July 2012
Sky Sox Pitcher of the Week History
Sky Sox starting pitcher Alex White was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for the week of July 23-29. White led the PCL with 15 innings pitched with a 0.60 ERA in his two starts while striking out a total of ten. White threw two gems for the Sky Sox during the week, the first being seven shutout innings against Tacoma on July 23, the second longest shutout start of the season for the Sox (Christian Friedrich went 7.1 shutout innings against Tacoma on April 10). In his second start of the week White went eight innings against Fresno limiting them to one run while striking out a season high eight, and did not his first hit until the fifth inning. The start against Fresno was the longest by any Sky Sox pitcher this season, and after having only one win in his first nine starts White has put together back-to-back wins.
White being named Pitcher of the Week is the first time a Sky Sox pitcher has been honored with the award since Brandon Hynick won the award in 2009 during the week of June 29-July 5, the week he tossed the only perfect game in Sox history. It is only the third time since the 2005 season a Colorado Springs pitcher has won the award, the other being Sun-Woo Kim for July 3-9 in the 2006 season.
Since 2000, the Sky Sox have had seven total pitchers win the PCL Pitcher of the Week award. Doug Linton and Giovanni Carrara both won the award in back-to-back weeks in May of the 2000 season, Aaron Cook won the award in 2002 and 2004 while with the Sox and Denny Stark also won the award during the 2004 season. From 1988-1999 the Sky Sox had at least one pitcher win the award every season with 18 different pitchers winning the award, including having three different pitchers win in both the 1994 and 1997 seasons.
Sky Sox Lineup 7/30 vs Fresno:
1 – Jonathan Herrera – 2B
2 – Tim Wheeler – RF
3 – Charlie Blackmon – CF
4 – Matt McBride – LF
5 – Hernan Iribarren – SS
6 – Chad Tracy – 1B
7 – Brandon Wood – 3B
8 – Wil Nieves – C
9 – Rob Scahill – SP (Batting .348 in 12 games he has batted in)
Sky Sox 7/25 Notebook
HOT SOX AND ACES: The Sky Sox have the most wins of any team in the PCL in the month of July at 14, while owning the second best winning percentage behind Albuquerque who is 13-7 this month, but the Aces have been equally as hot posting a 13-8 record in July. Colorado Springs has the second most hits in the league this month at 248 trailing only Oklahoma City at 252, and Reno ranks third with 237 hits. The Sky Sox and the Aces are one of three teams (the other Las Vegas) who have hit above .300 as a team for the months of June and July.
SCAHILL’S SIMILAR STARTS VS RENO: Sky Sox starter Rob Scahill has won both of his two starts against the Aces this season, including earning his first career Triple-A win on April 8 in his first 2012 start. In both starts Scahill has had almost the exact same stat line, and has allowed exactly seven hits and two runs while striking out five. Scahill is 4-1 against the Pacific Northern Division this season with a 3.48 ERA (31 IP, 12 ER) and is 4-8 with a 6.07 ERA (72.2 IP, 49 ER) against all other PCL teams.
TRACY TEARING IT UP: Sky Sox first baseman Chad Tracy only had one at-bat in last night’s loss as a pinch hitter, but still notched his 41st RBI since June 1st in that lone at-bat. Since the beginning of June, Tracy ranks fourth in the PCL in RBI behind RBI machines Andrew Brown (45) and Ryan Wheeler (42) as well as Tucson’s Jedd Gyorko (45) while posting a .340 batting average in the last two months after posting a .209 average in April and May combined. Tracy also ranks second in XBH at 27 and in doubles at 20 since the beginning of June.
McBRIDE AND BLACKMON SHUT OUT: Sky Sox outfielder Charlie Blackmon and utility man Matt McBride went a combined 0-for-9 in last night’s loss after coming in to the game ranking second and third in hits in the PCL in the month of July. It was the first time since Blackmon rejoined the Sky Sox on July 4 that both hitters had been held without a hit in the 17 games they had both been in the lineup this month. Blackmon and McBride have both been held hitless only three times this season when they both have an at-bat in a game. Since Blackmon rejoined the Sox on July 4, the two hitters lead the PCL with 30 hits apiece.
ROX SYSTEM LEADS THE WAY: The Colorado Rockies Minor League system has the highest combined winning percentage of any MLB team’s farm system at .549 (289-237), just ahead of the Houston Astros system which has a combined winning percentage of .546 (301-250). The Rockies system has the sixth most combined wins behind Seattle (326), Houston (301), the Yankees (301), Philadelphia (296) and the Mets (295). Arizona’s system ranks seventh in winning percentage (.525) and in wins (288).
Sky Sox 7/24 Notebook
FIRST SEASON HOME SWEEP IN TEAM HISTORY: With a 9-1 win in yesterday’s series finale against the Tacoma Rainiers the Sky Sox finished the season a perfect 8-0 against the division rival Rainiers, the first time in franchise history the Sox have swept all eight games at Security Service against an opponent in one season. The eight-game home winning streak against Tacoma also set a record for the longest home winning streak all in one season against any PCL opponent in the Sky Sox 25-year history. The Sox took the season series from the Rainiers 12-4 this year.
SOX STREAKING: The Sky Sox are currently riding a six-game winning streak, their longest of the season and tied for their longest win streak since their seven-game streak in the 2007 season. The Sky Sox had six game winning streaks in 2011 from April 21 to April 26 in games against Tacoma and Las Vegas and also in 2008 from August 4 to the first game of a doubleheader on August 10 in games against Omaha and Portland. The Sky Sox longest winning streak in team history is 14 games set in the 1995 season.
BIG MAC: Sky Sox utility player Matt McBride is currently riding a 17-game hitting streak. It is the longest active hitting streak for any Colorado Springs batter, is tied for the longest by a Sky Sox player this season (Tim Wheeler also had a 17-game streak) and is the third longest active streak in the PCL behind Tucson’s Everth Cabrera’s and Omaha’s Johnny Giavotella’s 18-game streaks. During the hitting streak McBride has either scored a run or driven in a run in 16 of the 17 games, and has 20 RBI and 18 runs scored. McBride is currently tied for the third most RBI in the league with Reno’s Jake Elmore at 64, the most of any current PCL players.
HARRIS BRINGING EM HOME: Sky Sox infielder Brendan Harris notched his second 5 RBI game of the season in yesterday’s win by going 4-for-5 with three doubles. Harris led the Sox with 14 RBI during the homestand against Salt Lake and Tacoma, tied with teammate Matt McBride for the most in the PCL since July 16. Harris also led the team with nine extra-base hits in the homestand, tied with Las Vegas’ David Cooper for the most during the time frame, and in his last 28 games Harris has collected 21 XBH (only nine in his 41 games this season).
3-4 THREAT: In the month of July, Matt McBride and Charlie Blackmon have totaled 31 hits and 30 hits respectively, which ranks second and third in the PCL during the month. Blackmon ranks second in the league in July with 20 runs scored behind Albuquerque’s Trent Oeltjen’s 21 runs (with McBride tied for fifth with 18 runs) and McBride ranks third with 20 RBI since the beginning of the month. Since the start of the second half, Blackmon ranks first in the league with 25 hits (while also ranking first with 17 runs scored) and McBride ranks second with 22 hits while also being tied with teammate Brendan Harris for the most RBI in that time frame at 15.
Stu Cole 2nd in All-Time Manager Wins
With the two wins in yesterday’s doubleheader, Sky Sox manager Stu Cole moved in to second place all-time in managerial wins at 225 in his nearly four seasons at the helm of Colorado Springs. Cole passed former Sox manager Tom Runnels for second on the list, the man who Cole replaced halfway through the 2009 season.
Stu Cole now trails only Sky Sox Hall of Famer Brad Mills, the last manager to win a PCL Championship for the Sky Sox, who totaled 271 regular season wins and 276 total wins for the Sky Sox. Cole is one of only three Colorado Springs managers with 200 regular season wins in the 25-year history of the team (Mills and Runnels the others) and one of four managers with at least 200 total wins (Charlie Manuel is the fourth).
Cole has spent 17 years in the Rockies organization and 11 seasons as manager. Before arriving at the Springs, Cole managed the Rockies Double-A team in Tulsa for three and a half seasons.
Other Notes:
STREAKING AT SECURITY SERVICE VS TACOMA: The Sky Sox are riding a seven-game home winning streak against the Rainiers, their longest streak against Tacoma at Security Service Field. The previous record had been five games, which the Sox had accomplished three times, and this current home streak is the longest in team history against one opponent all in the same season, passing the six game streak against Tucson in 1995.
3-4 THREAT: Sky Sox centerfielder Charlie Blackmon and utility player Matt McBride are tied for the second most hits in the month of July in the PCL at 29, trailing Albuquerque’s Josh Fields who has 32 hits. Both players are batting .403 during the month, two of only seven players to post an above .400 average. Blackmon ranks tied for third in the PCL with 18 runs during the month with McBride only one run behind at 17 in July.
HITS AT YOUR SECURITY SERVICE: Colorado Springs totaled double-digit hits in both wins yesterday, and in the last 23 games played at Security Service Field the Sky Sox have top double-digit hits in 18 of those games. This season the Sox are batting .319 at home, the third best home batting average of any team in the PCL behind Albuquerque’s .333 average and Reno’s .323 average.
Chacin Throws Simulated Games at Security Service Field
Today at Security Service Field, Rockies injured starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin threw multiple simulated games with Sky Sox manager Stu Cole and pitching coach Butch Hughes watching closely. Chacin threw to Sky Sox left-handers Charlie Blackmon and Tim Wheeler as well as right-handed batters Tommy Field and Omir Santos.
“I thought it went well, he is getting to the point now where he is starting to feel good and he said his arm felt great and did not have any pain after throwing those three simulated games. He was not at 100 percent yet, but he was around 80 to 85 percent. The main thing is he felt good after it all, and we will see what the next step is after that,” Sky Sox manager Stu Cole said. “We were watching his release point and his pitches to see if they had any movement or depth, but the main thing I was making sure of was that he got out of this healthy. The biggest issue sometimes with these rehabs and simulated games are they are not game-speed, so we try to make sure these guys are as close to that as possible so that they don’t come out of these with any more injuries.”
Sky Sox Notebook 7/19
SOX HOT BATS AGAINST THE BEES: The Sky Sox have lost six of the eleven games against the Bees this season but the Sky Sox offense is batting .350 against Salt Lake in the eleven meetings, the highest average against any of their 12 different PCL opponents so far in 2012. The Sky Sox have averaged 8.6 runs per game against the Bees, the highest against any team this year.
CHARLIE IN CHARGE: Sky Sox outfielder Charlie Blackmon has totaled 18 hits and 10 runs scored during his current eight-game hitting streak with his 18 hits since July 7 leading the PCL during that time frame. Blackmon had just 15 hits in his first 21 games for the Sox this season, and he has raised his average from .185 to .277 during his current eight-game hitting streak. Blackmon is tied for the third most doubles (7) in the PCL this month.
BIG MAC: Sky Sox utility player Matt McBride is currently riding a 11-game hitting streak, the longest active hitting streak for any Colorado Springs batter and tied for the third longest by a Sky Sox player this season (Tim Wheeler had a 17-game streak and Andrew Brown had a 13-game streak). During that hitting streak McBride has either scored a run or driven in a run in ten of the eleven games. During the streak McBride has 10 RBI and 11 runs scored.
ROBERTS ON WHEN HE IS IN: Sky Sox outfielder Brandon Roberts has only started 40 games this season for Colorado Springs, but in those 40 games he has reach base in 32 of them. Roberts owns the fourth best average on the team at .288, and has the best AB/K ratio on the team at 163 at-bats with only 15 strikeouts.
Sky Sox Lineup 6/19 vs Salt Lake – Sox Look for Series Split, Even Season Series
1 – #2 Hernan Iribarren – 2B
2 – #5 Tommy Field – SS
3 – #8 Charlie Blackmon – CF
4 – #40 Matt McBride – RF
5 – #29 Brendan Harris – 3B
6 – #28 Chad Tracy – 1B
7 – #23 Brandon Wood – DH
8 – #6 Brandon Roberts – LF
9 – #3 Wilkin Castillo – C
SP – #16 Edwar Cabrera – LHP
Andrew Brown Strong in 1st Rockies Start
Outfielder Andrew Brown, who was promoted from the Sky Sox to the Colorado Rockies yesterday, made an impressive showing in his first career start for the Rockies today leading the team with three hits and and tying Carlos Gonzalez for the team lead with two RBI in the 9-6 loss to Pittsburgh. The three hits were a career high in Brown’s 13 total Major League games (Brown appeared in 11 games with the St. Louis Cardinals last season in his MLB debut) and the two RBI tied a career high.
Brown batted cleanup for Colorado and went 3-for-5 in the game, collecting his first RBI as a member of the Rockies on a infield single with the bases loaded in the second after the Pirates intentionally walked Carlos Gonzalez to get to Brown. After the Pirates took the lead 6-5 with a five-run third inning, Brown tied up the score on his second RBI single of the game in the fourth inning. Brown notched his third hit of the game on a double to left field (Brown led the PCL with 52 extra-base hits before his call-up yesterday).
In his final at-bat of the game in the eighth, Brown faced his former Nebraska teammate Tony Watson representing the tying run with runners on second and third. In the at-bat, Brown turned on a Watson offering and nearly tied the game but the ball sailed just to the left of the left field foul pole, then Brown struck out on the next pitch.
It was Brown’s second appearance for the Rockies as he made his Colorado debut yesterday as a pinch-hitter, and hit a fly ball to the right field warning track.
Sky Sox 6/18 vs Salt Lake:
1 – #2 Hernan Iribarren – RF
2 – #5 Tommy Field – SS
3 – #8 Charlie Blackmon – CF
4 – #40 Matt McBride – 1B
5 – #29 Brendan Harris – 3B
6 – #28 Chad Tracy – DH
7 – #23 Brandon Wood – 2B
8 – #25 Omir Santos – C
9 – #6 Brandon Roberts – LF
SP – #26 Alex White – RHP
Yesterday’s 10-Run 1st Inning Explosion
10-RUN 1ST INNING: Last night’s offensive eruption for 10 runs in the first frame of yesterday’s win was the most runs the Sky Sox have scored this season in one inning, and the 17th time in franchise history that the Sox have posted double-digit runs in one inning. Last night tied for the second most runs scored in the first inning, trailing only 12 runs Colorado Springs posted against the Salt Lake Bees on May 9, 1997. The Sox have scored 10 plus runs in the first inning four times in franchise history, all at home, and that mark trails only the fifth inning which the Sox have scored double-digit runs in five times in the team’s 25-year history.
SCORING AGAINST SALT LAKE: Last night’s 15-run performance tied for the third most runs the Sky Sox have scored in a game this season, and three of their four highest run totals in any game this season have come against Salt Lake including their highest run total of 22 runs on May 30. In their last two games against the Bees, the Sox have scored 30 runs on 38 total hits.
STARTING OFF RIGHT AT SECURITY SERVICE: Last night’s win was the Sky Sox seventh consecutive series-opening win in series at Security Service Field. The Sox lost two of their first three series-opening games at home to start the season, but have won eight of their last nine. The Sox are 14-11 overall in series-opening games.
6/17 Lineup vs Salt Lake:
1 – #6 Brandon Roberts – CF
2 – #5 Tommy Field – SS
3 – #8 Charlie Blackmon – LF
4 – #40 Matt McBride – RF
5 – #29 Brendan Harris – 3B
6 – #28 Chad Tracy – 1B
7 – #23 Brandon Wood – 2B
8 – #25 Omir Santos – C
9 – #3 Wilkin Castillo – DH
SP – #24 Guillermo Moscoso – RHP
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