Rockies add four players to roster
The Colorado Rockies on Tuesday raided the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, which was eliminated from the postseason Monday, and added four players to the active roster. Pitcher Jhoulys Chacin and outfielder Matt Murton were recalled from the Sky Sox and the Rockies purchased the contracts of pitcher Matt Belisle and infielder Mike McCoy.
Chacin, Murton and Belisle already have played with the Rockies this season.
Chacin was recalled from Double-A Tulsa in late July to pitch out of the bullpen and was effective until making a spot start on Aug. 11 in place of Aaron Cook. Chacin lasted just 2 2/3 innings and walked six in the game. He returned to the minor leagues, this time to Triple-A, where he was 1-2 with a 3.77 ERA in four starts.
Murton was with the Rockies from late April until early June, when he was sent back to Triple-A to make room for Carlos Gonzalez on the roster. With the Rockies this season, Murton hit .267 with one home run and six RBI in 22 games. He rejoined the Rockies for one day in late August when Gonzalez and Dexter Fowler were both injured and the Rockies needed outfield depth. After a game with the Rockies during which he didn’t play, Murton was returned to Colorado Springs.
Belisle joined the Rockies in early April to pitch out of the bullpen. He was 1-1 with an 8.35 ERA before being designated for assignment in late May when the Rockies added Juan Rincon. Belisle returned to the Rockies briefly in July when Alan Embree was injured. He made one appearance before being sent out again when Manny Corpas was activated from the disabled list.
The 28-year-old McCoy, who played the infield and outfield for the Sky Sox, is on a major-league roster for the first time in his career. He hit .307 with 40 stolen bases at Colorado Springs.
The make room for Belisle and McCoy on the 40-man roster, the pitcher Adam Eaton was designated for assignment and former first-round pick Chris Nelson was recalled and placed on the 60-day disabled list.
Nice that they waited for the AAA season to be over, unlike some major league squads.
On another note, does anybody know what the deal with Jeff Francis is? They’ve said time and time again that he will not return this year, but based on the limited updates I’ve read, it seems like they’re still secretly hoping to get him back, without drawing any attention to it.
I have no inside knowledge on the Francis situation but my assumption would be that they are just taking the appropriate rehab steps in hopes he’ll be full strength come March 1st, 2010.
Even if they were a chance he could come back and contribute a few innings, I don’t think it’s worth risking his future to squeeze those innings out of him now. I’m 1,000% sure the team feels that way as well.
Nice to see Murton back up here. I’m sure he’ll get a big hit or two in the next three weeks. Love his bat.
Why not Matt Miller, after the year he’s had?
Do the Rockies have a humidor installed in Colo Springs with the Sky Sox to help our AAA players making the adjustment to the Coors Field humidor? It seems to me, it would be an asset, and a huge assist, in evaluating talent coming up through the system, especially considering how well the balls fly in Colo Springs. Besides, it seems like the balls they’re using down there would shrink like they had been doing before the humidor. Probably would help the pitchers get a better grip on the ball.
Would of been nice to reward Miller and Colonel, how much more do they have to prove to get at least a cup of coffee in the bigs.
Miller had a great season, but he is not yet on the 40 and there is too much depth for him to get more than a looksee. McCoy probably benefited from his speed and of course the issues with the back of Tulo. He deserved it. At 28 the proverbial clock has ticked by, but next year there may be room (depending on what happens with Hawpe, Atkins and Q) for a new super utility guy. Maybe he can become a nice Jamie Carroll guy with speed. As for Francis, they have run out of places for him to go and pitch, so I assume he is just getting the arm ready for spring. I have read a lot of fans assuming his career is over, but even though labrum tears take more to get back from, he has worked hard, is smart and, best of all for him, a lefty! He certainly has the chance to still have a long and very good career, though probably as a John Tudor type rather than Frankie Viola.
It is my understanding from an interviw with O’Dowd on KOA is that the humidor is installed at COS, and will be in Tulsa, just to create equal situations across the farm systems. They dont need them in Ashville (already humid), not sure about Modesto though. It is past time to have the MLB mandate it for all teams (along wtih a consistent strike zone). It only makes sense.
Another great win just got over. Marquis now at 15 wins. Not bad for the cost of Vizcaino and $5 million. Now lets go Pads and DBacks and see if we can be closer to the division lead than the wild card followers.
Miller has a nice season, but in addition to what Christopher said about him not being on the roster, he’s also 26, and actually had a slightly lower OPS than Murton and Mark Bellhorn. Unfortunately, you can’t reward everyone with a callup.
Christian Colonel actually had a poor season with the bat.
I agree with Doug that Matt Miller had the type of year at AAA that would have typically warranted a call up, but Dr. Christopher is probably right in his explanation as to why he wasn’t called up.
Going back to one of the other discussions on this blog, having Murton and Miller certainly gives the Rockies some options if the opportunity arises to trade either Hawpe or Spilly in the off-season for a player who can’t be passed up (presumably, a starting pitcher, given the likely loss of Marquis and questions about Francis). With CarGo, Smith, and Fowler, and even EY getting some time in the outfield, we already have the makings of an outfield that could be great for a long time.
Tell me, since I don’t know, they added 4 players, 2 of which they “purchased the contracts”. Why did they purchase contracts? What is the difference between the first two players they recalled and those that they purchased the contracts? Thanks.
McCoy & Belisle weren’t on the 40 man roster. Their contract had to be ‘purchased’ in order to add them to the 40-man roster.
I am interested to see if these call-ups limit EY Jr’s role to primarily a pinch runner late in games.
Is McCoy a better defender than EY or on par with Q? If not I would think he is limited to the bench and occasional pinch running duties the rest of the way. With EY’s performance last night I would think he gets run back out there until Tulo is healthy again and late in the game Q comes in again for defense.
Matt Miller’s season was nice, but we shouldn’t exaggerate–it wasn’t a great season given the hitting environment. He hit .319 with 9 HR and a .476 slugging pct. In the PCL, at Colorado Springs. It’s not a huge accomplishment. This was his age 26 season, meaning he’s old for a prospect.
Miller was outslugged by Matt Murton (decent player, but career MLB slugging pct of .438) and Mark Bellhorn (who can’t land a MLB job).
Here’s some career “slash” lines (BA/OBP/SLG) w/the Sky Sox, along with the seasonal age in which most of the PA were accumulated:
Miller .322/.386/.465 in 761 PA, most in age 25-26 seasons
Quintanilla .305/.372/.437 in 890 PA, age 24-25
Barmes .302/.352/.449 in 1619 PA, age 24-25, 28
Spilborghs .334/.403/.508 in 740 PA, age 25-26
Baker .299/.358/.503 in 840 PA, age 24-25
Stewart .295/.376/.528 in 772 PA, age 22-23
Smith .319/.398/.526 in 808 PA, age 24-25
Hawpe .326/.392/.654 in 434 PA, age 25
Sullivan .300/.356/.431 in 647 PA, age 27-28
Gonzalez .339/.418/.630 in 223 PA, age 23
Koshansky .297/.380/.542, age 25-26. (Hit .218/.316/.435 at Nashville this season)
The guys who’ve hit enough to start in corner OF spots in the majors did better than Miller, and at a younger age. Even Spilly, who’s comparable age-wise, hit better.
Ignoring age, Miller’s been about halfway between the Spilly on he one side, and Q, Barmes and Sullivan on the other.
McCoy the past 5 years couldn’t hit over the “medoza line” and has a career year and here he is. Not to mention Belisle, I guess he will be used in “blow out” games.
Yes McCoys is much better on defence can play SS as well.