Results tagged ‘ Ryan Spilborghs ’

Tulowitzki, Spilborghs and Hawpe arrive

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki showed up at Hi Corbett Field on Monday morning. So did outfielders Dexter Fowler and Ryan Spilborghs. The first full-squad workout isn’t until Friday, but just about everyone is in. The only regulars who haven’t been seen are outfielders Brad Hawpe and Seth Smith. But like the others, there is no concern about them being on time or in shape.

 

I saw Tulowitzki recently in Denver, and he said he was trying to curb is excitement because it’s so early and the season is so long. Tulowitzki, a high-energy player, is still trying to contain himself. But that’s a little harder to do now.

 

“Anytime my buddies or family ask if I’m excited for Spring Training to start, my answer is always I’m not as excited until I get here, and I see the guys, and I see the fields, and I see everybody that I basically go to work with,” Tulowitzki said. “That kicks it into the next gear.

 

“Being here and putting your stuff in the locker and being in this atmosphere gets you ready to start playing.”

 

Update: Was sitting and enjoying dinner when it hit me. There was one other position player I hadn’t seen as of Sunday — outfielder Carlos Gonzalez. Well, it’s the same as with Hawpe and Smith: He’ll be ready.

 

Rockies drop Barmes to eighth, sit Hawpe

The hitting woes and defensive wonder of Clint Barmes are well-chronicled. Manager Jim Tracy admitted Thursday morning that he considered giving Barmes Thursday off against Phillies lefty standout Cliff Lee. However, the glove kept him on the field. Sinkerball specialist Aaron Cook is pitching for the Rockies, and needs top-notch defense.

However, Tracy dropped Barmes to eighth in the order.

He also gave a day off to All-Star right fielder Brad Hawpe, who has gone 5-for-31 (.161) on the current road trip.

Here are the lineups:

Rockies

Dexter Fowler, CF

Seth Smith, LF

Todd Helton, 1B

Troy Tulowitzki, SS

Garrett Atkins, 3B

Ryan Spilborghs, RF

Chris Iannetta, C

Clint Barmes, 2B

Aaron Cook, P

Phillies

Jimmy Rollins, SS

Shane Victorino, CF

Chase Utley, 2B

Ryan Howard, 1B

Raul Ibanez, LF

Jayson Werth, RF

Pedro Feliz, 3B

Paul Bako, C

Cliff Lee, P

Atkins siezes chance; Time to take notice?

This could turn out well for third baseman Garrett Atkins and the Rockies.

Atkins lashed three hits, including a home run, Wednesday against the Angels, and is back in the lineip for Friday night’s opener of three against the Athletics. If this is Atkins’ showcase for a trade, then so be it.

Atkins has hit .302 (13-for-43) this month, with three home runs and six RBIs in 15 games. Also, the Athletics are starting left-hander Dallas Braden, and Atkins is 9-for-his-last-21 against lefties.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy is proud of how Atkins has worked despite being supplanted by Ian Stewart at third base.

“He has been a complete professional,” Tracy said. “And I really believe if I’m looking at this correctly, from some of the types of at-bats I’ve seen him take as of late, he’s real interested of making a statement, ‘I’m still the Garrett Atkins that drove in over 100 runs three out of the last four years.’

“If he continues to force the issue that way, then obviously he will force our hand to do something very positive for the Colorado Rockies.”

Atkins will hit cleanup and clint Barmes, who went 0-for-12 in three games against the Angels, will bat ninth. Ryan Spilborghs moves into Barmes’ No. 2 hole. Here are the full lineups for both teams:

Rockies

Dexter Fowler, CF

Ryan Spilborghs, LF

Todd Helton, 1B

Garrett Atkins, DH

Brad Hawpe, RF

Troy Tulowitzki, SS

Chris Iannetta, C

Ian Stewart, 3B

Clint Barmes, 2B

Starting pitcher — Jason Hammel

Athletics

Adam Kennedy, 2B

Jack Cust, RF

Matt Holliday, LF

Jason Giambi, DH

Kurt Suzuki, C

Orlando Cabrera, SS

Ryan Sweeney, CF

Daric Barton, 1B

Jack Hannahan, 3B

Starting pitcher — Dallas Braden

 

 

Throwing a man a bone

Rockies right-hander Taylor Buchholz underwent Tommy John ligament transfer surgery on his right elbow on Wednesday. Rockies manager Jim Tracy discussed the surgery with Rockies head athletic trainer Keith Dugger, who told him Buchholz received a surprise.

“As to the state that the ligament was in, there was a piece of bone actually growing into the ligament,” Tracy said. “Apparently, what ‘Doogie’ had said to me was the doctor maintained the fragment and gave it to him, just so he could see it.”

– In a lineup stacked with right-handed hitters, Garrett Atkins gets the start at third base instead of left-handed hitting ian Stewart.

Atkins, in spot duty, has been on base in six of his last 12 plate appearances, and is on a 6-for-12 run against lefty pitchers.

“Here’s an opportunity to see where he’s at, and let him know something that I looked him in the eye and told him in St. Louis, ‘Unless you quit on yourself, I’m not going to quit on you,’” Tracy said. “You’ve got to find spots to put him in there.”

Tracy said he wants to play Atkins enough to get his “pilot light burning all the way up, instead of some of the flickers we see periodically.”

 

– Here are lineups for Wednesday night’s game against the Rays:

Rays

B.J. Upton, CF

Carl Crawford, LF

Evan Longoria, 3B

Carlos Pena, 1B

Ben Zobrist, 2B

Pat Burrell, RF

Jason Bartlett, SS

Michel Hernandez, C

David Price, P

Rockies

Dexter Fowler, CF

Clint Barmes, 2B

Todd Helton, 1B

Garrett Atkins, 3B

Brad Hawpe, RF

Ryan Spilborghs, LF

Troy Tulowitzki, SS

Chris Iannetta, C

Aaron Cook, P

Rehab city

Left-hander Franklin Morales, coming back from a throwing shoulder strain, had as good a first rehab assignment as the Rockies could have expected on Sunday.

Morales went four innings and gave up two runs on five hits, and threw strikes on 48 of his 72 pitches.

“I talked to a lot of people, and he had a tough first inning and got better after that,” Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “He threw 86-94 mph, averaged 91-92. He showed good arm strength, his delivery was better. He’s still a work in progress, but it’s a good first step.”

Rockies manager Jim Tracy said Morales will receive another start, then the Rockies will evaluate him.

Right-hander Matt Daley (sprained left foot) is scheduled to throw an innning in Colorado Springs on Monday night, but rain is threatening that. Tracy said his rehab should be a short one.Catcher Chris Iannetta (strained right hamstrings) is due to join the Colorado Springs club on Tuesday. Tracy said there is a chance Iannetta will rejoin the club in Milwaukee at the end of the current road trip.

Now, for the guys who are here at Minute Maid Park for a three-game series with the Astros. …

Center fielder Dexter Fowler receives a rest, and Ryan Spilborghs leads off and plays center.

Rockies

Ryan Spilborghs, CF

Clint Barmes, 2B

Todd Helton, 1B

Garrett Atkins, 3B

Brad Hawpe, RF

Seth Smith, LF

Troy Tulowitzki, SS

Yorvit Torrealba, C

Aaron Cook, P

Astros

Michael Bourn, CF

Miguel Tejada, SS

Hunter Pence, RF

Carlos Lee, LF

Lance Berkman, 1B

Ivan Rodriguez, C

Jeff Keppinger, 3B

Edwin Maysonet, 2B

Roy Oswalt, P

 

Same as it ever was … or not

Nice little fact about the Rockies. Their 18-27 record going into Wednesday afternoon’s game with the Dodgers is the exact same mark as at this point last year. It’s also the same mark they had in 2007.

But this year’s mark is worse than the previous two.

All it takes is a look at the National League West standings. In 2007, they were seven games of the pace. Last year, they were 10 1/2.

This time, they’re 13 games behind the first-place Dodgers.

That’s not saying there’s no hope, but might as well put the figure, and the Rockies’ challenge, into perspective. It’s why the Rockies are facing desperation, why manager Clint Hurdle’s future employment is a subject of local speculation.

Here are Wednesday afternoon’s lineups:

Dodgers

Juan Pierre, LF

Mark Loretta, 3B

Orlando Hudson, 2B

James Loney, 1B

Russell Martin, C

Andre Ethier, RF

Matt Kemp, CF

Juan Castro, SS

Clayton Kershaw, P

Rockies

Dexter Fowler, CF

Troy Tulowitzki, SS

Todd Helton, 1B

Matt Murton, LF

Ryan Spilborghs, RF

Clint Barmes, 2B

Paul Phillips, C

Ubaldo Jimenez, P

 

 

Hawpe hurting, out of the lineup

Rockies right fielder Brad Hawpe suffered a slight groin injury during Monday’s 16-6 loss to the Dodgers. Manager Clint Hurdle said it occurred before Hawpe’s unsuccessful dive for a Jamie Hoffman line drive, which turned into a seventh-inning double.

Matt Murton, who has hit .376 wth a homer and four RBIs since his callup from Triple-A Colorado Springs, is starting in Hawpe’s place.

But first baseman Todd Helton’s migraine symptoms are not an issue, so he’s back in the lineup.

Here’s are the teams’ batting orders:

Dodgers

Juan Pierre, LF

Orlando Hudson, 2B

Andre Ethier, RF

Casey Blake, 3B

James Loney, 1B

Matt Kemp, CF

Juan Castro, SS

Brad Ausmus, C

Eric Milton, P

Rockies

Dexter Fowler, CF

Troy Tulowitzki, SS

Todd Helton, 1B

Ryan Spilborghs, RF

Matt Murton, LF

Garrett Atkins, 3B

Yorvit Torrealba, C

Aaron Cook, P

The Dragonslayer returns

What’s cool about a small-market franchise like the Rockies having success, as they did in 2007, is guys that are considered journeymen can attain immortal status. Infielder Jamey Carroll, now with the Indians, is one. Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba has not had the same playing time he did back then, but his home run to send the Rockies to the World Series will never be forgotten.

Right-handed pitcher Josh Fogg also enjoys a status here that will never die. In 2007, he displayed a penchant for pitching the Rockies to wins when they faced big-name pitcher. Suddenly, folks started calling him The Dragonslayer.

Fogg parlayed his success in Denver into a free-agent contract with the Reds last season. The dragons caught up with him in Cincinnati. Actually, they were the dragons from within. His throwing motion becamre so out of whack that he experienced no success with the Reds, and all he could land was a Minor League deal with the Rockies for 2009. It took until now for Fogg to correct what went wrong.

Now he’s back. The Rockies jettisoned righty Matt Belisle and brought back Fogg for the long relief role. There may be some spot-starts for him, but his role will be out of the bullpen.

It’s a challenge. The sporadic work in the bullpen with the Reds helped lead to the complete destruction of his mechanics. But it’s an opportunity.

He’ll never lose his Dragonslayer status. But that was then. He’ll have to show he can handle his new role to attract greater appreciation.

Fogg’s return in a Rockies uniform — he’ll wear 51 instead of 37, which belongs to Ryan Speier — could be Monday against the Dodgers. But rain falls as this is being written. So if there is baseball, here are the lineups:

Dodgers

Juan Pierre, CF

Russell Martin, C

Orlando Hudson, 2B

Casey Blake, 3B

Matt Kemp, CF

James Loney, 1B

Jamie Hoffman, RF

Juan Castro, SS

Eric Stultz, P

Rockies

Dexter Fowler, CF

Troy Tulowitzki, SS

Todd Helton, 1B

Ryan Spilborghs, LF

Brad Hawpe, RF

Garrett Atkins, 3B

Clint Barmes, 2B

Yorvit Torrealba, C

Jorge De La Rosa, P

Helton takes a rest on the edge of 2,000

Rockies first baseman Todd Helton had started all but three of the team’s first 35 games this season. So he took a well-deserve rest on Sunday.

Helton is presumably available for pinch-hit and defensive duty, so there’s a chance he’ll get the one hit he needs to each 2,000 for his career. But manager Clint Hurdle kept him out of the starting lineup.

Hurdle, Helton and the training staff stay in constant contact about how Helton feels, since he underwent back surgery at the end of last season. After a long streak in the lineup, Helton felt the need to step back on Sunday.

“You need to give him some breaks, and this is one he is embracing, because he has been full-throttle for a large volume of games,” Hurdle said.

Hurdle took his three games off during the early days of the season. But given the caution the team is taking, no one expected Helton to have played so much at this point.

“I’d say pleasantly surprised, but I hate to use the word surprised when it comes to Todd because he’s capable of so much with his mindset, his determination, his resiliency,” Hurdle said. “He’s playing more than I anticipated him being able to play and he’s playing at a high level.”

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is batting third for the first time in his career, Garrett Atkins, after a hard work day Saturday to improve his hitting, is playing first base, and Dexter Fowler, who is having strikeout issues from the right side, is on the bench.

Rockies

CF Ryan Spilborghs

2B Clint Barmes

SS Troy Tulowitzki

RF Brad Hawpe

LF Matt Murton

1B Garrett Atkins

C Yorvit Torrealba

3B Ian Stewart

P Ubaldo Jimenez

Pirates

RF Delwyn Young

2B Freddy Sanchez

CF Nate McLouth

1B Adam LaRoche

C Robinzon Diaz

LF Brandon Moss

3B Andy LaRoche

SS Jack Wilson

P Zach Duke

Atkins becomes spot player

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle insisted that he’s not going to bury third baseman Garrett Atkins. But Saturday’s decision to start Ian Stewart at third base, on the heels of Stewart’s pinch-hitting for Atkins in the ninth inning Friday night, is a signal that Atkins’ playing time will be cut as he tries to work through a season-long slump.

“I’ve tried to find different ways to catch a fuse for him, and yesterday it was putting him in the cleanup spot based on a matchup and faith,” Hurdle said. “I had a nice conversation with him today, a very engaging and challenging conversation about what we’re going to do together, what we need to do for him, what he needs to do for himself to get him back in a spot in the lineup we’d like to have him in.

“But right now we’ve got to go out there the best way we can to win a ballgame. He understands that. I told him I’m not going to ice him, but I’m going to get him involved when I think it’s the right fit.”

This is a personal project for Hurdle, because the Rockies’ hitting coach, Don Baylor, is not with the club. According to Jack Etkin of insidetherockies.com, Baylor is being treated for pneumonia at a Denver-area hospital. 

Hurdle said the Rockies have tried everything, including the old, forget everything and just hit, approach. That didn’t work, so Hurdle is offering specific moves to help Atkins regain form and confidence.

Here are Saturday night’s lineups:

Rockies

Dexter Fowler                CF

Troy Tulowitzki               SS

Todd Helton                   1B

Brad Hawpe                   RF

Ryan Spilborghs             LF

Ian Stewart                    3B

Chris Iannetta                 C

Clint Barmes                 2B

Aaron Cook                    P

Pirates

Delwyn Young                RF

Freddy Sanchez             2B

Nate McLouth                CF

Adam LaRoche              1B

Brandon Moss                LF

Andy LaRoche                3B

Jason Jarmillo                  C

Jack Wilso                     SS

Ian Snell                          P

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