How I'm viewing the Jim Tracy and Dan O'Dowd's handshake deal 24 hours later

After thinking about Monday's news of a handshake deal between general manager Dan O'Dowd and manager Jim Tracy -- which according to O'Dowd extends Tracy's contract "indefinitely" -- for the past 24 hours, I've come to the conclusion that this indeed is not as scary it seems for Rockies fans.

Yes, the words are most definitely ominous...

"Basically what I am saying is that I should never have this conversation with you again," O'Dowd said. "To say it extends just beyond 2013 would not do justice to Jim. It could be until he's using a cane and having trouble getting onto the field. Quite honestly, it can be for whatever number of years Jim wants it to be for."

... but as Logan Burdine pointed out in his column on Blake Street Bulletin.

"The first thing that needs to be pointed out here is that there was no actual extension. He didn’t get a raise. He didn’t get more years. All he got was a vote of confidence from the GM. In the world of sports, a handshake agreement is worth about as much as a Zimbabwe Dollar. All of this is a little weird and probably unnecessary, but firing Jim Tracy, if deemed necessary, will be just as easy as it was a week ago."

It's always good to sit back, calm down and take a deeper look to find a better perspective. That's exactly what reading Logan's piece today helped me accomplish.

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Tuesday Links and Things: The boys are back in Scottsdale

It's over. Our long winter without baseball (and shockingly with little snow here in Illinois) is over. Over the past few days, Rockies pitchers, catchers and eager position players have reported to Salt River Field at Talking Stick in Scottdale, Arizona, which means we can now officially welcome you to the 2012 baseball season.

Naturally, the question that follows that declaration is what will the 2012 season bring for the Colorado Rockies.

Success? Disappointment? Further embarrassment to build on last season's embarrassment?

Well, honestly, I have no idea. I just know that a slow start could lead to some very interesting, if not desperate decisions in the early going. That's regardless of the recent handshake deal between Dan O'Dowd and Jim Tracy that extents the skipper's contract for an 'indefinite' number of years. Then again, a good start could just as easily lead to another poor finish. Or for the first team in franchise history, we may actually see them play seven good months in a row!

But don't hold your breath on that one.

Anyway, it's a bit too early to worry about all of that. All we really need to worry about these first few days of camp is keeping everyone upright and healthy. And in other cases, making sure those returning from injury suffer no setbacks. So basically, yay baseball is back! But yeah, the real interesting stuff is still a good 7-10 days away.

I think we can handle it.

And just because the first few days of camp are slow and filled with stories about who's in shape, who's not, and who's hair looks the dumbest, doesn't mean there aren't a few interesting articles and updates to check out. Here are a few from the past week.

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