Colorado Rockies prospect Jeff Hoffman leads the way early for the Albuquerque Isotopes

For the Colorado Rockies' Triple-A affiliate Albuquerque Isotopes, it was a bit of a turbulent week. The team went 4-3 in their first two series of the season. Let's look at how the different position groups fared, starting with the pitchers.

It wasn't the best week for the Topes' rotation, but there were a few starts that cut through the struggle. Jeff Hoffman was very solid in his Triple-A debut early in the week, throwing six scoreless innings, allowing five hits, striking out six and walking three as he picked up the win. His second outing was even better, when he allowed just two runs on three hits and a walk over seven frames. Eddie Butler rebounded from a tough first outing where he allowed four runs in four innings as the Isotopes took the Opening Day loss, to throw six innings of four hit, one run baseball in his second start, as well. He added four more strikeouts and was able to command the ball better, only walking one hitter.

David Hale also had a strong start to the season, and had thrown two innings in his second outing before he was pulled for an unknown reason. In that short start, he only allowed one hit. Shane Carle has not enjoyed a similar run of luck, and was rocked in his first start. In four innings, he allowed 12 hits, 12 runs (11 earned) and walked three as the Isotopes fell to Tacoma on April 10th.

In the bullpen, Sam Moll has been the strongest performer so far, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing two hits. Simon Castro has also been excellent so far, and hasn't allowed a baserunner in three innings, and the 'Topes have looked to him to finish the game all three times he's taken the mound. Yohan Flande has been the workhorse so far this season, throwing 5⅔ innings in two games. He's allowed one earned run, eight hits, walked three and struck out two. Nelson Gonzalez and Scott Oberg are the two relievers who have been hit the hardest; both have ERAs of nine so far, Oberg after three outings and Gonzalez after two. Gonzalez was roughed up in his first outing, taking the loss after two-thirds of an inning, in which he allowed two runs on two hits and walked two. Oberg's first appearance was also his worst. In one inning, he gave up three hits, two walks, and four runs.

On the offensive side of the plate, Ryan Casteel and Jordan Patterson have been the hot, everyday bats. Patterson is hitting .290/.371/.355 with six RBI, three walks and five strikeouts in eight games. Casteel is a few steps behind, hitting .303/.378/.364 with two RBI in the same seven games. Joey Wong has played in six games so far and is off to a nice start, hitting .278/.391/.444.

The team's home opener is today, Friday the 15th, against Tacoma. That will kick off the club's initial week-long homestand.