As the 2015 Rockies watch two keystone members of their 2007 club battle it out for the No.1 seed in the National League, it begs the question, “Which was the bigger mistake? Firing Clint Hurdle? Or trading Matt Holliday?”
Dan Williams and Marcello Romano, hosts of Morning Mayhem on Mile High Sports AM 1340, who both covered the team in 2007, offered their take
Romano says it was trading Holliday.
“Trading Matt Holliday set an institutional tone that has mired this organization ever since,” he believes.
“They basically said, ‘We’re not going to pay this guy,’ and sent a clubhouse leader and perennial All-Star and MVP candidate packing.”
Romano acknowledges that Colorado gained an exceptional five-tool player in Carlos Gonzalez at the time, but says Gonzalez could have just as easily have been an Alex White like the Rockies got in return for Cy Young hopeful Ubaldo Jiminez.
“Holliday’s teams have made the playoff every year since he was traded, except for 2010. And he’s a career .450 hitter in three World Series. No manager can provide that kind of production.”
Romano’s co-host, on the other hand, thinks Colorado could have been on to something if they had stuck with Hurdle.
