Rox Pile Fauxclusive: Jim Tracy breaks down yesterday’s big moves for the Colorado Rockies

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a while since we checked in with former Colorado Rockies manager and Rox Pile guest analyst Jim Tracy. Let’s get his thoughts on yesterday’s big moves: the Dexter Fowler trade and the Justin Morneau signing.

Rox Pile: So, Jim, what do you think about the team’s decision to deal Dexter Fowler to the Houston Astros for Jordan Lyles and Brandon Barnes? Did the Rockies get enough in return?

Jim Tracy: Hayden, I’m glad you asked that question. Let me start by saying this Hayden: when you talk about a Dexter Fowler, you don’t start by talking about a baseball player. You start by talking about a young man. A special young man who comes to the ballpark everyday prepared to work. I’ll say this Hayden: you will have a hard time finding anybody who has ever dealt with Dexter Fowler who has a negative thing to say about him.

RP: Well, Dan O’Dowd had some fairly negative things to say about him recently…

JT: At the end of the day you have to ask yourself this: what kind of ball player is a Dexter Fowler? When you talk about Dexter Fowler, you talk about a special young man, and then you talk about a player who came to the ballpark each and every day, with a smile on his face, ready to work. So then, Hayden, to answer your initial question, I would ask you this: at the end of the day, was Dexter Fowler a pleasure to coach? Yes he was. Period. End of story. 

RP: Um. OK, what about the Justin Morneau signing?

JT: What can you say about Justin Morneau? When I think of a Justin Morneau, I would say this: he is a professional hitter, a professional fielder, and a professional ballplayer. And then you ask yourself this, Hayden: what more could you ask for in a player? When you are in this business, and you have to go in that locker room and look those men in the eyes each and every day, you want to be able to say to them: this is a locker room full of professional baseball players.

At the end of the day, it really is as simple as that. Period. End of story.