The Rockies’ hierarchy is facing tough decisions about which players will join the big-league team Tuesday when the 25-player major-league roster limit is lifted. The Rockies are trying to balance the Sky Sox competing for postseason play and helping the big-league team down the stretch.
“Helping the big-league club is the primary consideration,” said Bill Geivett, the Rockies’ vice president of baseball operations. “First and foremost will be the selection of players who we think could help us in the pennant race.”
Marc Gustafson, Rockies director of player development, said Geivett is correct, but also noted the franchise’s responsibility to reward players who have posted good seasons.
“In player development, you absolutely like to reward the players who have had good seasons with some exposure to the big leagues,” he said.
The minor-league playoffs get underway in two weeks, and the Sky Sox are in contention to make the Triple-A Pacific Coast League’s postseason. Their seven-game lead has plummeted to 2 1/2 games in the past 10 days.
The Sky Sox were hit last week when the Rockies called up Eric Young Jr., who came north with 118 runs scored, 141 hits and 58 stolen bases for the Sky Sox. And the Sky Sox pitching staff was juggled with the loss of relievers Juan Rincon and Matt Herges to the Rockies. Adam Eaton, however, returned from the Rockies’ bullpen to the Sky Sox rotation.
The Rockies have stockpiled veteran slugger Jason Giambi and pitcher Russ Ortiz in Colorado Springs to get them ready for help in September. Giambi should provide the Rockies with a coveted left-handed bat off the bench. Ortiz allowed three hits and a run in his first appearance, covering four innings. The Rockies probably need a few more outings before determining whether Ortiz could be a potential fifth starter in the rotation.
Either Paul Phillips or Edwin Bellorin could fill the need for a third catcher for the playoff run. Phillips made points with the Rockies when he more than adequately filled in for an injured Chris Iannetta, hitting .310 in 42 at-bats over 13 games earlier this season.
Outfielder Matt Miller and right-handed pitcher Brandon Hynick could be rewarded for their seasons. If the Rockies weren’t in the playoff hunt, both would be sure bets to spend September in a Rockies uniform. Miller has been the top hitter in the farm system, hitting .320 or better all season. However, he’d be pressed to find playing time in a crowded Rockies outfield.
Hynick has won 10 games in his first year in Triple-A, and one of the victories was a seven-inning perfect game. But he might not be ready to handle the pressures of a pennant race.
The Sky Sox playoffs go through Sept. 22.
Footnotes.
The Sky Sox have used 32 pitchers this season. First baseman Kenny Perez was pressed into pitching duty last week. He retired six of seven hitters with no damage in a 10-2 loss to Salt Lake City.
The Rockies’ farm system could be busy in the postseason. Tulsa is tied for first place with Northwest Arkansas with 10 games to go in the Double-A Texas League. Modesto is within reach of second place or a wild-card berth in the Single-A California League. Asheville is ahead by three games with 10 to go in the Southern Division of the South Atlantic League, and Tri-City has a seven-game lead with 10 games to go in the short-season, Single-A Northwest League.
Minor-league spotlight
Kiel Roling, 1B, Asheville
First baseman Roling is learning some of the nuances of baseball in his second year in the Rockies’ farm system. As he closes in on the batting title in the Single-A South Atlantic League, he is learning the value of having another threat in the lineup. In a 10-game span, Roling, a sixth-round draft pick in 2008 out of Arizona State by way of Central (G.J.) High, went on a .375 hitting spree, with four home runs and 14 RBIs.
His .334 average leads the league. He also had 18 home runs and 61 RBIs heading into the weekend.Marc Gustafson, Rockies director of player development, provided a clue to Roling’s success.
“We moved Mike Zuanich from Tri-City to Asheville to get another bat in the lineup,” Gustafson said. “With another hitter in the lineup, it was more difficult to pitch around Roling.”
In 31 games at Asheville, Zuanich is hitting .366 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs.
Roling played at Casper last year in rookie league. He hit .344 in 18 games, with 11 of his 22 hits going for extra bases.
If Roling and teammates Jordan Pacheco and Scott Robinson maintain their 1, 2, 3 ranking in hitting, it will be only the second time in South Atlantic League history that the top three hitters in the league were from the same team.
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
Organizational leaders
(Through Thursday)
HITTING: (110 games) Matt Miller, Colorado Springs, .329; Scott Robinson, Asheville, .316.
RUNS: Mike McCoy, Colorado Springs, 95; Robinson, Asheville, 89.
HITS: Charles Blackmon, Modesto, 159; Miller, Colorado Springs, 157.
DOUBLES: Jason Van Kooten, Modesto, 42; Miller, Colorado Springs, 35.
TRIPLES: Miller, Colorado Springs, 7; Blackmon, Modesto, 7; Van Kooten, Modesto, 7; Maikol Gonzalez, Modesto, 7.
HOME RUNS: Ryan Harvey, Tulsa, 21; Kiel Roling, Asheville, 18.
RBIs: Miller, Colorado Springs, 93; Jordan Pacheco, Asheville, 77.
STOLEN BASES: Robinson, Asheville, 41; McCoy, Colorado Springs, 38.
PITCHING VICTORIES: Samuel Deduno, Tulsa, 12; Joey Williamson, Modesto/Tulsa, 12.
LOSSES: Keith Weiser, Tulsa, 14; Kenneth Durst, Modesto, 12.
SAVES: Craig Baker, Modesto, 32; Andrew Johnston, Tulsa, 31.
INNINGS: Cory Riordan, Modesto, 163 2/3; Brandon Durden, Modesto/Tulsa, 153 2/3.
WALKS: Deduno, Tulsa, 63; Durst, Modesto, 54.
STRIKEOUTS: Christian Friedrich, Asheville/Modesto, 154; Riordan, Modesto, 130.
ERA: (starters) Chris Balcom-Miller, Casper, 1.58; Friedrich, Asheville/Modesto, 2.10; (relievers) Charles Ruiz, Tri-City, 1.26; Matthew Reynolds, Modesto/Tulsa, 1.82.
