Rockies farm roundup: Rutledge stays hot for Modesto
Triple-A Colorado Springs (L, 10-3 vs. Memphis, box)
Left fielder Mike Paulk was 2-for-5 with a run. Shortstop Radames Nazario was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Starting pitcher Billy Buckner allowed eight runs (three earned) in six innings.
Double-A Tulsa
(Game 1, L, 9-3 vs. Springfield, 7 innings box)
Starting pitcher Christian Friedrich struggled for a second consecutive start, allowing eight runs in three innings. Second baseman Thomas Field was 2-for-4 with a solo home run. Catcher Wilin Rosario was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Adam Jorgensen pitched three scoreless innings in relief.
(Game 2 W, 4-1 vs. Springfield, 7 innings, box)
Starting pitcher Rob Scahill allowed one run on eight hits and two walks in seven innings. Field was 2-for-3 with a home run — his second in the double-header — and two runs. Right fielder Brian Rike was 3-for-3. Left fielder Mike Mitchell was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
High Class-A Modesto (W, 6-3 vs. High Desert, box)
Shortstop Josh Rutledge was 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and three runs. Rutledge, who had his 27-game hitting streak snapped Thursday, is 5-for-8 in two games since then and has multihit games in five of his past six. After hitting .448 in July, he’s hitting .480 in August. Third baseman Nolan Arenado was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Second baseman Angelys Nina was 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. Starting pitcher Alan DeRatt allowed two runs in six innings.
Low Class-A Asheville (L, 16-6 vs. Hickory, box)
Third baseman Joey Wong was 2-for-2 with a double, three RBI and a run. Center fielder Rafael Ortega drove in two. Starting pitcher Peter Tago allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Short-Season Class-A Tri-City (W, 2-0 vs. Boise, box)
Starting pitcher Benjamin Alsup allowed five fits, walked one and struck out two in six innings. Shortstop Taylor Featherston was 1-for-2 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. Designated hitter David Hernandez doubled and drove in the Dust Devils’ other run.
Rookie Casper (W, 8-2 vs. Idaho Falls, box)
Starting pitcher Alex Gillingham allowed two hits, walked two and struck out three in six scoreless innings. Infielder Samuel Mende was 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run. Center fielder David Kandilas was 2-for-5 with an RBI, a run and a stolen base.
I know it is easy to be negative right now. But you look at what Rutledge and Arendo are doing in High-A, and you start to think by 2013 these guys could be the next round of reinforcements. As I have said before, our last round of Rockies hereos were not #1s, but guys 3-10 rounders. Add to that a guy like Blackmon (boy I hope the foot injury is not lingering), and build around Tulo and CarGo, and we wont be the 27 Yanks but in the era of mediocrity and parity, that could be enough to get to a WS and win it.
If we can get kids like these to perform at the bigs, then the next round of GenR will be special. It has to come quick because Tulo and CarGo are not going to be special forever.
With Friedrich not rising to the occasion, who is going to get plucked from the minor leagues to take Nicasio’s spot in the rotation? Could it possibly be Houston from Tulsa? (None of the AAA guys look like real options.) That would be something to start the year in high A and end it in the major leagues.
A quetion for Steve or Jack of ITR: With the signing deadline upcoming, does the move of Ubaldo (not so much this year but next) give the team financial flexibility to get all the guys they want signed? That #1 still sitting out there is making me nervous.