Injuries Force Revamped Outfield — Updated
The Rockies called up Eric Young, Jr., and Matt Murton to fill outfield voids for Tuesday night’s game against the Dodgers.
Dexter Fowler was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a deep bone bruise suffered when he fouled a ball off his right knee in the Rockies 6-4, 14-inning victory against San Francisco. Fowler already was suffering from a bruised left knee.
The Rockies could have optioned Fowler to Triple-A Colorado Springs, but it is apparent they feel Fowler will need at least 15 days to get healthy.
If the Rockies had used the option Fowler could be recalled in 10 days if he was feeling well enough to play.
The Rockies also optioned pitcher Adam Eaton to Triple-A Colorado Springs to create the other roster spot.
Murton was up with the Rockies earlier this year, and impressed the big-league brass with his outfield versatility and speed. Young has been a second baseman, but recently began playing center field for Triple-A Colorado Springs. He has shown an ability to track fly balls, but has not lengthened out his arm, which can be a concern.
The Rockies outfield situation is shallow because Carlos Gonzalez‘s playing time is limited by a puncture wound in his left hand.
Tracy,
15 day DL for those guys really really hurt us. Shouldnt we just wait a week for Sept 1, so we dont have to have those guys have to wait 15 days?
Wow! That’s a tough break, as Fowler and Gonzalez were playing so well.
It’s nice to see EY2 up, though not under these circumstances. Murton is capable, but I’ll still miss Fowler and Gonzalez.
Cowboy – thanks for the story. Injuries are the one thing that can break the MOJO right now…..just BEAT LA
Tracy,
I am curious to your answer to JT’s question. Will there be any variation to the 15 day dl rule since there will be a roster expansion in one week? If both of them are day to day, I would have put fowler on the DL and left Cargo on the active roster. If (when) we make the play offs, how would this affect the postseason roster?
CarGo was allegedly going to swing off a tee today, and it sounds like the corresponding DL moves haven’t been made yet.
Is it possible (or even likely) that what happens is Dex goes on the DL and Eaton gets sent down? It didn’t seem like CarGo was going to be out long enough to necessitate a DL trip.
I am going to try and verify the 15-day disabled list issue. I don’t know.
The reason, though, the Rockies would make the moves is they won’t want to spend the next six games — against the Dodgers and Giants — with a 23-man roster.
As for the post-season, there is no affect other than a team is provided with more options in determining who they want on the post-season roster. The requirement to be on the post-season roster is that you are in an organization by Aug. 31.
If a team has 25 active players and none on the DL then those 25 are the ones who go. If a team has five or six players on the DL it expands the choices they can make for filling out the post-season roster. At the end of the season, when the team puts togehter it’s post-season roster, itcan replace any player on the disabled list at season’s end with a player who was in organization as of Aug. 31, even if he wasn’t in the big leagues. For example, Mark Redman replaced Rodrigo Lopez, I believe it was, in 2007.
So we lose some speed in the outfield…maybe a little pop at the plate with Gonzales’ performance at the plate recently. I think/hope Spilly and Smith can compensate though…Smith certainly is capable at the plate…
So, just Dex to the DL? CarGo stays on the roster?
Oops, I didn’t see the revised version of the story…
Purely based on box scores, it would appear that Matt Miller has had a better year than Matt Murton at Colorado Springs. Does anyone know whether the Rockies considered calling up Matt Miller?
Thank you Tracy for looking into it.
Murton and Miller’s stats at the Springs are almost identical. I think you have to go with the guy with over a 1000 PA in the majors.
A player on the 15-day disabled list must be out at least 15 days, and that is not impacted by Sept. 1. One thing the Rockies are looking at is whether they could merely option Fowler to Triple-A, instead of placing him on the disabled list. A player is required to spend 10 days in the minors before he can be recalled, but that would allow Fowler to return five days earlier than if he was placed on the disabled list.
Any reason the team brought up two position players and not just one and a pitcher? It was great Marquis went long last night, but thinking ahead to tomorrow’s Fogg start, what if he is not able to get to five? Who is going to give them two? Will Morales be held back today even though he only faced the one hitter yesterday?
Just would have thought that a starter would have come up or Eaton would have stayed. Not a huge Eaton fan, but last I checked neither Murton or EY pitched in AAA.
I’m very comfortable with Matt Murton getting ABs at this point of the season. True, the defense takes a big hit here, but Murton is just another under the radar deal O’Dowd made in the offseason that I believe will pay off nicely.
Karl, they have Matt Herges to step in after Fogg. And if Herges has to pitch on Wednesday, remember Colorado Springs is at home. If the Rockies decided they needed another pitcher, they could recall Rincon from his medical rehab assignment and activate him. My guess is he would be in the clubhouse in plenty of time for Thursday’s game. He has been working out with the big league team when it is home in between rehab assignments.
Key is Eaton wasn’t available tonight, anyhow, given he pitched yesterday so for at least one day you add another offensive option. If the pitching staff gets stretched tonight or tomorrow then they make the move with the Springs.
I don’t want to sound harsh but Eaton is pedestrian at very best.
After yesterday it was just a matter of time before he went back down or landed on the DL.
I’ll be surprised in he is put in any meaningful spots when the rosters get expanded.
Can I ask one question – did GA have a stop sign up for Tulo last night? The replays didn’t show it and I just curious if Hill did anything at all to get him to stay at 1st
Tracy,
Please reassure me that Fowler’s deep bone bruise is not as bad as Rockies Todd Hollingsworth’s (2001, I think) ordeal off a similar foul ball off leg that pretty much ended his useful career.
Dom, the only thing I can say is that Fowler fouled the ball off his knee and Hollindworth did it off his shin.
Did someone say MATT HURT-US???