Eddie Butler needs to separate himself from the pitching pack. And to do it, he needs to separate his pitches. So the Rockies on Tuesday sent their struggling young starter to the minor leagues.
Butler, 24 and still a rookie, threw a regularly-scheduled bullpen session at Coors Field before learning of he was sent down to Triple-A Albuquerque.
“They were talking to me about wanting me back up here to make a push for the playoffs,” Butler said. “They said, ‘Once you get that figured out, you’ll be the first guy in the rotation to get back up here.'”
Butler has a 3-6 record this season with a 4.80 ERA, 30 walks and 29 strikeouts in more than 54 1/3 innings. He made his major-league debut last year after jumping from Double-A, but he made just three starts.
Since then, Butler’s flashed periods of prowess. But his slower-speed offerings come in too hot. And hitters aren’t missing much.
“I need to work on some consistency with my off-speed. I need to get guys off my fastball,” Butler said.
His speed differential ranges from 85-87 mph on a changeup to 93-94 on a fastball. It’s not enough to fool hitters.
“I had a good meeting with Eddie. We feel like there’s a good road map for him to get back here,” manager Walt Weiss said. “He has some things to tighten up. We feel like there’s another level there for Eddie.”
Parker up on a hot streak. In Butler’s place, the Rockies called up hot-hitting first baseman-outfielder Kyle Parker from Triple-A Albuquerque.
“We’re bringing in a guy with a hot bat,” Weiss said.
Par er’s been on a tear in Triple-A and played himself up to the big leagues. He’s batting .275 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs on the year, but over the last 25 games, he has a .394 batting average with a .606 slugging percentage.
“I’ve been feeling good at the plate, it’s nice when things are going well,” Parker said. “I’m going to take the same approach I had down there.”
Hale, Rusin take over. Butler’s demotion was made possible by strong recent outings from David Hale and Chris Rusin, both called up from Triple-A in last May. In their past two starts apiece, Hale and Rusin combined have a 3.28 ERA.
“They’ve made a strong case for themselves,” Weiss said.
The question remains, though, whether Butler fell behind Jon Gray in the call-up order. Gray, who has yet to make his big-league debut, has pitched well for Albuquerque recently, with just five earned runs over 26 1/3 innings over his past four starts. But he did allow 10 hits in his last start.
Dickerson to Denver. Corey Dickerson flew back to Denver on Tuesday after playing in extended spring games to rehab a case of plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He went on the disabled list May 19. But he’s close to returning, Weiss said.
“I hope he says ‘Hi,'” Weiss said. “I also hope he’s here for more than that. We’re closing in on it.”
Footnotes.Reliever LaTroy Hawkins (right biceps tendinitis) was scheduled to pitch Tuesday night for Albuquerqe in Salt Lake City against the Bees. He’s also near returning to the Rockies… Cardinals slugger Matt Holliday, who left Monday’s game at Coors Field in pain after tripping while chasing a fly ball, was put on the 15-day DL with what the team called a Grade 2 right quadriceps strain. St. Louis recalled right-hander Miguel Socolovich from Triple-A Memphis.
Nick Groke: ngroke@denverpost.com or
