Rockies prospects get fall league off to swinging start
Colorado Rockies prospects Tim Wheeler, Nolan Arenado and Ben Paulsen each had two hits for the Salt River Rafters, who won their Arizona Fall League opener, 12-9.
Wheeler started in center and was 2-for-5 with a double, a walk two RBI and a run scored. Third baseman Arenado was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, an RBI and two runs. First baseman Paulsen was 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Reliever Casey Weathers allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Parker Frazier, allowed a hit in a scoreless inning and picked up the win. The other Rockies pitchers on the Salt River roster — right-handers Rob Scahill and Joe Gardner — did not appear in the game.
Sweet way to go Parker
Steve,
The last I heard, Casey Weathers was throwing in the mid to upper 90′s. However, his walks per 9 innings are ridiculously bad (almost Tyler Matzek before his “readjustment”). There is absolutely no future for Weathers unless he gets his walks under control. Have you heard any grumblings on his situation? I’d love to see him get some semblance of control and make it into our bullpen sometime. Thanks!
Walks have been Weathers’ problem for two years now – 70 in 76 innings in 2010 and 2011. It’s not a question of stuff, but he’s running out of time because he’s already on the 40-man roster and nowhere close to being major-league ready.
Very surprised to see Frazier in this group of Rockies prospects.
If your a Rockies scout , u should no the players. Frazier when healthy has won double digits. At both stops- I was happy for him , who would u send ?
Hey Rockies Scout you telling me that Weathers is a prospect? Take big look at his stats. I think Steve Foster hit the nail on the head. Just because a guy hard doesn’t make him a prospect.
I wouldn’t go so far as to write Weathers off as a prospect. He’s just a guy running out of time. However, players who are sent to the Arizona Fall League are prospects even if they are borderline. Tommy Field is a good example — emerged in 2010 as a borderline prospect and went to the AFL, where he held his own. Frazier and Weathers are both prospects, but the fall league is a big test for both.
Steve, I thought I heard Ian Stewart was going to the fall league, or was that the instructional league?
Stats don’t lie Steve. And if you think it will get better it won’t. A pitcher doesn’t just find the strike zone, He either can or can’t. And throwing 50/50 doesn’t measure up. He no fastball command.
I believe Stewart is going to play winter ball in Mexico.
Stats don’t lie, but they never tell the whole story in the minor leagues because the players are not finished products. It should be pretty clear from my first note above that I’m not very high on Weathers’ future right now, but to say he’s not a prospect at all ignores all the other data — good stuff, high strikeouts — in favor of only one number — walks. As you note, the issue is command. You can’t teach a guy to throw 98, but you can teach him how to control his pitches. Weathers’ problem in the past, as noted in the Baseball America’ scouting report of the Rockies’ Top 30 prospects before the 2011 season, is that he sometimes loses his balance on the back side of his motion. That’s correctable, but he is running out of time to correct it in the Rockies organization. That’s fine if you want to disregard him as a prospect — he really has done nothing to earn much faith at this point. But barring injury, he will probably pitch in the majors at some point in his career, and that makes him a prospect from where I’m sitting, just not the prospect the Rockies thought they were drafting.
Rock Star,
I would have sent Bettis. Easy call there. I know teams like to monitor a young starter’s innings bit he was getting stronger as the season went on. Supposedly threw 100mph one time this year close to the end of the season. Bettis over Frazier no question.
Frazier another good outing- two score less innings. Rox should be careful, alot of teams like Frazier as a rule 5 pick.
Well Steve how long has Weathers had his control problems, I’d say a good long time, so who is at fault here? 1, himself because he doesn’t have the aptitude to learn to throw strikes or 2, the people in player development can’t figure it out. I’m going with number 2.