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.

Spring Training Game 18: Hits, Misses & Foul Tips

Rockies 3, Reds 2 (boxscore)

Hits

Rex Brothers

While Matt Reynolds continued his struggles in a "B" game today, Brothers impressed everyone at Salt River Fields when he set the Reds down in order. In the middle of that 1-2-3 inning was an overpowering strikeout of NL MVP Joey Votto. Seems like the Rockies have little to worry about after all from the left side in their bullpen with Brothers' accelerated development.

PS: Franklin Morales had yet another scoreless inning today.

Jose Lopez

Lopez plays the hero with a walk-off single, described by Purple Row's Andrew Fisher as a 350+ foot flyball gapper to RF. In other words, probably a double or triple in reality, but a single was all they needed here. Lopez also threw out the potential go ahead run at home in the top of the 9th inning. Strong game for him as he stays in contention for playing time at second, third, first, who knows where else.

Jordan Pacheco

Hard to believe Pacheco was 0 for his last 8 coming in to today's game. He got himself back on track with a pair of hits, including an RBI double. Had a pretty good day behind the plate as well, throwing out Brandon Phillips trying to steal.

Misses

Jhoulys Chacin

Minor miss here. According to tweeters on scene of this dark game (no TV or radio), Chacin struggled mightily with his command, was hit fairly hard, and was lucky to escape with the limited damage he sustained. That said, regardless of how, he did limit the damage, which might be an indication his bad days could be more effective than some pitcher's good days.

Foul Tips

"B" Game vs Angels

Here are a few notes from the other Rockies game that took place today.

Ian Stewart was 2-4 (2 singles) in his return to action.

John Maine pitched 3 1/3, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs. The important here is his shoulder feels healthy.

Matt Reynolds still hasn't recorded a scoreless appearance in Arizona. He allowed one run (solo HR to a Triple A guy) on two hits. Looking like another classic example of how you never take the 25 north that you expected to in early March.

Spring Training Game 17: Hits, Misses & Foul Tips

A's 9, Rockies 4 (boxscore)

Hits

Jonathan Herrera

Herrera created two runs in two plate appearances in less than two minutes time without hitting a home run.

1st: He doubled leading off the third. Eric Young attempted to bunt him over on the next pitch, it was misplayed by Trevor Cahill and Daric Barton, allowing Johnny to score from second.

2nd: Herrera tripled and scored right away on a wild pitch.

The against an 18 game winner from last season that had pretty good stuff today. If Herrera isn't hitting second and playing second on opening day, the Rockies aren't fielding their best possible lineup.

Ryan Spilborghs

Nice day for Spilly going 3-for-3 with three singles and an RBI.

Misses

Juan Nicasio

First inning: Nicasio struggled out of the gate with his fastball command. Velocity was fine, he just didn't know where it was going the first 5-6 batters. His breaking ball wasn't a whole lot better. In fact, the pitch he struck Kurt Suzuki out on was a hanger middle of the plate. Instead of a three run first for Oakland, it could have easily been six right there.

Second inning: Was better. And he's a guy with the arrow still pointing up, so he shouldn't be judged too harshly based on today's performance.

Ron Fairly

The Oakland A's TV color analyst gets a miss for starting to say Hideki Matsui's spring home run would be front page news in Japan tomorrow. He did catch himself in the middle of his ridiculous statement, but also added that it was cool the ball hit the sushi sign. W. T. F.

NCAA Tournament Selection Committee

I'm not a Colorado fan, but I feel terrible for all of the students, former students and fans of that program who sit dumbfounded this afternoon. That team and those kids were better than at least 7-8 at large selections. Really a shame.

Foul Tips

Baseball

Sorry, too much non-baseball related material today. We'll get back to more baseball talk tomorrow.