Rockies farm roundup: Matzek gets first win of season
Triple-A Colorado Springs (W, 6-5 at Tucson, box)
Infielder Chris Nelson was a late scratch in the Sky Sox lineup, suggesting he may on his way to join the Rockies to take Jason Giambi‘s spot on the roster. Second baseman Alfredo Amezaga was 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and a run. Starting pitcher Alan Johnson allowed four runs in seven innings.
Double-A Tulsa (L, 10-1 at NW Arkansas, box)
Starting pitcher Christian Friedrich allowed nine runs in 2 1/3 innings. Second baseman Thomas Field was 2-for-4 with a double.
High Class-A Modesto (Did not play)
Low Class-A Asheville
(Game 1, W, 12-4 vs. Greensboro, seven innings box)
Starting pitcher Tyler Matzek won for the first time in 15 starts this season, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks and striking out eight in five innings. Kyle Parker was 1-for-1 with a solo home run, two walks and three runs scored. Shortstop Joey Wong was 3-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run.
(Game 2, L, 5-3 vs. Greensboro, seven innings, box)
Center fielder Rafael Ortega was 1-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. Shortstop Cristhian Adames was 2-for-3 with a double and a run. Starting pitcher Nick Schnaitmann allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Short-Season Class-A Tri-City (W, 6-3 at Yakima, box)
Starting pitcher Tyler Gagnon allowed five hits, walked one and struck out four in six scoreless innings. In his past three starts, Gagnon, a 15th-round pick in 2009, has alllowed just one run on eight hits, walked six and struck out 11 in 18 innings. Center fielder Brian Humphries was 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run.
Rookie Casper (W, 13-7 at Helena, box)
Shortstop Trevor Story was 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI. Center fielder David Kandilas was 4-for-6 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Six Ghosts hitters had at least two hits. Starting pitcher Alex Gillingham allowed four runs (three earned) in five innings.
According to Asheville’s radio guy, Matzek was hitting 97mph at the end there.
Well thats better than the phenom in Tulsa
Maybe the Rockies didn’t screw Matzek up beyond repair after all. Rockies fans need any little bit of good new that we can get.
You have to wonder about the developmental staff in the minors when so many guys are flailing at the big league level and your top prospect has to leave the team to regain his form…
That good Matzek start is the best news we’ve had in Rockiesland for quite some time.
Friedrich is, sadly, approaching marginal prospect level. Given how little he pitched last year I’m guessing they shut him down after the minor league season and he doesn’t even get a September call-up.
why is joshua slaats going unnoticed on ITR? he was 1-1 in 9 starts for ashville, now he’s 6-1 in 14 starts and named sally league pitcher of the week.
Obviously a terrible outing for Friedrichs. Overall, has he shown anything that indicates that he might have a spot in the Rockies’ rotation in a year or two (even as a #4 or a #5 would be OK), or is he going to be a bust?
We need to find a young starting pitcher or 2 via trade this trade deadline. Why are the Rockies talking to the Reds about a catcher? I thought that we have our future catcher at Tulsa (although he is only hitting in the .250s).
If I could get a #1 pick (15 overall) catcher whose considered the best prospect in the Reds farm system, I’d find a way to make that work. He’s hitting .308 w/10 HRs and 57 RBI.
Here’s the brief report off the Reds’ page:
He can hit for average and power, and his plus arm allows him to shut down a running game. After his breakout 2010, which saw him play at three levels, he’s in Triple-A working on his overall catching game, but don’t be surprised to see him in Cincinnati at some point this year.
If, indeed, Iannetta is on the block, Devin Mesoraco would be a good one to grab. And if that includes Chapman and a couple more, I’d be hard-pressed to turn away from that deal.
The Rox catching prospects appear to be about 1 1/2 to 2 years away from contributing.
Still, an excellent 3b man with that kind of offensive potential (I hate that word) would be hard to pass on.
Great news for Matzek, and not just for the Rockies but for the kid. I am sure his confidence had hit rock bottom earlier this year. The Rox did the right thing by not only downgrading him but pulling if out of active baseball work. It may slow down the speed he gets to the bigs, but he now had a chance to make that talent come together.