Results tagged ‘ Ramon Hernandez ’
Cuddyer back in lineup
Rockies right fielder Micahel Cuddyer returned to the lineup today, against the Mariners, for the first time since being hit in the hand with a pitch from the Rangers’ Yu Darvish on Friday night.
Cuddyer was originally scheduled to play Sunday against the Indians, but was scratched before the game.
“[Sunday] I picked up the bat and swung a little bit, and only took about five swings and was afraid this thing was going to blow up again,” Cuddyer said. “I wanted to take yesterday to see if I could do it. I hit, and there was no problem.”
Cuddyer said he is excited for Friday night’s opener at Houston, after playing all or parts of the last 11 seasons with the Twins.
“For Opening Day, I was always anxious, nervous, butterflies,” Cuddyer said. “I get butterflies for every game. Now, being with a new team, new fan base, new organization, new league, I almost feel like a rookie again. In Houston, I’ll be facing three pitchers and I’ve only faced one of them before — like, three at-bats.
“Feeling like a rookie again is fun.”
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was out for the second straight day after being hit on the left elbow by the Indians’ Ubaldo Jimenez — who was issued a five-game suspension and undisclosed fine after Major League Baseball determined that the act was intentional. Tulowitzki was to hit in the batting cage today.
Here is the Rockies’ lineup for today’s next-to-last Cactus League game:
Marco Scutaro, SS
Dexter Fowler, CF
Carlos Gonzalez, LF
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Todd Helton, 1B
Jason Giambi, DH
Ramon Hernandez, C
Jordan Pacheco, 3B
Jonathan Herrera, 2B
Rockies pitching for today:
Juan Nicasio, RHP
Matt Belisle, RHP
Rafael Betancourt, RHP
Rex Brothers, LHP
Rockies roster set
Rockies manager Jim Tracy announced his Opening Day roster on Monday, although there will be some changes in the early days of the season. Left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz won’t be activated until April 15, when he is scheduled to pitch, and lefty Jamie Moyer won’t be activated until he starts Saturday against the Astros.
One spot is up in the air. Left-handed reliever Josh Outman is battling food poisoning. If he won’t be ready for Friday, the Rockies will have to make an adjustment by bringing back right-hander Alex White, who was optioned to the Minors on Monday.
Tracy also said he is comfortable setting a roster with shortstop Troy Tulowitzki active. Tulowitzki suffered a bruised left elbow on Sunday when hit by a pitch from the Indians’ Ubaldo Jimenez.
Here is the roster for Friday’s opener against the Astros:
PITCHERS (11) — Jeremy Guthrie, Juan Nicasio, Jhoulys Chacin, Matt Belisle, Rafael Betancourt, Rex Brothers, Tyler Chatwood, Matt Reynolds, Josh Roenicke, Esmil Rogers, Josh Outman
CATCHERS (2) — Ramon Hernandez, Wilin Rosario
INFIELDERS (7) — Todd Helton, Marco Scutaro, Troy Tulowitzki, Jordan Pacheco, Chris Nelson, Jason Giambi, Jonathan Herrera.
OUTFIELDERS (5) — Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler, Michael Cuddyer, Tyler Colvin, Eric Young Jr.
Hitting coach wants better mechanics from Fowler
Rockies hitting coach Carney Lansford heard that center fielder Dexter Fowler visiting Las Vegas with Jason Giambi, Troy Tulowitzki and others for offseason workouts. He saw a stronger Fowler arrive at Spring Training.
Now he is looking at Fowler’s .114 batting average through his first 14 Cactus League games and wondering if there is a connection.
“He lifted a lot this offseason, got a lot stronger, so he’s trying to hit the ball farther, which is a huge mistake for him,” Lansford said Tuesday morning. “I don’t mind him lifting. I just don’t want him changing mechanics from what he did the second half of last season.”
Fowler added a leg kick to his swing in the middle of last season, during a demotion to Triple-A Colorado Springs. He returned with improved timing and put up strong second half numbers. But Lansford and manager Jim Tracy have noticed that the kick wasn’t the same. Corrections are being made in hopes of avoiding a slow start, something Fowler has suffered through the last two years.
“He was picking [his foot] up too far, and his hands were not in the right spot, either,” Lansford said. “He’s going back to where he feels comfortable with his hands. He’s actually starting to swing the bat better. We’ve got nine days left. It would be the perfect time to get right, going into the season.
Fowler had another rough day at the plate Monday against the Angels, but Tracy said his swing was bettr and he hasn’t carried his offensive struggles to the field.
Usually the leadoff hitter, or No. 2 hitter on days Tracy experiements with Marco Scutaro in the top spot, Fowler hit eighth Tuesday afternoon against the D-backs. Eric Young Jr. batted leadoff and started in left. Jonathan Herrera, fighting the numbers game for an Opening Day roster spot, is hitting second and Scutaro is batting third.
ROCKIES LINEUP
Eric Young Jr., LF
Jonathan Herrera, SS
Marco Scutaro, 2B
Ramon Hernandez, C
Todd Helton, 1B
Jordan Pacheco, 3B
Tyler Colvin, RF
Dexter Fowler, CF
Jeremy Guthrie, RHP
ROCKIES RELIEF PITCHING
Rex Brothers, LHP
Josh Roenicke, RHP
Rafael Betancourt, RHP
Keith Weiser, LHP
Zach Simons, RHP
D-BACKS LINEUP
Gerardo Parra, LF
Aaron Hill, 2B
Justin Upton, RF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Ryan Roberts, 2B
Henry Blanco, C
John McDonald, SS
Patrick Corbin, LHP
D-BACKS RELIEF PITCHING
Craig Breslow, LHP
Joe Paterson, RHP
Bryan Shaw, RHP
Mike Zagurski, LHP
Brad Ziegler, RHP
Also, the Rockies are using right-handed pitcher Guillermo Moscoso in a Minor League game.
Chacin must be efficient; Pacheco working on infield defense
Rockies right-hander Jhoulys Chacin struggled in his last outing, after suffering a finger blister in the outing before that. Quite simply, the Rockies expect Chacin to be efficient today against the Reds.
Also, the Rockies have placed Jordan Pacheco on today’s roster as a backup infielder. Pacheco, a right-handed hitting utility man whose bat has impressed the Rockies, has peformed well at catcher throughout camp. Pacheco, an infielder in college, has made some good plays at third base but he is still considered a work in progress. At the end of the Rockies’ batting practice, Pacheco spent extra time with infield coach Rich Dauer fielding balls off the bat and working on his stance and movement.
Here are the lineups:
ROCKIES BATTING ORDER
Eric Young Jr., CF
Jonathan Herrera, 2B
Carlos Gonzalez, LF
Troy Tulowitzki, SS
Todd Helton, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Ramon Hernandez, C
Casey Blake, 3B
Jhoulys Chacin, RHP
ROCKIES RELIEF PITCHING
Matt Reynolds, LHP
Esmil Rogers, RHP
Alex White, RHP
Stephen Dodson, RHP
Mike Ekstrom, RHP
REDS BATTING ORDER
Brandon Phillips, 2B
Zack Cozart, SS
Joey Votto, 1B
Scott Rolen, 3B
Jay Bruce, RF
Chris Heisey, LF
Drew Stubbs, CF
Devin Mesoraco, C
Johnny Cueto, RHP
REDS RELIEF PITCHING
Drew Hayes, RHP
Brandon Hynick, RHP
Sam LeCure, RHP
Logan Ondruzek, RHP
Chris Manno, LHP
Pomeranz leads Rockies vs. Royals; also, Rox face M’s in B game
Rockies left-hander Drew Pomeranz hopes to build on his scoreless two innings in the team’s Cactus League opener, a 1-1 tie with the D-backs on Friday afternoon, when he faces the Royals today. Fans can see the contest via a webcast. The game will start at 1:10 p.m. at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Felipe Paulino, formerly with the Rockies, will pitch for Kansas City.
Additionally, the Rockies and Mariners will play a B game at Salt River Fields at 10 a.m. on Field 1, which is just beyond the right-field corner of the main stadium.
Here is the Rockies’ batting order for the main game:
Dexter Fowler, CF
Jonathan Herrera, 2B
Jordan Pacheco, 1B
Jason Giambi, DH
Ramon Hernandez, C
Tyler Colvin, RF
Casey Blake, 3B
Chris Nelson, SS
Tim Wheeler, LF
Here is the pitching plan:
Drew Pomeranz, LHP
Josh Outman, LHP
Matt Belisle, RHP
Edgmer Escalona, RHP
Dustin Molleken, RHP
Edwar Cabrera, LHP
Joe Gardner, RHP
Here is the Rockies’ lineup for the the B game against the Mariners:
Eric Young Jr., 2B
Brendan Harris, RF
Brandon Wood, 3B
Chad Tracy, 1B
Ben Paulsen, DH
Andrew Brown, LF
DJ LeMahieu, SS
Jamie Hoffmann, CF
Lars Davis, C
Here is the pitching plan for the B game:
Rob Scahill, RHP
Carlos Torres, RHP
Josh Sullivan, RHP
Mike Ekstrom, RHP
Josh Roenicke, RHP
Blake to debut for Rockies vs. Cubs today
Rockies veteran third baseman Casey Blake will play for the first time since last Aug. 31, before his season with the Dodgers ended because of neck surgery.
Right-hander Guillermo Moscoso will start. Moscoso went 8-10 with a 3.28 ERA in 23 games, including 21 starts, for the Athletics last year. Moscoso, 28, actually made his first appearance in a Rockies uniform Friday in an intrqasquad game, when he gave up one run and two hits, with one strikeout, in two innings.
The Rockies also are starting Tyler Colvin in left field. The Rockies acquired Colvin and infielder DJ LeMaheiu, who is listed as a reserve today, from the Cubs for third baseman Ian Stewart and right-handed pitcher Casey Weathers. Stewart, a regular with the Rockies until he descended into a slump last season, will start for the Cubs.
On the Rockies’ pitching schedule are right-handed prospect Chad Bettis, right-hander Alex White, righty Josh Roenicke, lefty Matt Reynolds and righties Zach Putnam, Mike Ekstrom and Edgmer Escalona.
White is a candidate for the roation, along with Moscoso. White gave up one run on two hits, with a walk and a strikeout, in two innings of Friday’s intrasquad game. He was arrested Saturday night and, according to the Denver Post, could be charged with “extreme DUI.” The Rockies did not discipline White further. White, who came from the Indians in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade but was pitching through an injury during his brief trial (2-4, 8.42 ERA in seven starts) showed life on his sinker during the intrasquad game.
Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who was scratched from the lineup before Monday’s game against the D-backs because of illness, reported feeling better Tuesday. Outfielder Tim Wheeler, also sent home Monday, is listed as a reserve today. There was no plan to play first baseman Todd Helton today. Helton also was sent home because of the illness Monday but was at the clubhouse Tuesday.
Here is the Rockies’ lineup:
Dexter Fowler, CF
Jordan Pacheco, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Ramon Hernandez, C
Casey Blake, 3B
Brandon Wood, SS
Tyler Colvin, LF
Chris Nelson, 2B
Wilkin Castillo, DH
Rockies set lineup for Cactus opener
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Rockies open the Cactus League schedule against the D-backs on Saturday afternoon. Here is their batting order:
Dexter Fowler, CF
Marco Scutaro, 2B
Carlos Gonzalez, LF
Troy Tulowitzki, SS
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Tyler Colvin, DH
Ramon Hernandez, C
Nolan Arenado, 3B
Ben Paulsen, 1B
Left-hander Drew Pomeranz will be the starting pitcher, with Josh Outman, Rob Scahill, Matt Reynolds, Zach Putnam and Dustin Molleken are on the throwing schedule, with Mike Ekstrom and Josh Roenicke are scheduled as backups in case an inning gets out of hand.
Rockies manager Jim Tracy wants to be able to use Fowler at leadoff and Scutaro second in the order, but has said that could change. Scutaro hit toward the bottom of the order primarily for the Red Sox last season, but he is coming off a .299 batting average and .358 on-base percentage led the Rockies to plan on him hitting toward the top.
Veterans being given the day off are first basemen Todd Helton and Jason Giambi, and third baseman Casey Blake.
(This from the Rockies’ game notes:)
BROADCAST INFORMATION:Today’s game will be broadcast on Rockies Radio 850 KOA. Fourteen Rockies Cactus League games will be broadcast on 850 KOA, six games on ROOT Sports and 10 games on MLB.TV accessed through coloradorockies.com … The games broadcast on coloradorockies.com will be called by the voices of the Rockies Jack Corrigan and Jerry Schemmel.
Publication believes age will hurt Rockies’ defense
The Rockies’ decision to go older this year was designed to increase the team’s savvy and improve situational hitting. But will it hurt the defense?
ACTA Sports, publishers of The Fielding Bible – Volume III, seems to think older is not necessarily better with the glove. The publication points to four moves hurting the defense, under its various formulas that rate players in a category called Defensive Runs Saved.
– The publication reported that right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook, who has signed a Minor League contract with the Red Sox, saved six runs last year and was the main reason the Rockies’ staff was rated best in baseball from a fielding standpoint.
– Mark Ellis, who signed with the Dodgers as a free agent, saved 17 runs last season, and bolstered the defense after arriving in a midseason trade. Marco Scutaro, who played last season for the Red Sox, replaces Ellis.
– The book ranks Michael Cuddyer, a free agent previously with the Twins, as a downgrade from Seth Smith, now with the Athletics, in right field.
– Also, catcher Chris Iannetta, who was traded to the Angels, saved eight runs in what the publication rated as a tremendous defensive year. This year’s publication predicts veteran Ramon Hernandez, who played for the Reds last season, will cost the Rockies four runs.
Overall, The Fielding Bible rated the Rockies fifth overall in the Majors defensively, and is predicting a drop to 14th.
Of course, the Rockies could beg to differ with the publication at two of the positions cited.
– When the Rockies signed Cuddyer, one of the attributes they mentioned was his throwing arm, which they felt was superior to Smith’s and the team has no doubt in Cuddyer’s ability to handle right. Right is roomy at Coors, but Dexter Fowler covers extreme ground in center, and left — where 2010 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner Carlos Gonzalez plays — is considered more challenging than right because of the room that must be covered.
– The Rockies also have confidence in the range of Scutaro. Last season, Scutaro played in 109 games and started 103 at shortstop for the Red Sox. The Rockies want to rest shortstop Troy Tulowitzki more than in the past, and Scutaro’s range makes him a logical option to allow him to do so. The club would have to feel a second baseman with enough range to play short is not a defensive downgrade.
Rockies claim OF Hoffman
DALLAS – The Rockies claimed outfielder Jamie Hoffman off waivers from the Dodgers on Monday.
Hoffman, 27, spent most of last season at Triple-A Albuquerque, where he hit .297 with 22 home runs, 23 doubles, 84 RBIs and 14 steals in 133 games. He has hit .154 with a home run, two doubles and seven RBIs in 16 games from 2009 to 2011.
Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2003 out of New Ulm (N.M.) High School, Hoffman was chosen by the Nationals in the 2009 Rule 5 Draft and traded to the Yankees before being returned to the Dodgers during 2010 Spring Training.
The move brings the Rockies’ 40-man Major League roster to 38. The roster will increase to 39 when catcher Ramon Hernandez’s two-year, $6.4 million becomes official. Hernandez’s agreement is pending a physical.
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