When looking for pitching help for the Rockies’ staff, use the Tulsa Drillers of the Double-A Texas League as a reference point.
By checking some of the pitching records compiled at Double-A in the Rockies’ farm system during the last few years, it’s easy to find indications of pitching help in the future.
For example, Jeff Francis posted a 13-1 record with the Drillers in 2004 and was named minor-league player of the year. Last year, Greg Reynolds was off to a 4-1 start at Tulsa before a shoulder injury ended his season. He was named to the league’s midseason all-star team.
But even with Francis and Reynolds showing promise as starters, the pitchers filling the closer role for the Drillers have really been standouts.
Tulsa manager Stu Cole thinks he knows why.
“The pitchers know how close they are to the big leagues when they get to Double-A,” Cole said. “They want to step in and show the organization what they can do. I just mention it in passing to our closers that if we have the lead in the ninth, you’re the guy who is going to save it.”
The save numbers have been spectacular.
Ryan Speier, a member of the Rockies’ bullpen this season, led the Texas League with 37 saves in 2004. He struck out 70 and walked 35. He also had 18 saves the year before at Single-A Visalia in the California League.
Manny Corpas, the Rockies’ closer last year in their remarkable run to the National League pennant and the World Series, was prominent for the Drillers in 2006. Corpas earned 19 saves before moving up to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Right-hander Jim Miller, since traded away, took over for Corpas and collected 12 saves. Miller also had nine saves for Tulsa in 2005.
Last year, Steven Register, who had not collected a save in three previous seasons in the Rockies’ organization, took to the role as if he had owned it with 37 saves.
The New York Mets claimed Register in the Rule V draft in the offseason, but returned him to the Rockies. Register is closing for the Sky Sox and has three saves this season.
The pitching prospects have come to the Rockies with varied credentials.
Francis and Reynolds were first-round draft picks. Speier came to the Rockies out of Radford University in Virginia as an undrafted free agent in 2001.
Corpas joined the organization as an undrafted free agent in 1999. Register was a third-round pick in the 2004 June draft out of Auburn.
Casey Weathers, the Rockies’ top pick last June, is a pitcher to watch on this year’s Tulsa staff. Weathers has been slowed by tendinitis, but could gain the closer’s role in the next few weeks. He has a 1.42 ERA in 12 2/3 innings.
Warming up.
Third baseman Ian Stewart is on a tear for the Sky Sox. The Rockies’ first-round pick in the 2003 June draft leads the farm system in three categories and is tied for the lead in another.
After 121 at-bats, Stewart leads in runs with 28, in home runs with nine and in RBIs with 29. He’s tied for the lead in triples with three.
