There’s safety in numbers.
Pitching coach Butch Hughes at Modesto, the Rockies’ affiliate in the Single-A California League, takes the numbers approach in gauging chances Colorado might have a closer developing in the farm system.
Jim Miller, Modesto’s closer, could be the leading candidate based on this year’s performance with an organization-leading 21 saves. P.J. Bevis is right behind with 18 at Tulsa. And even though he’s having an off year, remember that Ryan Speier had a career year last season with 37 saves at Tulsa. He has five this year for the Sky Sox, but has been injured much of the time since moving down from the Rockies early in the season. Speier has 66 saves in five seasons in the Rockies farm system.
“There are three to choose from, and they’re all pretty darn good,” Hughes said.
But there could be more than three, depending on the player development department’s wishes for Juan Morillo, who has made 65 starts in five seasons in the Rockies organization, including 18 this year with Asheville and Modesto. Morillo also leads the organization in strikeouts with 98 and his sizzling fastball could lead him into the closer’s role down the line. But Hughes and Bo McLaughlin, pitching coach at Tulsa, aren’t into speculating. They think the three listed closers are interesting enough.
“All three have the right mentality,” McLaughlin said. “They want to get three outs the fastest way they can. They just go right after the hitters.”
Speier and Bevis utilize sidearm deliveries while Miller throws more from the top.
The Rockies know more about Speier and Miller. They signed Speier as a nondrafted free agent in 2001 out of Radford University in Virginia. His 37 saves last year set a record for Rockies farm-system players and made him an easy winner of the Rolaids Relief Man Award for all minor-league pitchers.
Miller was taken in the eighth round of the 2004 June draft out of the University of Louisiana-Monroe. His 17 saves last year at Tri-City earned him the Rolaids Relief Award for the Northwest League. He led the league in saves, appearances (34) and games finished (32).
“I tried to pattern myself after John Smoltz when he was the closer in Atlanta,” Miller said. “I’m trying to get into as many games as possible. Learning to change speeds with my slider has helped me quite a bit.”
Bevis is a newcomer, coming to the Rockies by way of Capalaba, Australia, the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets. His 18 saves already represent a career high; his previous best of 14 came last year while at Norfolk and Binghamton in the Mets organization. Although a starter in his first three seasons, Bevis has a total of 63 saves in eight minor-league seasons.
Miller leads the trio in strikeouts with 58 in 39 2/3 innings. Bevis has posted a 2.91 ERA in 34 innings. Speier has 28 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings and the fewest walks with eight.
“I’ve seen them all,” Hughes said. “They all have the makeup and they all have the stuff. I think Miller could be more of a two-inning pitcher, but all three could be a closer in the big leagues some day.”
