Mike Bacsik gave up Barry Bonds record breaking home run and Tim Redding was dumb enough to accuse him of doing it on purpose.

On Thursday the Rockies finalized a Minor League contract with Tim Redding.  On Friday word was spreading that he is a clubhouse cancer.

The Rockies pride themselves on pursuing not just good baseball players, but baseball players who conduct themselves with integrity and have high moral standards.  This fact has led to the team having great clubhouse chemistry and a focused approach.

A day after signing with the Rockies, Redding is doing his best to destroy that reputation.

On Friday it became national news that Redding had gone on a radio show and discussed how former teammate Mike Bacsik had purposely given up Barry Bonds 756th home run.  A home run that put the controversy-laden slugger into first place all time in home runs.

Bacsik, out of baseball since that 2007 season, went on Baseball Tonight to defend himself.  Not only did he deny the accusation, he went much further than that.  He made it clear that Redding was a bad teammate and that he often rubbed people the wrong way.  He said that he would get under guys skin, even in the middle of a game.

While Bacsik is undoubtedly talking out of anger.  His words are strong.  They are very powerful words because they suggest that Redding has a bad reputation around the league.  That might not be a big deal for some teams in the league, but for the Rockies that is a big red flag.  In both playoff seasons in the past three years it was clear that the reason the Rockies were able to dig themselves out of a hole was because they were such a tight-knit group that they all were fighting for a common cause.  Clubhouse cancers were not around.

Even the act of saying that about Bacsik on a sports radio show goes against the code of baseball.  There is no reason to throw a past teammate under the bus, simply because the opportunity exists.  Why, 2-1/2 years later, would Redding feel the need to accuse Bacsik of such actions?  Even if Bacsik had grooved a fastball for Bonds to crush, that is a matter that should be handled internally, in the clubhouse of a team.  Actions like that should never reach the media.

The other dumb part about what Redding said is that even if Bacsik had grooved him a fastball, this is not like another sport, where a goalie can simply let the puck go by, or a basketball player can fail to play defense.  In baseball, even a grooved pitch is tough to guarantee a home run on.  Even the most batter friendly fastballs are missed more often than not.  The statement is ridiculous to make.

The good news for the Rockies is that Redding should not crack the Opening Day roster.  He is clearly just a backup plan in case someone gets injured, and even that does not guarantee him a spot on the 25-man roster.  However, simply signing him to a contract and bringing him to camp is worrisome.  The Rockies usually pass on guys like that before even considering them.  If the Rockies are smart, they will come to their senses and find a different backup plan heading into April.

Tim Redding was signed to a Minor League contract by the Colorado Rockies.

The Colorado Rockies signed journeyman starting pitcher Tim Redding on Wednesday.  It is clear that the Rockies fan base has grown because of the overall panic that has been associated with signings like this.

Redding was signed to a Minor League contract with an invitation to big league camp.  He is by no means going to be this seasons version on Jason Marquis.  He is not going to push Jason Hammel or Jorge De La Rosa out of the rotation.  He is simply being brought in for depth.

Many Rockies fans are scared that the righty, who was accused of being out of shape when he showed up to Mets camp last spring will be the Opening Day starter for the club.  There are references to Kip Wells being thrown around.  Make no mistake, this is no Kip Wells signing.

When Kip Wells was signed he was brought in to compete for a spot in the rotation.  The Rockies were hoping that he would be good enough to be a fifth starter, or at worst a long man out of the bullpen.  They firmly believed that Wells would be a member of the team on Opening Day.

The fact is, if Dan O’Dowd was completely honest, he would admit that the chances that Redding cracks the opening day lineup are slim to none.  The point of the signing is to have  a stash of big league-ready pitchers, who have had some success at the highest level, waiting in the wings an hour south of Denver just in case.

The alternative is to go with what the club already has.  That might not sound like a bad idea considering the depth that the farm system enjoys.  However, if the Rockies simply depended on their young pitchers they might find themselves in trouble if and when a starting pitcher gets injured.  In 2009 Josh Fogg had to make a start while Aaron Cook was on the mend.

Young pitchers are great to have around, and even to give a start to here and there, but the learning curve in the big leagues is tough enough, but imagine being thrown into a big league situation in the middle of a playoff race and be asked to throw better than ever before.  It just is not realistic.  So when guys like Tim Redding are signed, panic should not ensue.

It is simply a depth move.