Tuesday Rockpile: Hirsh, 12 others sent to minors; Injury Report

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 17, 2009 8:00 AM MDT in Rockpile

As you may know, RHP Jason Hirsh has been assigned to minor league camp. The monstrous starting pitcher was viewed as a solid candidate for the fifth starter position but has greatly disappointed, as seen by the continued presence of Jhoulys Chacin, Greg Reynolds, Matt Belisle and Josh Fogg, all whom Hirsh was favored over to start Spring Training.

Also sent down were RHPs Samuel Deduno, Shane Lindsay, Ryan Mattheus, Matt Daley, Brandon Hynick and Steven Register, IFs Hector Gomez, Chris Nelson and Eric Young, Jr., LHP Cedrick Bowers, C Michael McKenry and OF Matt Miller were also assigned to the minors.

RHP Jhoulys Chacin may have posted a 9.00 ERA in his start Monday, but he pitched much better than that number would indicate. Thanks to Troy Renck, Clint Hurdle's take on the youngster's start:

He does have a feel for what he’s doing. He’s being challenged at this level and we wanted to get him out there in a starting opportunity. I saw a kid with good mound presence that can sink the ball. I haven’t talked that far (on whether he will get another another start)

Tracy Ringolsby updated his rankings for the LF, 5th starter, bullpen and bench spots. Nothing too surprising, although he has Omar Quintanilla ranked higher than both Jeff Baker and Ian Stewart.

Injuries: Baker really hasn't had much of a chance to make his case due to injury, but Baker will start at third base today. Greg Smith is scheduled to return to the mound Wednesday in a minor league game. Troy Renck reports that Garrett Atkins isn't getting any better, as his hip flexor injury has apparently mysteriously migrated to his groin.

If spring stats meant anything, we'd know that Todd Helton's back surgery completely reversed his ability, as his SLG% now sits 4 times higher than his OBP this spring. All kidding aside, it sure is sweet to see Todd leading the team in home runs again.

What's on tap: Ubaldo Jimenez returns to the Rockies to pitch against the Kansas City Royals at 2MDT at Hi Corbett Field.

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Stewart is closing in on a spot with Hurdle’s admission that he could revisit having the slugger play second base, if necessary, while expressing confidence in his ability to play left.

From Renck’s Post article today

I found this to be very, good news. I still think the best hitting team the Rockies can field, would have Stewart at 2nd and Barmes as the super-utility spot. How will the team be defensively? That’s a good question….but Stewart was OK last year at 2nd in only a few appearances (actually better at 2nd than 3rd but it was VERY limited times). But the upgrade in bat and power more than makes up for that.

As long as we have Atkins AND Helton in the line up, Stewart appears to be the odd man out. Pushing him to the OF which is already overcrowded doesn’t make much sense either. Would Stewart be better than Seth Smith in the everyday line up? One would assume, but Smith has shown at times he’s more then adequate with the bat (.308, eight games, four doubles, one home run and seven RBI so far this spring).

The odd man out off the team….it’s starting to look like Jeff Baker. His loss time to injury was not well timed. The reason he’s starting at 3rd today? To show case the fact he was a 3rd baseman for the NY Yankees. I know that’s not the Rockies 3rd baseman, most here would want to be traded to the Yankees, but trading Atkins now, is selling low, after a down/mediocre 08 year for Garrett. Unless the Yankees offer Chamberlain for Atkins…then we can talk

Rockies Mgr. Clint Hurdle on what needs improvement in 09: "Our Record"

by Redhawk on Mar 17, 2009 9:16 AM MDT reply actions

I'm with you

Stewart at 2nd. After Atkins gets well. I think his offense will overshadow whatever we lose in defense (which I don’t think will be much). We’ve got to get off this “He’s too big to play 2nd” approach.

And trading Baker makes sense. He’ll never get enough playing time here. Get something for him that can help the team.

by pedalpusher on Mar 17, 2009 9:24 AM MDT up reply actions

Does it change the equation

to know that Ian Stewart is only hitting .238/.304 obp so far this spring after hitting only .259/.349 obp last year?

Rockies Mgr. Clint Hurdle on what needs improvement in 09: "Our Record"

by Redhawk on Mar 17, 2009 9:30 AM MDT up reply actions

Probably not.

I’m willing to give him a chance. If he can’t hit in the Bigs given regular playing time, the FO needs to know that. But playing a couple of days a week isn’t going to tell much, IMO.

by pedalpusher on Mar 17, 2009 1:48 PM MDT up reply actions

If Jeff Kent

could play a passable 2nd, Stewie can.

by Tom (RFTN) on Mar 17, 2009 10:48 AM MDT up reply actions

Good catch

I was sleeping when he posted that

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 17, 2009 10:52 AM MDT up reply actions

No prob

it was in my morning post…over coffee

Yeah, I’m old fashioned, and still like holding and reading a morning newspaper with my coffee…though I do miss the Rocky Mtn News. It was a lot better then the Post, which just seems USAtoday “dumbed” down

Rockies Mgr. Clint Hurdle on what needs improvement in 09: "Our Record"

by Redhawk on Mar 17, 2009 11:11 AM MDT up reply actions

I like the last link

Fasano is doing pretty well. From Redhawk’s post above Torrealba is a lock, let’s trade him and keep Fasano (he’s cheaper), although that might be a reason another team might want him after he gets cut in the next few weeks.

"A great catch is like watching girls go by; the last one you see is always the prettiest." ~Bob Gibson
JFK

by jrockies on Mar 17, 2009 9:36 AM MDT reply actions

Hard to trade Torrealba or Fasano

as any team needing a back up catcher (and their are a few) would just wait for cuts, and take the one cut. Unless there is enough demand, that some team would want to trade just to make sure they didn’t miss out to another team for the veterneyness that is Torrealba or Fasano

Rockies Mgr. Clint Hurdle on what needs improvement in 09: "Our Record"

by Redhawk on Mar 17, 2009 9:42 AM MDT up reply actions