Thursday Pebble Report: Dodgers sweep Rockies at Coors, Albuquerque
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 28, 2009 7:51 AM MDT
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Mark Bellhorn hit 2 HR, one in each game of Colorado Springs' double header agaisnt Albuquerque. He was only 2-for-8 with 2 BBs, but there's not anyone else that qualifies, sadly.
AAA Colorado Springs, L 8-10 & L 5-7 - (27-18, 1st)
GAME 1: The Sky Sox built a 7-1 lead against the Albuquerque Isotopes (Dodgers) going into the eighth and couldn't hold it. Unfortunately, the guilty parties were Ryan Speier (4 ER) and Ryan Mattheus (2 ER), two reliever the Rox hope will help out on the big club soon. Scott Munter walked two Isotopes and then gave up a 3-run walk-off HR to Blake DeWitt in the tenth. Mark Bellhorn homered in the loss. Box Score
GAME 2: With the help another home run from Mark Bellhorn, the Sky Sox gaved Alan Johnson a 5-run lead before he every took the mound against the Albuquerque Isotopes (Dodgers). It apparently was not enough, as Johnson allowed 7 runs on 9 hits in 5.1 IP. He also allowed three hits to opposing pitcher Charlie Haeger, who scored two runs, good for the difference in te 7-5 Sky Sox loss. It was the third time in four starts that Johnson has given up at least six runs. Here's a great feature article on Alan Johnson, who went undrafted.
Carlos Gonzalez also hit a home run, in the ninth off long-time MLBer Scott Strickland. CarGo, Eric Young Jr and Sal Fasano (yes :C) all stole a base. Box Score
Colorado Springs finishes off the 4-game set with the Isotopes tonight at 7:05 MDT.
AA Tulsa, L 0-5 - (23-21, 3.0 GB)
Omar Poveda of the Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers) threw a complete game three-hit shutout against the Drillers last night. Poveda was protected from the Rule 5 draft last November by Texas as a 21-year-old.
Keith Weiser (2-4, 4.78) allowed 4 runs, 2 earned in 7 effective innings for the loss. The Drillers managed just three singles off Poveda, one each by Mike Paulk, Jeff Kindel and Daniel Carte.
Esmil Rogers (3-1, 3.00) squares off with Frisco's Kasey Kiker (3-2, 2.74) tonight at 6:05 MDT. Andy Graham was added to the disabled list, and Brandon Durden was promoted to Tulsa from Modesto.
High-A Modesto, W 8-7- (27-19, 2.0 GB)
Despite blowing a 7-2 lead, committing five errors and striking out 10 times in five innings against relief pitcher Chris Withrow, the Nuts held it together and managed to eek out the only organizational win, 8-7 in 10 inn. vs. the Inland Empire 66ers (Dodgers). Jeffrey Cunningham doubled twice and Brandon Rike, Matt Repec and Jason van Kooten also doubled. Lars Davis collected a 2-run triple off Dodger Opening Day starter Hiroki Kuroda. Radames Nazario singled van Kooten home for the winning margin in the tenth.
Nazario did not start but replaced Hector Gomez, who left after three at-bats. No word yet on if the switch was due to injury, dugout squabble or promotion. Connor Graham allowed five runs (two earned) in four innings but struck out seven. Box Score
Modesto will play at the Inland Empire again tonight at 8:05 MDT.
Low-A Asheville, L 3-9 - (17-28, 8.5 GB)
After losing again last night to the Augusta Green Jackets (Giants), the Tourists have dropped to the worst record in all of the South Atlantic League. Robinson Fabian (1-4, 5.96) got lit up for 8 runs in 5.2 IP while the hitters struck out ten time and managed just one run off Paul Oseguara, who was making his second start of the year.
Delta Cleary reached base three times with both hits coming from the right side against the lefty starter which is good to see.The switch hitter has a ridiculous split this year, hitting .311/.354/.486 against righties but just .120/.154/.160 against lefties. David Christenson went hitless with three strikeouts. Box Score
Parker Frazier (1-3, 5.40) takes on Robert Carson of the Savannah Sand Gnats (Mets) at 5:05 MDT.
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Most of Game 1
for the Sky Sox took place on Tuesday night.
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Yes...I forgot to specify it was the conclusion of a game in progress
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 28, 2009 9:35 AM MDT up reply actions
I'm starting to slowly climb aboard the
“Bring up EY” bandwagon, if just for the sake of having some fresh blood around.
Of course we need to start firing and trading first.
Matt Murton status: Freed
Garrett Atkins status: Not Traded
Clint Hurdle status: Still Employed by the Rockies
Swapping Stewart for EY may not be a bad idea, especially if Atkins continues his improvement.
Another thing that could be considered is also designating Omar Quintanilla for assignment, and purchasing Mike McCoy.
by Greg Stanwood on May 28, 2009 11:24 AM MDT up reply actions
Mike McCoy?
You know your baseball team is going badly when you start talking about calling up the offensive coordinator from your local NFL team. :)
"Horton is win."
--Horvil Tiki
How much does W-L record matter in the Minor's?
Is it an indication of talent distribution? Because as poorly as the Rockies are playing, the Sky Sox are currently in 1st place. Tulsa and Modesto are also above .500 teams.
Check out my Rockies comic strip at:
Rock Drive 1.4
I suppose that's a matter of opinion
It’s an indication of talent for sure, in my opinion. Then again, there are exceptions. MArk Bellhorn having a good season at AAA and helping them win games really doesn’t give the Rockies any future value. And there may be prospects in Asheville that will legitimately help at the major league level that are making adjustments. Dexter Fowler was still learning to switch hit there…so, I’d say it’s definitely good to see winning records, but the correlation between the record and prospect talent can be easily overestimated.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 28, 2009 11:51 AM MDT up reply actions
well it's like any win loss record
If your team is just thwomping the competition in AA, probably your 1,2 pitcher and 3,4 batters need to be promoted (in a very generic sense).
Friedrich needs to be in Modesto.
Matt Murton status: Freed
Garrett Atkins status: Not Traded
Clint Hurdle status: Still Employed by the Rockies
by Andrew Martin on May 28, 2009 2:26 PM MDT up reply actions
Goldstein says something nice about a Rockies prospect
Cleary has “Massive crazy ceiling. With Fowler in the big leagues, Clearly is the best athlete in the system. He’s still very raw.”
I'm still curious about his platoon splits
His OPS as a left-handed hitter (.812) is nearly double that of his RH OPS (.432). I don’t know his history of switch-hitting…
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 28, 2009 2:05 PM MDT up reply actions
Yeah it might be time for him to consider staying on one side
I wonder what Fowler’s splits were when he was in Asheville
He was actually better as a lefty in Asheville
even though it was only his second season. .910 OPS LH vs. .719 as RH. The thing is, both are RH throwers, so unless Cleary grew up emulating Larry Walker, he should be fine RH, but he’s not.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 28, 2009 2:32 PM MDT up reply actions
Yeah and as I soon as I typed that
I realized that he is still way too young to abandon either side
and as soon as I started looking it up
you beat me to it
Matt Murton status: Freed
Garrett Atkins status: Not Traded
Clint Hurdle status: Still Employed by the Rockies
by Andrew Martin on May 28, 2009 2:44 PM MDT up reply actions
CarGo
Maybe I’m the only one that feels this way, but why the hell has Carlos Gonzalez not been called up yet? Saunders’ article last week really bothered me.
First, the Rockies say there isn’t room right now for another left- handed-hitting outfielder, not one who needs to play every day. Right fielder Brad Hawpe has been among the team’s best offensive players. Switch-hitting rookie Dexter Fowler is holding his own in center, and Seth Smith is sharing duties in left. Second, even though Gonzalez has terrific numbers, hitting .344 with 45 RBIs, general manager Dan O’Dowd wants to see more consistency and maturity.
Pardon me for not being understanding, but are they really trying to sell this crap to us? Here’s a great idea – let’s take the guy that is absolutely destroying minor league pitching, a guy that everyone thinks has Matt Holliday talent with a better glove, and not bring him up due to the fact that the immortal Seth Smith is out there. Sorry, that just doesn’t add up.
Second, a guy is hitting .344 with 45 RBI (more now), yet you still refuse to bring him up because you “want to see more consistency”? That’s ridiculous, Danny. If a guy can help your team and potentially provide a boost, quit making excuses, and get his butt up with the big club. It’s not that difficult to figure out.
Gonzalez needs to be up with the big boys.
"Horton is win."
--Horvil Tiki
I think the problem is gonna be playing time
They’re already struggling to play Hawpe, Dex, Smith, Spills, Murton regularly, and bringing up Gonzalez would just further muddle that. If Gonzo was brought up, one of Smith, Spills, Murton would lose playing time.
Not that it’s a terrible thing, but we already have enough trouble with the whole Little League motif, adding another guy who can’t play 2B into the mix might just kill us.
The MINUTE Spills, Hawpe, or Murton is traded, Gonzo should be up like SNAP – did you see that? SNAP
Matt Murton status: Freed
Garrett Atkins status: Not Traded
Clint Hurdle status: Still Employed by the Rockies
by Andrew Martin on May 28, 2009 4:16 PM MDT up reply actions
You gravely underrate Smith
but so does Clint Hurdle. We really have a stacked outfield and CarGo wouldn’t get more than a couple starts per week…max. Given his incredibly disappointing season in the bigs last year and unrefined mechanics at times, I don’t have a problem letting him get get more consistency….because despite those stats, he really has been unfocused at times, mostly defensively. At least from what I’ve heard.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 28, 2009 8:48 PM MDT up reply actions
Is that any different than Holliday, though?
Holliday, although an above average defender, was incredibly unrefined defensively. He’s in the Bigs because of his bat. I just don’t see how you don’t give a guy a chance, particularly when he deserves it. I’m a big fan of Smith and Spilly (hell, I think I Spilly both of them), but you can’t run your team based upon the player that you like. You’ve got to do what’s in the best interests of the team. I guess you have to send down Murton. I’m a big fan of Murton’s as well, but if CarGo is better, he should be up.
He may not get more than a couple starts per week. On the other hand, he may hit so well that you simply can’t sit him down. That feared big bat is what the Rockies need. It’s not an infielder, it’s not an outfielder. It’s a big bat that is feared by everyone. Who knows? He may just succeed. It gives everyone more confidence. What’s going on right now obviously isn’t working, so why not give him a shot?
"Horton is win."
--Horvil Tiki
I'm certainly no tdeadset against a promotion
but I can definitely see the reasoning behind their course of action currently. It’s not that he’s unrefined defensively – he’s significantly better defensively than Holliday ever was in the minors. From what I’ve read, he has been lazy, taken slow starting routes on flyballs only to realize he can’t catch it, and a general way of carrying himself.
Murton’s role on the team now is to be the RH threat on the bench. If Murton is sent down, only Paul Phillips remains on the bench that can PH right-handed, and he doesn’t count. CarGo has better stats vs LHP than RHP in the minors since the Haren deal, but I’m not sure the sample size is significant.
Another thought…if you bring him up now, you cut into the playing time of the other OFs, thereby cutting the possibility of improving trade value for Hawpe and Spilborghs and perhaps the development of CarGo, Fowler and Smith
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 29, 2009 7:31 AM MDT up reply actions
The Problem, Though
The problem is that they won’t be traded. Hawpe may, but it won’t be before the deadline. Should Gonzo just rot away in AAA all that time?
Personally, I could care less about who gets the playing time. As a coach, if I want to win, I’m going to put my best 9 on the field. You can’t worry about hurt feelings. If he can help, he needs to be up. If management doesn’t think he can help, then, well, they’re even more inept than I thought.
"Horton is win."
--Horvil Tiki
I really think it's more that we have far too many outfielders.
None of the outfielders deserve to be sent down. And he may be tearing up AAA, but that doesn’t automatically mean he’s going to be demonstrably better than any of our current outfielders. Our problem is the infield, not the outfield. But you can’t have a bench full of outfielders who can’t play anywhere else. So if you bring up CarGo, who do you send down?
I really think a trade is the only way out here, unless or until one of the current outfielders totally plays himself out of a roster spot. And so far that hasn’t happened.
If Hawpe isn't traded before the deadline...
he won’t be traded, because then it will be too late. :D
No, but seriously, Hawpe should be traded ASAP. As I’ve stated before, every day that goes by with him still on our team lessens his value as a trade chip.
Eschew Obfuscation!
They could trade him via the waiver wire like we did with Larry Walker, no?
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 29, 2009 7:31 AM MDT up reply actions
Well, yes technically, but this is highly unlikely to work...
as a player like Hawpe on revocable outright waivers would quickly be snapped up.
Eschew Obfuscation!
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