When the Rockies got into a bind with their rotation - three of the members of the season-opening quintet went on the disabled list in August - they turned within and gave rookies Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales an opportunity to prove their worth.

The feeling in the front office was that the inconsistency of youth outweighed the inconsistency of the available veterans because, at least with Jimenez and Morales, there was an upside and the experience this year could help speed up their development next year.

The cynics laughed, questioning the financial commitment of ownership.

If that's the case, explain the New York Yankees. They have never been afraid to spend money and have been known to hold back homegrown prospects to create roster space for veterans, more willing to gamble on damaged goods, like Carl Pavano or Jaret Wright, than youth.

This year, though, the Yankees also have passed on Byung-Hyun Kim, David Wells and Esteban Loaiza, opting to look for in-house alternatives as they have climbed back into the postseason hunt.

They aren't likely to catch Boston in the American League East, but they swept their way into the wild-card lead by finishing the Red Sox on Thursday.

And they are making their move with inexperienced, but talented arms, including reliever Joba Chamberlain, a first-round supplemental draft pick a year ago from Nebraska who opened the year at Single-A Tampa (Fla.); starter Philip Hughes, the No. 1 pick out of high school in 2004; and Dominican right-hander Edwar Ramirez.

Now, with Mike Mussina struggling, the Yankees have decided to skip him a start and are going to turn to Ian Kennedy, the 20th pick a year ago out of Southern California.

The Yankees' farm system might not get a lot of credit, but the talent level is apparent with those moves compared with the Dodgers, who are among the best self-promoters in terms of player development but find themselves trying to patch together a rotation to make a postseason run with the rejects of others, like Wells and Loaiza.

The amazing part about the Loaiza acquisition is that despite the bulging disk in his back and achy knees, the Dodgers were stuck with an $8 million guarantee by making the waiver claim on Loaiza from Oakland.

Overheard

• Former major league managers Jimy Williams and Jim Fregosi fit the qualifications Kansas City general manager Dayton Moore is looking for in replacing Buddy Bell - veteran baseball men, good teachers and experienced managers who have won in the majors. Both also know Moore from their days in Atlanta.

• Right-hander Braden Looper wants to stay in the Cardinals rotation. He has a 1.80 ERA in four starts since reports he could be put back in the bullpen next year.

• Four names that surfaced as replacements for fired Astros general manager Tim Purpura are former Detroit/San Diego general manager Randy Smith, son of Astros president Tal Smith; former Dodgers general manager Dan Evans; and special assistants Dan Jennings in Florida and Logan White of the Dodgers.

Readers' turn

Hal Gibbons asks, "If the Rockies don't move (Todd) Helton this offseason, where would you hit him? He can't stay at cleanup."

Hal, I would think Helton actually could move up in the order. With his on-base percentage among the best in the game, I see him hitting third if the Rockies bring back Kazuo Matsui and can team him in the 1-2 spots in the lineup with Willy Taveras.

If Matsui doesn't return, however, I'd put Helton into the No. 2 slot. With the walks he can draw, he could add to the RBI opportunities for those behind him in the lineup. He also has never been concerned about hitting with two strikes on him, so he could work counts to give Taveras a chance to steal bases.

Besides, if pitchers started challenging Helton again instead of walking him, as they have done this season, he could pick up a lot of RBI with line drives in the gap, scoring Taveras from first or second base.

For responses to other questions or to ask a question of your own, check out the Rockies Pregame Report daily or Rockies Inbox weekly at Rocky Mountain News.com/rockies.

Two cents' worth

If Houston owner Drayton McLane wants a general manager who can survive in the world of a limited budget and still have success, he should ask San Diego for permission to talk with Padres general manager Kevin Towers.

Towers has been able to piece together a consistent contender with the Padres despite tight purse strings. He isn't part of the inner circle, though, now that Sandy Alderson is team president. That was evident two years ago when Alderson didn't hesitate to grant permission for Towers to talk with Arizona, even though the Diamondbacks are a rival.

Problem is, Towers would like to remain in San Diego and would need guarantees that he would be allowed freedom to address the needs of the Astros, something fired Purpura or predecessor Gerry Hunsicker were allowed.

There also is a stigma among baseball executives about the Astros after Hunsicker was denied tickets to the World Series two years ago, even though every player on the Astros roster had been acquired while Hunsicker was in charge.

MILE HIGH WATCH

• Rockies hitters are headed for 1,100 strikeouts for the fourth time in franchise history. They go into the weekend having struck out 923 times in 133 games, a rate of 6.94 per game. That projects to 1,124 for the season. The franchise record is 1,181, set in 2004. They struck out 1,134 times in 2003. The previous franchise high was 1,108 in 1996.

Seems like a lot of strikeouts, but the Rockies are only sixth in the NL in strikeouts, trailing Florida (1,077), San Diego (1,009), Philadelphia (969), Atlanta (856) and Cincinnati (934).

The Dodgers have the fewest strikeouts in the NL (683).

Does it make a difference?

The five teams atop the NL in runs are the Phillies, Braves, Rockies, Reds and Marlins. The Dodgers ranked ninth in the NL in runs despite having made more contact than any other NL team.

• With outfielder Seth Smith and right-hander Ramon Ramirez sidelined because of injuries, players from Triple-A Colorado Springs who would seem in line for call-ups to the Rockies in September would seem to include infielder Omar Quinta-nilla, first baseman Joe Koshansky, left-hander Dan Serafini and right-handers Ryan Speier and Juan Morillo.

Of that group, only Serafini is not on the Rockies' 40-man roster. But the 33-year-old, who has spent time in Japan and Mexico, could fill a need for a left-handed long reliever next year, so the Rockies would seem likely to look at him in the final weeks this season to evaluate his major league potential.

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