Add new comment

I really doubt he loses much of anything out of Coors. Hes going to walk at a 12% clip at any park, he'll make solid contact at any park, he'll hit power pitching at any park, and his power would translate to any park. If he were an agressive FB hitter with 380-90 feets ish average power I'd be worried ya, but he walks, makes contact, hits the ball hard, and his HRs go a mile. How is he going to lose 100 OPS points? He doesn't even have enough ABs for the Home/Road splits to be really meaningful. I remember looking at them mid-season and he had BETTER Road splits.
Smith's last 6 HRs of the season were ALL in Coor's and its the reason Smith splits reversed late in the season. Of course his last HRs went 430 feet, 442 feet, 445 feet, 413 feet, 428 feet, and 398 feet respectively. Thats going out of ANY park. This is more evidence of a guy who just 'happened' to get hot at home in a short sample, as opposed to a guy who really benefits from park effects.
In 2009 Smith's average HR went 413.7 feet.  In 2008, his 4 HRs averaged 411 feet. 2 of his career HRs are against Tim Lincecum. That isn't the Coor's effect, thats just a guy with massive power. To top it off all of his power is basically on the pull-side, and hes a back-spin hitter (though not a GB type), and would be a great match for Safeco.
I think Mark Lowe is a fair price. Lowe apparently is a pretty valuable trade commodity right now and RP is the biggest need for Col. They might possibly be interested in Lopez instead, but Mark Lowe apparently has more trade value right now. Smith is blocked in Colorado's OF by their two top prospects and Hawpe. Hes essentially their #10 position player.