Farming for Victory: Rockies Minor League Report Part 3

Friday, August 15, 2008

That's right. I posted this yesterday like I said I would. See look, the date's right there. Don't believe me? Whatever I can do what I feel like. I can end a sentence in a preposition. That's right.

Modesto Nuts

Hitting

-Shucky dang darn, Jhoulys Chacin is good: 50 K's in 51.1 IP, 10 BB, 2.74 Ground out to air out ratio--and that's at high-A. His low-A numbers were even better. For some reason, Chacin hasn't got much "prospect buzz" around Rockies minor league discussions, but golly goshes, he's good. Dare I say that the Rockies have a pitching prospect that will actually be good? Nay, I do not dare. But, hope? Yay.

-Will Harris, a 2006 9th rounder, didn't play at all last year. This year he is playing--playing with hitter's heads. As a reliever, he has struck out 66 batters in 56.2 IP, for a 2.54 ERA. Call this fella up to AA for Pete's sake.

-Aneury Rodriguez, who gets much more buzz than Chacin, is also pitching relatively well. He is definitely a fly ball pitcher (0.81 GO/AO), but he apparently has a good arm. Still he could strike out more (7.86 K/9) and his WHIP is borderline (1.25).

-Esmil Rogers, a converted infielder, and because of that, a 40-man roster member, has been unspectacular. He walks a few too many and his 1.38 WHIP is not a good sign if he wants to make it to the majors. It looks like neither pitching, nor hitting are his fortes, maybe pummeling horse? Or 100-meter individual medley? Wrestling (shrugs)?

Hitting

-Michael McKenry is having a decent offensive year (.821 OPS) for a catcher, but he's just too old. When you're drafted as a junior, you can't spend three years in A-ball. At this pace, he'll be in the majors at 27, when he should be peaking, not reaching the majors.

-Daniel Mayora had a decent year for a middle infielder last year (14 dings), but it appears no longer playing in Asheville's hitters park is catching up to him. His slugging has dropped 69 points. Now he just looks like another empty-average middle infielder.

-The Modesto Nuts don't really have anymore big prospect type guys. They also, coincidentally or not, don't have anybody that can hit. McKenry has the highest OPS on the team and most of the players are far too old for A-ball at 23-24.

Asheville better have some players or the 2010-2015 teams might be looking like a team circa '05 of Cory Sullivans and Dusty Mohrs

Tomorrow (or in the next day or two): Asheville Tourists.

Go Broncos tonight. America's team is going down. God's (John Elway's) team is king.