Rockies farm roundup: Wheeler hits 12th home run
Triple-A Colorado Springs (L, 12-9 vs. Omaha, box)
Center fielder Eric Young Jr. was 3-for-5 with a triple, two runs and a stolen base. It was the fifth multihit game for Young in his past six. Second baseman Brad Emaus was 3-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI. Left fielder Willy Taveras was 3-for-5 with a run and a stolen base. Designated hitter Eliezer Alfonzo homered. Right fielder Charlie Blackmon drove in two runs to bring his season total to 35, tied for tops in the organization. Reliever Matt Daley gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning. Rex Brothers walked one and struck out two in 1 1/3 innings.
Double-A Tulsa (L, 5-4 vs. NW Arkansas, box)
Center fielder Tim Wheeler was 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple and two RBI. The home run was his 12th, best in the organization and the RBI tied him with Blackmon. First baseman Ben Paulsen and catcher Wilin Rosario also homered. Starting pitcher Rob Scahill allowed two runs in seven innings. Scahill allowed just three hits, walked two and struck out four.
High Class-A Modesto (L, 7-4 at Bakersfield, box)
Starting pitcher Tyler Matzek allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings. Matzek gave up four hits, walked five and struck out five. Designated hitter Mike Zuanich was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI.
Low Class-A Asheville
Game 1 (L, 2-1 at Lexington, 7 innings, box)
Starting pitcher Joshua Mueller allowed two runs (one earned) in five innings. Center fielder Rafael Ortega has one of the Tourists’ three hits, walked, stole a base and scored a run.
Game 2 (W, 1-0 at Lexington, 7 innings, box)
Starting pitcher Edwar Cabrera struck out six in six shutout innings, but walked a season-high six. The six walks where more than Cabrera had allowed in his other eight starts this season combined. Shortstop Joey Wong was 2-for-3 and drove in the only run of the game.
What does Eric Young II have to do? The Rockies need his mojo! He’s owning AAA pitching right now, the Rockies have no presence at the top the lineup and EY, who can play 2nd, waits.
Thanks Michael!!! Where were you at yesterday when I was getting killed for saying that E.Y. Jr. needs to be called up? I bet he would have come through last night in the place of Amazaga.
It is looking more and more like the scouts and Rockies over estimated the skills and ability of Matzek. A 9.22 ERA in A ball is not going to make the people who paid a lot of money all warm and fuzzy.
You guys everyone is tearing up AAA. Ian Stewart tore it up in AAA. Just because you can hit in AAA doesn’t mean it will transfer to the Bigs. I say bring up Josh Fields to play 3B.
egossage, I would go along with that, but you would have to move Lopez 1st. And then do something with Giambi and bring up Blackmon. He could be LH off the bench and spell Dex in center.
Maybe he would or maybe he wouldn’t have come through. If you are going to use Amezaga as a reference, please remember, Amezaga was hitting .364 when he was called up.
Like Eric W points out. Even Stewart was hitting well (.361)
This team is going to have big highs and big lows. Being a fan is truly going to be a Rocky ride this year (pun intended). Enjoy the ride.
Paulino has one great value – someone needs to go when Cook is called back. If he goes now and Brothers comes up, who are you going to move then? Morales does have trade value (the Rockies have traded prospects for far worse — see Manny Delcarmon). But a trade is more likely in July than now. The Rocks need a versatile utility infielder like Amezega. Neither EY2 nor Fields can do that. So EY comes up either because Fowler gets injured, or Lopez goes. Lopez has some trade value in July. Not before.
So the decision is whether to release guys now with no return benefit because who they’ll get from AAA is that much better at the major league level, or stand pat. I’m guessing the staff in CO Springs has a better idea of how the skills there will play out in the majors than we do.
If it were me, I’d drop Paulino and Lopez right now. Bring up Brothers and Blackmon/EY, which allows Wiggington to stay in the infield. However, I don’t work for the Rockies.
DRH, all well and good, but I think you would bring up Daley to replace Paulino (right-handers) and not have 3 left-handers in the pen with the addition of Brothers.
We are used to seeing inflated offensive numbers as Colorado Springs, but not a Tulsa. Wheeler is putting up great numbers; he’s among the leaders in the Texas League in a number of categories. Could he be a Rockie as early as September or next year? Defensively, is he able to handle center field in Coors Field?
Bad proof reading: That first sentence was supposed to be: We are used to seeing inflated offensive numbers at Colorado Springs, but not at Tula.
Got a question. Is a humidor used in Colorado Springs for the AAA games?
Wayne,
You’re correct. My bad.
My understanding is that there is no humidor in the Springs.
DRH, to my knowledge you are correct. They do not have a humidor in CS. Probably the best way to judge AAA production is by looking at home/road splits since many of the road games are played at much lower levels with Albuquerque possibly the next highest elevation to CS.
No humidor at the Springs.
On Wheeler, he’s more likely a corner outfielder in the big leagues but center isn’t totally out of the question yet. He’s not on the 40-man roster and other players ahead of him like Charlie Blackmon and Rex Brothers aren’t on the 40-man either, which might mean too many roster moves to get a look at Wheeler this season. Unless there’s a legitimate chance Wheeler could make the team out of spring training this year, Rockies aren’t likely to add him and burn an option in 2012 just to see him for a handful of games this season.
Julian/Wayne–
Two things to look at when evaluating minor league stats: (1) league averages — is the Texas League a hitter friendly, pitcher friendly, or neutral league overall? (2) park factors – relative to the Texas League as a whole, is Tulsa a hitter’s park, pitcher’s park, or neutral? With respect to the second question: Tulsa is a relatively good HR park (1.13 HR park factor weighted ave over the last 3 years from Dan Szymborski), but relatively neutral for scoring overall. As far as league goes: Texas League has historically been somewhat hitter friendly compared to the other AA leagues, but not extreme. So even discounting a bit for those factors, Wheeler is off to a fantastic start. On the other hand the PCL has been ridiculously high scoring this year, and as usual the Springs is even more so. So we need to heavily discount those hitter’s numbers, and give more credit to what the pitchers are accomplishing than unadjusted stats would suggest (see EY 2. Fields, Blackmon, Nelson, and even Amezaga).
One name I’m really not hearing mentioned is Chris Nelson. I’d love to see what this kid can do. He can play both positions up the middle, and might be able to fill in at 3B (where we need the most help). We all know he was a high draft pick and had some trouble staying healthy at the beginning of his career. However, he’s put together a few injury free years with some good numbers, and had a brief cup of coffee in the bigs last year, so I’d really like to see what he can do. Ian Stewart had plenty of chances to succeed, but, as of right now, has not produced the way we’d hoped. I would like to see Nelson get some playing time to see if he could be a mainstay or not.
Yes, the PCL is a hitter’s league but EY II is not only spraying balls for average, he’s not striking out, he’s walking and stealing bags. That combination, not just the high average, is why he’s earned his way to Denver. Throw in that Jon Hererra, whom I respect, is a singles hitter only and the club needs EY’s help.
Blackmon, until he shows more power, is Seth Smith’s clone. Wheels could be more but let’s him prove it over time.
Nelson’s BA is .308 and his OBP is .343. Young’s BA is .373 and his OBP is .476. So, purely from an offensive standpoint, Young looks like the better player. (Of course, Young’s statistics are about the same as Stewart’s CS numbers, and we saw how that translated to the major leagues.) With Young’s speed, there’s no question that he can make a contribution at the major league level. The only question is where he plays in the field. Herrera’s defense and offense justify him being in the starting lineup 5 games a week. So, does that create a game a week when EY plays 2B, or is the conclusion of the team that EY should not play 2B, but should only play the outfield? If so, where in the outfield would he play, and how much?
Look at the bottom of the averages. Rockies need to do some house cleaning and give some of the kids a chance. I am from Seattle originally and cannot believe any team was willing to give Lopez a chance, especially with questionable work habits at best.