which protects middle infielders from late slides --
runners must hit dirt before the bag and be able to reach it and stay on it. But it keeps defenses from stealing outs with the
"neighborhood play," when they actually aren't in contact with the bag while receiving a throw on a force play.
"I feel like you can't review the neighborhood play," LeMahieu said. "But then again, it's weird that you can't review
something like that when you can review the littlest thing on the slide."
LeMahieu said he didn't think the slide was a huge issue, but the change was understandable given the injuries sustained
by the Mets' Ruben Tejada in the postseason and the Pirates' Jung Ho Kang during the regular season. But having to be
in contact with the bag when he gets the ball, with no wiggle room, is "gonna need to be a focus, making sure you're on
the bag."
• Weiss laughed off the limit of 30 seconds for a coach or manager to make mound visits. Usually, pitching coach Steve
Foster makes those informational visits. Weiss usually goes out to make a pitching change.
"We're gonna see some pitching coaches trying to get in shape," Weiss said. "Fostie has a pretty good gait. He always
jogs out there. He won't have to make many adjustments."
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Jake McGee throws fastballs with a tail; he may be Rockies’ new closer
McGee, a trade piece from Tampa Bay, is Colorado’s newest power arm
By Nick Groke / The Denver Post | @nickgroke | February 26
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Jake McGee throws with his foot on the gas. His gear is nearly high speed all the time. In six
major-league seasons, the southpaw has thrown fastballs with nearly 92 percent of his pitches.
And he's not shy about it.
"If I stick to my strength, my fastball, and locate it well, I can get a lot of people out," McGee said.
The new Rockies reliever — he and outfielder Gerardo Parra are the team's highest-profile offseason acquisitions — joins
a growing list of hard throwers in the bullpen.
In a January trade, Colorado sent outfielder Corey Dickerson to the Tampa Bay Rays for just two years of control on
McGee, who worked as an eighth-inning setup arm last season.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, playoff teams last season, showed interest in trading for McGee.
The Rockies, who drastically bolstered their bullpen by also signing free agents Jason Motte and Chad Qualls, are
banking on McGee powering them through late-inning jams.
"He throws it a lot," manager Walt Weiss said of McGee's fastball. "Hitters have a tough time seeing it. It's hard to believe,
but he's just as nasty against righties."
McGee, a lefty, has held left-handed batters to a .224 batting average against him in his career. But right-handed batters
have hit only .190.
That versatility sets up McGee as a natural choice for Colorado's closer in the absence of Adam Ottavino.
"They're saying eight or nine, depending on the situation," McGee said of his role. "I'm used to that with the Rays. They
told me to be ready in high- leverage situations."
His fastball — which averages 96 mph in both the four-seam and two-seam varieties — sets McGee apart, in part
because it's not so straight. "It has a lot of tail," he said. "It goes up and away from righties."
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When the Rockies pulled the trigger on the Dickerson-for-McGee trade, they gave up a left-handed power hitter who
missed significant playing time last year because of a foot injury. Dickerson's plantar fasciitis, though, doesn't seem to be
a long-term issue.
McGee has his own health issues. He started the 2015 season on the disabled list after elbow surgery, ceding his Rays
role as closer to Brad Boxberger. Then a knee injury set him down again. He pitched in three games to finish last season.
"Mine were more like oil changes," McGee said. "They were minor surgeries. So I was lucky. But after getting through
those, I feel much better. I feel refreshed."
McGee came to the Arizona desert early to get a jump-start on spring training. He wanted to work with Colorado catchers
to find a groove. After bouncing from the Rays to the Rockies, he is going full speed into the season.
"It was like, all right, I'm ready to go right now," he said.
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Rafael Betancourt, longtime Rockies reliever, retires with amazing stats
McGee, a trade piece from Tampa Bay, is Colorado’s newest power arm
By Nick Groke / The Denver Post | @nickgroke | February 26
Longtime Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt retired from baseball Friday, according to Diario Panorama.
Colorado cut the 40-year-old right-hander late last season after he was designated for assignment in August. Betancourt
had held open a thin hope of returning to the major leagues. He returned last year from Tommy John surgery, and pitched
well early before struggling in the later months. With spring training now in full swing, he shut the door on playing again.
“I want to stay involved in baseball,” he told the Gerado Boscan. “When I get a proposal, then I’ll see.”
Betancourt, though, will leave the game with some impressive statistics behind him.
In 12 seasons, including six with the Rockies, Betancourt pitched as a control-focused set-up man. Tavis Strand of Root
Sports pointed out that Betancourt’s strikeout-to-walk ratio places him in rare company:
K-to-walk ratio leaders in MLB history
(minimum 600 career appearances):
Jonathan Papelbon … 4.54
Rafael Betancourt … 4.41
Mariano Rivera … 4.10
Billy Wagner … 3.99
Huston Street … 3.81
With Cleveland in 2007, Betancourt walked just nine batters over 79 1/3 innings. His control was impeccable.
But Betancourt’s legacy may be tied to one amazing number.
In 680 games, over 685 2/3 innings pitched, Betancourt faced 2,787 hitters. He threw 10,904.
He hit one batter.
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One hit-by-pitch.
Guy’s name is Marcus Thames. In 2003. He was with the Texas Rangers. Betancourt remembers the count — an 0-2
pitch. Jeff Sullivan wrote a great rundown about it in Fangraphs last year.
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Rockies middle infielders not pleased with new MLB sliding rules at second base
“I’m not really a fan of the rule change,” said Rockies infielder Daniel Descalso
By Nick Krueger / Special to The Denver Post | February 26 SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The double play is an art form. If performed with flair and quick timing, the turning, feeding,
twirling and jumping looks more like a circus act.
Thursday, Major League Baseball announced its attempt to tame the three-man side show in the name of player safety.
Runners must make a "bona fide attempt" when sliding into second base.
Take note Chase Utley, the Los Angeles Dodgers infielder who sent Reuben Tejada of the New York Mets out of the
playoffs last October with a broken leg.
Rule 6.01 now states the runner needs to begin a slide on the ground before attempting to hit the base with a hand or
foot. Then he must remain on the base and not change his path to try and make contact with the fielder.
If it were up to Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu or utility infielder Daniel Descalso, they would have kept it the old
way.
"I'm all for player safety but I'm not really a fan of the rule change," Descalso said. "As a middle infielder, it's your job to
take yourself out of harm's way. If there is going to be a bang-bang play at second with a chance for you to be taken out,
it's your job to either hang in there or get out of the way."
That was a lesson he quickly learned in Single-A. The new rule also precludes roll blocks or any intentional contact with
the fielder. If that happens, an automatic double play will be called.
Last season the Rockies turned 171 double plays, 1.06 per game, good for third in all of baseball.
"I thought the rules were fine how they were," LeMahieu said. "Teams have a way of taking care of it themselves if they
feel it's not a right slide."
The league also announced the "neighborhood play" is now re-viewable with instant replay, meaning fielders must be sure
to touch second base when they turn two.
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"I'm lukewarm on the neighborhood thing," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Guys are just going to be a little more in-
tune to where their feet are. I just hope infielders don't get to the point where they have to think about their footwork.
That's a concern I have."
A sure foot on the base means more practice time with a premium put on double play relays from the other middle
infielder. Fielders will also have to change how they protect themselves after touching the base.
"I've always used the base as a kind of protective barrier," Descalso said. "There aren't a lot of guys who are going to
want to slide over the bag to get to you so coming up I've learned that you can kind of use that base to protect yourself."
The talk to change the rule escalated during Game 2 of the NLDS last season when Utley rumbled into Tejada.
While Descalso felt remorse over the incident, he also expressed that it's part of being a middle infielder.
"That's the way the game is supposed to be played," he said. "If you're trying to break up a double play and you happen to
take me out in the process and it's a good, clean, hard play? I'll dust myself off and get back up and do it again."
Weiss will also experience some rule changes. Managers and pitching coaches will only have 30 seconds for mound
visits. The timer will start on the first step out of the dugout.
"A lot of people talk about how slow I walk to the mound," he joked. "I think it's going to have a minimal effect, really.
There are times where you have to slow the game down to get a reliever loose and it may affect that but other than that I
don't see it having a major impact."
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Tyler Anderson, Rockies pitching prospect, feeling “total rejuvenation”
Longtime Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt retired from baseball Friday
By Nick Groke / The Denver Post | February 26
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Tyler Anderson was a cage rat, hanging off the fence during spring training last year, watching
bullpen sessions as baseball slipped away.
The Rockies put their once-prized pitching prospect on pause to help heal his elbow injury, and Anderson had trouble in
street clothes.
"It started to get harder and harder to wake up every morning," Anderson said. "It was a lot easier to hit the snooze
button."
Anderson, a left-hander who outpitched teammates Jon Gray and Eddie Butler at Double-A Tulsa in 2014, missed all of
last season while recovering from a stress fracture in his pitching elbow.
The 26-year-old returned to spring training last week. He is trying to make up for lost time.
"Now I wake up at 5:30 and my eyes are wide open and I'm ready to go," Anderson said. "I jump up because I'm so
excited to get to the field."
Anderson compiled an impressive 1.98 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with the minor-league Drillers two years ago. But overwork
and overuse put pressure on his joint, and it cracked. So the Rockies made him rest. For a year.
He returned to game action in November, pitching in five intrasquad games against teenaged prospects at the Rockies'
Dominican instructional complex.
His velocity has returned, he said, but more important is the joy.
"When I got back to the team, with the guys, I was like, 'This is so much fun again,' " Anderson said. "It's like a total
rejuvenation."
Anderson is now in line with a robust pipeline of pitchers. His year off from baseball bumped him down prospect rankings.
But his experience through four professional seasons is what sets him apart. He just has to prove he is healthy, starting
this spring.
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"From here, I truthfully mean this, I don't care if I go to Asheville in Low-A because I haven't pitched in a year and they
need to see it and I have to work my way up," he said. "As long as I'm pitching and playing, I'll be
"It's like Christmas every day, waking up and coming here. Now it's hard to fall asleep."
RAFAEL BETANCOURT RETIRES
Longtime Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt retired from baseball Friday, he told Venezuela's Diario Panorama. Colorado
cut the 40-year-old right-hander last season after he was designated for assignment in August. In 680 career games,
Betancourt threw 10,904 pitches — but he hit just one batter, the Texas Rangers' Marcus Thames in 2003, on an 0-2
count.
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Memories of a great rivalry brought back on ice between Avalanche, Red Wings at Coors Field
Avalanche alumni defeat Red Wings alumni 5-2
By Terry Frei / The Denver Post | February 26 Lined up on opposite blue lines Friday night at Coors Field for the pregame introductions of the full rosters player by
player, the Red Wings and Avalanche alumni tapped their sticks on the ice in hockey's traditional gesture of respect and
support.
The Avalanche did it for the Red Wings, including Detroit's seven members of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The Red Wings did it for the Avalanche, including Colorado's five Hall of Famers.
They've sufficiently gotten over the enmity, the spilled blood, the tensions that accompanied knowing that the path to the
most storied trophy in sports, the Stanley Cup, went through each other.
Or at least they've gotten over it enough to, over two days in Denver, interact and concede that without each other, their
places in hockey lore — and professional sports lore — might be very different. That linkage was one of the many draws
as a crowd of 43,319 watched the Avalanche alumni beat the Red Wings 5-2 on the eve of the Stadium Series regular-
season game between the two organizations on Saturday night. Temperature at the opening faceoff was 58 degrees and
the ice held up well ... or at least as well as could be expected.
Iconic defenseman Ray Bourque had a goal and two assists and Joe Sakic, the Avalanche's long-time captain and now
the team's general manager, had a goal and assist for Colorado.
"I thought the atmosphere was outstanding," Sakic said. "We knew there would be a big crowd, and it goes to show how
much this rivalry meant to the fans. Same thing with Detroit. I know the players on both sides appreciated it."
Goaltender Patrick Roy, now the team's 50-year-old coach, stopped 20-of-21 shots in two periods of duty in the Colorado
net.
"He's skating like he's 49 again," joked center Mike Keane, who came to Colorado with Roy from Montreal in a notorious
December 1995 trade.
Roy periodically had been donning the goalie equipment for several weeks and practicing with the Avalanche, and it
showed.
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"It was the first time for me to be part of an event like this, and I really enjoyed myself," Roy said. "I said I was going to
work hard before the game to make sure I'm ready to enjoy myself, and actually I did. I took the time to look at the fans
and talk to the guys before the game and look at the stadium. ...
"You don't want to embarrass yourself in front of our fans. Like it or not, they have some expectations for us and you want
to make sure you perform well. That's how we felt when we were playing and that's how I felt today, to come and play
hard for them, give them a good game and make them proud of us."
Bourque joined the Avalanche in 2000, at age 39, and then retired after fulfilling his quest to hold aloft the Stanley Cup
after a championship in 2001.
"That was a blast," he said. "It was a lot of fun, starting last night, meeting everyone and catching up. The atmosphere, the
crowd and the turnout was phenomenal."
Winger Valeri Kamensky, who journeyed from his home in Moscow for the game, scored the first goal in Avalanche
history, against the Red Wings in October 1995, and he opened the scoring in the alumni game Friday.
"To play together again like this, I need time to understand it," he said. "I think it's great to play in an open rink like this
with so many people. We had important series against them and now we win again and we feel good. And I score the first
goal like 20 years ago!"
Milan Hejduk and Stephane Yelle had the other Colorado goals, while Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan scored for
Detroit.
It was perhaps a three-quarters speed game, whether by choice or physical limitations at advanced ages, with only
incidental contact. But surprising attention was paid to the defensive end of the ice. Emotions never boiled over, though.
That was quite a departure, if an expected one, from the heyday of the rivalry.
The Yankees had (and still have) the Red Sox. The Lakers had the Celtics. The Bears have the Packers. Muhammad Ali
had Joe Frazier. The Montagues had the Capulets.
At least in sports, those rivalries were similar, but not instantly created, as happened after the Quebec Nordiques arrived
in Denver in 1995, were christened the Avalanche and won what generally is considered Colorado's first-ever major-
league championship in the franchise's first season in Denver.
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For a span of seven seasons, from 1995-96 to 2001-02, as the Avalanche and Red Wings won the NHL championship
five times, they were not only opponents, but sharp-edged opponents in a rivalry that overheated beyond the tensions
inevitable between elite teams seeking that single trophy.
Much it involved the Red Wings — most notably winger Darren McCarty — seeking to avenge the serious facial injuries
center Kris Draper suffered as the result of Avalanche winger Claude Lemieux's hit from behind in Game 6 of the Western
Conference finals in 1996, and the ripple effect lasted several seasons.
Judging from the scattered boos for various players from the crowd of divided loyalties advertised by wardrobe choices,
many of the fans hold grudges longer than do the players. The teams went through the postgame handshake line,
traditional after playoff series in the sport, and then took a group picture together.
The alumni and Stadium Series games officially on the primary ticket market were available only as a two-game bundle,
so many of the same fans will be back Saturday night.
This time, Roy will be standing behind the bench.
In a suit.
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Detroit Red Wings at Colorado Avalanche: How to watch on TV, preview and more
Semyon Varlamov will start in goal; rest of Avs’ lineup is the same from San Jose victory
By Mike Chambers / The Denver Post | February 26
In his 16th NHL season, Richards will play in his record fifth NHL outdoor game, and first with Detroit. Richards, 35,
played in three outdoor games for the New York Rangers and one with the Chicago Blackhawks. He has played one
game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, two at New York's Yankee Stadium and one at Nationals Park in Washington,
D.C. He has scored one goal in those games.
RED WINGS:
They have won only one of their past five games but gained points in their past three. They lost in a shootout and
overtime to Ottawa and the New York Rangers, respectively, before beating Columbus 2-1 in a shootout Tuesday. The
Avalanche beat Detroit 3-2 in a shootout Feb. 12 in Michigan. The Red Wings entered Friday with 71 points and in wild-
card playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
AVALANCHE:
Semyon Varlamov will start in goal. The rest of the lineup is the same from Wednesday's 3-2 shootout victory over visiting
San Jose. Colorado has 68 points, eighth most in the Western Conference. Entering Friday's games, the Avs led
Minnesota by four points and Vancouver and Arizona by eight. All Avs players watched Friday's alumni game at Coors
Field.
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These Rockies stink against left-handed pitching
By Matt Gross / Purple Row | February 26
It's been a rough winter ... err, eight months ... err, decade so far for fans of the Colorado Rockies. Combine all the
losing with the Tulo trade last summer followed by the perplexing lack of moves to better position the team for success in
seasons beyond 2016 this winter, and you end up with the fan base that's the least excited for baseball of any team in
the sport according to this week's Fangraphs polls (scroll to the bottom of the link to see them).
There's been plenty to criticize about this front office's 2016 plan, and yet, we haven't even touched on something
that's going to be an enormous problem for this team once the games get underway in a month. So let's do that now.
What I'm going to do here is post all of the Rockies hitters with at least 50 plate appearances against left-handed pitching
in a Rockies uniform over the last two seasons in two tables. The first table will include all of the hitters who posted a
wRC+ above 100 against left-handed pitching, and the second table will include all of the hitters who posted a wRC+
below 100 against left-handed pitching. Let's see if you can spot the problem.
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* * * * *
Something here should jump out immediately. Almost all of the hitters in the first table are players who are not going to
taking plate appearances in a Rockies uniform this season, and almost all of the hitters in the second table are players
who ARE going to taking plate appearances in a Rockies uniform. If the Rockies chose to cut ties with Jose Reyes as
soon as Rob Manfred rules on his domestic violence case, then Nolan Arenado is literally the only player on the first
table who the Rockies will have on their team this year.
Meanwhile, at least seven, and possibly eight (depending on if you think Kyle Parker will find his way Denver this season)
players in that second table are going to be a big part of the 2016 Rockies.
Many of the players in that first table had to go. The Rockies were right to get rid of Michael Cuddyer as his offensive
profile collapsed last season. Drew Stubbs and Wilin Rosario are so awful against righties, their bats couldn't be justified
on the roster, and Josh Rutledge just never could make it stick as an everyday player. However, when you combine all of
these guys leaving with the Tulo trade and letting McKenry go to Texas, you end up with a big, big problem.
You could start to see this storm gathering last season as the Rockies posted their lowest OPS and worst record of all
time against left-handed pitching. (Here's a table showing those numbers for the last ten years so you can get an idea of
where we stand going into 2016. The last column is the Rockies record in games STARTED by a left-handed pitcher.)
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However, now things are about to get even worse. While it's true that Stubbs and Rosario posted lower numbers than
usual against left-handed pitching in 2015, and that helped allow the team's OPS in this department slide to .677,
McKenry and Tulo were both still excellent here. In fact, there's no player in the baseball (minimum 50 plate appearances)
that has a higher OPS against left-handed pitching the last two years than Troy Tulowitzki, and the Rockies are about to
find out the hard way just how difficult it is for them to win games against left-handed pitching without his bat in the lineup.
To get a clearer idea of what the 2016 lineup will do against left-handed pitching, here's one last table showing all of the
players (with at least 50 plate appearances against major league left-handed pitching the last two seasons) I expect to get
routine time in a Rockies uniform this year.
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All I can say is "Please don't get hurt Nolan!!!" If he goes on the DL for any length of time this season, this team will be
train carrying toxic waste derailment ugly in this spot.
(Also of note, that Descalso number is a mirage fueled by a .400 BABIP against left-handed pitching when he played for
the Cardinals in 2014. His career OPS against left-handed pitching is .676.)
The new guys up from the farm are not going to help much here either. Tom Murphy, Cristhian Adames and Trevor
Story all have better offensive numbers against right-handed pitching than against left-handed pitching with Murphy's split
being particularly severe. Here are their total minor league OPS's at all levels in each situation:
Tom Murphy:
OPS vs. RHP: .908
OPS vs. LHP: .712
Cristhian Adames:
OPS vs. RHP: .741
OPS vs. LHP: .672
Trevor Story:
OPS vs. RHP: .843
OPS vs. LHP: .755
But wait, it actually somehow gets even worse when looking at the big picture. Last year, when the Rockies went an
abysmal 11-32 in games against left-handed starters, they were avoiding having to face many southpaws. The 43 they
matched up against in 2015 was the fewest they've matched up against since 2006, and that's largely been the case
because of the lack of left handed starters on other teams in the NL West. Here's how many games a lefty started for
each of the other four teams in the division last season:
Dodgers: 78
D-Backs: 39
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Giants: 32
Padres: 4
In total, that's just 24 percent of their 648 combined games. This year, there's going to be an uptick from the D-Backs and
Dodgers. The D-Backs are now expecting full seasons from Patrick Corbin and Robbie Ray instead of abbreviated
ones, and five of the top six pitchers in the Dodgers' rotation depth chart are now left-handed thanks to the additions
of Alex Wood and Scott Kazmir since the start of last season.
The Giants and Padres are not expected to see much movement here. San Francisco is still Bumgarner and all righties
and the Padres won't be starting any lefties unless Robbie Erlin sneaks into the rotation at some point. However, they
only had a combined 36 starts by left-handed pitching in 2015, so they can't bring this number down much.
In all, I'd expect the other four teams in the NL West to have closer to 35 percent of their combined 648 started by lefties
this year instead of the 24 percent from last year, and that will only make life more difficult for the Rockies. On the bright
side though, this lefty / righty breakdown will create a hilarious obstacle for the Giants in their quest to win the division. So
we can at least enjoy that.
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Detroit Red Wings at Colorado Avalanche: How to watch on TV, preview and more
Semyon Varlamov will start in goal; rest of Avs’ lineup is the same from San Jose victory
By Ethan Fisher / Purple Row | @misterfish1| February 26
Over at Mile High Hockey, we're very grateful you fine folks at Purple Row are letting us borrow Coors Field for
the Colorado Avalanche's first ever outdoor game in franchise history. We'd reciprocate by having the Rockies over on
the ice at the Pepsi Center, but that's probably not practical. So after discussing thank-you gifts amongst the Mile High
Hockey staff, we decided we could write you guys an article about how great this Stadium Series game really is.
I know what you guys are thinking: "We're letting a bunch of Canadians take over the stadium where America's favorite
pastime is celebrated in Denver? What is this crap?! Laying a sheet of ice over the diamond and letting these canucks
smack at a black piece of rubber with barbaric limber?! Blasphemy! This is worse than the Party Deck!"
Yeah, we know. All of that is true and cannot be denied. But you guys should watch! No sporting event has taken place at
Coors Field since September, and the Rockies' home opener versus the Padres is still more than month off. What are you
going to do? Search (futilely) for Kyle Kendrick highlights? Think about Troy "Tulowizki" home runs with a Costco supply
of Kleenex at your side?
Might as well get a good look at the old ballpark again and watch a Denver sports team play a meaningful regular season
game, because, well, let's face it: We know as Rockies fans, they have as much of a chance of playing important home
baseball there this year as there is of seeing a leprechaun ride a unicorn.
Without further ado, here's the Dummy's Guide to the Avalanche's Stadium Series game!
What? The second Stadium Series game of the '15-'16 season. The NHL began playing annual outdoor games on New
Year's in 2008 as a promotional stunt. A few years ago, NHL commissioner and descendent of evil Gary Bettman decided
it would be cool to have more games outside, risking the idea of "less is more." Alongside the annual Winter Classic
played on New Year's, two or three "Stadium Series" events would be held in the late winter or early spring to generate
more interest in a few regular season games. And more importantly to the league, dollar signs!
Coors Field will join Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Citizens Bank Park, Nationals Park,Dodgers Stadium, and Yankee
Stadium as baseball fields to play host to an outdoor NHL game.
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Who? The Colorado Avalanche will host former division rival the Detroit Red Wings for the main event. In addition, many
of the best players from each team during the late-90s early-00s (ten Hall of Famers!) will play an exhibition match,
harking back to when the two teams were the best in the league and bitter enemies - easily as famous as the Yankees-
Sox, Dodgers-Giants, or Cardinals-Cubs in baseball today. Oh, and there will be a collegiate hockey game at Coors as
well! The Denver Pioneers will have warmed up the ice (that makes no sense but go with it) with the Tigers of Colorado
College a week before the retirees and professionals have at it.
Where? Coors Field, in the greatest city, Denver, in the greatest state, Colorado, in the greatest country, the US of A, on
the greatest planet, Earth.
When? Colorado College-Denver took place back on the 20th at 6:10 p.m. MT on ROOT Sports, the alumni game is on
the 26th at 5:00 p.m. on Altitude 2, and the main event between the Avs and Wings is on February 27th at 6:00 p.m. on
NBC.
Why?
1.) This is the most unique sporting event in Colorado this year, and possibly ever. Football and baseball? Both designed
to be played outdoors, though a few teams are dumb and play indoors. Basketball? Pretty much required to play indoors
because of weather. Hardwood floors and condensation don't mix! Hockey? Almost always played indoors, because that's
easiest, but when it is played outdoors, it's AWESOME. Colorado has never gotten an outdoor hockey game at any level
before, so this will be historic and thus unique. You only get to see something take place for the first time once (because
otherwise that would make no sense), so watch!
2.) Also, it should be a good game! Both teams currently sit in playoff spots and are playing competitive hockey.
Moreover, the hated Detroit Red Wings are the scum of the earth and deserve to lose every game they play for all
eternity. If the Avs inflict defeat upon those bastards on a national stage, it'd be pretty badass. And most importantly, after
rebuilding the last five years, the Avs are young, exciting, and getting better all the time. Right now, they
already have their version of Jon Gray, Brendan Rogers, Ryan McMahon, Ramiel Tapia, et al., and they're all about to
enter their prime.
3.) Or then how about Gabe Landeskog's gorgeous flowing locks? The Avalanche captain has hair spawned from an
angel. There is no other logical explanation. We're talking multitudes of Josh Rutledge here. This coif, when not
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concealed by a helmet, is like peering into heaven. Rox fans, if you're looking for beautiful dude follicles, make sure to
tune in.
4.) What else do you have to do? The Rockies' regular season doesn't start for a little while. The Nuggets, while better,
are still by no means a playoff contender in the NBA. The Broncos, always Denver's greatest hope, don't begin their quest
for a second straight championship for another six months, so tell me what you're planning to do instead of the fastest and
hardest-hitting game in all of sports. Unless you're getting dragged to dance recitals, or you're going to watch The Force
Awakens for the umpteenth time, there's no valid excuse.
Go Avs and Go Rockies!
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Carlos Gonzalez ‘relaxed’ and ready for anything with Rockies
By Jerry Crasnick / ESPN | February 25
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Winning might not be in Carlos Gonzalez's short-term future. But at least he can take comfort in
stability.
While Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce monitors social media for updates on his trade status, Dexter Fowler is just
settling in at the Chicago Cubs' camp only days after reports that he had agreed to a multiyear contract with the Baltimore
Orioles. Those quaint and innocent days of the hot stove being confined to November, December and January have long
since passed.
Gonzalez, meanwhile, revels in the familiar surroundings of the Colorado Rockies' clubhouse at Salt River Fields at
Talking Stick. Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich sent shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the Toronto Blue Jays in a big July
deal, but Gonzalez has survived sporadic flurries of trade speculation and will return for his eighth season in a Colorado
uniform.
When Gonzalez shrugs off the perception that he might be stressed out about the trade rumors, it's not just a defense
mechanism. He was 22 years old when Arizona traded him to Oakland in December 2007, and 23 when Oakland dealt
him to Colorado for Matt Holliday the following winter, so he's prepared for whatever disruptions might come his way.
"I'm always relaxed, to be honest with you," Gonzalez said. "Of course, it's hard for Jay [Bruce] or guys who've been with
one organization for so long. But I understand the process. I've been traded twice, so it's nothing new for me.
"The first time I got traded, it was really hard on me. I went through a lot of emotions, because I didn't know what to
expect. That's normal. After the second time, I knew how to handle it. The bottom line for me is being able to play every
day and continuing to live my dream. Things go fast, so I'm trying to enjoy it as much as possible."
It's understandable why Gonzalez would be in demand for a team in search of a middle-of-the-order bat. He's a two-time
All-Star and three-time Gold Glove Award winner who is under contract for a reasonable $37 million over the next two
seasons. He's enough of an impact player to attract the type of prospect haul the Rockies should be seeking in their
efforts to put a winning team on the field for the first time since 2010.
Gonzalez is also coming off an absurdly strong finish in 2015. After starting slowly while recuperating from knee surgery,
Gonzalez found his swing in June and began smoking balls with regularity. His 27 home runs led the National League
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after the All-Star break and tied Dante Bichette's franchise mark set in 1995, and he drove in a major-league high 62 runs
in that span. During a memorable 281 at-bat stretch from early June to early September, he went deep 32 times. That
averages out to a homer every 8.78 at-bats.
"I've never seen anything like it," Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado said. "He's a special player, and that's what
special players do. It was the most locked-in of anybody I've ever seen."
Gonzalez has a new running mate and workout buddy this season in outfielder Gerardo Parra, who signed a $27.5 million
deal as a free agent in January (paving the way for the Rockies to send Corey Dickerson to Tampa Bay in exchange for
closer Jake McGee). They're fellow natives of Venezuela who played together in Arizona's minor-league system before
the business of baseball sent them on separate paths.
Nevertheless, it seems a little strange to come to Rockies camp and see Gonzalez in his old corner locker without
Tulowitzki in the vicinity.
"It's tough, because Tulo and I spent about seven years together," Gonzalez said. "Having to see him leave was one of
the weirdest things in baseball. I really enjoyed playing with him for so long. We learned from each other, and we went
through a lot of situations together. We had good moments and bad moments. That's what it's all about -- all the
experiences you have in baseball."
If the Rockies plan to make inroads in the post-Tulo era, they'll need lots of competitive innings fromJorge De La
Rosa, Chad Bettis,Jordan Lyles, Tyler Chatwood andJon Gray in the rotation, and for veteran setup men Chad
Qualls andJason Motte to justify the combined $16 million that Colorado spent on two-year deals for them. The biggest
intrigue in camp revolves around the status of shortstop Jose Reyes, who has been placed on leave by Major League
Baseball pending a resolution of his domestic violence case.
Even if a lot of things go right, the Rockies probably will have to be satisfied with beating out San Diego and finishing
fourth in the National League West. At least the fan base can take solace in daily CarGo sightings at Coors Field. Now
that Todd Helton has retired and Tulowitzki is a Blue Jay, Gonzalez is officially "the man" in Denver. If he's ready to lead,
his teammates are happy to follow.
"It's a little different for him, yeah, and that's a good thing," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "CarGo is a guy who all his
teammates like. He plays with a joy, and he's got a good heart. If his voice is going to have more impact, I'm all for it."