CINCINNATI — Fans, and the media, always want the next big thing.
We howled for Ryan McMahon to supplant Ian Desmond at first base for the Rockies when McMahon put up gaudy numbers early in spring training. I was doing a lot of howling myself.
But the truth of the matter is, manager Bud Black, general manager Jeff Bridich and the rest of the front office know a lot more about players’ strengths and weaknesses than we do. Not that they are infallible. Far from it. Desmond, he of the five-year, $70 million contract, entered Tuesday’s game batting .192. He does, however, have 10 home runs and 31 RBIs and has been coming on of late.
But there are solid reasons some players are called up from Triple-A Albuquerque while other stay down on the farm.
For example, McMahon made the opening-day roster, but then he proceeded to hit .180 in 28 games before being sent down to Triple-A on May 1. He rejoined the Rockies on May 26 and entered Tuesday night’s game batting .216.
Before Tuesday’s game, the Rockies recalled outfielder Mike Tauchman from Triple-A. Yes, the same Tauchman who batted .043 (1-for-23) and looked overmatched when he started the season with the big-league club before being demoted. Some fans, at least some on Twitter, called the move an injustice, saying that speedy Raimel Tapia should have been called up instead. Never mind that Tauchman has been raking for the Isotopes, batting .385 (60-for-156) with 37 runs, 12 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 35 RBIs.
So I asked Black what he sees in young players that you and I might not.
“We have a critical eye, because this is what we do for a living,” Black said. “We know strengths. We know weakness. We see flaws. We see potential. So when it comes to young players, that’s why sometimes were are hesitant to bring them up, because we know they will be exposed.”
Tapia, for instance, still has some defensive issues. The same goes for catcher Tom Murphy, another fan favorite, who has proved he can hit but still has some problems behind the plate.
Tauchman readily admits that it’s a quantum leap from Triple-A to the majors.
“There are great players at all levels of pro ball. You have to have talent to play this game,” he said. “But big-league players have that ability to make quick adjustments. Big-league pitchers will find your weaknesses and flaws quickly, and they are talented enough to exploit them, consistently.
“For me, it’s all about execution and consistency. That’s the big difference between Triple-A and being up here.”
McMahon echoed Tauchman’s thoughts, saying that all-stars such as Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu have proved themselves over time.
“The difference is, Chuck and Nolan and DJ are so consistent with what they do, so they don’t miss a mistake, they take advantage of it,” McMahon said. “If you have a flaw, you better flip that around and take care of it.”
Blackmon’s wheels. Blackmon has looked to be moving a bit slowly in the outfield lately, and he entered Tuesday’s game without a home run in his last 61 at-bats. He had lower-back and quadriceps tightness earlier in the season. Is he completely healthy?
“I’m fine,” he said. “If I look (slow) in the ninth inning, it could be because it was a 3-hour and 45-minute ballgame after a long homestand. So I will say that guys get tired in long baseball games. But outside of that, I’m good.”
Footnotes. Right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino, on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, threw from 90 feet for the third time Tuesday. He could get on the mound late this week or early next week, but there is no timetable for his return. “The good thing is, I threw today without thinking about (the oblique),” he said. … It was a good day down on the farm for the Rockies. High-A Lancaster infielder Roberto Ramos was named California League player of the month for May. He hit .345 and led the league in homers (nine), RBIs (23), extra-base hits (17), total bases (64) and slugging percentage (.762). Also Tuesday, Tauchman was named the Pacific Coast League player of the month.
Looking ahead
Rockies RHP Jon Gray (5-6, 5.68 ERA) at Reds RHP Sal Romano (3-6, 6.00), 5:10 p.m. Wednesday; ATTRM, 850 AM
Gray needs a strong start to himself pull out of his nosedive. Over his last four games, the right-hander has a 9.33 ERA and a .360 batting average against. Gray says his problems are more mental than mechanical, insisting that once he gets out of his current funk, he can be the pitcher the Rockies need him to be. He’ll face the Reds for the second time this season, having earned a victory against them on May 25. He allowed four runs on six hits with three walks and eight strikeouts over six innings. Gray will be making his fourth career start against Cincinnati, but his first at Great American Ball Park. Gray is 3-0 with a 4.08 ERA vs. the Reds in his career. Romano, 24, will be making his 29th big-league start. He faced the Rockies earlier this season at , giving up five runs on eight hits (including a home run to ) with four walks over 5 ⅓ innings. — Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
Thursday: Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (3-1, 5.07) at Reds RHP Tyler Mahle (4-6, 4.38), 10:35 a.m., no TV
Friday: Diamondbacks RHP Zach Greinke (4-4, 3.44) at Rockies RHP German Marquez (4-5, 4.38), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
Saturday: Diamondbacks RHP Matt Koch (4-3, 3.76) at Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (4-1, 4.02), 5:15 p.m., FOX
