COLORADO SPRINGS SKY SOX
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Story's about the Sky Sox:

2/22/10
Signed: LHP Nick Bierbrodt

The ranks of Rockies signees who did not play professionally in '09 grows with the signing of the 31-year-old Bierbrodt. It's a group that also includes Alex Escobar, Paul Lo Duca, Jay Payton and Bronson Sardinha. Bierbrodt became the Diamondbacks' first-ever draft pick back in '96 when the franchise selected him 30th overall. He made pop-ins in the big leagues in '01, '03 and '04, racking up a 6.66 ERA over 145 innings, but since drawing his release from the Rangers in July '04, he had not found his way back to affiliated ball. Bierbrodt spent four years in indy ball, mostly in the Atlantic League, and a little time pitching in Taiwan before sitting out last season. BA

2/06/10
1B Josh Phelps, 31, who has ample major league experience, signed a minor league contract and will compete for a job at Class AAA Colorado Springs.

Phelps, 31, is coming off a shoulder injury that limited him to 17 games in the Giants organization last year. He has played 465 games in the majors, hitting .273 with 64 home runs and 244 RBIs for the Blue Jays, Indians, Rays, Yankees, Pirates and Cardinals. Phelps began his career as a catcher and can play that position if needed.

He's a right-handed hitter with power, an area where the Rockies organization is lacking, and he provides depth for the big league team should 1B Todd Helton be sidelined for a lengthy period. Colorado Springs needs experienced corner infielders, since 1B/3B/OF Christian Colonel left the organization as a minor league free agent and signed with Boston. Phelps is a power upgrade over Colonel, and he has plenty of Class AAA experience. Baseball Weekly


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RHP Jhoulys Chacin, 22, got a taste of the big leagues last year, going 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two stints that totaled nine games, one start. The first stint came when Chacin jumped from Class AA Tulsa, where he went 8-6 with a 3.14 ERA in 18 games. He was demoted from the Rockies to Class AAA Colorado Springs, where he went 1-2 with a 3.77 ERA in four starts before being recalled in September. Fastball command and an excellent changeup are Chacin's strengths, and after a rough first stint with the Rockies, Chacin fared better the second time by relying more on his four-seam fastball and less on his two-seam sinking fastball. Chacin is expected to begin 2010 at Colorado Springs, where he could put himself in line for a promotion during the season.

RHP Esmil Rogers, 24, went 8-2 with a 2.48 ERA at Tulsa, earning a promotion to Colorado Springs, where he went 3-5 with a 7.42 ERA with 35 walks and 46 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings. Rogers regained his fastball command in the Dominican winter league. With a 93-94 mph fastball, Rogers, a converted shortstop, throws harder than Chacin. Rogers could contribute to the Rockies during the season, which he'll begin at Colorado Springs. Baseball Weekly


FYI..
The Rockies website reports that INF Chris Nelson will start the year in the Springs, however, we believe that may not occur. We will stay with our original projection which has him beginning his rehab in Tulsa before being promoted to AAA.

12/22/09
Signed: RHP Matt Wilhite (re-signed)

12/11/09
Triple-A Colorado Springs pitching coach Chuck Kniffin has resigned in order to attend to his elderly father, who has health issues. 

The Rockies are likely to replace Kniffin internally. insidetherockies.com


12/1/09
Projected 2010 roster is up.

I don't have any idea as to who will be on the bench as extra infielders so that is why it is blank. The entire pitching staff looks solid and has some members who will certainly pitch a lot of big league games in 2010 also. The outfield doesn't look too great but the starting infield has potential.

I think Chris Nelson will start the season in Tulsa but may be moved up quickly depending on his injury situation.


11/17/09
Rockies Minor League Free Agents (MLFA):
Pitchers: LHP Damian Moss, RHP Scott Munter, RHP Ryan Speier, RHP Matthew Wilhite

Catchers: Sal Fasano

Infielders: Mark Bellhorn, Christian Colonel, Daniel Ortmeier, and Kenny Perez

Outfielders: Paul McAnulty


11/10/09
Designated for assignment: INF Mike McCoy (claimed by the Blue Jays)

9/7/09
The Colorado Rockies on Tuesday raided the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, which was eliminated from the postseason Monday, and added four players to the active roster. Pitcher Jhoulys Chacin and outfielder Matt Murton were recalled from the Sky Sox and the Rockies purchased the contracts of pitcher Matt Belisle and infielder Mike McCoy. insidetherockies.com

9/1/09
Traded: RHP Brandon Hynick to the White Sox for RHP Jose Contreras

7/29/09
If EY2 had any kind of ability to play acceptable defense at 2B, then he'd be up in Denver right now as a Rockies regular.

7/07/09
Ryan Mattheus has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will undergo a ligament transplant or Tommy John surgery in the next week or two when the swelling subsides. Matteus, 25, will be sidelined for at least a year after the operation. insidetherockies.com

5/29/09
Sky Sox manager, Tom Runnells, was promoted to the Rockies to fill new Rockies managers, Jim Tracy, spot as the bench coach. Tulsa Drillers manager Stu Cole was promoted to manage the Triple A Colorado Sky Sox.

5/23/09
Signed: RHP Matt Wilhite, LHP Ben Julianel

5/01/08
Right-hander Greg Reynolds, who is on the disabled list at Triple-A Colorado Springs, long-tossed out to 110 feet on Thursday. He was the Opening Day starter for the Sky Sox but in a bullpen session after that April 9 outing, Reynolds developed soreness in his upper back/lower shoulder area.

When Reynolds is ready to throw off a mound, which could be next week, he will go to extended spring training in Tucson. There he'll be able to get in his bullpen sessions, face hitters and finally throw in some extended spring games before returning to Colorado Springs, a process that could last about three weeks.

Left-hander Greg Smith (left shoulder fatigue) made his first start Tuesday in an extended spring training game and threw four innings and 49 pitches. He's scheduled to work every fifth day but with Sunday an off day in the extended spring program, Smith will next pitch Monday.

Sky Sox reliever Scott Munter went on the disabled list with a right groin strain. His spot on the roster was taken by reliever Jarrett Grube who made his 2009 debut Thursday and allowed one hit with one strikeout in one scoreless inning. Munter is 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in eight games. Inside the Rockies.com


4/29/09
Johnson Grateful for Opportunity to Play Baseball.

4/18/09
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Brandon Hynick

4/16/09
Early standout:
Outfielder, Matt Murton, is hitting a whopping .407 with a homer and 5 RBI and is probably wondering what the heck he is doing in AAA.

And I agree with him.


4/14/09
Reassigned to Rookie lv: RHP Brandon Hynick
Placed on Disabled List: RHP Greg Reynolds


Greg Reynolds was placed on the disabled list at Triple-A Colorado Springs with inflammation in his upper back. He was scheduled to start tonight, but that turn will be taken by Alan Johnson.

To make room for Johnson on the Colorado Springs roster the Rockies assigned right-handed pitcher Brandon Hynick to the roster of short-season Class A Tri-City. Hynick started in Monday's 10-1 loss to Reno, and failed to retire a batter in the second inning, giving up seven runs on seven hits and four walks.

Hynick is expected to rejoin the SkySox in a week. Inside the Rockies.com


4/08/09
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Franklin Morales
Kid Jitters pitched extremely well in his start against the DBacks. The Rockies only need 4 starters for awhile so they decided to send Franklin down to the Springs in order for him to keep a 5-day pitching schedule going.

4/5/09
Released: IF Luis Gonzalez, IF Mark Bellhorn, OF Lew Ford, IF Jeff Dragicevich, RHP Kenny Ray

4/1/09
Apparently Q will make the trip North with the Rockies, however, I'm not sold on this development yet, so Omar's name is still penciled in at SS for the Sky Sox.

3/31/09
Dexter Fowler made the big time so Chris Frey gets his spot in CF unless Scott Podsednik decides to report to the Springs, which we seriously doubt he will.

3/30/09
Released: LHP Cedrick Bowers
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Greg Smith, OF Carlos Gonzalez, OF Matt Murton


3/28/09
The Rockies have placed first baseman Joe Koshansky on waivers for the purpose of removing him from their 40-man roster. If no other major-league teams claim Koshansky, he would be outrighted to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Post

Info.. If he is claimed, then Jeff Kindel would move into the starting lineup at 1B.

Update; JoKo was claimed by the Rangers on 3/29/09

3/27/09

Nice article on MLB.com about Christian "Duct Tape" Colonel here.

3/23/09
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jason Hirsh, RHP Ryan Mattheus, RHP Steven Register, 2B Eric Young Jr., RHP Greg Reynolds, 1B Joe Koshansky

3/9/09
If the front office decides to start Jhoulys Chacin in AAA instead of AA this season, then Matt Belisle will be moved to the pen. This may change though if some other member of the rotation makes the trip north with the big club. However, that looks like a slim possibility at this point. In fact, the spring performances in Camp Tucson have gone just about how we predicted them to go so far.

3/5/09
Hurdle on Christian Colonel:
"If he goes down, we'll have to shut down camp. He's got a chance to be the only guy to ever play in every game in the Cactus League. Right now, he's the duct tape.  He's done a good job. He grows on you everywhere he's gone. He plays hard, finds a way to help a club win ballgames."

Colonel, 27, who is primarily a third baseman but can play nearly every position, has never been ballyhooed as a prospect. But he hit .310 at Class A Modesto in 2005, .309 at Tulsa in '07 and .308 at Triple-A Colorado Springs last season. MLB.com


2/4/09
Corey Wimberly was traded to the Oakland A's today. When he was held back in Tulsa for a second year last season and the reports kept coming in that his defense at 2B was not progressing well enough to be considered Major League caliber, then you knew his time in the Organization was probably coming to an end... especially when EY jr was getting playing time ahead of him.

2/3/09
Story in the RMN about CarGo here..

2/2/09
Signed: RHP Scott Munter

Though he hasn't always pitched effectively, Munter, 28, a Giants' 47th-round pick in 2001, always has sported a healthy groundball rate. And that's a skill that will serve him well in the Rockies system, whether in Denver or in Colorado Springs. BA


1/22/09
Article on JoKo here.

1/20/09
Neil Wilson was released.

Update:  He signed with the Marlins.

12/30/08

The trade for Jason Marquis means that there is no spot in Denver for Greg Smith. He'll start the year in the Springs as the #1 starter.

12/12/08
The Rockies non-tendered infielder Jonathan Herrera on Friday. We'll have to predict a new SS but let's wait a few days to see if the Rockies re-sign him to a minor-league contract.
update: As we speculated, Herrera was re-signed to a minor-league contract.

12/10/08
The Rockies plan to have Franklin Morales end his season in the Venezuelan Winter League on Dec. 17. Then he'll travel to Denver for workouts before heading to the Dominican Republic where he will pitch to hitters before Spring Training starts in Feb.

12/8/08
Looking add Triple-A catching depth, the Rockies signed Paul Phillips to a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training.

Phillips, 31, has made bit appearances with the Royals and White Sox over the past five seasons. He hit .269 with two home runs and 17 RBIs in Triple-A Charlotte a year ago. The Rockies removed Edwin Bellorin from their 40-man roster this winter, and Adam Melhuse, a late-season call-up who caught for the Colorado Springs, is a free agent. Post



12/3/08
Our 2009 Sky Sox team is up. There are a couple extra players listed because a few may make the trip north next spring like Carlos Gonzales, Dexter Fowler, Jason Hirsh and/or Q. There is no way Greg Reynolds pitches anywhere but in AAA at this point in his career. Franklin Morales is not listed because we believe he will make the Rockies roster as either a starter or a reliever. Juan Morillo either makes the Rockies or is lost in a waiver claim.

If Hirsh makes the trip to Denver, then Chin-Lung Lo or a veteran free agent that is unknown to us at this point moves into the rotation. If CarGo makes the big leagues, then Matt Miller starts in RF. If Dexter Fowler does, then CarGo or Cris Frey moves into CF. In the unlikelihood Q gets a Rockie uniform, then either Chris Nelson moves up from AA or EY2 or Corey Wimberly plays in his spot at 2B.


10/17/08
Left-hander Valerio De Los Santos, 36, who started two games for the Rockies and allowed five runs in eight innings, opted for free agency. De Los Santos was 4-5 with a 5.63 ERA in 23 games (eight starts) for Colorado Springs. RMN


9/23/08

2008 Season in Review on MiLB.com (here)
Rotation
-----------------------------

1. Jhoulys Chacin (1)
2. Chaz Roe (8)
3. Greg Smith
4. Esmil Rogers (
6)
5. Samuel Deduno (
4)
6. Greg Reynolds
Closer
---------------------
Andrew Johnston (18)
Player Notes:

      BullPen:
Alan Johnson (
26)
Al Alburquerque
Kurt Birkins

Shane Lindsay (9)
Matthew Reynolds (
20)
Juan Rincon
Matt Wilhite
Damian Moss
(re-signed)

Infield:
Q
Daniel Mayora (
16)
Josh Phelps
         Bench:
Catcher:

Dayton Buller

Outfield:
Jeff Kindel (
20)
Daniel Carte

Ryan Harvey
Jon Herrera
Matt Miller (10)
Roster Size: 24 players
Reserve List: 38 players

Chris Frey (26)
Cole Garner (13)
Projected 2010 roster.
Darin Holcomb (11)
Michael Paulk (18)
Michael McKenry (6)
EY2 (1)