Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders with the latest installment of his Rockies Mailbag.
Pose a Rockies- or MLB-related question for the Rockies Mailbag.
We open with two questions regarding the future of Rockies’ catchers.
Patrick, what are the Rockies going to do with three catchers (Jacob Stallings, Hunter Goodman and Drew Romo), and what does that mean for their future?
— Renee, Cody, Wyo.
Patrick, I hear and see so many good things about Jacob Stallings. Why is Bud Black playing Hunter Goodman more often than Stallings?
— Judy, Denver
Good questions from both of you.
As Judy noted, Goodman has been getting a lot of playing time lately. There’s a simple reason Goodman’s played so much: the Rockies want to see what they’ve got in the 24-year-old. That doesn’t mean they don’t like Stallings. They do, but he’s already a proven veteran.
Goodman is making the most of his chance. In the Rockies’ 3-2 win over Arizona Monday night, he hit a solo homer, his third homer in his last three games and 12th of the season. He’s got power, which is always a nice bonus from a catcher.
Since getting recalled on Sept. 1, Goodman has hit .258 with a .948 OPS and four homers. He’s shown some chops behind the plate, too.
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“Overall, he brings calmness, and he has a good feel for the game, game-calling, and in the technical aspects of catching, he’s a solid performer,” Black said last weekend. “Game-calling and blocking, and he throws and receives fine. It’s there. It just hasn’t been talked about or gotten a lot of attention.”
Both Goodman and Black agree that Goodman needs to improve his throwing accuracy because teams are running on him. Goodman’s been working overtime on that skill with Mike Redmond, Colorado’s bench/hitting coach.
Regarding the 34-year-old Stallings, his contract for next season includes a $2 million mutual option. From what I’ve been told, the Rockies want to re-sign him, and he’d like to return. I believe Stallings will reject the option, renegotiate for a slightly higher salary, and then re-sign with Colorado.
As for the future, I see Stallings as the No. 1 catcher entering spring training with Goodman as 1A. Romo, who just turned 23, has had some good experience this season, but he’s not as advanced as Goodman, particularly when it comes to game-calling and taking charge on the field. I believe Romo will begin next season at Triple-A Albuquerque unless he has a great camp.
Patrick, I’ve read your Rockies stuff for years, and I’ve become increasingly disappointed in your failure to hold the Rockies accountable. How come you never call out (owner Dick) Monfort? Troy (Renck) and (Sean) Keeler do. (Former Denver Post columnists) Woody Paige and Kiz (Mark Kiszla) do. You’re way too easy on the Rockies, especially Bud Black. Come on, do better!
— Jerry, Denver
Jerry, I’m actually glad you asked the question. It is important that sports fans understand the big difference between a beat writer and a columnist.
As a beat writer, I cover the team regularly, hunting for news, covering games, writing features, and analyzing the team’s performance. I do inject opinions, particularly in my Sunday Rockies Journal, but I attempt to be even-handed.
For example, the “Rockie Way” project I led last season held the Rockies accountable and asked tough questions, but it wasn’t based on my opinions.
Columnists, on the other hand, are paid to write their opinions. Their intention is to stir things up and often be confrontational. That’s their job. Sometimes, they use facts; sometimes, they simply take shots. It all depends on the writer.
I want to point out one other thing: A beat writer must constantly be around the team, forming relationships with the players, manager, coaches and front office. If I am critical, I must face those people the next day. I must maintain their respect, even when they disagree with me or get angry.
A columnist can write their opinion and take their shots but not show up to the ballpark for weeks, months, or even years.
How much house cleaning within the Rockies organization should and will happen after the season?
— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.
Ed, I agree that the Rockies need to shake things up. I’ll reiterate that they should hire a team president from outside the organization, someone with a fresh outlook. The team president would oversee the front office, take some of the baseball decisions out of the hands of owner Dick Monfort and act as a buffer between Monfort and general manager Bill Schmidt. But I don’t think that’s going to happen.
As for “house cleaning,” much of that depends on manager Bud Black’s future. We still don’t know if he’ll return for another season. A week ago, I thought he’d leave. But now, based on recent conversations I’ve had with people close to the team, I think he’ll return for the 2025 season. We’ll see.
If Black departs, a new manager will bring in his own people and the coaching staff will be much different. If Black stays, I still think there will be some coaching changes. After what could be back-to-back 100-loss seasons, there have to be changes made. The Rockies’ offense has improved, but it’s still very flawed. What does that mean for the future of hitting coach Hensley “Bam Bam” Muelens? I’m not sure.
Hey Patrick, any good word on Kyle Karros? I’d love to see him come up and inflict some damage on the Dodgers after all the years his dad hurt us at the plate.
— Vince P., Lakewood
Vince, I don’t know if you saw it, but Karros was a unique hero in the Spokane Indians’ 3-2 victory over Vancouver on Saturday night in the High-A Northwest League championship game.
Karros “drove in” the winning run by getting hit on the upper arm by a pitch from righty Geison Urbaez with the bases loaded.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound third baseman led the Northwest League in batting average (.311), on-base percentage (.390), slugging (.485) and OPS (.875). Karros, 22, is the Rockies’ No. 18 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
Eric Karros, who played 14 MLB seasons, primarily with the Dodgers, now covers the Dodgers as a TV analyst. Kyle’s older brother, Jared, is also playing pro ball. Kyle and Jared both played at UCLA before they were drafted. Jared was selected by the Dodgers in the 16th round of the 2022 draft, while Kyle was taken in the fifth round by the Rockies last summer.
If Kyle keeps advancing, he could make his Rockies debut in 2026.
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