Spring Training Hits & Misses: Game 14 vs. Chicago

Hits

Jhoulys Chacin

Chacin had another strong outing today, tossing three shutout innings (only 44 pitches). He was scheduled and certainly positioned to go longer, but a "small" blister on his right index finger put an end to his afternoon. He'll get treatment for that and should be fine for his next scheduled outing.

Wilin Rosario

The Rockies top catching prospect locked and unloaded his second monster home run of the week. The first was a 400 foot plus shot off San Diego lefty Alex Hinshaw on Monday. Today's was a two-run blast off former Rockie Rodrigo Lopez. Rosario's raw power is unquestionable, so it's really just a matter of adjusting to better pitching and staying disciplined. It sounds like he's making noticeable improvement in both areas so far.

Jordan Pacheco

Hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the sixth that ended up being the difference. Think he's having a decent spring so far? I'd say so.

Misses

Ben Paulsen sent to minor league camp

It's not so much a miss because Paulsen is leaving camp (we all knew that was going to happen eventually), it's a miss because Paulsen is leaving camp before the manager's kid, Chad Tracy. That kinda sends the message that Tracy is higher on the team's depth chart, and that's a message I'm not comfortable receiving at this point. I guess he has some more time to prove me wrong (losing a popup in the sun today was a bad start), but I'd rather see Paulsen get some more meaningful reps to help prove me right.

You can read the full list of first round cuts over at the Denver Post.

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Spring Training Hits & Misses: Game 13 vs. Arizona

Hits

Juan Nicasio

As Bob Apodaca told the guys on KOA before the game, it's time to stop looking at Nicasio as a comeback story because that story is pretty much complete. Now it's time to evaluate him as a pitcher, and as a pitcher, Nicasio was rock solid tonight allowing only one unearned run on three hits over four innings. The only little blemish or concern was his inability to put a handful of hitters away, which elevated his pitch count. But that's quite a minor thing at this stage. Overall a very impressive and encouraging outing.

Carlos Gonzalez

His first inning three-run home run off Josh Collmenter will get the attention, but I was happier to hear his RBI single off left-hander Wade Miley. The Rockies need CarGo to get back on track against southpaws in 2012, so any progress/success there is worth mentioning. Also, it's safe to assume he's going to keep the bat companies busy again after tonight's original piece of lumber was unable to survive the punishing contact of both hits.

Jonathan Herrera

Three more hits for the pesky utility man. Is it even worth mentioning anymore, or should we just assume Herrera is handling his business in March?

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Spring Training Hits & Misses: Game 12 vs. Texas

Hits

Tyler Chatwood

The Texas Rangers fielded their big boy lineup this afternoon vs. Chatwood, and the Rockies 22-year-old held his own just fine with four very solid and efficient (50 pitches, 30 strikes) innings of one-run ball. He allowed four hits (two doubles), walked one and struck out a pair, and according to Troy Renck hit 94 on his fastball and 77 on curveball. He continued his tweet with "Chatwood has live, live arm, even if looks like could be in Little League."

I don't think there's anything I can add to that.

Jordan Pacheco

3-for-3 (single, two doubles) with three RBI on the afternoon. He's now 7-for-15 on the spring.

Man. Crush.

Todd Helton

2-for-3 (two doubles) two runs and an RBI. He's still my second ever but all-time favorite Rockies man crush. Dante Bichette was the first.

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Spring Training Hits & Misses: Game 11 vs. Los Angeles

Hits

Drew Pomeranz

Pomeranz was dominant in his abbreviated outing today, retiring all six batters he faced without allowing a ball out of the infield. Unfortunately, I was forced to use the word abbreviated because Pomeranz was forced to leave the game early with right hip tightness. That wouldn't appear to be a serious concern, but it does set him back a little bit in terms of his spring schedule, especially if he's advised to rest for a handful of days. Make sure to stayed to Troy Renck on Twitter for the latest.

Matt Belisle

Belisle threw two innings of relief and was every bit as good as Pomeranz, allowing only one infield single, which was quickly erased by a double play. Looks like Matty B. might make the team again!

Jonathan Herrera

We haven't mentioned Johnny Herrera a whole this spring but he was out there doing Johnny Herrera like things today against the Dodgers. That includes a pesky, two-out, two-run single in the second that pushed the Rockies lead to 3-0. He later muscled up for a double and also played some solid defense at short, reaffirming his versatility.

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Spring Training Hits & Misses: Game 10 vs. San Diego

Hits

Wilin Rosario

Rosario capped Colorado's 8-run seventh inning with an absolute rocket three-run home run to straight away center field. And boy did it ever sound good coming off his bat. According to the Denver Post's Troy Renck, Rosario has worked hard to clean up his swing this spring and is also doing a better job of laying off breaking pitches. Hopefully he's able to maintain that discipline and the positive results continue piling up.

Brandon Wood

With Casey Blake a late scratch due to being old, tired and barely able to move, Brandon Wood was gift wrapped another opportunity at third base on Monday. He took advantage of it by crushing more baseballs (single and RBI triple). Assuming Blake remains old, tired and unable to move, Wood will find himself getting more and more opportunities, which makes him one of the more intriguing players in camp. Keep watching (or reading).

Jeremy Guthrie

After Cameron Maybin took him deep to lead-off the game, Guthrie would allow only one single over his next four innings of work. That's good stuff. Of the 12 outs he recorded, three came via the strikeout and another seven came on groundouts. That's also good stuff. Oh, and again no walks allowed. That's great stuff.

Chad Tracy

I've been a little rough on Chad Tracy this spring (admittedly unfairly so), so I will definitely acknowledge his go-ahead RBI single and sacrifice fly today. Those were actually two very good at-bats. A nice day for him and I'm sure a nice day for daddy as well.

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