Jeff Bridich's GM Grades As Rocky Movies

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Aug 19, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A general view during the third inning between the Colorado Rockies and the Washington Nationals at Coors Field. The Nationals won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

What if Jeff Bridich’s moves as general manager of the Colorado Rockies were Rocky movies? Fascinating to think about.

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Rocky is the single greatest film series of all time. The series contains four movies that rank in the top 10 of the greatest movies ever and two movies that we don’t talk about like that time your uncle had a few too many and told your sister he thought she was way too pretty for her boyfriend.

Telling the thrilling tale of the world’s greatest boxer from Philadelphia, Rocky Balboa comes from humble roots to defeat several of the world’s best fighters. It’s an American story of triumph, a man overcoming the biggest odds both in the ring and out of it to become the heavyweight champion of the world, and if you haven’t watched a Rocky movie you are halfway to being convicted of treason.

Jeff Bridich is in his first year of service as the Rockies GM and it’s been eventful, frustrating, hopeful, and depressing. Those four adjectives also describe the life journey of Rocky Balboa, the world’s greatest boxer. Now, a judgement of Jeff’s moves based on the Rocky films.

Next: Rocky I

Aug 14, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop T. Tulowitzki (2) reacts after taking a strike in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre. The Yankees won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Rocky I: The Trade of Troy Tulowitzki

The first Rocky movie was a gigantic risk, studios refused to take the script for months and Sly Stallone risked his entire life to make this movie. He spent nights homeless, living on the subways, fighting for not only the movie but to have the lead role. With Sly’s now national prominence as one of the last true action stars out of the greatest era of action movies (the 80’s), it’s tough to imagine a time where he had to fight for every inch of respect to get on a movie. But, before Rocky, that’s where Sly was.

Similarly, Jeff Bridich took a giant risk and leap of faith trading the franchise player and cornerstone of the last 9 seasons in Troy Tulowitzki. The first Rocky won the Academy Award for Best Picture but it’s considered one of the worst movies to win the award, why? I think it’s mostly because the next three Rocky films surpassed the first, which isn’t a knock on the first it just goes to show that as Stallone continued he became a better writer, a better actor, and the journey of Rocky surpassed its initial tale.

Likewise, the Tulo trade can’t be adequately judged until the prospects returned either make an impact or flame out, people can tweet their reactions and write posts about the return but the fact is, either way they could be wrong. If they are wrong, they’ll probably tweet and write posts about how hindsight is 20/20 to avoid criticism but so did people who wrote off Rocky Balboa before his first fight with the unbeatable Apollo Creed.

Next: Rocky II

Aug 10, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher J. Gray (55) pitches in the second inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Rocky II: The Handling of Jon Gray

Jon Gray is the probably the best pitching prospect the Rockies have ever had. Better than Ubaldo, better than Jason Jennings, heck he’s even better than Greg Reynolds. So, it was frustrating for fans and Mark Kiszla to watch Bridich baby the prospect through Albuquerque before calling him up in early August. What fans want more than anything is instant satisfaction and what Rocky II provided more than any other Rocky film was that satisfaction.

After Rocky’s defeat in the first film, the entire basis of the second movie was the re-match. Rocky fought hard enough to earn the respect and admiration of the nation, but could he win the belt? Could he ever become the heavyweight champion of the world?

Well, Jon is the same and Bridich’s handling of Jon sparked tension and hype for months, much like the eventual re-match of Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed.

Jon’s been very good since his debut, by the way.

And Rocky won that freakin’ belt.

Next: Rocky III

Jul 20, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Texas Rangers catcher T. Telis, (right) avoids the tag by Colorado Rockies catcher N. Hundley to score on a double by the Rangers

Rocky III: The signing of Nick Hundley

If you asked me, with a gun to my head, if Rocky III or Rocky IV is my favorite movie I would not be able to choose one. I would sit there and stutter wondering if I should just lie to avoid getting shot but ultimately accepting my fate as I respect both movies equally and would hate to tarnish their reputation during this moment of fear.

That’s how I feel about this Nick Hundley signing.

Hundley’s signing wasn’t exciting and was panned by a lot of fans and bloggers for not being a big splash. But Hundley’s loved Coors Field and the Rockies pitchers have loved working with Nick Hundley. As he progresses into the next year of his contract, Hundley’s value becomes a trade chip. Tommy Murphy waits in the wings in AAABQ, the future of Rockies catching and Hundley may fetch a solid return of a team with an injured catcher or someone looking for a decent bat behind the dish.

Furthermore, Hundley allowed the Rockies to end the era of Wilin Rosario as the Rockies catcher. Which is always a good thing because I’m almost certain a dead turkey could have allowed fewer passed curveballs than Wilin behind the plate and his bat wasn’t going to sustain itself the way Hundley’s shockingly has.

Rocky III tells the tale of a troubled champion, a man who doesn’t know what to do with his sudden fame and success. He doesn’t train, he engages in tomfoolery, he gets a pinball game with his face on it. All of this leads to a shocking defeat to Clubber Lang in their first encounter and the loss of his belt.

I love Rocky III because it’s unapologetically 80’s. The reason the 1980’s created the best action movies of all time isn’t because they’re the best written or the best acted, they don’t even have the best action. But they are unapologetically who they are. They don’t try to be the 1970’s, they don’t try to be anything but who they are at their core.

Nick Hundley is the same way, he’s a catcher, a leader, and a decent hitter and he won’t apologize for any of it. He also famously called out Mark Kiszla for being a pompous tool bag this season and that’s the coolest thing ever.

Next: Rocky IV

Aug 5, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher C. Rusin (52) pitches in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Rocky IV: Chris Rusin

Rocky IV is the single greatest Cold War movie in history. Two giant superpowers, one American and one Russian, fighting not only for themselves but for their country in a symbolism filled, montage laden, boxing match of awesome.

Chris Rusin is simply an awesome low risk grab with the highest reward the Rockies could plan for. He’s exactly the kind of guy you grab when you’re rebuilding for the future, he’s relatively young, he’s cheap, and he’s providing legitimate value to a position you need value in.

Rusin’s eventual value may be in a short term deal and a trade for a bat or a young bullpen piece, but for now it is fun to see a guy that cost basically nothing come in and have great outings that help the team win and gain confidence for the future.

Rocky IV is also Balboa’s greatest triumph. Ivan Drago, his antagonist for the film is a steroid pumped Russian monster of a man. He kills Rocky’s best friend and former competitor Apollo Creed in the early stages and attacks the very thing Rocky and the United States stands for. It’s a film that represents everything, good or bad, about Reagan’s America and the attitude of the Cold War from the American side.

Chris Rusin is also Bridich’s greatest triumph of 2015. A pitcher pulled off the pile, achieving great things in a lost year to keep interest in the future of the organization and the scouting prowess of the front office.

Next: Rocky V

Jul 31, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher K. Kendrick (38) reacts after allowing a solo home run to St. Louis Cardinals third baseman M. Carpenter (13) in the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Rocky V: Kyle Kendrick

The argument for Bridich and many others is that Kyle Kendrick was never supposed to be good. Well, that sure as hell doesn’t make any sense. Even in a building year, there are opportunities to find better, cheaper pitchers that fill the needs Kendrick was signed to fill: Innings eating, bullpen helping pitchers that can set a standard at the top of the rotation.

Kyle Kendrick is not good, he is a bad pitcher. Jeff Bridich needs to take his lumps here on this one, just like Stallone needs to take his lumps on Rocky V.

The fifth Rocky takes all the momentum from the fourth and throws it away, it kills Adrian, it doesn’t show a single Rocky boxing match, and the themes of the first four movies of Rocky overcoming something are completely gone. Rocky is instead overcoming a tough relationship with his son and a future in a sport that may not need him anymore.

Sure, the idea of the movie may be a good one, but that’s not a Rocky movie. That’s a boxing movie with a different aging star and a different title. Rocky movies are supposed to make you feel pride, feel like anything is possible if you just set your mind to it. Rocky V is like someone telling you your dog died and handing you a hamster to make you feel better.

Kyle Kendrick isn’t fooling anyone, he’s bad and he’s not a Rocky movie.

Next: Rocky Balboa

Jun 6, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman W. Rosario (20) hugs relief pitcher R. Betancourt (63) after their game against the Miami Marlins at Coors Field. The Rockies won 10-5. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Rocky Balboa: The Handling of Wilin Rosario

Rocky Balboa is a baffling picture. Baffling in the sense it didn’t need to get made, baffling in the sense that it’s a fight that is just stupid, and baffling in the sense that they basically became a commercial for Showtime boxing for the third act.

It’s a ridiculous, confusing jump for the franchise and although it was better than Rocky V it certainly wasn’t any good.

Wilin Rosario had value prior to this season, he did! It wasn’t high but certainly if Jason Giambi could get jobs around baseball long after he became useless on the field they could find a landing spot for Wilin Rosario. A player without a position, but with a strong bat that can crush fastballs.

Instead, the Rockies have stashed him away. They’ve started him a few times at first, worked his bat into the lineup every chance they got but appear destined to eat Wilin’s game checks and let him wither and die on the AAABQ roster for the next couple years before opting out of his contract and ending up in the Dominican leagues.

It’s ridiculous, it’s killed any semblance of value Wilin had and it’s a mistake on Bridich’s part. Granted, it’s a minor mistake but roster management mistakes like this add up. You can’t make two more Rocky Balboas every year and expect the team to have a championship. You just can’t.

Next: Creed

Mar 10, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop T. Story (77) makes the off balance throw for the out against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Creed: The Farm

Creed looks really, really good. Michael B. Jordan is a killer actor and we need to recognize this movies going to blow our socks off.

Also, the farm. Let me just list to you some names you’re going to be cheering for by 2017:

Raimel Tapia

Kyle Freeland

Ryan McMahon

Jeff Hoffman

David Dahl

Forrest Wall

Tom Murphy

Trevor Story

Miguel Castro

Jon Gray

That’s 10 guys that will be making impact plays for this organization. Get hyped, Denver. Bridich was an orchestrator of player development, the head of a hard working team that put that together.

Go watch the Rocky movies.

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Jeff Bridich’s GM Grades As Rocky Movies

What if Jeff Bridich’s moves as general manager of the Colorado Rockies were Rocky movies? Fascinating to think about.

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