Cory Sullivan
Cory Sullivan
Position: OF Bats: L Throws: L
Born: August 20,1979 Place: Tulsa, Oklahoma
College: Wake Forest University
Height: 6-0 Weight: 180
Drafted: Selected by Colorado Rockies in 7th Round (214th Overall) of 2001 amateur draft. (June-Reg Phase)
Cory Sullivan regressed in 2006. In just about every category, he was worse as a second year player than he was as a rookie.. and that wasn't all that great to begin with. The only area of his game that is Major League quality is his glove, which is outstanding. Everything else is AAA at best and that is where he'll be playing in 2007.
Sullivan basically cemented his 2007 season in Colorado Springs instead of Denver not only thru his poor offensive performance but also by turning down a request from the front office to play winter ball. Oops, I don't players are doing themselves much of a favor by not listening to what their employers are telling them
This writer believes that Sully has a future in the majors, probably as a 4th or 5th outfielder, so look for him to resurface somewhere either in Denver or with some other franchise. If, by some miracle, he comes up with a power stroke over the winter hibernation, then perhaps he'll have a chance at a roster spot, but that seems unlikely as we have seen over 750 big league AB's from him already and that part of his game is nonexistent.
YEAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
2005 139 378 64 111 15 4 4 30 146 28 83 12 3 .343 .386 .294
2006 126 386 47 103 26 10 2 30 155 32 100 10 6 .321 .402 .267
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Career 265 764 111 214 41 14 6 60 301 60 183 22 9 .332 .394 .280
2006 Salary $335,000. One-year contract. Incentives: None.
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2006
Rox Head likes this determined player. We would like for him to gain some strength and weight for next season, though, because he needs to produce more power (addition 2/26/06.. Sullivan has reported to Camp Tucson at 192lbs, which is at least 15lbs heavier than last spring). Idealistically he isn't the kind of player a Coors Field centerfielder needs to be because of that lack of bigtime power. However, this Rockies' lineup, as it stands now, doesn't have many quality choices to pick from, so Sully will have the centerfield spot to lose in 2006 camp. There is also a little pressure on him since the front office traded away Larry Bigbie, a former number one pick of the Orioles.
Cory has a nice swing from the left side and he was much more aggressive with it in the last month of the season by pulling the ball more. He moved back in the box and opened his stance which freed his hands. Early on he was trying to slap the ball too much and the opponents were placing their defenses accordingly. Also, as pitchers saw him for a second and third time, they adjusted and he was fouling a lot of pitches off down the third base line. He is a very good bunter which Hurdle translates into his small-ball game.
Defensively there is no problems concerning his ability to cover center field. His arm is strong, accurate and he is a human highlight film out there. Hurdle reported in MLB.com that Sullivan is the best defensive center fielder the Rockies have had in that time out of a group that includs Juan Pierre, Ellis Burks and Mike Kingery.
"He's got to rank right up close to the top as far as a defensive center fielder. The guy is a ballhawk," Hurdle said. "He'll go to the wall. He can lay out. He'll go horizontal. He's got a plus throwing arm. I'll have to put him at the top. You'd like to see him do it for an extended period of time."
His future on the Rockies will probably be as a fourth outfielder, however, if he shows any kind of power above 10 homers a year with a .300 plus average and improved OBP like he did in September of 2005, when he posted a .453 OBP, with 12 walks and 36 hits in 25 games, then it will be real hard to move him from the top of the lineup and from the field on a every day bases.
Position: OF Bats: L Throws: L
Born: August 20,1979 Place: Tulsa, Oklahoma
College: Wake Forest University
Height: 6-0 Weight: 180
Drafted: Selected by Colorado Rockies in 7th Round (214th Overall) of 2001 amateur draft. (June-Reg Phase)
Cory Sullivan regressed in 2006. In just about every category, he was worse as a second year player than he was as a rookie.. and that wasn't all that great to begin with. The only area of his game that is Major League quality is his glove, which is outstanding. Everything else is AAA at best and that is where he'll be playing in 2007.
Sullivan basically cemented his 2007 season in Colorado Springs instead of Denver not only thru his poor offensive performance but also by turning down a request from the front office to play winter ball. Oops, I don't players are doing themselves much of a favor by not listening to what their employers are telling them
This writer believes that Sully has a future in the majors, probably as a 4th or 5th outfielder, so look for him to resurface somewhere either in Denver or with some other franchise. If, by some miracle, he comes up with a power stroke over the winter hibernation, then perhaps he'll have a chance at a roster spot, but that seems unlikely as we have seen over 750 big league AB's from him already and that part of his game is nonexistent.
YEAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
2005 139 378 64 111 15 4 4 30 146 28 83 12 3 .343 .386 .294
2006 126 386 47 103 26 10 2 30 155 32 100 10 6 .321 .402 .267
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Career 265 764 111 214 41 14 6 60 301 60 183 22 9 .332 .394 .280
2006 Salary $335,000. One-year contract. Incentives: None.
-----
2006
Rox Head likes this determined player. We would like for him to gain some strength and weight for next season, though, because he needs to produce more power (addition 2/26/06.. Sullivan has reported to Camp Tucson at 192lbs, which is at least 15lbs heavier than last spring). Idealistically he isn't the kind of player a Coors Field centerfielder needs to be because of that lack of bigtime power. However, this Rockies' lineup, as it stands now, doesn't have many quality choices to pick from, so Sully will have the centerfield spot to lose in 2006 camp. There is also a little pressure on him since the front office traded away Larry Bigbie, a former number one pick of the Orioles.
Cory has a nice swing from the left side and he was much more aggressive with it in the last month of the season by pulling the ball more. He moved back in the box and opened his stance which freed his hands. Early on he was trying to slap the ball too much and the opponents were placing their defenses accordingly. Also, as pitchers saw him for a second and third time, they adjusted and he was fouling a lot of pitches off down the third base line. He is a very good bunter which Hurdle translates into his small-ball game.
Defensively there is no problems concerning his ability to cover center field. His arm is strong, accurate and he is a human highlight film out there. Hurdle reported in MLB.com that Sullivan is the best defensive center fielder the Rockies have had in that time out of a group that includs Juan Pierre, Ellis Burks and Mike Kingery.
"He's got to rank right up close to the top as far as a defensive center fielder. The guy is a ballhawk," Hurdle said. "He'll go to the wall. He can lay out. He'll go horizontal. He's got a plus throwing arm. I'll have to put him at the top. You'd like to see him do it for an extended period of time."
His future on the Rockies will probably be as a fourth outfielder, however, if he shows any kind of power above 10 homers a year with a .300 plus average and improved OBP like he did in September of 2005, when he posted a .453 OBP, with 12 walks and 36 hits in 25 games, then it will be real hard to move him from the top of the lineup and from the field on a every day bases.
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In the News
9/22/06.. addition.. Rocky
Cory Sullivan has declined an opportunity to play this winter in Mexico, which the Rockies were hoping would help him improve his offense.
----Sully just killed any chance he had at being looked at in center field for the 2007 season. When the front office asks you to jump you're supposed to answer, "How high?" Not, "No thank you. I think I'll just stand here on the ground."
7/22/06.. addition.. Rocky
Hurdle said Sullivan, whose last start was Sunday in Cincinnati, has been working on "squaring up the ball" and hitting it hard where it's pitched.
"If you're not getting extra-base hits, you're hitting singles and you're not able to steal bases, it makes it tough," Hurdle said. "But defensively, he's as good as there is in the National League. That's why you don't want to turn your back and walk away from him."
6/15/06.. MLB.com
Sullivan continues to rewrite record books, even if the records lately are ones that you really have to be looking out for to find. After setting a Major League record with four sacrifice bunts on Wednesday night, he dropped three more on Thursday. His seven over a two-day period is yet another mark.
4/26/06.. addition.. MLB.com
"There is an attitude that you need playing defense in the Major Leagues. You have to want the ball hit to you to make a play," said Sullivan, who entered Tuesday's game hitting .288. "You can't think about risking your body, either. Someone hits the ball, you have to react. The good thing about playing defense, which is something I pride myself on, is that you can't always have a good offensive game. But you can bust your butt and play a good defensive game to make up for it."
2/1/06.. addition.. Baseball Prospectus.com
Cory Sullivan didn't make an appearance in BP 2005, which speaks to his prospect status. Yet here he is, entering 2006 as a starter following a season where he had a .626 road OPS and -0.027 PMLVr. With the Larry Bigbie-for-Ray King trade, the Rockies decided it was more important to have a $2.5 million LOOGY than a player with experience in center and offensive ability making just $0.9 million.
----Becareful what you read into a quote from Baseballprospectus, they go by numbers alone and not from old school talent evals.
10/01/05.. addition.. (MLB.com)
Hurdle said he has told Sullivan that his late surge earned him a reprieve from the club's suggestion more than a month ago that he play winter ball. Sullivan plans to work out in Arizona. And after originally saying he planned to report at 190 pounds next season -- up around 20 pounds from where he is now -- he is comfortable being smaller as long as he has strength and speed.
Cory Sullivan has declined an opportunity to play this winter in Mexico, which the Rockies were hoping would help him improve his offense.
----Sully just killed any chance he had at being looked at in center field for the 2007 season. When the front office asks you to jump you're supposed to answer, "How high?" Not, "No thank you. I think I'll just stand here on the ground."
7/22/06.. addition.. Rocky
Hurdle said Sullivan, whose last start was Sunday in Cincinnati, has been working on "squaring up the ball" and hitting it hard where it's pitched.
"If you're not getting extra-base hits, you're hitting singles and you're not able to steal bases, it makes it tough," Hurdle said. "But defensively, he's as good as there is in the National League. That's why you don't want to turn your back and walk away from him."
6/15/06.. MLB.com
Sullivan continues to rewrite record books, even if the records lately are ones that you really have to be looking out for to find. After setting a Major League record with four sacrifice bunts on Wednesday night, he dropped three more on Thursday. His seven over a two-day period is yet another mark.
4/26/06.. addition.. MLB.com
"There is an attitude that you need playing defense in the Major Leagues. You have to want the ball hit to you to make a play," said Sullivan, who entered Tuesday's game hitting .288. "You can't think about risking your body, either. Someone hits the ball, you have to react. The good thing about playing defense, which is something I pride myself on, is that you can't always have a good offensive game. But you can bust your butt and play a good defensive game to make up for it."
2/1/06.. addition.. Baseball Prospectus.com
Cory Sullivan didn't make an appearance in BP 2005, which speaks to his prospect status. Yet here he is, entering 2006 as a starter following a season where he had a .626 road OPS and -0.027 PMLVr. With the Larry Bigbie-for-Ray King trade, the Rockies decided it was more important to have a $2.5 million LOOGY than a player with experience in center and offensive ability making just $0.9 million.
----Becareful what you read into a quote from Baseballprospectus, they go by numbers alone and not from old school talent evals.
10/01/05.. addition.. (MLB.com)
Hurdle said he has told Sullivan that his late surge earned him a reprieve from the club's suggestion more than a month ago that he play winter ball. Sullivan plans to work out in Arizona. And after originally saying he planned to report at 190 pounds next season -- up around 20 pounds from where he is now -- he is comfortable being smaller as long as he has strength and speed.