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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I think Todd Helton is ready

And if Todd Helton's ready, then I'm most certainly ready!

Stay tuned to Heaven & Helton all throughout spring training for roster and game analysis, as well the usual nonsense and maybe a little bit of fun, too. If the team allows it, that is.

Photo H/T: Troy Renck on Twitter

Remember the day Neifi Perez donned a catcher's mask?

Chris Jaffe of the Hardball Times does. In fact, Jaffe penned a fun — or maybe more accurately for us, painful — article on the game this morning to mark it's 5,000th day-versary.

Yes, it really has been that long, but it honestly seems like it was last year that I was listening to the fading signal of 850 KOA on my little hand held radio. Same as I did when Hideo Nomo tossed his no-hitter at Coors Field. Same as I did when the Rockies scored 11 runs in the seventh inning to rally past the San Diego Padres.

Thank God for satellite TV and internet streams.

Anyway, I'll let you venture over to Jaffe's article for all of the details, but not before pointing out the irony of Rockies reliever Jerry Dipoto being right in the middle of the wild half inning that decided that game. Of course he's now the general manager of the Angels, and if his first winter is any indication, he's going to continue helping the Angels for a long, long time.

Enjoy.

Hardball Times: 5,000 days since bizarre ending to Rockies-Angels game

Tuesday Links and Things: We got drama

I love how Dan O'Dowd is trying to change the clubhouse culture to be something more positive and professional... and then he says the following to the Denver Post last week.

"I would say he could have worked a little harder this winter. I am not really happy about that," O'Dowd admitted. "I don't think it will be an issue by the time we get to camp. But it has to get to a point where he has maturity and discipline and realizes that this in his career."

I've liked or understood pretty much everything O'Dowd has done this offseason... but not this. Going public with these concerns/criticisms is completely unnecessary and really just plain silly. It's the type of thing that has absolutely no business leaving the clubhouse, and can actually go a long ways towards harming the developing relationship between the rebuild clubhouse and the front office. Not saying it will, or that the players will play with any less passion if they take offence to O'Dowd's confrontational quotes, but it's not the right message to send.

O'Dowd has to know better. He has to chose his battles more wisely than this. Calling out Ian Stewart after you've given him several chances is one thing. To call out Jhoulys Chacin this forcefully is another thing completely. It's regrettable. And to do so without having first visualized and/or communucated with Chacin makes it regrettable and embarrassing.

And sure, it's possible O'Dowd's concerns prove valid. We all understand how badly the Rockies need Chacin to be in shape and performing at his best. We also understand how that O'Dowd might need Chacin to be better than his best to keep his job, so it's perfectly fine for him to be concerned. But there were better, far more simple ways to handle this. Like, say, a face-to-face conversaion in his office after making an evalation for himself.

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