Rockies farm roundup: Arenado homers twice for Nuts
Triple-A Colorado Springs (L, 12-5 vs. Omaha, box)
Right fielder Charlie Blackmon was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a double, the only extra base hit for the Sky Sox. Center fielder Eric Young Jr. was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs. Starting pitcher Greg Reynolds allowed five runs in five innings. Reliever Rex Brothers walked one and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning. This was the 14th time in 17 appearances this season that Brothers has recorded at least two strikeouts, and he has had one strikeout in every game.
Double-A Tulsa (L, 1-0 at Arkansas, box)
Starting pitcher Cory Riordan allowed one run on seven hits in six innings, He walked one and struck out six. Right fielder Brian Rike and catcher Lars Davis had the only two Drillers hits, both singles.
High Class-A Modesto (W, 22-2 at Bakersfield, box)
The Nuts capped a huge offensive day with 10-run ninth inning. Third baseman Nolan Arenado broke out of a slump — .152 (5-for-33) in his past 10 games — by going 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI. Every Nuts starter had at least two hits except Delta Cleary, who had one hit and three walks. Shortstop Josh Rutledge, designated hitter Mike Zuanich and right fielder Kent Matthes each had four hits. Zuanich drove in two runs and Matthes drove in three. First baseman Joe Sanders homered. Starting pitcher Nick Schaitmann allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings.
Low Class-A Asheville (Postponed)
It’s interesting that the first time Stewart was sent down the Sky Sox were playing in Tacoma and he showed up to play the very next day. He was sent back down on Friday and has yet to play this weekend. Did he go to Omaha thinking that’s where they were playing?
Rex Brothers has 35 strike outs in just 19 innings pitched. That’s almost 2 SO per innings. EYjr is hitting .363. These stats are becoming hard to ignore.
I don’t think that it’s long before we see Brothers and Young in purple. On another thread today someone wondered whether Brothers was being kept at CS to extend when he becomes a free agent. What is the date when, if he’s called up after that date, his free agency is extended for a year? At this point is there anything in particular that Brothers needs to work on at CS, or is he ready for the major leagues whenever the call comes?
I don’t think that there’s a question as to whether EY can hit at a major league level. It’s just getting him to a place where he can play defense in the major leagues. He probably can benefit from playing everyday at CS and getting the experience in the outfield before going to the Rockies.
I wonder whether at this point Nelson and Blackmon have fewer things to work on at CS than EY, and therefore whether one or both of them might get the call before EY does.
None of the starting pitchers at CS are making an argument for being ready for the major leagues. Nicasio may well get the call before any of them do.
Julian, if Brothers is called up right now — and assuming he sticks — he’ll probably qualify for arbitration as a “super 2″ after the 2013 season. There’s no set date for super 2 eligibility; the union contract says that players with a minimum of 3 full years are arbitration eligible, plus something like the highest 28 percent of other players. Typically the cut off has been around the beginning of June. So it’s possible that they’ve been waiting for that date to come around.
However, with a non-closer reliever, that’s not likely to translate into a huge earnings difference over the course of the years that the Rockies control him. If he earns the closer’s role (something that’s looking a whole lot more likely the way Street is going) we could be talking about a very significant total salary difference.
Up till now I think the perverse interest in holding onto the complete failure that is Franklin Morales has been the primary reason Brothers hasn’t been promoted. But that doesn’t really explain it anymore since Matt Reynolds could be optioned if O’Dowd just really can’t pull the trap door under Franklin’s cleats. So I’m thinking the Rockies are in fact playing the “Super 2″ waiting game with Brothers, and it’s starting to hurt the big team on a regular basis.
Agbayani, at least there’s a weak rationale for why Brothers hasn’t been moved up yet. In some ways the harder decision to justify is keeping Daley at AAA and keeping Paulino on the Rockies. Paulino was acquired to be a starter/long reliever. He’s not either right now, and as a situational righty he’s the least effective pitcher in the bullpen. So hopefully DOD will find a team who wants Paulino and will give us something in exchange for him, or Paulino will be part of a package of players whom we trade for another player.
Quick correction: Super 2 status goes to the highest 17% in service time (I said 28%).
It would foolish of Colorado to option Reynolds to AAA. He’s proven he’s a major league keeper. Morales has gone from elite (starting) prospect to fringe reliever. EY2 belongs in Denver, starting or splitting time at 2nd base with J. Herrera. Young can hit, steal a bag and hit at the top of the order. He’s what that lineup needs! Ridiculous he’s still in the Springs.
Brothers I would consider bringing up. I’d be 100 percent sold on him if his walks were fewer but as it is, he’s been a force and one that is very close.
Nelson doesn’t wow me at all. No pop. Decent average. So what.
Blackmon? Not yet. Maybe in September.
As I said in another post, aside from 3B, we have people at positions where slumps are happening, and this team just feels dead in the water. Maybe bringing up a Young (can someone tell me what Amezega adds to this team) or yes even a Blackmon is what we need to jump start things. At this point we have several veterans who are not pulling their weight – Spilly, Giambi, and Lopez come to mind. We all love Spilly, and he typically starts to hit about this time of the year, but is it time to give me a chance to start elsewhere via a trade? Giambi I assume is still with the team because interleauge is coming but aside from a good eye, what is he doing that a guy at AAA cannot bring to the table? And Lopez…I had high hopes for him, coming over here but he has not earned ABs. I would hope that DOD and Tracy understand that something has to be done to shake the team up and we are starting to amass some real talent at AAA and AA.
Can someone tell me how Eric Young Jr. has looked defensively in center field? Really anxious to see him on the big club.
Brothers and Daley need to be called up. I don’t care what you do with Morales and Paulino. Send them away for a bucket of baseballs.
I don’t see the big deal about Nelson. He’s no better than what we already have with the big league club.
EY is NOT a major leaguer. Use his over-rated AAA stats and trade him.
Pooter, this was Jack’s answer to that question a few days ago:
EY’s speed enables him to overcome some route/first step shortcomings in the OF. He’s doing fine there, although his arm obviously is not a plus. He could have a chance to be an average major league outfielder. He wasn’t/isn’t going to be major-league average at 2B.
Has it been noticed that Fowler’s average is now down to .245? With his strikeouts mounting, It seems to be on a downward trend the past few weeks. The Rox just cannot afford another struggling position in the order. That being said, I think it’s just a matter of time before EYjr is up with the big club. I’m not saying he should be the everyday CF, but just give Fowler an occasional breather. Tracy also needs to get away from his stubbornness of not using Cargo in CF & RF. If you have a versatile OFer, why not use him to the best of his ability. When EYjr comes up, why not put him in LF with Cargo moving to RF? Having EY & Fowler at the top of the order would add a new dimension to this lineup.
The Rockies need to make some decisions with the minor league guys. It seems like they’re all playing great. So either their value is at a high point and they need to be traded or some guys on the big club need to be traded so these guys can move up.
It does no good to have all this depth raking in AAA and AA, meanwhile the Rockies are choking. Are we playing for this year and next or 2013?
Hey Steve-
Davis is hitting .310 in only 12 games in Tulsa while Rosario has been up and down there. Any chance we see those two splitting time now or at least Davis getting some more ABs?
Rosario is the starter and arguably the Rockies’ top prospect right now. Davis will see time only when Rosario needs a break and either rests or is the DH. Davis has a chance to be a backup catcher and is having a good season so far, but as long as Rosario is at Tulsa, Davis will see limited playing time.
Thanks for the info Steve. Egossage, you are on my list of I TOLD YOU SO. Just wait man, he is the missing piece this team desperately needs.
My all deadwood fantasy team for 2011:
Amezega
Paulino
Stewart
Morales
Jose Lopez
Spilly(sorry, you make funny comercials, but still)
Giambi(past your use by date, you seem to be barely more than a team mascot nowadays, sorry, but can we still be friends?)
Esmil Rogers(on the bubble, crossing fingers)
Jim Tracy (the deadwood team needs a manager:)
seems like plenty of choices here to make room for EY2, Brothers, Daley, etc… I know it won’t happen, but still fun to daydream a little.
Sorry I am with Egossage, so put me on the list too. Time to trade EY while value is as high as it’s going to get. I don’t doubt his speed, but he lacks in exectution at the major league level, see multiple times picked off. I wish him well, but I would be glad to see them trade EY and some others for some player(s) that executes at a major league level.
Execution of current players and not EY is what is missing with the Rockies right now.
Karl and egossage, I’m with you both on this also. Pooter you can put me on your list also. While I like his speed, his enthusiasm leads to too many over zealous mistakes. And it is yet to be proven that he can get on base at the MLB level. He already has proven he is average at best defensively.
What’s needed is table setters on base causing havoc. Fowler is the lynch pin and is not getting it done. His strike outs and avg are getting worse. Shared time in center and second would give the incumbents needed rest and the Rockies the spark they so desperatly need.
EYjr know.
Steve Foster, do you know if the Rockies asked Stewart if he wanted to be traded? Maybe it just part of the conversation with Mr. O’Dowd? Sounds to me like he wants to stay with the Rockies.
I’m guessing the biggest reason the Rockies haven’t made any move YET with Morales or Paulino is because inspite of their recent woes they are still only 1.5 out. They still have a reasonable window to work with.
Sorry guys, getting picked off a few times when you are a raw rookie who’s made his case by being a speed guy is NOT a demonstration of if he can be a major league player.
Enthusiasm is good. It’s contagious. I’d rather have a guy fail trying that fail not trying. (see Ian Stewart – called 3rd strike)
I’m not sold on EYJr as a Rock yet. But I don’t think he’s been proven either way. I think EY needs to work on defense, but if he’s average in the outfield (left), and can hit and run, I’ll take him.
I’m also not sold on EYjr. Does anyone really want to see him learning to play the outfield in Coors? His AVG. may be .363 BUT doesn’t he also lead the team with the most errors?
If we are going to use the AVG. lets not forget Amezaga was hitting .364 when he was called up. Hec, even Stewart was hitting .361.
I’m just sayin.
Actually his Rookie year he could steal bases. It’s the years after that he’s struggled with all the pick-offs. Also, I wouldn’t pay much attention to AAA batting averages (especially in Colorado Springs). EY is not the answer. I’d rather the Rockies bring up Josh Fields.
Mike, I agree. But the offense at coors needs a spark. Dante always led us in errors, but we scored with him. Holliday is an average outfielder too. You learn to live with defensive lapses when guys can get on and score. Put EYjr in left, move Cargo to right and see what happens. yeah, we’ll see errors. But I’d like to see a leadoff get on and not strike out to open games, and maybe someone, somewhere hit for average.
When’s the last time you saw a HR from this team with anyone on base? Offense is this teams weakness. You didn’t get errors with Barmes or Stewart at 2nd and 3rd, but you wont get any scoring from them either. I love defense, it helps pitching, but it has to be balanced.
egossage, I’d rather they get Josh Hamilton. But I digress. :)
My list is getting very long! I don’t think the guy has been given enough of an opportunity to show he can execute at the major league level. You could have said the same thing about Carlos Gonzales a few years ago. I’m tired of talking about it, hopefully you all will see very soon.
Egossage,
Sorry, I’m confused. Ey’s rookie year (2009) he was 4 SB, and 4 CS for the rockies. (And yes, I was there when he was picked off on his first onbase at coors) but in 2010 he stole 17 and cs of 6. So he got better his 2nd year on the bases. His caught stealing stats have gone down EVERY year at every level (rookie ball to present). So the stats don’t support your statement. What am I missing?
2010 was EY’s official Rookie year. He did not have enough ABs in 2009 to qualify as a Rookie. The minors are A LOT different from MLB. Take a look at Ian Stewart’s minor league numbers.
EY is NOT a major leaguer. Pooter if you’re right I’ll buy you a beer at a game. If I’m right you buy me and everyone on your list a beer. Deal???
Also Special Ed,
No one here is talking about CS. We’re talking about getting picked off which he does a lot.
Deal! I will bring a 30 pack of Natty Light to the parking lot :)
Alright Pooter it’s a deal. I hope you’re right, for the Rockies sake.