Sky Sox manager Stu Cole has learned to not get excited when his Triple-A team experiences peaks and valleys in the course of a season.
The Sky Sox have been riding some pretty big waves over the last couple of weeks. When the choppy water started, they were leading their division in the Pacific Coast League. Then came an eight-game losing streak on the road followed by a 5-2 homestand. The good news is they didn’t fall out of sight in the race and leveled off just four games back in the division.
From the time the losing streak began to the end of the homestand, the Sky Sox roster was hit by 20 transactions.
“You sort of get used to roster changes being at this level,” Cole said. “You can’t let that get in the way of what you’re trying to do. That’s what we’re here for.”
Cole, a manager in the Rockies’ farm system for 10 years, has no qualms that his job is to get players ready to step up to the big leagues or to help them regain the form that got them up there in the first place.
In addition to trying to get the Sky Sox out of a free fall, Cole has two reclamation projects on his agenda — center fielder Dexter Fowler, sent down by the Rockies, and former Rockies second baseman Kazuo Matsui, obtained off the waiver wire. Matsui has shown rust from being on the bench in Houston, entering Saturday 5-for-37 (.135). Fowler is 8-for-20 (.400) with three doubles and a home run.
“We’re hitting Matsui in the leadoff position and Fowler second,” Cole said. “We’re going to see how that works and how each of them can come along.”
Matsui made the same trip through the Rockies’ organization in 2006 when he came over from the New York Mets. He played in 31 games for the Sky Sox before finishing with the Rockies.
In 2007, Matsui hit .288 for the Rockies and was instrumental in their late-season drive to the World Series.
With Fowler hitting second, Cole has some weapons at the top of the order.
The disruption in the pitching staff has been the most difficult problem for Cole.
“Coming out of spring, we had a pretty good starting rotation,” Cole said. “But the Rockies were forced to take a couple of them. It’s good that they could make the changes from within the organization and not on the free-agent market.”
Right-hander Jhoulys Chacin has found a spot in the Rockies’ rotation. Right- hander Esmil Rogers has been up and down and gone from the rotation to the bullpen. He’ll get a chance to start now with the Sky Sox. Left-hander Greg Smith came down, but went on the disabled list after one start.
The bright spot has been first baseman Brad Eldred, who has been pounding the ball. Through Friday, he had 13 home runs and 44 RBIs. With Jay Payton (.315), Matt Miller (.308) and Travis Metcalf (.306), hitting has kept the Sky Sox in the race.
New home.
The Tulsa Drillers are playing in a new stadium this year in the Double-A Texas League. At first look, the new site is leaning toward being a pitcher’s park. The Drillers’ roster doesn’t have many big averages, but team batting averages in the Texas League are down this year. Six clubs have a team batting average of .251 or less.
A spokesperson for the Drillers noted that the new park faces southeast instead of northeast. Early in the season, the prevailing wind blows from the south.
On the mend.
With the extended spring training camp at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson set to close this week, the injured list is showing signs of improvement.
Outfielder Charles Blackmon is back in action with Tulsa. Reliever Casey Weathers should begin rehabilitation in a couple of weeks. However, third baseman Darin Holcomb, slated for the Sky Sox, hasn’t recovered from back problems and may be lost for the season. He’s coming to Denver soon to see the Rockies’ team doctors.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
Minor-league spotlight
Kenneth Durst, LHP, Modesto
The left-hander didn’t win six games in any of his first three seasons in the Rockies’ organization.
But he’s chalked up victories in six of his eight decisions for the Modesto Nuts in the advanced Single-A California League. The six triumphs have him leading all starting pitchers in the organization as the season heads into its third month.
Pitching coach Darryl Scott knows why Durst, a 15th- round draft pick in the 2007 June draft, is having success.
“He’s starting to understand the type of pitcher he is,” Scott said. “He’s not overpowering. He’s more about command and changing speeds than throwing the ball past hitters. He’s starting to use his changeup effectively, his curveball and mixing speeds with his fastball.”
Although he ranks high in the organization with 24 walks, Durst believes he’s starting to learn the value of throwing strikes.
“I’m getting more into the flow of things,” Durst said from the Modesto clubhouse. “I’m settling in more and that helps.”
In his last 10 starts, Durst worked 48 innings, allowed 53 hits and struck out 30. He posted a 4.50 ERA.
“He has competed in each and every start,” said Marc Gustafson, the Rockies’ director of player development. “He doesn’t overpower the hitters, but he has been able to give his team innings.”
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
Organizational leaders (Through Thursday)
HITTING: (43 games) Jordan Pacheco, Modesto, .354; James Cesario, Modesto, .340; Eliezer Mesa, Asheville, .340.
RUNS: Matt Miller, Colorado Springs, 42; Mesa, Asheville, 42.
HITS: Pacheco, Modesto, 67; Cesario, Modesto, 66.
DOUBLES: Brian Rike, Modesto, 21; Mesa, Asheville, 18.
TRIPLES: Cesario, Modesto, 9; Maikol Gonzalez, Modesto, 5; Scott Robinson, Modesto, 5.
HOME RUNS: Brad Eldred, Colorado Springs, 13; Jared Clark, Asheville, 8.
RBIs: Eldred, Colorado Springs, 43; Pacheco, Modesto, 39.
STOLEN BASES: Mesa, Asheville, 14; Anthony Jackson, Tulsa, 13.
PITCHING VICTORIES: Kenneth Durst, Modesto, 6; Ethan Hollingsworth, Modesto, 5; Wes Musick, Asheville, 5.
LOSSES: Chaz Roe, Colorado Springs, 7; Brandon Durden, Tulsa/Colorado Springs, 6; Jonathan Vargas, Asheville, 6.
SAVES: Adam Jorgenson, Modesto, 15; Juan Rincon, Colorado Springs, 7.
INNINGS: Keith Weiser, Tulsa, 64; Hollings- worth, Modesto, 63.
WALKS: Vargas, Asheville, 28; Damian Moss, Colorado Springs, 24; Durst, Modesto, 24; Dan Houston, Modesto, 24.
STRIKEOUTS: Hollingsworth, Modesto, 63; Juan Nicasio, Modesto, 50.
ERA: (starters) Ching Lung Lo, Tulsa, 2.37; Tyler Matzek, Asheville, 2.40 (relievers) Scott Rice, Tulsa, 1.11; Matt Reynolds, Colorado Springs, 1.95.
