Rockies farm roundup: Nelson keys Sky Sox rally
Triple-A Colorado Springs (W, 9-6 vs. Fresno, box)
Shortstop Chris Nelson capped a six-run eighth inning for the Sky Sox with a three-run double. Third baseman Brad Emaus drove in two runs and catcher Matt Pagnozzi drove in another in the eighth with singles. Center fielder Eric Young Jr. was 2-for-3 with a triple, walk and an RBI. Starting pitcher Greg Reynolds allowed six runs in 6 1/3 innings. The Sky Sox bullpen combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings and Jim Miller picked up his first save.
Double-A Tulsa (W, 4-2 vs. Arkansas, box)
Center fielder Tim Wheeler was 2-for-2 with two doubles, two walks, an RBI and his sixth stolen base. Right fielder Mike Daniel hit a two-run home run, his first of the season. Left fielder Scott Beerer was 1-for-3 with a double. In his past 10 games, Beerer is hitting .486 (17-for-35) with three doubles, three home runs and six RBI. Starting pitcher Rob Scahill allowed two earned runs on four hits and three walks in six innings to earn his second win.
High Class-A Modesto (W, 10-6 vs. High Desert, box)
The Nuts rallied from a 4-0 hole dug by starting pitcher Tyler Matzek in the top of the first inning. Matzek pitched just one inning and faced 10 batters, the first five of whom reached. He allowed three hits and walked four. First baseman Kiel Roling was 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Shortstop Josh Rutledge was 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI. Right fielder Kent Matthes also doubled twice.
Low Class-A Asheville (W, 10-2 vs. Delmarva, box)
Designated hitter Corey Dickerson was 4-for-4 with two solo home runs and three runs scored. Shortstop Joey Wong was also 4-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBI. Third baseman Helder Velazquez was 2-for-4 with a home run and five RBI. Center fielder Rafael Ortega added two hits. Reliever Josh Hungerman struck out six in four shutout innings to pick up the win.
The Rox paid a lot of money for a pitcher that is showing the scouts over rated him before the draft.
When will Nelson get a shot. Are the Rox waiting until DOD can find a partner to trade Lopez to?
Matzek: Ouch. I’ve been of the “just give him some time” school of thought, but this is so awful that the Rockies/Nuts can’t just keep throwing him out there every 5th day. He has some kind of Steve Blass disease now. Let’s hope it’s temporary. But what are the options? Drop him back to Asheville? To extended spring training to keep him out of games until he can consistently throw fastball strikes? To Tri-Cities when they start up? What’s to make anyone think he’ll be able to overcome these issues just by dropping him a level or two? I have to think that some coach/coaches have just messed with him too much and now he doesn’t know what he’s trying to do out there. Some kind of mental break is in order, but where?
How long do they stick with guys like Spillborgs and Lopez when the entire AAA roster is hitting?
I might be in minority, but until the COS AAA team gets a humidor, I don’t put that much weight in the Pacific Coast league stats. I know it looks great in box scores, but it’s like Coors Field circa 1995 stats coming from the Springs. Case in point, Mr. Ian Stewart and his ability to hit AAA pitching so well and not MLB pitching. Big difference.
True, the guys like Nelson, Blackmon and even EY deserve a shot, but I am not fully advocating their callups yet.
Wasn’t Matzek a pretty good hitter in highschool? I know that every pitcher in baseball probably also raked in HS, but maybe the guy should get some ABs in the OF at Class A and see if he should be converted? Still only 20 though. He has like 4 more years at least anyway.
I agree with Karl. I think Stewart pretty much proved AAA stats (especially BA) in Colo Spgs doesn’t really matter. EY Jr. won’t hit in the big leagues. That and he always gets picked off if he does get on base. I don’t really see the big deal about Nelson, sorry. Blackmon however excites me. I can’t wait to see him with the Rockies.