How the Colorado Rockies Front Office RESTRUCTURE Could Impact Every Level of the Team
Today on Locked on Rockies, catching up on a weekend of Rocky's headlines. New hitting coach, new member of the front office. Plus, how big of an impact can Chase Dolander make? Well, I'm going to answer a question from the Locked on Rocky's YouTube comment section. Diving just into that. You are locked on Rockies. Your daily Colorado Rockies podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. Rock on Rockies fans, welcome into the Locked On Rockies podcast for today, the 16th day of December in the year 2025. I'm your host of the Locked On Rockies podcast, Paul Holden, bringing you your daily Colorado Rockies talk right here on the Lockdown Podcast Network, where you can find your team every day. And if your team is the Colorado Rockies, then guess what? You're in the right spot, cuz that's what we do around here. Talking Rocky's baseball free and streaming on your favorite streaming services and on the Locked on Rocky's YouTube channel where you can be part of the show and fire off a question that sometimes get talked about and discussed on the show like we're going to do for one of our segments today. But we got to catch up on the Rockies continuing to build out their coaching staff and front office. We're going to get to that first and uh kind of ask a question uh now or never when it comes to getting a name for first base. doesn't mean the Rockies still can't make a move for first base, but a name, someone that might raise an eyebrow. We're going to dive into that and more on today's episode of Locked on Rockies. But before we go any further, got to let you know that I am Paul Holden, your Rockies fan extraordinaire. Been bringing you this daily Rocky's podcast for over five seasons now and been following along and been a fan of the Colorado Rockies my entire life. We thank you for making us your first listen of the day. And we want you to check out our new club shows, the Everydayer Club. Uh, if you never miss an episode, it's time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everyday Club and get ad free audio, access to our audio, our members free only Discord and more. You can get the link for the Rockies one at lockdonra.supcast.com. And today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. If you want to be right in the middle of the action this season, visit fanuel.com and place your NFL live bets all season long. All right, so headlines. Rockies headlines uh starts here from a couple of days ago. This is from MLB.com. Rocky's name Brett Pill, new hitting coach. Uh, uh, Phil Pill comes to the Rockies after six seasons in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, most recently serving as the minor league hitting coordinator from 2023 to 25, following three seasons 2020 to 2022 as a minor league hitting coach. Prior to his time with the Dodgers, he spent three seasons 17 through 19, as an international scout for the Kia Tigers of the KBO. So, I mean, hey, it's another name outside of the organization. I mean, it doesn't sound like this one has kind of maybe as much flashiness uh attached to it as as maybe Lysman did uh in the wi with with that and and all the names that the Rockies brought in to to uh address the pitching issues with the team. But what you like about this move, it's not only one that's outside of the organization, but I I kind of like how much NL West ties the Rockies have gone with some of their hires. Now, I I can understand and I I would understand the hesitation and the uh the the the uh you know, the the doubts that hey, just because they're on the just because this guy's got a a history with the Dodgers doesn't mean that's going to be able to translate. Well, I just like the fact that this is a guy that that should that has some exposure to the Rockies, at least when talking about and looking at and developing hitting philosophies for the Dodgers and the players that that he worked with here for a plan to execute at Kors Field. And it was a uh even though you know because the uh the this was a it's kind of interesting, right? Because this is a guy that has spent mostly his time in the minors. So I I just because it's one of those weird things where it's like Dodgers or but not necessarily majors. Uh but uh you know it's it's it's something that I at least think I at least like a little bit of that familiarity. Someone in the Dodgers organization it's not completely even even at the miners level right the minor league levels it's it you still have some familiarity there. But I think that this this whole, you know, is probably a moment where where Pill is trying to prove himself as well. Kind of take that step from from minor league work and and international ball work to, hey, we I can make an impact here at the major league level and and and come to an environment that's very interesting with a lot of work cut out for him, right? I mean, one of the things that that is going to be interesting to see is how many how many of the areas that the Rockies really struggled in. Are we going to be able to see changes like quick changes or or im I don't know if immediate is the right word, but but how quickly can we start, you know, feeling like the Rockies are in a better spot because of the people that are around them? And one of the areas I think about that that might be something to look at is strikeouts. But it's going to be a while till we can really determine if the Rockies are a better are better at not striking out. You know, it's going to take months. It's going to take a lot of stuff down the line. So, uh, the the the the possibilities are there, but I, uh, I kind of harpooned and torpedoed my own my own argument there, uh, but with with with this only being the minor league experience, but I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I I I, I, I, I, I, I, I I, I I, I I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I I at least like plucking. I at least like some of these I like having these guys have at least a concept and an idea of, hey, this is this is I'm going to a a team that we played a lot in the division. I'm going to a team that we know is is a unique team and is a unique environment and hopefully able to to uh to to to bring his approach there and uh and and build a a better offense. We I I preach highly of the fact that uh the the Rockies need to become a much better team uh as as an offense. And I like the fact that hey, this is a this is a a team that the Rockies are really seeming to double, you know, uh buy into at least with the moves they're making actually being this draft and develop team trying to buy into player uh buy into coaches and front office members that are focused on player development and with all this minor league experience for Pill that that should be a a a situation where developing talent keeping that you know you know working with young guys building up those those strengths really going to be interesting to see that that uh that that jump towards minors to majors But this is he's got a n, you know, a good a good six-year tenure under his belt. Someone that that's been in a an an organization, a very successful organization that's developed and built a lot of good hitters, right? The the Dodgers often praised for their farm system, for how much they're able to develop and turn out that talent. So, we're talking about a guy coming from a very good farm system here and and hopefully being able to bring what he's learned there, bring what what what he saw worked from from their development and apply it to the Rockies and apply it to to the major league level. So, uh that was uh headline number one there for for another hire that the Rockies are making there with now having they got a pitching coach, they got a p uh and a hitting coach. So, they can start, you know, building that philosophy as well. help, you know, maybe I I don't know how much influence they necessarily would have in decision- making and whatnot, but the staff continues to fill out here. And the Rockies add another assistant general manager here. We pop over to Purple Row. Rockies to hire Ian Lavine as assistant general manager. It's uh let's see here. Uh or is it I don't know. I'm sorry, not Lavine. Levan, I think it's Levan. Yep. Lean spent nearly 20 years of his professional career with the New York Mets organization. He first joined the Mets in 2005 as a media relations intern and later a baseball operations intern. From there, he served in a variety of roles including scouting, player development, and organizational strategies. Levan was named an assistant general manager in 2021 and left the Mets organization at the end of the 2024 season. After leaving the Mets, Levan founded one sports, a company that helps collegiate programs with hiring leadership, infrastructure design, player evaluation, and roster strategy. uh worked with Deep Podesta before according to Lang here. Uh they worked under together under the Mets under Sandy uh Alderson and he is the other uh the second assistant general manager hired by the team after Tommy Tanos was hired last week. Couple of quotes here from the press release. Ian brings a proven record of strategic leadership, key roster decision-making, and innovative player performance initiatives, said D. Podessa uh with an extensive experience across major league operations, research and development, player development, and amateur scouting. Ian will strengthen every part of our operation. We couldn't be more excited to bring him to the Rockies. Now, the one things that you can kind of point out with some of these things if you're looking for uh one, you know, maybe a I don't know, potentially a reg a red flag depending on how this all pans out is deepest starting to, you know, has guys that he has connections to at least a little bit of time worked with before. Starting to bring in some of those people that he's familiar a little bit more familiar with, which not all that surprising, right? Bringing some of your people here to to to start executing things and you you have worked together. you you you know what you're going to want to you know how how does this work? What does it look like? It's probably it's been a few years things are different certainly but it's maybe one of those things as we look back on is uh you know these deepodestaic guys they also have to start proving things here but an outside hire uh a hire that has been completely involved in player development. Christian Seas of uh DMVr said this on Twitter today. It really seems like the Rockies can't or was that of my No, I think Blake Street Banner did something else. I I was just uh going through some stuff. But anyway, basically a lot of the stuff that I was seeing from media folks continues to to kind of highlight the Rockies really are adding in uh this is an analytical focused group. This is a this is a group that's going to be looking at the game differently. These are outside perspectives. These are different things than the Rockies have been doing there. This is a lot of new stuff heading to the Rockies organization as they play catch-up and bring themselves into the modern game here. So, hopefully these continue to move in the right direction. Hopefully, these type of moves continue to build uh the confidence that we're starting to to to hopefully see from this club as they start looking at a team that is that is starting from from from from step one and trying to build themselves into a creative and competitive unit here. So, long way to go until we can see what the impacts of these type of hires will be. But the Rockies continuing to make their their moves. They continue to build up this uh this staff, bringing in a lot of people here to this front office as well. Bringing in a lot of perspectives, bringing in, you know, some more some more uh roles there with pitching and and such. So, that I I I I hopefully it doesn't turn into a too many cooks type of situation, but bringing in and building up a staff here. You know, remember we're talking about the Rockies, a team historically when we're looking at analytics, a small staff, not a very big staff and not necessarily the large, you know, the Rockies aren't hiring everybody and have, you know, a million people working for him, but certainly seem to be bringing a lot more people into the fold here and starting to get a lot more people to start looking at this game at the game, the team in different ways and and start uh helping this team bounce back and get themselves back to playing some winning baseball. We got a comment from the locked on Rocky's YouTube comment section that I want to dive into next. And we also got to talk about the first baseman uh free agent market. We're doing that coming up next on today's episode of Locked on Rockies. 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You can go check out lockedonrockies.supcast.com supercast.com to check out all the details and uh see it all for yourself. So, speaking of the everydayers, speaking of the folks that uh like to let me know what's on their mind and ask me questions and uh check out the show, which I really appreciate. Here's what Luke asks. What adds the most to the Rockies season in 2026? Hunter Goodman MVP caliber season batting 330 with 40 bombs and 110 RBI. Chase Dolander with a 15 plus win Sai Young vote getting season or Vodnik, Agnos or Halverson grabbing 30 saves. I think it's an interesting way to look at it because all three of those questions have answers that suggest the Rockies are a much better team. Hunter Goodman being that good on offense and and and and producing at that level will be enough for the Rockies to steal a couple of games and win. Vodnik, Agnos, or Halverson having 30 saves. That could mean the Rockies are winning close ball games. that can mean the Rockies are settling down in the at the end of the ball at end of ball games and and not falling completely apart like we've seen and solidifying themselves as a closer and the Rockies have you know their strength being their bullpen. But I think the thing that would be the most exciting and I think the fact that the that would impact the Rockies the most overall would be your Chase Dolander example with a 15 plus win Sai Young vote getting season. If he's getting Sai Young votes now again they could be lower ranking Sai vote young votes it that means Chase Dolander is a great is is pitching great. That means Chase Dolander is handling Kors field. That means Chase Dolander is is has grown as a ball player. That means Chase Dolander is get is finding success working with the new pitching philosophy and the new pitching coaches. That means your guy that you're hoping turns into an ace. Your the guy that you're hoping anchors your rotation with where you drafted him and and and and the hopes and the expectations you have for a guy at that draft position. That's the biggest impact. That means the Rockies 15 plus wins sai young vote getting that means more often than not when Chase Dolander steps up to the bump in 2020 in 2026 he makes an impact for the Colorado Rockies and puts them in a position to win ball games. A good position to win ball games. And in the case of that win loss, you know, the wins there win ball games. Can't win if you don't get wins, right? And that means that's that like if you if he's getting the win specifically, that means the offense is working. That means he's getting out in front and maybe striking out a lot of guys and keeping them off their, you know, keeping them off balance and and basically setting the tone there. That's that is the a great Chase Dolander season is one of the best things that can happen to the Colorado Rockies in 2026. It it it would be monumental. Now again, would it be would it not be huge for those other two things to happen for for you know one of those guys out of the bullpen to get the those saves or for Goody to have an even better year? No, absolutely not. You know, if Hunter Goodman not only replicates last year but improves on it and goes even harder and gets even and becomes even better as an offensive threat, that's awesome. then then that means the Rockies have something truly special and an interesting situation when you're looking at him as someone that you can be starting to look at as a catcher and DH option where maybe you know if you're thinking long term here if you're thinking you know this is a guy if he continues to hit like this if he continues to contribute at an offensive level he might be someone that can fit your extended timeline if you look at him as more of a offensive guy remember we're you know look at Kyle Schwarber look at some of these guys that that have that can thrive as DH's. When you when you have really good offensive players as your DH, they they are worth it and they and they can play longer in their career and eventually, you know, you can phase them out of defense. You don't really have to worry about finding room for them uh on defense. So that would be that that would be one that would be maybe an interesting little development into Hunter Goodman's uh uh you know the future and what how the Rockies would view him could also make him very valuable on the trade market and you could potentially get a hall because if you're talking about you know 330 40 bombs and 110 RBI that's allstar minimum that's got to be that's got to be getting some MVP votes right I mean not maybe not winning MVP, but but getting MVP votes. Got to be something that at least keep, you know, makes it interesting there. Um, and then on the back end there, again, I think for for any of those guys getting 30 saves that that the the best news out of that, like in addition to those guys being, you know, nails and and and handling that situation is the Rockies winning close games. That would be that would be a massive switch from from the last few years, but especially last year as well. The the them winning the close ball games, them holding on to those late leads, them not letting uh, you know, teams get back in there and and and playing, you know, and and pitching clean and effectively where it's, you know, not walking batters, getting strikeouts, not letting people, you know, dink and dunk their way and uh and stealing games away from you late. But I I I don't think it can be understated how important a great Chase Dolander season it would be next year. I I think I think uh you know after after we were we're were talking to Jake last week there I I I think he clearly is in a situation where it it's we we got to hope that something happens, right? We got to hope that that something happens here and uh and and we got to see a a step in the right direction and a step in the in in the development there. But uh I would love to see any of those things happen. That would be that would be really great news for the Rockies if any of those things happened. So uh but I was just going off to to answer your question there. All right. Uh the Rockies miss out on one of the first base options that we talked about. Are the Rockies feeling a little pressure to make a move when it comes to a free agent first baseman? Let's talk about that coming up next. Before we do that though, got to tell you about the folks that help make this show possible, and that includes Game Time. The World Cup is coming back to North America for the first time since 1994. And with 48 teams for the first time ever, it's going to be massive. But let's be honest, getting tickets is usually the hardest part. That's why the Game Time app is clutch. Finally giving fans a real advantage when it comes to snagging seats. With Game Time, you can track prices in real time. 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Folks, remember you can go and check out the Everydayer Club at locked onies.supcast.com. Hey, uh Josh Bell signs with the Twins and that was a name we talked about for first base for the Colorado Rockies and I'm just wondering if that might set the uh set the tone for maybe some more guys of of the Josh Bell name, you know, that caliber. Are are they going to start signing more or are people hesitating a little bit about first base right now? Are are people necessarily running down and and sprinting out there to to to go and sign a Luis Oras and you know or a Gold Schmidt? Are they really trying to make that first base move right now, right here, right there? I maybe maybe it's a maybe maybe not. But when I see because I'm not going to lie, I thought Josh Bell was going to be an interesting fit for the Rockies and then one year $7 million switch hitter guy that can hit for power. That's that's the type of like that's the type of deal we're expecting, right? Or or are we thinking the Rockies are going to if they are going to go with the first baseman, are they going to is are they going to look for something more than that? Are they really willing to commit to a lot something more than that? Are they really looking for something? You know, are they really are they looking more longterm? Because even if even if you're going Charlie Condan, if you bring in Bell at that $7 million, it's not that bad. And again, as we talked about in that that last episode, uh, when we were talking about first base, you you he easily is a first base. You you got to DH. best thing that could be, you know, or the the most helpful thing for the Rockies when it comes to who they should decide to go with first base is someone they can DH use as a DH as well, so you can just kind of, you know, mix and match a little bit of of what you're going to do. So, do you think the Rockies need to do do you think the Rockies need to make this first base decision sooner rather than later? Do you think the Rockies are going to miss out on some of these first base, you know, these first base options as the Rockies try to decide and figure out if they are going to stick with Charlie, you know, go with Charlie or bring one of these names in because this is the position I think you you can you can afford the most. you know, the the the Josh Bells, the the rises, these these contracts that aren't going to be too crazy, especially because if it's a one-year deal, if it ain't working out, then you can you got you got Charlie, you move on and and you just go from there. But I just thought it was interesting. I saw that and I was like, oo, does that mean is the is the market heating up? Does that are the Rockies going to have to make a decision sooner rather than later when it comes to to first base and and that I I that that does that accelerate their timeline? I don't know, but I just thought it was like, no, that's that that's an affordable that was an affordable option the Rockies uh missed out on there, but there's still plenty of uh plenty of options left and still uh you know, the uh lots of time uh before the season. But it's also not, you know, it's it's amazing how much time there feel there feels like there is and and how quickly it's going to go and how quickly the season's going to be here, especially when you're talking about the Rockies with how many uh, you know, with we're so eager to see how this all pans out with all this change, right? But we got we we're going to have to stay patient. It's going to take a while for us to see how how all this shakes out, what the philosophy towards, you know, signing and bringing free agents on, what what what the approach to those are, what they're looking for. Um, and what trades, what the what does this new regime look like when it comes to trades and and and acquiring players via trade? Maybe the Rockies are going to look at something like that where they say, "Hey, you know, maybe instead of we don't necessarily love the f free agent first base options available. What if we try to to build some sort of trade package to to address that position?" Could be interesting. I don't know. Let me know in the lockown Rocky's YouTube comments section what you think. And uh folks, just want to let you know at this point of the year for the next few weeks, we are in our off season program. So, we won't be five days a week. It'll kind of vary as the time as time goes on here and and and such, but uh you'll get be getting at least three episodes a week here going forward. It's just our it's a it's a time where obviously things kind of quiet down. baseball still uh you know a bit away and uh helps kind of gives gives the old host I can't speak for the other host but but it gives this host a nice little uh reboot little refresh here and a little breather here as uh we go through a typically slower time of baseball news but of course anything big breaks anything massive happens we're rocking we're rolling we're still talking Rockies here uh each and every week on the pod and multiple days a week so so so do not fear you're still getting plenty of locked on Rockies I Just wanted to let you know, you know, you didn't get a Monday episode, you're getting Tuesday episodes, but we I my goal is for it to at least be like the three in a row or three or four days in a row with just the one or two days off there. So, you get it some good chunks, some good consistency, especially through the middle of the week there, uh, to help get you through the doldrums of work. But, uh, thank you so much again for all your support. Thank you all so much for making us your first listen of the day. And thank you so much for tuning in to another episode of Locked on Rockies. For your second listen of the day, go check out Locked on MLB. And if you need more Colorado sports action, we got you covered. Locked on Broncos, Avalanche, Nuggets, and Buffs. All free and streaming on your favorite streaming services. And of course, check us on your favorite streaming services and on the Locked on Rocky's YouTube channel. Folks, until next time, this is Paul Holden saying so long from the Locked On Rocky's podcast.
The Colorado Rockies shake up their front office and add fresh firepower to the dugout. With new hires like assistant GM Ian Levin, a longtime New York Mets executive, and hitting coach Brett Pill from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ system, are the Rockies finally embracing an analytics-heavy approach to player development and roster construction?
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