Rockies farm roundup: Pomeranz shines in Rockies debut
Triple-A Colorado Springs (L, 5-4 at New Orleans, box)
First baseman Jorge Cantu was 1-for-4 with a three-run home run. Center fielder Willy Taveras, left fielder Mike Paulk, second baseman Jesus Merchan and catcher Matt Pagnozzi each had two hits. Starting pitcher Billy Buckner allowed five runs in six innings. Jordan Pacheco played third base.
Double-A Tulsa (W, 6-0 vs. Midland, box)
Drew Pomeranz officially joined the Colorado Rockies organization to complete the Ubaldo Jimenez trade with Cleveland and quickly made an impact in front of General Manager Dan O’Dowd and Assistant General Manager Bill Geivett, both of whom were in attendance. Pomeranz carried a perfect game one out into the seventh inning. He allowed two hits, walked no one and struck out four in seven innings. Reliever Casey Weathers walked one and struck out two in two innings to complete the shutout. Shortstop Hector Gomez was 3-for-4, with a double, a triple and a home run, missing a cycle by only a single. He also scored three times. Center fielder Tim Wheeler was 2-for-4 with a double. First baseman Ben Paulsen was 1-for-3 with a double and three RBI.
High Class-A Modesto (W, 7-3 at Lancaster, box)
Third baseman Nolan Arenado was 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. First baseman Kiel Roling was 2-for-4 with a triple, a home run, two RBI and a run. Starting pitcher Parker Frazier allowed three runs in five innings.
Low Class-A Asheville (W, 5-2 at Savannah, box)
Starting pitcher Nick Schnaitmann allowed one run on seven hits, walked one and struck out three in seven innings. Second baseman Brett Tanos was 3-for-5 with a run. Center fielder Rafael Ortega was 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run and a stolen base.
Short-Season Class-A Tri-City (L, 7-6 at Boise, box)
Center fielder Brian Humphries was 3-for-5 with a triple and a run. Third baseman Jayson Langfels was 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and two runs scored. Starting pitcher Ben Alsup allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings.
Rookie Casper (L, 5-1 vs. Great Falls, box)
Shortstop Rosell Herrera was 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a stolen base. Starting pitcher Ben Hughes allowed five runs (four earned) in five innings.
Great outing for Pomeranz. What’s realistic for when Pomeranz is a regular in the Rockies rotation?
I’m guessing soon, very soon.
Nice outing by Pomeranz, but please folks let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This is only the kid’s 3rd or fourth outing above A ball. What’s the rush to get him to the majors? I personally would rather he spend the rest of the season with Tulsa, go to the instructional league, and then have the Rox send him to the Az. Fall League where he can get some good experience against the best up and coming prospects. Than see how he does during spring training.
He doesn’t need to be placed on the 40-man roster this winter, so why bring him up in Sept. and have him occuppy a roster spot that can be used on another player? I hope the front office looks at this sensibly and not decide to bring him up so they can further justify the Ubaldo trade. White on the other hand is already on the MLB roster (60 day) since he was already brought up by the Indians earlier, so there’s no problem getting a good look at him in the near future.
Pomeranz and Alex White are both expected to join the Rockies rotation by September. The argument for bringing up Pomeranz this year would be that the Rockies would like both he and White to be in the rotation to start the 2012 season, so seeing him face major-league hitters now rather than prospects would give them a chance to see how likely that is.
I understand the Rockies wanting to get a feel for him but I also would not be in any rush. White and Gardner I have no problem with.
The reality is that without Pomeranz and White in the rotation, the Rockies won’t contend in 2012. O’Dowd made the deal under the assumption that they would be contributing to the big-league club next year. Whether or not that’s the case is a different story, but if that weren’t the plan then the deal wouldn’t have gone through. Them pitching in September should help prepare them for that, so bringing them up makes perfect sense.
There’s also the question as to how much more they can learn in the minors. Obviously they’re both very young, so who knows. But Pomeranz especially has been described by everyone as already very polished – in other words, not much to work on short of facing live bullets and seeing what happens.
Jon
Pomeranz is probably more ready for MLB than White and Gardner.
have to agree with us who want to take it slow with Pomeranz. Other than allowing him some big league experience, will it really make a difference in his preparation for 2012? Now if we make that late run as in 2007 where Ubaldo and Morales were instumental in the team’s success….. Just want to be cautious.
but pumped on his debut!!!
Well instead of facing big league hitters for the first time next year he can face big league hitters for the first time this year. I think it would make a difference.
ego…once again you are spot on.
Let’s see what the “newbies” bring to the table. The Rockies and the fans are not out a darn thing if they are allowed to showcase their expected talent.
Four or five(6?)starts is all the two would expect to pitch. That will give us a barometer of what may be in store(good or bad)for the beginning of the 2012 season.
Let’s get a look at them.
It will certainly energize ITR posters, one way or another, as we prepare for a VERY long fall and winter.
Good points all, but we may be thinking as “fans” when we say we want to see Pomeranz up this year for a few starts. If you put your GM hats on and think this through, you may see the down side of bringing him up this season- adding him prematurely to the 40-man roster and it starts his arbitration clock ticking. After all, this is a business and the wishes of the fans don’t always coincide with the business side of things.
DanO is already on record saying both of these guys should see MLB action unless they take some steps back, so I expect to see them in Septembeer.
Ego and Ed, I agree, we need to see what these guys will bring to the ballpark. As we have learned the hard way, it’s nice to see potential in the spring, but it means Jack ____ in the season. We need to see what these guys can do at the MLB level.
Has been a very hard season, would like for us to have some hope to cling to, and not potential, going into next year.
If you’re ready bring them up. I believe Tim Lincecum and Clayton Kershaw were up in less than two years
Pomeranz has had a light innings load this year, so with the minor league seasons ending around Labor Day, I see no good reason not to give him a few starts for the big club. White, of course, has thrown even less. If Gardner is going to be working out of the pen, I’d like to get a look at him as well. And heck, with Mike Jacobs out of the way I guess the path to AAA is clear for the McBride kid too. I’m all for taking a look at all of ‘em. Who would you rather see, Kevin Millwood, J.C. Romero, and Jorge Cantu?
Put me in the camp of bring them up. There are a few players that should have been brought up earlier than they were and have suffered because of it. I want them to get that taste and hunger going now for 2012.
I’d like to see the Rockies play a four-game exibition series against the Tulsa Drillers. I think the Drillers would probably win, with Pomeranz, White, Wheeler, Friedrich and Rosario the Drillers might be the most talented minor league club out there. Nice work so far from all the players involded in the Ublado trade. White, Gardner, Pomeranz and McBride all look pretty good.
Alex White tonight- 7.2 innings, 0 runs, 3 hits, 4 Ks, & 1 BB.
Take that Pomeranz!
And if Pomeranz gets shelled? Is he mentally tough to deal with it or will it set him back? Apparently Cleveland didn’t think he was more ready and was not rushing.
Rockpile I certainly understand your enthusiasm but do you really think Tulsa would win a 4 game series? Seriously? I think the Rockies would T off on Friedrich.
Considering that Pomeranz reached Double-A with Cleveland in his first professional season, I think by definition the Indians were rushing him. He almost certainly would have been called up in September. In my book, if Pomeranz isn’t mentally tough enough to handle a couple rough starts in September, then the Jimenez trade is probably already a bust. That said, all reports about Pomeranz’s suggest he is not exactly a delicate flower on the mound.
Funny about Tulsa vs. the Rockies, specifically Friedrich. Who remembers this game?
turns out that was more indicative of the rocks season vs Friedrich’s season.
Without even looking that’s the final preseason tuneup before the first regular season game – Friedrich dominated the “unfocused” Rockies hitters that day. And yep that was a sign of the Rockies lineup to come in 2011.
How quickly we forget