Fogg Won’t Make Start
Rockies manager Jim Tracy has not decided what he plans to do with the vacant spot in the Rockies rotation next week.
What he did say Friday is his options do not include left-hander Franklin Morales and right-hander Josh Fogg, who made the start in place of Aaron Cook on Wednesday.
Morales has excelled since being called up as a late-inning reliever, and the Rockies don’t want to disrupt him. There is a value in having him available in late innings five of seven days a week.
Fogg also is not conditioned to stretch out, and that was reinforced when he struggled in the fourth inning Wednesday.
The likely options are rookie prospect Brandon Hynick or veteran Russ Ortiz, recently signed to a Triple-A Colorado Springs contract. With the Rockies off on Monday, the Rockies can skip the fifth spot in the rotation initially, and will not need another pitcher until Saturday, Sept. 5.
The rosters expand to 40 active players on Tuesday so the Rockies can try and piece the game together by using several pitchers. Among those expected to be recalled are right-hander Joel Peralta and lefty Randy Flores, both of whom were up with the Rockies earlier this season.
Carlos Gonzalez is expected to be available to pinch-run on Friday, possibly play defense on Saturday and could return to the lineup as soon as Sunday.
Gonzalez jammed his left thumb while diving for a ball in Thursday’s game, which was his first start after suffering a puncture wound below his left thum last weekend.
Hey did anyone else see the ESPN article that said if the Rockies make the playoffs, Jason Marquis will be the first player in MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HISTORY to make the playoffs his first 10 seasons in the league playing for at least three different teams?
That’s pretty incredible.
Also on the actual story at hand, I think Fogg could still be a starter but it’s difficult to get used to being a long relief pitcher and then get thrown into a game against the Dodgers as a starter.
I’m glad Tracy is keeping he and Morales in the bullpen and I’d actually be fine with either Hynick or Ortiz pitching. Both are question marks, capable of pitching well or poorly.
Cmon Hynick another sub par starter who has to pitch perfect in order to win games. He has no room for error when he throws and if he does its hit out of the park.
If they’re going to try to catch lightening in a bottle, I say go with the kid. Unfortunately, I think we all know what we would get with Ortiz. Fogg has performed really well in his bullpen role, so it’s also probably a good decision not to let him get too far removed from it.
If they don’t try Hynick, maybe they should go with Deduno in AA. He’s having a good year there, and he’s on the Rockies 40-man roster. It would have been nice to have Greg Smith or Greg Reynolds from AAA at this point, but both are injured for the year.
Tracy, how come there hasn’t been any talk of Sal Fasano being called up. I felt like he had a power bat from the right side during spring training, plus having a 3rd catcher during September makes it possible to pinch run for a catcher a better possibility without worrying about using the last catcher. And, by the way, isn’t there too much made of using the backup catcher…..as in worrying about him getting injured?
don
Don,
There will be at least one catcher added in September, but I would think Paul Phillips would have the edge. Phillips did a solid job when he was up for a month, but then was the victim of a numbers game when the Rockies were unable to deal Torrealba.
Robert, the feeling with Deduno is he was behind Chacin and Rogers, and so there is not a comfort level for jumping him past those two when the organization feels they both have an edge.
If the Rockies have to fill Cook’s starts with a warm body wouldn’t it be smarter to give some experience to the rising stars in their system rather than a retread? If Chacin got another shot at a start he might be less geeked up and have better control.
Tracy, would Russ Ortiz be a more likely choice to take that extra starter’s spot? He started for the Sky Sox on Friday and pitched decently, considerably better than both Rogers and Chacin, who have had poor outings recently. Plus, Hynick pitched on Sunday with the Sky Sox, so the two-day turnaround won’t work.
isn’t there too much made of using the backup catcher…..as in worrying about him getting injured?