June 2009
High Quality
The Sky Sox come into tonight’s game with the Portland Beavers riding not only a season-high, five-game winning streak but also a five-game quality start streak. Alan Johnson turned in a quality start yesterday afternoon despite not factoring into the decision after working seven solid innings and giving up just two runs on a second inning homer. In the past five games, the Sox starting pitchers are a combined 4-0 with a 0.83 ERA having giving up just three earned runs in 37.2 innings pitched. Adam Eaton, who has been very impressive in his three starts with the Sox, looks to keep the momentum going tonight against the Beavers in a matchup of right-handers as Matt Buschmann (3-8, 6.48 ERA) takes the hill for Portland.
Here’s Stu Cole’s lineup for tonight’s game:
Eric Young Jr. – 2B
Chris Frey – CF
Matt Miller – LF
Matt Murton – RF
Dan Ortmeier – 1B
Christian Colonel – 3B
Edwin Bellorin – C
Jonathan Herrera – SS
Adam Eaton – SP
Mike McCoy gets the day off today and EY returns after getting yesterday off. Cole and Young were out early today working on the young second baseman’s fielding. Cole hit about 30 or so balls to him out at second as he worked on his approach to ground balls and throws to first. His defense has been pretty solid this season, he’s also made many spectacular plays, but if there is one part of his game that needs to be worked on that’s probably it.
Baker & Torrealba
Today’s Sunday afternoon game sports the two rehabbing Rockies Jeff Baker and Yorvit Torrealba. Torrealba caught last night’s game and went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a walk and is right back out there again today with one interesting note. Instead of setting up behind the dish today to receive the pitches he’ll be stationed over at first base receiving throws from the infield. Torrealba has never played first base in the Major Leagues but has played there in winter ball. Baker did not play in last night’s game.
Here’s a look at Stu Cole’s lineup for the first place Sky Sox:
Mike McCoy – SS
Chris Frey – CF
Matt Miller – LF
Matt Murton – RF
Jeff Baker – 2B
Yorvit Torrealba – 1B
Christian Colonel – 3B
Sal Fasano – C
Alan Johnson – P
McCoy makes his eighth start in the leadoff position as Eric Young Jr. gets the afternoon off. The Sox are 4-3 in McCoy’s previous seven starts from that spot in the lineup where he is hitting.429 (12-for-28) with three doubles, six runs scored, three RBIs, six walks and five stolen bases.
American Cancer Society Day – Real Men Wear Purple
Today is American Cancer Society Day at the ballpark today and in celebration of the day the entire Sky Sox team will be doning special purple and white jerseys. The purple color is the official color of the American Cancer Society and symbolizes hope. Following today’s game, all the players and coaching staff will autograph their respective jeresy and each of them will be auctioned off to raise funds for the battle against cancer. The Sky Sox look very sharp in their purple and it also gives fans a small taste of what these guys might look like in Rockies purple.
Here’s Stu Cole’s purple lineup for the day:
Eric Young Jr. – 2B
Mike McCoy – 3B
Matt Miller – LF
Matt Murton – RF
Dan Ortmeier – 1B
Edwin Bellorin – C
Mark Bellhorn – DH
Jonathan Herrera – SS
Chris Frey – CF
Matt Belisle – SP
After splitting yesterday’s doubleheader and getting shutout for the first time all season in game two (0-1, loss), the Sox look to get the offense charged once again. The familiar first four in the lineup are back out there today with Young, McCoy, Miller and Murton leading the way. McCoy has been struggling at the plate recently after being one of the hottest hitters in the minors for the first 60 games of the season and looks to get things moving again today against LH David Purcey (1-1, 4.60). Purcey is the fifth straight left-handed starter that Las Vegas has used in the series.
Double Dip
After an amazing come-from-behind win, and very long night, last night, the Sky Sox and Las Vegas 51s will play two today. Today’s doubleheader is scheduled to make up for the snow out from April 12th between these two teams at the start of the season. Each game is scheduled for seven innings with the first pitch of game one set for 4:05 PM.
Taking a quick look at last night, the Sox pulled off yet another dazzling late-inning rally to beat the 51s 11-9. Trailing, 9-3 heading into the bottom of the eigth inning, the Sox plated eight runs and went on to close things out in the ninth. Big comebacks are not new to this year’s club. In fact, this was the third time this season that the Sky Sox scored eight or more runs in the eighth inning to come from behind and win. The Sox also scored eight runs in the 8th on May 18 versus Omaha to go on and win 11-6 (were trailing 3-4) and nine runs in the 8th versus Iowa on May 12 to win 16-15 in 10 innings (were trailing 5-12). By comparison, before this season, the Sox had scored eight runs or more in the 8th inning just four times in their previous 21 seasons!
So today’s DH has a lot of excitment to live up to. Game one will feature RH Adam Eaton (0-0, 0.00), who is making his first start for the Sox since signing as a minor league free agent earlier this month, against LH Brad Mills (1-7, 4.22). Game two will be RH Brandon Hynick (5-4, 4.04) for the Sox versus LH Davis Romero (1-2, 6.05). Here’s a look at Stu Cole’s lineup for game one:
Jonathan Herrera – SS
Chris Frey – CF
Matt Miller – LF
Matt Murton – RF
Dan Ortmeier – 1B
Mark Bellhorn – 2B
Kenny Perez – DH
Christian Colonel - 3B
Sal Fasano – C
Adam Eaton – SP
For the first time this season, neither Eric Young Jr. or Mike McCoy will be leading off for the Sox. Herrera gets the nod today with the doubleheader and will be looking to break out of a recent funk as he is hitless in his last 14 at bats. Also, Mark Bellhorn will be making his first start at second base
Righting the Ship
It’s almost half way through June and the Sky Sox are tied with Salt Lake for first in the Pacific North Divison. That’s good new for Sox fans, but the team has been going through a bit of a rough patch recently especially compared to the way the team has played for most of the season. Coming into tonight, the Sox have lost three of their last four and six of their last nine. So the team is looking to right the ship and get back on the winning course in the last four games of this series with Las Vegas before they head on the road for a very long 11-game, 12-day road trip.
Here’s the lineup that Stu Cole will be putting out there tonight to turn things around:
Eric Young Jr. – 2B
Mike McCoy – SS
Matt Miller – LF
Matt Murton – RF
Dan Ortmeier – 1B
Edwin Bellorin – C
Mark Bellhorn – DH
Christian Colonel – 3B
Chris Frey – CF
Alan Johnson – SP
Catcher Edwin Bellorin makes his return to the lineup tonight after being promoted up to the Rockies while Yorvit Torrealba was away on personal leave. With the Rockies, Bellorin hit .333 (2-for-8) with a run scored in two games.
Other news of the day involves reliever Franklin Nunez. Nunez, who’s been out of commission since May 15, threw a simulated game today at 3:20 PM and looked good. He’ll be evaluated today and his future schedule will determined after that.
Life After CarGo
After last night’s 16-8 win over Fresno, everyone learned that Carlos Gonzalez had been called up by the Rockies. A call-up has rarely been more deserved. At the time of his promotion, Gonzalez was leading all of professional baseball with 59 RBIs and was leading the Sox in homers (10), triples (7), extra base hits (29) and slugging (.630). He’s been hot all season long for the most part and turned in two, six-RBI games, the Sky Sox season-high.
His dynamic play will certainly be missed in the lineup but with his promotion came news that Matt Murton would be returning to the Sky Sox to make room for Gonzalez on the Rockies 25-man roster. Murton started the season in Colorado Springs and was called up on April 29. Before he left though, Murton was leading the Sox with a .411 average, four homers and 19 RBIs so his return will help cover the loss of Gonzalez.
Here’s tonights CarGo-less lineup filled out by Stu Cole:
Eric Young Jr. – 2B
Mike McCoy – RF
Matt Miller – LF
Kenny Perez – 3B
Dan Ortmeier – 1B
Chris Frey – CF
Austin Rauch – C
Jonathan Herrera – SS
Franklin Morales – SP
Missing from the lineup is Murton but that is only because his travel plans from Houston, where the Rockies were last night, would not allow him to make it here in time for tonight’s game.
Morales will be making his second rehab start tonight as he recovers from a left shoulder strain suffered in his start against Arizona on April 21. In his first rehab start, Morales looked pretty good over his four innings of work. He gave up two runs on five hits while walking one and striking out five as the Sox went on to defeat Tacoma 12-4.
.300 Lineup
It’s been a typical June day here in Colorado Springs. We’ve been dodging thunderstorms for most of the day and had to put the tarp on once but right now it’s a sunny and warm day and the Sox just finished up their infield work. Scott Fletcher, the Rockies roving infield coordinator is in town and had all the Sox infielders out today taking groundballs and working on double plays. Also in town right now are Bo McLaughlin, the Rockies roving pitching coordinator, and Vinny Castilla who is serving as a special assistant to General Manager Dan O’Dowd.
As the team stretches and gets ready for batting practice, here’s Stu Cole’s lineup:
Eric Young Jr. – 2B
Mike McCoy – SS
Carlos Gonzalez – CF
Matt Miller – LF
Chris Iannetta – C
Kenny Perez – 3B
Dan Ortmeier – 1B
Chris Frey – RF
Jason Hirsh – SP
Looking at the lineup today is pretty impressive. All eight position players in the lineup today are hitting .300 or better. After being held to just four hits and a season-low one run yesterday, Cole is looking to reverse the trend here in the series as Fresno has taken the first two from the Sox. The Sky Sox are the best hitting team in the league at .310 and are leading the league in runs scored so the the bats should be back on track soon.
Ortmeier and Gonzalez Return
For the second straight day it’s not exactly ideal baseball weather but the game will still go on! Arrving at the ballpark this morning to a very thick fog and heavy mist was not the most inviting of scenarios but as the day went on the fog burned off. So, it’s game two between Fresno and Colorado Springs here on Wednesday afternoon and here’s Stu Cole’s lineup:
Eric Young Jr. – 2B
Mike McCoy – 3B
Carlos Gonzalez – CF
Matt Miller – LF
Dan Ortmeier – 1B
Chris Frey – RF
Austin Rauch – C
Jonathan Herrera – SS
Matt Belisle – SP
The biggest news today is the return to the lineup of both Carlos Gonzalez and Dan Ortmeier. Gonzalez missed yesterday’s game after fouling a ball off his shin in Monday’s game and is right back out there with his professional baseball-leading 59 RBIs. Ortmeier is returning to the diamond after missing the last five games with a sore back. His daily rest and work with trainer Heath Townsend has him back out and hitting in the five spot behind Matt Miller.
Today’s starting nine has seven players batting .285 or better with the first six in the lineup all batting over .300. The only players not boasting robust averages are catcher Austin Rauch, who is making his first start ever above Rookie level, and the pitcher Matt Belisle. Another interesting note about today’s lineup is that the first three hitters in the lineup Young Jr., McCoy and Gonzalez are also 1, 2, 3 in the PCL in runs scored.
Major League Rehabs
Joining the Sky Sox today on a Major League rehab assignment is catcher Chris Iannetta. Iannetta becomes the fourth ML rehab player on the Sox roster along with Franklin Morales, Matt Daley and Ryan Speier.
In other roster news, catcher Edwin Bellorin was called up by the Rockies today to take the place of Yorvit Torreabla who has gone home for personal reasons. To replace Bellorin on the roster, the Rockies transfered catcher Austin Rauch from Extended Spring to the Sky Sox. Rauch has not played above Rookie level ball so far in his career having played for Tri-City last year and Casper the two years prior to that. Last season, Rauch hit .200 with four homers and 17 RBI in 49 games.
Here’s Stu Cole’s lineup for tonight’s match-up with the Fresno Grizzlies:
Eric Young Jr. – 2B
Mike McCoy – RF
Kenny Perez – 3B
Matt Miller – LF
Chris Iannetta – C
Mark Bellhorn – 1B
Chris Frey – CF
Jonathan Herrera – SS
Brandon Hynick – SP
A few notes on the lineup today: Carlos Gonzalez is not in the lineup after hitting a ball off his right shin during last night’s game. Gonzalez left the game after popping out later in the at-bat, after hitting a homer and driving in four on the night, but the injury is not serious and he should be back in the lineup soon. With his four RBIs last night, Gonzalez now leads all of baseball with 59 RBIs. Evan Longoria leads the Majors with 55 RBIs.
Starting pitcher Brandon Hynick will be batting ninth in the lineup today as the two National League affiliated teams square off. Normally the pitcher’s spot in the lineup is an easy out but not with Hynick in the there. On the year, Hynick is hitting .417 (5-for-12) with a homer, three doubles and three RBIs. Opposing pitcher Matt Kinney should not take Hynick lightly.
What To Expect of the New Skipper
By Andrew Woerpel
In the wake of its manager Tom Runnells being promoted to t he Colorado Rockies, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox have turned to a familiar face in Stu Cole to lead the team.
Cole steps in as manager of the Sky Sox after spending the past three seasons, and the first part of this season, as the Tulsa Drillers skipper. Before joining the Sky Sox this season, Cole had the Drillers in second place of the Texas League North Division. In 2006, Cole won the North Division and led the Drillers to a 41-29 record claiming a playoff birth.
Stepping in to the managerial job with the Sky Sox is a reunion of sorts for Cole as he played for the Sky Sox from 1993-1995, winning a PCL championship in the process.
“I haven’t been here in quite a while and know there has been a lot of changes in the city,” Cole said. “It feels good to come back and have people recognize you from when you played and appreciate everything that you did. That’s what makes this game so special whenever you give your all, because people notice that and they never forget you.”
Cole is no stranger to the players he has inherited either, as he has managed many of them on their way up through the Rockies farm system.
“We try to preach to these guys down at the lower level to try and get better to the point where you can be consistent at the higher level,” Cole said. “To see these guys like Miller, Frey and Colonel; they look like stronger and better men because of it, so it’s a joy to see the way these guys develop year in and year out.”
Cole admits he is a very aggressive type of manager, which fits right in with the way the Sky Sox have played this season.
“I like to make guys run and steal bases and hit and run when you have to, just kind of put pressure on the defense,” Cole said.
As far as the players are concerned, they don’t have to worry about being second guessed when making plays on the field as Cole is a very confident and enthusiastic manager.
“I want to let the guys know that they have my support on everything they are going to do out there on the field, and there is not going to be anything that is going to be second guessed,” Cole explained.
When asked what Cole wanted to achieve this season as he inherits a first place club, he was quick to focus on the development of the players.
“I just want these guys to understand that I am coming in here to help them continue to be consistent and continue to get better every single day,” Cole said, “I just want to see the team continue to get better and progress.”
On May 31, 2009, the first game of the Stu Cole era took place at Security Service Field where the Sky Sox pummeled the Tacoma Rainiers into submission by a score of 12-4. When Cole was asked how it felt to get his first victory at the Triple-A level his response was simple.
“It feels good, I mean it’s better than getting a loss,” Cole admitted.
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