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MEDIA CLIPS – APRIL 27, 2015
Rain can't wash away memories of Coors Field's first game
20 years later, the debut of the Rockies ballpark is still remembered
By Tracy Ringolsby / MLB.com | @TracyRingolsby | April 26, 2015
DENVER -- The temperature was 42 degrees on Sunday afternoon just like it had been 20 years earlier when gates were
opened at Coors Field for a regular season game for the first time.
It was raining, just like it had been during the day 20 years earlier.
And this year there was a celebration, not for an 11-9, 14-inning victory against the Mets like when the Rockies opened
Coors Field on April 26, 1995, but rather for the memories still vivid 20 years later.
The rain didn't subside on Sunday. The Rockies and Giants game was postponed.
That, however, did not dampen the memories for Rockies fans in general, and the 15 players from the Rockies roster on
that night 20 years earlier who returned to town for a weekend celebration of the opening of what is now the third oldest
ballpark in the National League.
"It was awesome," said Ellis Burks, an outfielder on that team. "The city of Denver was buzzing. The whole region was
excited about us moving into a new stadium. I'm glad I was part of it.
"And the game? That was our calling card."
It was the start of a special season in Rockies history. In only their third year of existence they claimed the National
League Wild Card in the first season that the Wild Card was added to the postseason. It was the quickest any team had
ever advanced to the postseason.
And the memories haven't faded.
"I remember it was fun and I remember it was cold," said Dante Bichette, who provided the walk-off moment that night
when he unloaded a three-run home run off Mets left-hander Mike Remlinger. "When I came out on the field [for batting
practice] I was stunned.
"The place was so full and so loud. It was so special."
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So was the season.
The Rockies spent 117 of the 159 days in that strike-shortened season atop the NL West, and finally claimed the NL Wild
Card with a 10-9 victory against the Giants on the final day of the regular season.
"We weren't your normal expansion team," said Bichette. "Look at the way the pieces were put together."
Sixteen of the 25 players on the Rockies postseason roster that season either were with them on their original Opening
Day, in 1993, or were products of their 1992 First-Year Player Draft.
"And we added pieces," said Bichette. "We signed [Walt] Weiss and Ellis [Burks] for the second season. Then we signed
[Larry] Walker and [Bill] Swift as free agents for 1995, and made that [July 21] trade for [Bret] Saberhagen. Ownership
showed it was committed to making us a winner."
It was Swift throwing that first pitch ever in a regular season game at Coors Field as well as the first pitch in Rockies
history in a postseason game.
"Anytime you open a new stadium it is special, and Coors Field is so beautiful," said Swift. "Then to be able to throw the
first pitch. And Brett Butler hits a ground ball to shortstop and beats it out.
"I seem him to this day and tease him. It's the first pitch, a commemorative ball that you are going to throw out and he
swings at it."
Swift initially worked out for the Baltimore Orioles that spring in anticipation of the end of a strike that had wiped out the
1994 World Series, but "the Rockies went hard to get me. I was a ground ball guy and had a lot of success against them.
"Unfortunately I wasn't ever completely healthy. I could never recover from the shoulder surgery [the year before]."
Swift, however, was a key part of that team. He did make 19 starts, second on the staff to Kevin Ritz, who had 28. He was
9-3, second on the team in wins after Ritz's 11.
"You have that kind of lineup, Bichette, Walker, Vinny [Castilla], Ellis, EY, Galarraga, you know the team is going to score
a lot of runs," he said. "We had a pretty good plan in place. It was a fun team to be a part of.
"It was really a close knit team. We hung out together. We had tremendous direction with [manager Don] Baylor. He knew
what a winner was all about."
And the memories the good times linger.
The rains could wipe out a game, but it didn't dampen the reunion of those 1995 Rockies.
Tracy Ringolsby is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its
clubs.
2
After rainout, Rockies won't alter their rotation
By Jack Etkin / Special to MLB.com | April 26, 2015
DENVER -- Manager Walt Weiss said the Rockies will not alter their rotation after Sunday's game against the Giants that
was rained out.
Tyler Matzek, who was scheduled to start Sunday instead will oppose the D-backs Monday at Arizona.
Kyle Kendrick and Jordan Lyles are scheduled to start the final two games against the D-backs.
The date to make up Sunday's game with the Giants will be announced later.
The Rockies will make a roster move before the game Monday, which begins a six-game road trip that will conclude with
three games at the Padres.
Reliever Jorge Rondon arrived from Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday morning. The Rockies did not announce the
corresponding move necessary to add Rondon to the 25-man roster before Sunday's game with the Giants was
postponed and will do so Monday.
The Rockies claimed Rondon, 27, off waivers from the Cardinals in November. At Albuquerque this season, Rondon had
no record and a 1.35 ERA in five games while holding opposing batters to a .095 average. In 6 2/3 innings, he has
allowed two hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
Rondon went 5-4 with 10 saves and a 3.03 ERA last year for Triple-A Memphis and pitched in one game for the
Cardinals, working one scoreless inning against the Dodgers on June 29 at Los Angeles.
"I like that he throws about 98 [mph]," manager Walt Weiss said. "He's one of the power arms that we brought in in the
offseason. He's been pitching well down there in Albuquerque. [He] got a cup of coffee in the big leagues with the
Cardinals. [He's got a] very big arm, talented pitcher, so we're looking forward to seeing what he looks like."
Jack Etkin is a contributor to MLB.com This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
3
Matzek takes mound for Rockies against Diamondbacks
By Jack Etkin / Special to MLB.com | April 26, 2015
Rockies left-hander Tyler Matzek (1-0, 2.40) and D-backs right-hander Chase Anderson (0-0, 3.00) will oppose each other
in the series opener at Chase Field on Monday.
Matzek has avoided big innings, but has an equal number of walks and strikeouts (10) in 15 innings and needs to be more
efficient.
In his last start Tuesday against the Padres, Matzek threw just 44 of 85 pitches for strikes in five innings. He also pitched
into the fifth on 84 pitches, 40 strikes on April 10 against the Cubs.
Anderson worked five innings in his first start, six in his second and seven in his most recent outing Tuesday against the
Rangers when he gave up one run and three hits in seven innings with no walks and five strikeouts.
Anderson has issued just one walk with 10 strikeouts in his past two starts, totaling 13 innings.
Three Things to Know
• Matzek has held left-handed hitters to a .222 average (2-for-9) while right-handers are batting .256 (11-for-43). Last
season, right-handed hitters batted .306 against him while lefties batted just .147.
• Matzek was scheduled to start Sunday, but the Rockies were rained out at home against the Giants. Since the D-backs
were off Thursday, both Matzek and Anderson will be pitching with one additional day of rest.
• The D-backs scored two runs while being swept in three games at home by the Pirates over the weekend. While losing
five of their past seven games, the D-backs have scored one or fewer runs in each loss.
Jack Etkin is a contributor to MLB.com This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
4
Carlos Gonzalez is eager to "get that groove back"
Gonzalez is making $16 million this season, ranking second on the team behind Tulowitzki
By Patrick Saunders
The Denver Post
Carlos Gonzalez has been fielding questions about his deep April slump on a daily basis. For the most part, the Rockies
outfielder has handled the queries with good humor.
"I told you in spring training that I can't wait to have this conversation about the game, and not about how I am, healthwise," CarGo said Sunday before a cold, hard rain washed out the Rockies' game against the Giants at Coors Field.
Gonzalez frequently flashed his smile as he talked to reporters. But the truth is, he's off to the worst start of his Rockies
career. After 17 games and 66 at-bats, he's hitting .197 with a .592 OPS. He's driven in only six runs, and manager Walt
Weiss has dropped him to sixth in the batting order.
Gonzalez is making $16 million this season, ranking second on the team behind Troy Tulowitzki's $20 million salary.
CarGo is counted on to be a powerful piece in a lineup that is considered one of the best in the National League. So far,
however, he's been the weak link, hitting .118 (2-for-17) with runners in scoring position.
Weiss, who has handled CarGo slump questions almost as often as CarGo, seems amused by it all. The manager is
convinced that April groundouts and strikeouts will bring May doubles and homers. Friday night, in the Rockies' 6-4 victory
over the Giants, Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with an opposite-field double to left. Saturday night, in the Rockies' 5-4, 11-inning
loss to the Giants, Gonzalez went 1-for-5 but smacked his first home run since April 8.
"I saw real good signs from CarGo, hitting the ball hard the opposite way," Weiss said. "It wasn't just the couple of hits he
got. It was the way he got them. Those are things that he had been working on. Then, to get results like that, is always
encouraging."
With Tulo standing watch and offering tips, Gonzalez has been taking early batting practice, trying to get his swing right.
"I'm trying to use the whole field," he said. "When I am doing well, I can hit to left with power and line drives into the gap.
When I see that coming off my bat, I know that something good is coming. ... But I can't just sit here and wait for it (to get
better). I have to go out and work for it and get that groove back."
Still, as the Rockies (10-8) head to Arizona to begin a six-game road trip Monday, Gonzalez is aware that he hasn't
busted his slump just yet.
"I'm not in a good place. I'm still hitting (.197)," he said. "But I'm happy that I'm healthy, and that I'm playing, and that we
are winning. I think we are having a good month so far as a team."
The best start of Gonzalez's career was in 2013 when he hit .371 through his first 17 games, with four home runs, five
doubles and a 1.146 OPS. He was named an all-star that year, but injuries limited him to just 19 games after the all-star
break.
In 2010, when CarGo won the National League batting title with a .336 average and smashed a career-high 34 homers,
he also sizzled out of the gate, batting .342 with two homers and an .858 OPS in his first 17 games.
Compared with those scorching starts, Gonzalez's April has been ice cold. Still, he's convinced he will be there when the
Rockies need him.
"I look at it this way: I am not playing the way I want to and we still have a really good team," he said.
Then he laughed, adding: "Hopefully I can just click and do damage when everybody else falls asleep, so I can carry the
team."
5
Larry Walker is a fan of 2015 Colorado Rockies
Walker was at Coors Field to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ballpark
By Patrick Saunders
The Denver Post
Blake Street Bombers alumnus Larry Walker, 48, lives in Florida now, but he still keeps a close eye on the Rockies. He
spent a week as a team consultant during spring training.
He likes what he sees from the Rockies in the early going.
"I am impressed with the pitching staff," Walker said Sunday. "Some of the guys I had never heard of before, but I noticed
some of the arms during spring training. I was sitting next to (manager) Walt (Weiss) and I said, 'Holy cow, you've got
some good arms!
"And, not to take away from the outfield, but this infield is pretty danged solid. I mean, there is some gold being flashed
around that infield, especially with what (Nolan) Arenado can do at third."
Walker was among 15 players from the 1995 Rockies at Coors Field on Sunday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the
ballpark's grand opening April 26, 1995. Dante Bichette hit a three-run homer in the 14th inning that night to beat the Mets
11-9. Festivities to honor that memorable day, as well as the Rockies' series finale against the Giants, were washed out
by a cold rain.
Bill Swift was scheduled to throw the ceremonial first pitch Sunday. The right-hander, now 53, threw the first pitch in Coors
Field history against the Mets. For the record, it was a sinker that Brett Butler rapped for an infield single.
"Most of the time you throw a first pitch, the catcher catches it, tosses it to somebody and they store the ball away, or
whatever they do with it," Swift said. "But Butler took a swing and hit the ball in the hole. (Shortstop) Walt Weiss made a
diving stop, but he couldn't throw Brett out because he's so fast."
Swift ran into Butler in Arizona recently and had a question for him. "I said, 'What were you thinking? Why would you
swing at the ceremonial first pitch?' " Swift said. "He said, 'I don't know, I was all hyped up.' "
As for Sunday's weather that put a damper on what would have been a special afternoon for the players and fans, Walker
had the last word.
"Psychotic, crazy weather like always here," he said. "Eighty-five degrees one day, cold and rainy the next."
Rondon called up. The Rockies probably will make a roster move before Monday's game at Arizona. Right-handed
reliever Jorge Rondon arrived from Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday, ready join the 25-man roster. The move is not
official yet, and the club did not announce a corresponding move to make room for Rondon. It's possible that right-handed
reliever Scott Oberg will be optioned back to Triple-A.
The Rockies claimed Rondon, 27, off waivers from the Cardinals last November. This season with Albuquerque, Rondon
had no record and a 1.35 ERA in five games while holding batters to a .095 average.
"I like that he throws about 98 (mph)," Weiss said. "He's one of the power arms that we brought in, in the offseason. He's
been pitching well down there in Albuquerque."
Rotation update. Despite the rainout, the Rockies won't alter their starting rotation. Left-hander Tyler Matzek, who was
scheduled to start Sunday, will now face the Diamondbacks on Monday at Chase Field.
Kyle Kendrick and Jordan Lyles are scheduled to start the final two games against the D-backs.
The makeup date for Sunday's game against the Giants hasn't been determined.
Footnotes. Though he was optioned to Triple-A last Wednesday, Wilin Rosario had not played in any of the Isotopes'
games through Saturday. Weiss said the Rockies gave Rosario "a few days off" before he had to report there. The plan is
for him to start at first base. ... Left fielder Corey Dickerson, removed from Saturday's game, was feeling better Sunday.
He fouled a ball off his back leg in the fifth inning and suffered a bruised quadriceps muscle. "He's doing OK. He's sore,"
Weiss said. "I had him out of the lineup (Sunday), but he's doing pretty well, all things considered."
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Looking ahead
Rockies' Tyler Matzek (1-0, 2.40 ERA) at Diamondbacks' Chase Anderson (0-0, 3.00), 7:40 p.m. Monday, ROOT; 850 AM
Anderson, 27, pitched very well in his last start but received a no-decision as the D-backs eventually lost 7-1 to the
Rangers. The right-hander allowed just one run over seven innings. But the bullpen collapsed, allowing six runs. Anderson
gave up just three hits, walked one and struck out five. He has pitched progressively better with each start this season.
The Rockies have not seen a lot of Anderson, who made his big-league debut in 2014, so they don't have much of a track
record against him. Left-handed batters Charlie Blackmon (1-for-11, one home run) and Carlos Gonzalez (0-for-5, four
strikeouts) struggled against Anderson last year.
Tuesday: Rockies' Kyle Kendrick (1-2, 6.85 ERA) at Diamondbacks' Archie Bradley (2-0, 1.45), 7:40 p.m., ROOT
Wednesday: Rockies Jordan Lyles (2-1, 2.92) at Diamondbacks' Josh Collmenter (1-3, 3.65), 7:40 p.m., ROOT
Thursday: Off
Friday: Rockies' Eddie Butler (2-1, 3.27) at Padres' Ian Kennedy (0-1, 10.80), 8:10 p.m., ROOT
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
7
Catching up with former Colorado Rockies outfielder Mike Kingery
By Bryan Kilpatrick @purplerowBK on Apr 26, 2015, 8:41p | Purple Row
If you asked just about any Colorado Rockies fan the names of the top outfielders in the early history of the team, Mike
Kingery likely wouldn't come up.
Kingery never played a full season for the Rockies or any other team in his 10 big league seasons, but he was a key cog
in Colorado's 1995 playoff team as well as the one the year before that gave fans in the Mile High City hope that their new
MLB team would soon be a contender.
The 1994 season in particular was special for Kingery. Up until that point, the then-33-year-old native of St. James, Minn.
owned a career .252/.309/.360 batting line. But something clicked that year.
Kingery finished the strike-shortened season with a .349/.402/.532 line in 346 plate appearances, giving the Rockies a
legitimate center field after the club put up with poor production from Alex Cole and Chris Jones at the position during the
prior season. As is the case with most Rockies hitters during that era, it would be easy to dismiss Kingery's strong batting
line as a byproduct of playing half of his games in Denver.
For Kingery, that couldn't be further from the truth.
"I guess my line drives traveled too far here," Kingery joked on Sunday during the 20th anniversary reunion of the Rockies
team that christened Coors Field in 1995. That sounds like as good of an explanation as any for the bizarre season
Kingery had 21 years ago.
Kingery was good in Denver, posting a .333/.381/.507 line at Mile High Stadium. He was a complete beast on the road,
putting up an absurd .362/.419/.552 line in 158 plate appearances. In the 22-year history of the franchise, only three
players -- Larry Walker,Todd Helton and Carlos Gonzalez -- posted a better single-season sOPS+ than Kingery's 158
that season.
"I didn’t really see the ball great at Mile High," Kingery explained. "I don’t know what the reason was. I tried to be the same
both home and away."
Things normalized a bit the following year, when Kingery posted a 109 sOPS+ at Coors Field and teamed with Roberto
Mejia to hit the first back-to-back home runs in the park's history. But he still found a way to produce at a near leagueaverage rate on the road, too, in 1995. A solid contact rate and plus plate discipline skills didn't hurt.
"Walt Weiss, Joe Girardi and I, we were way more important to our team when we were on the road," Kingery said. "I was
more defense, speed and contact, which translated a little bit here but not as well as it did on the road."
After he helped the Rockies reached the 1995 postseason, Kingery and the club parted ways. He played one more year in
the big leagues before hanging up the cleats at the age of 35 to focus on his family and another fitting post-playing career
endeavor.
"I own a baseball school, so I do lots of baseball lessons," Kingery said. He opened Solid Foundation Baseball School - the logo for which is predominately purple, of course -- in 1997, the year after he retired. Kingery's also a bit of a
musician.
"Our family sings about 50 times a year," Kingery added. "We have a gospel/bluegrass group, so we’ve got the fiddles,
banjos, mandolins, guitars and a big upright bass. We enjoy doing that."
The group, completely composed of members of the Kingery family, can be heard here.
Kingery's impressive road performance in 1994 will forever be one of the coolest anecdotes about the Rockies, a team
that, throughout its history, has been littered with players who have struggled to perform away from Denver. Kingery
provided some advice for the current set of players affected by the phenomenon.
"I tried really hard to be level-headed every day and keep the same emotional keel," Kingery said. "I'm not saying that I
perfected it, but that was my goal at the time."
8
Are these players' hot or cold starts for real? Scouts offer their takes
By Albert Chen | Sports Illustrated
Three weeks into the season, and we know nothing. Okay, we know that Nelson Cruz is good at hitting
baseballs, that the Royals are a fired-up, ornery bunch, and that Bryan Price could use a long weekend in
Belize. Other than that, we know nothing, and anyone making definitive claims about a player or team three
weeks into the season, citing data samples, deserves a shakedown from the Small Sample Size Police.
That being said, it’s not too early to take note of some useful information and early trends. So we asked some
scouts around the league about the players whose notable starts may or may not be real—and those whose
slow starts may be signs of big trouble.
Ubaldo Jimenez
1–1, 2.30 ERA, 16 K, 7 BB (15 2/3 IP)
The most surprising American League pitcher so far? “For me, it’s Ubaldo,” says one AL advance scout, who
saw Jimenez in his April 11 start against Toronto. “In the first two innings [Jimenez] made more good pitches
than he did all of last year. He’s not throwing harder. What’s been eye-opening is that he made a nice
adjustment: He still has all the moving parts in his rotation, but [in his delivery] he’s more upright and he’s able
to get it out in front and is able to throw downhill more.” The result? “He’s much better with pitches down in the
strike zone. His rhythm is right, and if he can maintain that, he’s going to have a great year. I think this is legit.”
A resurgent Jimenez would be huge for the Orioles, who have allowed more runs than any team other than
the Brewers. “The thing that you wonder about is whereKevin Gausman fits now with them,” says the scout. “I
think the odd man out is going to be [Bud] Norris. I used to think Ubaldo would be that guy, but—and I wouldn’t
have believed this before the season—I think he becomes an anchor in the rotation.”
Alex Rodriguez
.265/.419/.571, 4 HR, 11 RBIs (62 PA)
Do you believe in the Renaissance of A-Rod? “To a degree, yeah, I do,” says a scout. “There are a lot of things
that bode well. You haven’t been seeing him jump on the first pitch [in recent seasons], but now he’s doing that.
He’s showing how smart of a hitter he is and his baseball intelligence. He still has good recognition, and he’s
showing that as he’s jumping on mistakes and not missing them. Physically, his lower half is strong and he’s
clearly healthy.”
Of course, the season is still young, and pitchers make adjustments. “I think that everyone read the press
speculation that the bat slowed down a bit and they’ve been attacking him with fastballs, and that approach just
isn’t working—but I have no doubt that the pitchers will adjust,” the scout says. “And when he’s not being fed all
these fastballs, I’m not that bullish he keeps this up.”
Steven Souza
.268/.349/.536, 4 HR, 11 RBIs, 4 SB (63 PA)
Souza, acquired from the Nationals in a three-team deal in December, exploded for four home runs in eight
games after a slow start, and now he looks like a prime breakout candidate. Is he a legit 20–20 player or a
potential All-Star? “It's hard not to love the size and the tools, but I think the swing-and-miss approach was a
concern—a lot of people said he was a fourth outfielder,” says an AL scout. “Injuries always held him back, he
had a PED suspension [in 2010] that hurt him, he got overshadowed in the Nats’ system because he’s
not Bryce Harper orStephen Strasburg or Anthony Rendon. But I always loved him. He has great bat speed
and athleticism, and he’s showing it. They have [Evan] Longoria, but he’s already showing that he’s the most
dangerous hitter in Tampa. He’s an All-Star.”
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Alex Guerrero
.474/.450/1.211, 4 HR, 12 RBIs (20 PA)
“I’m still not buying,” one National League scout says of Guerrero, who’s raking with the Dodgers, with four
homers in nine games. “He’s Cuban, so people think he’s Yasiel Puig, but he’s not on the same level. He’s
never been a huge power guy, and nothing has changed my opinion. I think he’s just had a really good stretch.
People are clamoring for him to get more at bats, but that’s such a talented roster that I don’t blame [Don]
Mattingly. [Guerrero] is terrible at second base, and I don’t know where he else ends up. Let’s remember he’s
28, so he’s not exactly a young player on the rise.”
Chase Utley
.120/.161/.240, 2 HR, 9 RBIs, 1 SB (56 PA)
Is this the beginning of the end for Utley? “I’ve been watching him for 18 years, and this is the worst I’ve ever
seen him play in my life,” says an NL scout. “He’s looked so bad that there’s even people saying something’s
wrong with his eyes. The other night he came across an easy double play ball in a recent game and just
dropped it. He’s taking pitches in the zone. His bat used to stay in the zone, but it’s so quick in and out of it
now. You wonder if his knees are bothering him and he’s not saying anything. It’s just a shame because he’s
such a stalwart—it’s as hard to write him off as a guy like Derek Jeter. But he looks so bad right now, it’s hard
to believe he’s got much left.”
Carlos Beltran
.190/.240/.326, 0 HR, 7 RBIs, 0 SB (54 PA)
A resurgent Beltran was always a key part of the Yankees’ plans to contend, but the just-turned–38-year-old is
off to another slow start in the Bronx. “It’s time to make him a platoon player,” says an AL scout. “I really
like Chris Young, and he’s just crushing lefthanded pitching, and I think he can keep it up. A-Rod has thrown a
wrench into Girardi’s ability to DH Beltran, so he’s had to run out to rightfield a lot.... But this is a much better
team with Young in the outfield ... and it’s time the Yankees recognize that, no matter how much they’re paying
[Beltran].”
Carlos Gonzalez
.175/.213/.298, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 0 SB (61 PA)
Not long ago, CarGo was one of the most dynamic players in the game, but off an injury-plagued 2014, he looks
lost at the plate. Time to panic? “I’m not concerned,” says an NL scout. “The big thing for me is that in the field,
he looks healthy, he’s moving very well in the outfield, and as long as he’s healthy, he hits. Remember, he only
played 70 games last year, so it’s going to take some time for him to get going. He’s always been streaky, and
he’ll get hot one series at Coors and turn things around. Right now, he’s not walking as much as he did when he
was at his best, and he’s hitting a lot of ground balls. He’s not going to his 25 home runs, but I think he’s still
got 20–20 potential.”
Steve Pearce
.152/.235/.283, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 0 SB (52 PA)
He was one of last season’s big breakouts, but right now Pearce is struggling, badly. “He’s pull-crazy right now,”
says a scout. “It’s like he got off to bad start and he’s a little bit anxious now and he hasn’t found that rhythm
from last year. He went through a 2-for-30 stretch where he just looked like he was pressing: He’s hooking balls
and grounding out and just looks out of sync. His strike zone management is not where it was last year. [Former
hitting coach] Jim Presley did a great job with him last year, but now that he’s gone, I think it’s part of it. Now
Pearce is losing at bats, and there’s a chance this snowballs. The thing I’d worry about is that Buck Showalter is
just going to turn to someone else in the lineup—he’s not one that will hesitate to lean on guys like Travis
Snider and Delmon Young. But I do think last year was legit [for Pearce], and he’ll turn it around.”
10
Max Scherzer on National League DH: 'I wouldn't be opposed'
By SI Wire | Sports Illustrated
Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer is in favor of the National League adopting the designated hitter,
he told CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman.
"I wouldn't be opposed," Scherzer told Heyman, when asked if he supported the universal DH.
"If you look at it from the macro side, who'd people rather see hit—Big Papi or me?" Scherzer continued. "Who
would people rather see, a real hitter hitting home runs or a pitcher swinging a wet newspaper? Both leagues
need to be on the same set of rules."
Scherzer's comments were prompted by St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright's injury. Wainwright
injured his Achilles tendon while running out of the batter's box during an at-bat Saturday. He was placed on the
disabled list Sunday and the team reportedly fears he will miss the rest of the season.
Scherzer, too, was recently injured while batting. He jammed the thumb on his throwing hand while hitting in
Thursday's game and reported discomfort while trying to throw on Sunday. He will likely miss his next scheduled
start on Tuesday, manager Matt Williams said Sunday.
"We'll probably have to make an adjustment on Tuesday," Williams said, according to the Associated Press.
"I don't anticipate him missing more than one turn, but again you don't know."
Scherzer was initially optimistic he would be able to pitch but said he would be cautious, noting that he risked
injuring his arm if he altered his throwing motion to compensate for the thumb injury.
"I’m not ready to rule it out completely, but I also have to be honest with myself," Scherzer said earlier
Sunday, according to CSN Washington. "Anytime you deal with an injury to your pitching hand, you literally
have to be 100 percent to go back out there."
Scherzer spent his first two major-league seasons in the NL with the Arizona Diamondbacks, followed by five
years in the AL with the Detroit Tigers. He signed with Washington this winter. He is a career .159 hitter and
has struck out in 29.5% of his at-bats.
11
Minor League Update
Games of April 24-26, 2015
by Jeff Moore, Mauricio Rubio and Tucker Blair | Baseball Prospectus
Friday
Francisco Lindor, SS, Indians (Columbus, AAA): 4-5, 3 R, SB. Lindor isn’t the impact bat that fellow shortstop
prospects Carlos Correa and Addison Russell are, but he is the best defender of the bunch. Being able to offer plus
value at a premium position sets the bar pretty low on what is needed from Lindor’s bat in order for him to become an
everyday shortstop at the major-league level. This isn’t meant to discount his hit tool, which is a plus skill. He should be
able to hit for average in the major leagues and controls the strike zone well. The power likely won’t be there, but he’ll hit
enough gaps to warrant batting somewhere near the top of the Indians lineup in his prime. With the Indians lineup
struggling as a whole and current shortstop Jose Ramirez leading the way, it’s only a matter of time before Lindor is in
Cleveland.
Steven Matz, LHP, Mets (Las Vegas, AAA): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K. What’s frightening about the early season success
the Mets are having is that when they need to call on starters six through nine this season (and every team does at some
point), rather than rely on organizational arms they will be able to call up legitimate rotation prospects like Matz and Noah
Syndergaard. Matz is having no issues with Vegas or the Pacific Coast League, and while his walk rate is up from it’s
normal rate early this season, it’s nothing to be concerned about. The Mets rotation is full at the moment, but at the first
sign of trouble, Matz will be ready to step in.
Hunter Renfroe, OF, Padres (San Antonio, AA): 3-5, R, 2 2B, K. There’s no denying Renfroe’s talent as a hitter,
punctuated by his tremendous raw power and bat speed. He can tee off on fastballs with the best prospects in the game
and understands his role as a power hitter and run producer, and attacks his at-bats as such. He has struggled in DoubleA, however, both in the second half of last season and the beginning of the 2015 campaign. One reason could be the
pronounced weight transfer in his swing. He commits early to the swing, which can lead to issues with breaking balls
when not recognized immediately. The biggest gap between High and Double-A is the difference in breaking balls,
specifically the pitcher’s ability to throw them for consistent strikes, and it appears that difference is currently giving
Renfroe issues. It’s not something he can’t work out, but an adjustment will need to be made.
Tyler Danish, RHP, White Sox (Birmingham, AA): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. Scouts are split on Danish’s future
because of some funk in the delivery and the mechanics, but he gets rave reviews across the board on his mentality on
the mound. In discussing him this weekend, our own Mauricio Rubio said “dude is a bulldog on the mound, highly
competitive.” That mentality coupled with a hard sinking fastball in the low 90s and a progressing slider could spell a
bullpen role, but it’s too early for such a change yet, especially with a workable changeup in the mix. At 20 and already
handling Double-A, and with Carlos Rodon now in the big leagues, Danish is now the best arm in the White Sox system,
regardless of future role.
Kyle Crick, RHP, Giants (Richmond, AA): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K. When Crick is on, he has the ability to miss bats
and dominate. The problem has been two-fold, however: he’s not “on” nearly as often as the Giants would like from a
potential mid-rotation starter and even when he is, his command is poor enough that he can’t go deep into games
because of his pitch count. Crick was “on” Friday night, but he still walked three batters in four innings and that, coupled
with striking out eight batters, ran his pitch count up to 92 through just four innings. This is a common theme with Crick,
and one that will likely eventually land him in the bullpen.
Sean Reid-Foley, RHP, Blue Jays (Lansing, A-): 1 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 3 K. The delivery concerns that surrounded
Reid-Foley before the draft and partially caused him to slip to the second round were mostly due to potential injury
ramifications, but they also plague his command, which is below average at present. The mid-90s arm is full of potential,
but he’s loose with his command at this point, even by Midwest League standards.
Saturday
Michael Conforto, OF, Mets (St. Lucie, A+): 3-4, 2 R, 2B, HR. The Florida State League wasn’t expected to provide
Conforto with too much of a challenge, but it’s a pretty standard landing spot for college hitters from the previous year’s
draft. Hopefully he’s renting not owning, however, as he won’t be there too long. It’s not that he’s significantly better than
his current level of competition, but he is a much more refined, closer-to-finished product than most of the pitching he’s
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facing. The Mets weren’t afraid to make midseason promotions last year and won’t be with Conforto either. He should be
in Double-A by the all-star break, if not sooner.
Corey Seager, SS, Dodgers (Tulsa, AA): 3-4, 2 R, 2 HR. Unlike Conforto, Seager might actually just be better than
anyone he’s played against to this point, and that includes his all-star brother. You’re not supposed to be able to hit .400
over extended periods of time, but Seager is flirting with ending April above that plateau. The sweet-swinging lefty is
showing off power as well, and has begun to see some time at third base in the past week, you know, just in case. The
only thing Seager doesn’t do well is control the strike zone, as he’s relatively free swinging, but it hasn’t been an issue yet
and he doesn’t have egregious strike out numbers. With a hit tool as strong as his, he can get away with a lower walk rate
and be just fine.
Byron Buxton, OF, Twins (Chattanooga, AA): 2-5, 2 R, HR, K. It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen the good
Byron Buxton, and while one home run doesn’t mean he’s all the way back, it’s still a positive sign. Marred by injuries last
season, one lingering and one sudden and frightening, Buxton is less concerned with regaining his footing as the top
prospect in the game and mostly just trying to stay healthy and on the field.
Tim Anderson, 2B, White Sox (Birmingham, AA): 2-3, BB, K, 2 SB. Anderson is at his best when he’s on base and
able to run, and his pair of steals on Saturday gives him 10 on the young season. More importantly, however, he earned
his first walk in 68 plate appearances this year. It’s a two-fold issue—one because it keeps his on-base percentage below
average despite hitting over .300 and two, because that type of aggressiveness is typically exploited at the major-league
level. Anderson’s speed and athleticism is a real weapon if and when he can get on base to use it. For now, he’s able to
hit his way on enough to be effective. That will continue to be tested as Double-A pitchers figure him out.
Joe Ross, RHP, Nationals (Harrisburg, AA): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K. It’s been a bumpy start to the season and his
Nationals career for Ross before Saturday’s outing, though his peripherals haven’t been as frightening as his
5.54 ERA(before this game). He’s striking out more batters than ever, seeing a significant jump in swings and misses this
season. That’s coming with some more free passes, but not so many that there’s major cause for concern. With a mid-90s
fastball and the potential for two above-average off-speed pitches, Ross profiles as a possible mid-rotation starter.
Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP, Red Sox (Pawtucket, AAA): 7 IP, 3 H, R, 0 BB, 7 K. Since joining the Red Sox organization
last season, Rodriguez has pitched like a different pitcher. He’s been considerably more consistent from start to start and
it is looking like reaching his ceiling as a mid-rotation starter is a much more distinct possibility. He’ll likely spend the
majority of the season in Triple-A, though he might force his way up the deep Red Sox pitching depth chart and into
consideration for some big-league time if he continues to throw like this and if the Red Sox have to dig into their Triple-A
rotation for help. –Jeff Moore
Sunday
Trevor Story, SS, Rockies (New Britain AA): 2-4, HR, 4RBI. Story is coming out of the gate strong after a tough 2014 at
the Double-A level. He has some power and some speed, but the main question with Story is whether the hit tool will
allow him to be productive at the major-league level. Story was impressive in the AFL this past fall and while there's swing
and miss in the profile, he teases a power/speed combination that makes him interesting. The strong start here is
promising. –Mauricio Rubio Jr.
Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees (Trenton AA): 3-4, 2 2B, BB. While the defense is still a concern for evaluators,
the bat continues to show potential. Sanchez has strong wrists that help play up his above-average bat speed, and the
plus raw power allows him to barrel offerings hard. While the defensive concerns are hindering his overall future potential,
the bat is still chugging along enough to eventually force him to the majors. –Tucker Blair
Carlos Correa, SS, Houston (Corpus Christi AA): 3-5, HR, 6 Total Bases. Correa is crushing Double-A to the tune of a
.356/.415/.661 line and he's starting to actualize the raw power in game as a 20-year-old. As Jeff Moore said in a previous
update, we're going to run out of superlatives for Correa soon. If he stays healthy throughout the year, he's going to make
it real tough to keep him out of the no. 1 spot on prospect lists. –Mauricio Rubio Jr.
Dace Kime, RHP, Cleveland Indians (Lake County A-): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 12 K. The third-round selection out of the
2013 draft has seen a slow development path in the minors, mainly working on repeating his delivery and cleaning up the
mechanics. However, the fastball can touch 95 and he shows flashes of an above-average curveball and the makings of a
changeup and slider. –Tucker Blair
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Gleyber Torres, SS, Chicago (South Bend Low-A) 3-4. It says a lot about Torres that the Cubs were comfortable
testing him in full-season ball. At just 18 years old Torres is handling himself well and his three-hit day pushes his early
season average over .300. His carrying tool is his hit tool, he's quick to the point of contact, and he has a smooth swing
with an advanced approach. His glove work is advanced as well; Torres has fluid motions and a baseball IQ that makes
up for a first step that's just average. The swing doesn't lend itself for too much power, but there's still some projection
there. He's still a work in progress, but he's another Cubs shortstop to watch. –Mauricio Rubio Jr.
Bradley Zimmer, OF, Cleveland Indians (Lynchburg A+): 3-3, SB (Game 1), 2-4, 2B, K, SB. Zimmer has all the
makings of a solid hit tool, with quick hands and plus bat speed. While there is still some lingering pessimism surrounding
the overall power output of his stick, the lanky outfielder has started the season off on a torrid start. He has displayed an
all-around effort, showing contact, speed, and power. The real question will be whether it continues at such a high level
moving forward. –Tucker Blair
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