Rockies farm roundup: Matzek again solid at Asheville
Triple-A Colorado Springs (L 6-5 vs. Salt Lake, box)
Left fielder Ryan Spilborghs was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Outfielder Scott Beerer was 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home runs and two runs scored. Starting pitcher Greg Reynolds allowed five runs and struck out eight in six innings.
Double-A Tulsa (L, 6-2 vs. Frisco, box)
Catcher Wilin Rosario hit a solo home run, his 19th and the third homer in his past five games. Second baseman Thomas Field had two hits. Starting pitcher Rob Scahill allowed three runs (one earned) in six innings. Reliever Casey Weathers allowed three runs and walked the first three batters in both the seventh and eighth innings.
High Class-A Modesto (W, 6-1 vs. Visalia, box)
Starting pitcher Chad Bettis allowed one run on three hits, walked no one and struck out three in five innings while picking up his 12th win. Right fielder David Christensen and left fielder Eliezer Mesa each had two hits. Nolan Arenado had a pinch-hit double and drove in three runs.
Low Class-A Asheville (W, 13-5 vs. Rome, box)
Starting pitcher Tyler Matzek allowed four runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out nine in seven innings. It was the fourth straight start for Matzek in which he has pitched at least six innings and the third start in his past four that he pitched seven. Left fielder Corey Dickerson was 3-for-5 wtih a triple, a home run, four RBI and two runs. Second baseman Brett Tanos was 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, two RBI and three runs scored. Center fielder Avery Barnes and third baseman Joey Wong also homered. Right fielder Kyle Parker drove in his 90th run.
Short-Season Class-A Tri-City (L, 1-0 vs. Spokane, box)
Starting pitcher Tyler Gagnon allowed one run on two hits, walked three and struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings. The Dust Devils produced just four hits, including one by pinch-hitter Tyler Massey, who has a 10-game hitting stream.
Rookie Casper
(Game 1, L, 10-6 vs. Billings, box)
Third baseman Samuel Mende was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and two stolen bases. Designated hitter Rosell Herrera and right fielder Julian Yan each doubled and drove in two runs. Starting pitcher Daniel Winkler allowed four runs in four innings.
(Game 2, W, 7-4 vs. Billings, box)
Herrera was 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBI an two runs. Designated hitter Trevor Story and right fielder Carl Thomore each hit a solo home run and scored twice. Starting pitcher Alving Mejias allowed four runs (three earned) in four innings.
Why did Bettis just pitch 5 innings? He just faced 17 hitters, so I can’t imeagine that his pitch count got that high. With Pomeranz out, White going to the major leagues, and Williamson in CS, might Bettis be going to Tulsa?
What’s with Wheeler? He seems to be in quite a slump.
Ian Stewart has been MIA for several games. I wonder if a trade is up.
Julian,
There’s a good chance Williamson is headed back to Tulsa when Edgar Gonzalez is activated today.
What I would like to know from the ITR guys is this: what is the plan for Matzek this fall and next year? Does he go to the all important fall league? And with the need for pitching having been helped by the Ubaldo trade, does he go back to Modesto to erase the memories this spring or has he shown enough to maybe go all the way to Tulsa?
I hope the Rockies followed my advice and sent Ian Stewart home. Have him play some winter ball and see him in the spring. As down as I am on him, I say let him clear his head and try to win the starting role next year. If he falls flat on his face again, adios.
Thistle and Prog,
Stewart is suffering from a wrist injury. He has not been sent home.
Who is Greg Stanwood and why does he know and have such useful info?
I’m with Prog on letting him sit. When I don’t swing a golf club for a month, I can usually hit it better than when I left off (although that’s not saying much, so not a perfect analogy).
I think Ian needs to forget everything running through his head when he’s at the plate and just let his obvious talent take over. Maybe it will then stick.
Greg Stanwood is one of the writers on Purple Row. I believe he also maintains the rockiesroster website. He might also do radio shows on Rockies for Purple Row. He is one of most knowledgeable fans who is not an organization insider. Sort of like a amateur version of Rockies columnists with aspirations for a professional future.
Thanks RMH. I have never been to the purple row site. Might need to try it out.
Is Garner also injured? I haven’t noticed him in the CS box scores.
I thought the best stat from the Matzek line was only 2 BB in seven innings. If he keeps up a 4/1 K to BB ratio while throwing 95+ from the left side, he will be in Denver by next September. As an aside, what is up with Parker still in low-A? Shouldn’t he have moved up at least one class by now?
As Greg noted, Stewart has been injured as has Cole Garner.
On Bettis and the five innings, he has nothing left to prove at Modesto but not sure he’ll move up this close to end of the season. Bettis has had a heavy workload this year because he’s been healthy and pitched well. He has pitched 159 2/3 innings, which is a lot for a first full pro season, particularly a guy who was a reliever in college. Look for his innings to drop regardless of where he finishes the season.
On Matzek, highly unlikely he goes to the AFL. Usually only advanced prospects go there, and while Matzek has been much better recently he is still a long way from the majors. The walks were down Sunday but they have still been a problem. Seeing him in Denver before 2013 is a huge longshot. Three more lefties will be there before him: Pomeranz, Friedrich and Cabrera. As for who might go the AFL, the Rockies haven’t announced their players but I would expect Pomeranz to be among them simply so he can get some work in.
On Parker, I’m a little surprised that he hasn’t moved up a level, but not shocked. He’s played well, but this is first professional season and the first year in his recent athletic life that he has been just a baseball player. Not surprised that the Rockies would just give him a little stability and perhaps set him up to move quickly next season.
Thanks Steve for the update on Matzek. I didnt figure he would be here any sooner than 2013 at the earliest. Given that he had the long lay-off mid season, his inning totals are not high, so that is why I thought they might still think about AFL, plus to build off the momentum of this late season push. The walks are getting fewer while not giving up the Ks. He still has exciting stuff, though this year has shown some other issues aside from the walks (maturity and make-up in particular). I am sure he has not dropped from the managements long-term plans.
I’m going to pretend the first half of this season never happened for Matzek. That means we’ll say that his star has fallen considerably (he hasn’t dominated even having overcome his Steve Blass disease and even after dropping back to Low A ball), but that he’s still a very talented prospect with a likely major league future.
I’m guessing Beerer is a September call-up possibility. That would be great to see. Plus he could mop-up as a pitcher in a blowout situation.