Offseason Pebble Report: Michael McKenry has a powerful bat!

by Russ Oates on Oct 29, 2008 9:00 AM MDT in Pebble Report

Arizona Fall League:

Michael McKenry joined a select company of recent Arizona Fall Leaguers when he hit three homers in Monday's game. What that blog entry doesn't mention is that McKenry also launched a homer two nights before, when he went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. In Tuesday's game, McKenry continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-4, one homer, two RBI, two runs scored performance. He's 8-for-13 over his last three games.
Christopher Nelson has a five-game hitting streak going, Monday's game being the only multi-hit one in the bunch. He's hitting .289/.391/.500 in 38 at-bats.
Read this and look at this for Eric Young, Jr.
Shane Lindsay hasn't pitched since the last update, David Patton allowed one run on one inning in Tuesday's game, and Chaz Roe allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in four innings of work. He also struck out two.

Hawaii WInter League:

Austin Chambliss has a 32.40 ERA in 1 2/3 IP. Not really concerned.
Andy Graham allowed his first earned run in his last appearance (Oct. 24). He has a 1.17 ERA in 7 2/3 IP.
Connor Graham hasn't pitched since the last update.
Lars Davis has played in one game since the last update and went 1-for-4 in it.
Darin Holcomb has a hit in each of his last three games. He has a .169 BA.
Mike Mitchell played in a game the day of the last update, went 0-for-3, and hasn't played since.

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Grain of salt

Remember, the AFL isn’t “real”. I’m not trying to say EYJ isn’t fast and isn’t watching pitches well, it’s more that pitchers oftentimes aren’t just going at batters like they would in a real game, this is is Spring Training…in the fall. Throwing curves every other pitch or standing on the other side of the rubber or adjusting an arm slot.

It's Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time It's Tulowitzki!...Tulo-witzki-witzki-witzki ..... rockiesmagicnumber.blogspot.com

by Andrew Martin on Oct 29, 2008 4:19 PM MDT reply actions

Well, he certainly

isn’t Ken Harvey.

(shivers at the mention of Ken Harvey)

"Never Surrender Dreams" - Inscription on J. Michael Straczynski's bench

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on Oct 29, 2008 6:25 PM MDT up reply actions

Very true

I think what you have to take from it is the power potential. Even with pitchers working on certain pitches or locations, it’s still a tremendous show of power to do what McKenry has done over the past week.

That doesn’t make him Brian McCann, but it helps reaffirm a personal belief that McKenry can do a pretty good Kelly Shoppach impersonation in a few years (of course, we should have Kelley Shoppach doing Kelly Shoppach, but you see this Josh Byrnes guy…)

by David OhNo on Oct 29, 2008 6:32 PM MDT up reply actions

How many CFs?

Let’s say EY Jr. does pan out as a CF. Dexter Fowler is prospect #1, yes? And Spilborghs is still searching for playing time.

How many CF’s do you need, even assuming Willy T is traded?

Seems like the Rox are perpetually stacking up multiple players at certain positions (like middle infield) & remain thin in the most important position of all, pitcher.

There’s gotta come a time to trade for pitching, and you gotta give up something to get something. At least one of the CF’s (besides Taveras) is going to have to be bait for pitching prospects.

by maris61 on Oct 29, 2008 8:42 PM MDT reply actions

In

your scenario, are you assuming EY, Jr. is solely a CF? If he also plays the infield, that changes the situation just a bit.

"Never Surrender Dreams" - Inscription on J. Michael Straczynski's bench

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on Oct 29, 2008 8:47 PM MDT up reply actions

I've long believed that

the Rockies should have an outfield of “three centerfielders.” That doesn’t mean they all have to hit like Willy, but that they should target outfielders with plus defensive tools.

Spilborghs is the likely opening day starter in left field, and Fowler still may open in AAA. Not to take away from Holliday’s plus defense, but the Rockies need to make a point of going after very athletic defensive outfielders, and some of these also happen to hit pretty well too.

by David OhNo on Oct 29, 2008 9:09 PM MDT up reply actions

3 CF's works defensively

but what about offensively? Given the home run potential at Coors Field, even post-humidor, the Rockies probably need home run-capable outfielders (Holliday, Atkins) playing corner outfield. If there happen to be big home run-producers at 3B and 1B, maybe they could get away with two CF-types in 2 of the 3 outfield positions, but not all 3.

Obviously, a speedy CF-type who hits 30+ HR would be ideal, but there are precious few of those around.

If the Rox decide Fowler and EY Jr. are the two keepers, then the third outfield position has got to be manned by a monster HR hitter. Holliday would be fine, but that doesn’t work beyond next year. And if Helton continues at 1B, the infield corners’ HR production is going to be poor.

by maris61 on Oct 30, 2008 7:41 PM MDT up reply actions

It can work offensively, but it requires more gambling

I would never suggest including both EYJ and Fowler in the same outfield, but I see how that could have easily been confused in my response.

My biggest beef with the Rockies development of players is that they’ve rarely taken gambles on high risk/high reward toolsy outfielders. The one recent one (Christensen) looks like an early flop. The rest (Brian Rike, Seth Smith, Charlie Blackmon) are considered multi-tooled players but no real standout tools, leaving their ceiling at fourth outfielder.

Guys like Jay Bruce, Colby Rasmus, Jordan Schafer, Andrew McCutchen, Austin Jackson, Drew Stubbs, Nick Markakis… These were/are centerfield types that reflect the type of young talent the Rockies should be targeting. All were taken after the Rockies made a selection/s (granted some were in the Tulo draft), so it isn’t like Colorado isn’t getting the opportunity to pursue this type of centerfield athlete.

I believe the game is evolving, and teams are able to win consistently without the 40 HR banger. I do believe drug testing, to a degree, has moved baseball out of the era of the masher, and closer to the era of tools. Yes, the Phillies hit more than their fair share of homer, but those were park related, and at the same time, they reflect a team built on well rounded athletes. The Rays personify this new modern power.

The days of light hitting infielders are dying, and traditional molds are becoming more uneccessary. The Rockies need to build a team that can create a competitive advantage over it’s opponents at home, while holding its own on the road. To me, that team features a trio of outfielders built to hit around .300 with 20 homers/20 steals potential, with plus defensive attributes.

So this was probably a poor post to tie to EYJ, but the point is the rockies should focus on acquiring this type of player in trades, and worry less about an outfield that puts Spilborghs in Holliday’s spot in left field.

by David OhNo on Oct 30, 2008 10:41 PM MDT up reply actions

Goodness

I’ve never seen so much baseball jargon in one post ever.

You started by saying that Rike, Smith, Blackmon are all toolsy but not really with one standout tool.

Then you suggest the days of the guys with one big tool are moving on and we need…..more toolsy guys.

I guess I’m not sure what your focus is. Do you not like Smith? Do we train EYJ for CF exclusively?

I say keep EYJ as a 2B, because we lack a legitimate leadoff hitter, and Barmes is a super-sub in reality, but his glove is superior to guys like Baker, and his bat is superior to Q’s, but not to the level of “oh yeah, you start this guy every day”, he’s more of a “You start him unless someone better comes along”.

And why not develop guys like Young? I guess I miss the point of your post.

It's Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time It's Tulowitzki!...Tulo-witzki-witzki-witzki ..... rockiesmagicnumber.blogspot.com

by Andrew Martin on Oct 31, 2008 2:47 PM MDT up reply actions

You can be a five tool player

but none of the five better than average. Blackmon has the chance to break that mold, but the others seem likely to just be solid fourth outfield types.

By more tools guys, I’m taling about targeting guys with average to plus tools across the board. Guys that have plus defensive and speed tools with at least one plus offensive tool. Smith lacks a plus tool, and for that reason, I expect him to fill a bench role for his stay in Colorado.

As for Young, he can’t play 2nd because he cannot defend at the position, period. His footwork is sloppy, his hands are stiff, and his arm slot can be erratic. He has to learn center to be that extra outfield-speed guy that can occasionally fill at second or third. And it isn’t that you don’t develop guys like this, you technically develop anyone in your system, but you don’t go actively seeking EYJ types to fill your roster with.

We’ll discuss more of these types of players as trade whispers grow, but the general belief is we need more athletic outfielders that can carry their weight on both sides of the inning.

by David OhNo on Oct 31, 2008 5:14 PM MDT up reply actions