Saturday Pebble Report: Minor league system hogs runs as big league team loses

by Russ Oates on Jul 25, 2009 7:37 AM MDT in Pebble Report

Colorado Springs, W 19-0
Too bad the Sky Sox couldn't give some of their runs to the Rockies last night. Their were innings of two runs, four runs, and seven runs. Every starter had at least one hit, and Mark Bellhorn made the most of his with two homers (three RBI). Christian Colonel drove in three and Matt Murton added four more RBI on the season.

Brandon Hynick threw seven strong innings, allowed no runs on five hits, and struck out nine.

Tulsa, W 12-3
The Drillers had two four-run innings last night on their way to this victory. Dayton Buller drove in three runs on a sac fly and a two-run homer, and Mike Paulk went 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored. Ryan Harvey banged out an RBI triple.

Brandon Durden went six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits. Jon George and Adam Bright held things down on their end to finish the game.

Modesto, L 5-6
Whoa, boy! Christian Friedrich dominated the Ports last night. He threw five innings of two-hit ball and struck out 11. Chris Malone . . . didn't. He allowed three runs in the sixth inning. And then Austin Chambliss and Sean Jarrett combined to allow three more runs. Having a five run lead entering the bottom of the sixth, the Nuts wound up losing.

Hector Gomez went 3-for-3 with a single, double, and triple. Matt Repec hit a two-run homer.

Asheville, L 1-8
Good news: Parker Frazier struck out five. Bad news: He allowed six runs on 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings. Good news: Of the 12 non-strikeouts, nine were ground outs. The offense had six hits, but there isn't anything worth noting.

Tri-City, W 8-5
Rex Brothers made his professional debut last night after Daniel Perkins allowed four runs in eight innings. Brothers struck out two in one inning and pick up the win.

Ben Paulsen, Bo Bowman, and Kevin Clark led the offensive charge last night. Paulsen had three hits and two RBI, Bowman hit a two-run homer (6), and Kevin Clark had two hits (one for a two-run homer) and four RBI. Tim Wheeler stole two bases to reach six on the season.

Casper, L 3-5
Clint Tilford had a night he'd like to forget: 2 IP, 2 H, 4 R/ER, 5 BB. He allowed all five walks and all four runs in the second inning. Edwar Cabrera held things down for the next three innings, allowing only a run and striking out four. Steve Junker and Jonathan Vargas held Ogden scoreless over the last eight innings.

Jared Clark hit a solo home run, his third of the season.

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Comments

Christian Friedrich makes me really excited

Gomez is getting better at the plate, but he needs to learn to walk more….

by bballrox4717 on Jul 25, 2009 11:30 AM MDT reply actions

You know, there's an open slot in the AA rotation for Friedrich now...

Just sayin’

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jul 25, 2009 11:39 AM MDT up reply actions

I don't want to rush him

though I wouldn’t be completely opposed if they moved him to Double AA this year. I don’t want him sniffing the majors until Sept 2010 though, otherwise it reeks of rushing him.

by bballrox4717 on Jul 25, 2009 12:41 PM MDT up reply actions

's funny

I looked up another college pitcher – call him Pitcher A, not a top ten draft pick slot. We started Friedrich in Low-A this year. Pitcher A started in AAA in 2007, the spring after being drafted, then was called up to MLB after 5 AAA starts and is already an All-Star. Other than 12 innings to close out 08 in Asheville, Friedrich has been dominant at every level (mind you, not as much as Pitcher A, but no one else is). Pitcher A had 14 MLB starts by this time in Friedrich’s career, and you’re worried promoting him from High-A? I would be too if he was having trouble, but he’s been stellar this season. Not every pitcher should be treated with such liberty, but when you have a top talent college pitcher that’s ravaging the minors, while not requiring any mechanics tinkering, let him show us what he can do at the next level. Plus, you know, Chacin left an opening.

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jul 25, 2009 5:11 PM MDT up reply actions

**barely a top ten draft pick

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jul 25, 2009 5:11 PM MDT up reply actions

Pitcher A is a pretty special case

but your point is well taken. Glad pitcher A threw the other day, by the way.

by David OhNo on Jul 25, 2009 5:15 PM MDT up reply actions

Exactly.

Not everyone is Tim Lincecum, and to suggest Friedrich is even in his class (well, yet) is a pretty insane thought.

by bballrox4717 on Jul 25, 2009 5:40 PM MDT up reply actions

I didn't say Friedrich was in Lincecum's class

If I did, I’d be saying Friedrich should have been in our big league rotation two months ago. Instead, I’m saying he should be in AA. That’s two big levels below Lincecum. I’m just saying, you think Friedrich at AA is rushing despite of his dominance, look at other organizations’ dominating starting prospects and where they are

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jul 25, 2009 6:09 PM MDT up reply actions

I never said promoting him to AA was rushing him.

My fears were if he continued to dominate at AA, he’d move up to AAA, then be a Sept callup; without any stability in one league, then he’’ll struggle at the highest level as a result.

That’s the pattern I’ve seen with Friedrich. He’d dominate for 6-7 starts, athen move up again.

by bballrox4717 on Jul 25, 2009 9:16 PM MDT up reply actions

Not every pitcher moves extremely fast in the system

Yes, I do agree with Friedrich being promoted to Double AA, I said I wouldn’t be opposed to that. But the thing, I don’t want people going OMG ace promote him to AAA if Friedrich goes and starts off fantastically after 5 starts in AA. If he keeps on moving up levels so quickly, its going to get to him. With the pitching depth we have, we should probably have him spend one full year at one level just to see the type of pitcher he is. I’m not saying one year for each level, but something to show the pitcher he is. Say he finishes out the year in Tulsa, and we start him in AAA next year; let him stay at AAA for the year and see what happens when teams face him more than once. Remember, when you move up fast through the system, the teams are left without preparation. Yes, he’s consistently dominating the minors, but so did Francis. They left him in Modesto for a full year and it helped get consistency and learn to adjust fully.

by bballrox4717 on Jul 25, 2009 5:37 PM MDT up reply actions

There's no way I'd promote him to AAA after a few good starts

I would definitely want to see how well he does in AA for an extended period of time first. I wouldn’t rule out a taste of AAA if he dominates the next few months, but I don’t see the need for that. We’ve promoted starters from AA to MLB quite often.

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jul 25, 2009 6:11 PM MDT up reply actions

Well currently

the Rockies have no place for Friedrich……and I doubt with the influx of Rogers, Chacin, Hynick, and the AA relievers now (Reynolds and Escalona), that he’ll have a spot on the MLB roster until Sept unless something happens to the rotation like last year or the bullpen like this year.

Friedrich just needs to SLOW down.

by bballrox4717 on Jul 25, 2009 9:19 PM MDT up reply actions

Let me give you example B of a pitching prospect's fast moves through the system

This was a highly regarded arm who also fell in the draft, and also had a great start to his career. He showed his arm in Low A the year he was drafted, so they put him in high A. He dominated there, so he went to Double AA. Hey, he was great there too, so he went to Triple AAA. After looking damned good there, he got a September callup, and was great in 3 starts. The team thinks they have an ace in the making, and he’s floated around as a possible chip to Johan Santana. Nah, the team wants to keep their younglings, for once. He inserts him into the rotation, and he struggles, then leaves the majors eventually with injuries. He hasn’t returned since. Did you guess the pitcher? Ian Kennedy of the Yankees.

That’s the opposite side of the spectrum of players rushing through the minors. It’s hit or miss.

by bballrox4717 on Jul 25, 2009 5:47 PM MDT up reply actions

He was put in High A the Spring after the draft

by bballrox4717 on Jul 25, 2009 5:48 PM MDT up reply actions

Ringolsby hinted at that two days ago I believe

and frankly, why not? It wasn’t Friedrich’s fault he fell to the Rockies in last year’s draft, so when you consider him to be a top ten level collegiate talent, and compare such pitchers’ paths to the big leagues (while also staying cognizant of Friedrich’s performances of course), Double A seems quite logical. Just look at where Brian Matsuz is right now.

by David OhNo on Jul 25, 2009 2:34 PM MDT up reply actions

Agreed

AA isn’t exactly rushing him. He’s flat out dominating in Modesto already (though benefiting from a career low BABIP). He can handle it, and I’d like to see it.

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

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jul 25, 2009 5:02 PM MDT up reply actions

BABIP doesn't mean the same in the minors though

As some guys just out class others. To use hyperbole, if you went down and played first year machine pitch against a bunch of fourth and fifth graders, I’m sure your BABIP would be obscenely high. Now Friedrich isn’t on that level good, but guys simply better than their league will produce such, and though I haven’t seen him pitch this year, I’m sure Friedrich is displaying this.

by David OhNo on Jul 25, 2009 5:13 PM MDT up reply actions