Results tagged ‘ Ryan Spilborghs ’
Rox an unlikely match with Mets
The Rockies like Mets right-handed pitcher Mike Pelfrey, but it doesn’t look as if the parts for a trade fit.
One issue is the Mets have little starting pitching depth and are loath to part with Pelfrey, who went 7-14 with a 4.74 ERA during a difficult Mets 2011 season but was 15-9, 3.66 the previous year.
Also, while the Mets are seeking bullpen help, they’re not going to take the Rockies’ Huston Street. The Mets’ bench coach is Bob Geren, who was Street’s manager with the Athletics before the Rockies acquired him. Street and Geren feuded back then, and the Mets would prefer to stay away from that situation.
Dealing Street and outfielder Seth Smith appears to be the Rockies’ best route to improving the club quickly. Also they’ll see how much interest there is in third baseman Ian Stewart, with the Cubs mentioned prominently, and outfielder Ryan Spilborghs.
Baseball’s Winter Meetings opened Monday in Dallas.
Rox an unlikely match with Mets
The Rockies like Mets right-handed pitcher Mike Pelfrey, but it doesn’t look as if the parts for a trade fit.
One issue is the Mets have little starting pitching depth and are loath to part with Pelfrey, who went 7-14 with a 4.74 ERA during a difficult Mets 2011 season but was 15-9, 3.66 the previous year.
Also, while the Mets are seeking bullpen help, they’re not going to take the Rockies’ Huston Street. The Mets’ bench coach is Bob Geren, who was Street’s manager with the Athletics before the Rockies acquired him. Street and Geren feuded back then, and the Mets would prefer to stay away from that situation.
Dealing Street and outfielder Seth Smith appears to be the Rockies’ best route to improving the club quickly. Also they’ll see how much interest there is in third baseman Ian Stewart, with the Cubs mentioned prominently, and outfielder Ryan Spilborghs.
Baseball’s Winter Meetings opened Monday in Dallas.
Lance Berkman a possible Rox target
Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd has said it’s doubtful he can land a big bat, but he’s trying. According to The Denver Post, the Rockies have aggressively pursued switch-hitting Lance Berkman to play the outfield corners and occasionally spell Todd Helton at first base.
The key here would be Berkman’s desire to return to the National League. Berkman saw a dramatic drop in his power with the Astros and Yankees last season, although finished he year with the Yankees as a designated hitter on an upswing as far as average is concerned.
An important aspect of the pursuit of Berkman, according to the Post, is Helton would be on board with bringing in Berkman. The two have the same agent. Helton helped the Rockies recruit Jason Giambi as his backup last season, but by season’s end Helton admitted not playing nearly every game was difficult. Still, the Rockies need a solid alternative, given Helton’s history of back problems and his age.
The Rockies desire a right-handed corner bat, preferably one that can play some first base. Berkman has more power from the left than from the right, but he fits — if the price is right. The Cardinals, Blue Jays and Athletics also have pursued Berkman.
The Mariners’ Jose Lopez, if he’s non-tendered, Jorge Cantu, whom the Rockies considered trading for last season, and Troy Glaus are acknowledged targets. The Rockies also are looking at the Athletics, who appear to be deciding whether to non-tender Edwin Encarnacion or Colorado native Kevin Kouzmanoff.
Some current Rockies will no doubt be watching the situation closely. Third baseman Ian Stewart and outfielders Seth Smith and Ryan Spilborghs could potentially lose playing time, depending on who is signed. Interestingly, the Rockies hired Carney Lansford as hitting coach and charged him with the task of waking up the bats of all three. Stewart and Smith didn’t meet the club’s expectations for production last year. Spilborghs finished strong but struggled with strikeouts early.
– Thomas Harding
Lineup for Tuesday; Cook has chance to bounce back
After a few days back in the Denver area for rest and relaxation, I rejoin the Fighting Rockies in Glendale. It’s a nice lineup for a road Spring Training game.
Eric Young Jr., 2B
Dexter Fowler, DH
Seth Smith, RF
Ryan Spilborghs, LF
Ian Stewart, 3B
Melvin Mora, CF
Michael Paulk, 1B
Paul Phillips, C
Omar Quintanilla, SS
RHP Aaron Cook
The player to watch is Cook, who was shelled by the Rangers in his last start (9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 2/3 IP). Interestingly, the game was at Hi Corbett Field and the Rangers made a long trip, but they started several key regulars — Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, Michael Young and Nelson Cruz.
I haven’t seen a White Sox lineup, but they are at home here in Glendale, so Cook should be facing tough hitters.
Redding escapes traffic; Chacin encouraging
Right-hander Tim Redding’s first Rockies appearance was not as sharp as he wanted. He saw heavy traffic for two innings – three hits and a walk – but yielded just one run in the 8-6 victory over the Brewers.
With two out and one on in the first inning, Jody Gerut drove a 3-0 pitch. Right fielder Ryan Spilborghs tracked it through high winds and chased it to the wall in the corner but could not make the play. Redding though it was going to be a tape-measure home run.
“You don’t think, even in Spring Training games, a guy is going to come out swinging 3-0, so I threw a fastball to get back in there, and try to get him out later on,” Redding said. “The next inning, they had the walk and the hit, then I got a double play and got the pitcher out.
“That was encouraging, knowing that I had first and second, nobody out, then got a double-play ball and got the pitcher to hit the ball on the ground.”
Redding, a non-roster invitee but one the Rockies have attempted to trade for or sign in the past, said he needs to work on pitching inside to left-handed hitters.
Right-hander Jhooulys Chacin, who followed Redding, was charged with three runs, two earned, in two innings. All of the runs came in the third inning.
But the hits were along the ground, and he escaped the inning with a double-play grounder. The first out nearly was a double play, but first baseman Paul Lo Duca, who was charged with the error on Gerut’s hard bouncer, could not scoop shortstop Troy Tulowitzki’s throw.
“I was tickled to death with what I saw from both guys,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said.
Time to get started
It’s time to turn on the radio and dream of a regular season ahead. The Rockies will open Cactus League play today at 1:05 p.m. against the D-backs at Tucson Electric Park. Here is the Rockies’ lineup.
2B Eric Young Jr.
1B Paul Lo Duca
CF Carlos Gonzalez
RF Ryan Spilborghs
LF Seth Smith
C Chris Iannetta
3B Ian Stewart
SS Jonathan Herrera
RHP Jason Hammel
Here is the rest of the Rockies’ pitching schedule for today: LHP Jorge De La Rosa, RHP Manuel Corpas, RHP Juan Rincon and LHP Franklin Morales. The backups, in case any pitcher struggles, are right-handers Alberto Alburquerque, Shane Lindsay, Edgmer Escalona and Andrew Johnston.
D-backs pitchers will be RHP Billy Buckner, RHP T.J. Beam, RHP Bob Howry, LHP Tom Layne and RHP Leo Rosales.
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