Spring Training Game 23: Hits, Misses & Foul Tips

Reds 10, Rockies 3 (boxscore)

Hits

Um...

Well, no one got hurt. And everyone remembered their uniform.

Misses

John Maine

Whatever mystery was left in the Rockies 5th starter derby was gone about three batters into today's game. Maine was brutal... to put it nicely. His velocity was down according to people on scene. His command left a lot to be desired. He committed an error on a throw. Awful.

Sadly, it actually fit right in with several other performances by Rockies starters this week, only they weren't pitching for a job.

Sloppiness

Three more errors defensively. Some more icky base running. They should be playing much sharper baseball at this point. You can understand it when everyone is getting their feet under them and just getting work in. We're less than two weeks from opening day now, it's time to work out the kinks and play solid ball. Hopefully we see the beginning of that tomorrow.

Foul Tips

Franklin Morales/Reds broadcast

First real discouraging outing this spring for the man Reds radio described as one of the most dominant lefties in the game. Eh, well, he should be, and maybe he will be, but come on guys.

The funny thing is, knowing Reds broadcasters (mostly the Brennamans) as well as I do, I know they didn't say that because they didn't do their homework. They know who Morales is and the numbers have to be right there in front of them. They just go out of their way to dress up everything the Reds do. 

Yeah, all home team announcers do that to an extent. The Reds guy take it to levels that are laughable.

Five players reassigned to minor league camp

Among them were Ben Paulsen and Charlie Blackmon, who represented themselves VERY well this spring. All Rockies fans should be impressed and encouraged by both.

Hernan Iribarren had a better than average spring. Didn't run the bases particularly well, but I'm not sure the Rockies view that as a negative.

Pitchers Claudio Vargas and Sean White will likely go to Colorado Springs. White might be one of those relief arms you see come up in September... or he could be released tomorrow.

Spring Training Game 22: Hits, Misses & Foul Tips

Rockies 9, Brewers 7 (boxscore)

Hits

Todd Helton

No hits for Helton, but two walks and he scored all the way from first base on a Ty Wigginton first inning double. Things are looking far more positive for him at this point than I anticipated - health wise and offensively - even with the move to Scottsdale easing the spring travel.

Ben Paulsen

Paulsen recaptured the lead for Colorado with a two-run single in the 7th inning. Regardless of the level of pitching he's faced most of the spring, you have to be impressed with his production. He'll be an interesting guy to follow in the minors as the season progresses.

Misses

Greg Reynolds

First three innings: 1 H

Last three innings: 8 H, 6 ER, 2 K

Well, maybe there's a future for Reynolds in long or middle relief. This probably is/was his best chance at cracking the Rockies rotation, and now it's gone.

Esmil Rogers, come on down. John Maine, you're on standby.

Jorge De La Rosa

Continuing the theme of Rockies starters getting clunkers out of the way this week, De La Rosa allowed seven hits, five earned runs, walked one and struck out four in four innings against the Angels High-A squad. Not pretty, but not overly concerning.

Foul Tips

1st Inning

Much like the Greg Reynolds situation for Colorado, injuries to Zack Greinke and Shawn Marcum left the door open for Brewers prospect Wily Peralta to make the opening day roster. That door likely closed today. Peralta recorded 14 less outs than the Brewers were hopeful he would. Within the first eight batters, he allowed five runs, six hits and walked one.

It was brutal for Peralta, but it was good to see a full lineup of main roster Rockies feasting on a nervous young pitcher. Unfortunately, much like we saw several times last season, the offense started hot and then was completely shut down by Tim Dillard and others until the 7th inning.

Matt Reynolds

Reynolds notched his first scoreless inning in 1-2-3 fashion. That has to be quite a feeling of relief... lame pun intended.

Spring Training Game 21: Hits, Misses & Foul Tips

White Sox 12, Rockies 6 (boxscore)

Hits

Chris Iannetta

Iannetta isn't blowing anyone away with his numbers, but we're starting to see a steady improvement in his plate appearances. He reached base twice today, that on the heels on of reaching base twice on Tuesday. It's something. Maybe he's not driving the ball for power like you want to see, but it seems to be getting closer to that for Chris. And finding ways on base out of the eight hole is always a positive.

Mike McKenry

Speaking of catchers and hitting for power, McKenry delivered (a based on tweets) monstrous three-run shot (2nd this spring) to straight away center off of former Rockies farmhand Shane Lindsay. Good for Mike. He's kind of becoming a forgotten man in the catching situation, through no fault of his own, so it's good to see him make some noise.

Misses

Ubaldo Jimenez

4 1/3, 8 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, and 1 double allowed to relief pitcher Tony Pena.

This is further evidence that Rockies starters have been instructed to get their clunkers out of the way this week. I'm all for this strategy!

Matt Reynolds

Another outing, another home run allowed, and another step further from the opening day roster. It's too bad, but it's not like Reynolds can't go back to AAA, get himself together and make an impact later in the season. That's exactly what I think he'll do.

Foul Tips

Geno Espineli

Geno has a story to tell his grand kids. He relieved Ubaldo Jimenez in the middle of an inning in spring training, and helped inflate his ERA by allowing two inherited runners to score. Pretty cool, but I'd probably leave the second part out.

Spring Training Game 20: Hits, Misses & Foul Tips

Rockies 11, Rangers 10 (boxscore)

Hits

Ian Stewart

The most important thing to take away from tonight's game is how good Ian Stewart looked at the plate and in the field. His timing was good. His movement was good. He didn't look like a guy that missed 2 1/2 weeks. Now hopefully he feels good tomorrow and can build enough stamina and confidence in his knee to be a go on opening day.

The Home Run Parade

Ty Wigginton, Jason Giambi, Mike Jacobs and then the big game-tying job by Cole Garner in the ninth inning. Good to see the baseball exploding off some bats, regardless of how hitter friendly that ballpark appeared to be.

Willy Taveras

Three more hits and three RBI after filling in for an injured Dexter Fowler. Great, great spring for Willy. He's going to make it excruciating on the coaches to not select for the roster, but that's still not likely unless Fowler's quad lingers.

Charlie Blackmon

Blackmon has been impressive all spring, but you really have to value night's like tonight where he battles and succeeds against one of the toughest lefties in baseball in CJ Wilson. He's knocking on the door. Not sure when he'll get an answer, but he's knocking.

Misses

Jason Hammel

Statement: I'm not worried about Jason Hammel. End of statement.

Hammel had little command of all of his pitches, against a really good lineup, in a ballpark where the baseball flies like crazy. When you mix those components together, it often equals disaster. Tonight was indeed a disaster, but every pitcher has one or two every season, it's unavoidable, so getting one of the way now isn't the worst thing in the world.

Repeating statement: I'm not worried about Jason Hammel.

Foul Tips

Eric Young

Young did reach base three times tonight, which is exactly what you want from your lead-off man. Unfortunately, he made an out on the bases twice. One was just a lack focus rounding first base, not knowing what was happening ahead of him. The other was a straight caught stealing.

Young's greatest strength is his speed, but poor instincts and focus are offsetting that and hurting his value to the team. He also made two very poor throws to first base, which won't ease any of those concerned about his defense.

Granted, Young is just getting his feet under him this spring due to his leg injury, but he has to step up soon. I mean really step up. He can't just show he's healthy and be penciled on this roster, he has to prove he's ready to play good, solid baseball. If he doesn't, the Rockies will be left making a big decision.

Spring Training Game 19: Hits, Misses & Foul Tips

Rockies 4, Cubs 2 (boxscore)

Hits

Esmil Rogers

This has been an excellent few days for Esmil Rogers, and a lot of the good took place before he dominated (5 IP, 1 H, 3 K, 15 batters) a significant portion of the Chicago Cubs opening day lineup this afternoon.

Felipe Paulino was officially moved to the bullpen late last week. That surprised me a little given their situation in the rotation, but the Rockies originally envisioned Paulino as such when they traded for him. They confirmed that assessment when Paulino was strong during the first inning of his last start but faltered after.

Clayton Mortensen was optioned to Triple A today. That trims the 5th starter competition down to Rogers, John Maine and Greg Reynolds.

And then Rogers went out and delivered the Rockies best pitching performance of the spring, so needless to say he's in the driver's seat.

The keys for Rogers is getting over those two big hurdles I mentioned last week: 1) Get ahead in the count. 2) Finish off hitters and innings strongly. At least for today, Rogers was able to accomplish both, and his new approach of working quicker may have assisted. Now it will be interesting to see how he follows up this weekend.

Cubs Broadcaster Len Kasper

Kasper called his 15th straight spring training game today, whether it be TV or MLB.com audio. That's amazing. Can he get my vote for Colorado broadcaster of the year? I've heard him doing more Rockies broadcasts than Drew Goodman.

Misses 

Top of the order

For the most part the Rockies are getting strong production at the top from guys like Dexter Fowler, Willy Taveras, Jordan Pacheco and Seth Smith, but today Taveras, Smith and others combined to go 0-for-9 with five strikeouts and one walk. Similar performances are bound to happen throughout the course of a six month season, but hopefully not too many resemble this one. Icky.

Foul Tips

Bullpen

Matt Belisle, Matt Lindstrom, Huston Street each dealt with some traffic, but did their part in preserving the shutout into the ninth inning. All three seem to be working out the kinks from early in the spring and well on their way to being ready for opening day.