Minors

5/11/08
Franklin Morales only gave up 1 run in his first start for the Springs Sunday but walked 6 batters while throwing 90 pitches in only five innings.

Not good.

What was good though was the combined no-hitter that Morales was credited with.

Player            IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Morales (W, 1-0) 5.0 0 1 1 6 3 0 1.80
George (H, 2)    1.2 0 0 0 2 2 0 4.79
Daley, M (H, 3) 1.1 0 0 0 1 2 0 3.38
Register         1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.72

Awesome!

See article here.

5/4/08
No wins in two days. 0-8.

4/30/08
New player rankings are up. No change in the top 10.

4/29/08
New pitching rankings are up. Juan Morillo is probably on his way out of the top 10.

Injuries in within the Rockies franchise forced these moves:
1. Tulo's injury allows Q to be promoted from AAA but he'll officially replace Franklin Morales, who was demoted Tuesday, on the Rockies roster until some medical decisions are made on Tulo.

2. EYJr's injury forces Corey Wimberly back to starting at 2B in Tulsa, recently signed Tony Blanco promotion from Modesto to Tulsa and the activation of Nick Haley from the DL in Modesto.

4/28/08
Acquired: RHP Sean Smith from Indians as player to be named in earlier trade of 2B Jamey Carroll

Recalled: LHP Josh Newman

Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Pedro Strop, 2B Nick Haley

Reinstated from DL: LHP Luis Gonzalez

4/27/08
Updated player rankings coming up next week.

4/24/08
The only team currently with a losing record in the farm system is the Sky Sox. This isn't too surprising considering they have nothing but retreads in the rotation except for Reynolds.. and he is struggling to find his rhythm in his first year at the AAA level.

4/22/08
Released: OF Joe Gaetti
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP James Burok, OF Travis Becktel

4/15/08
Ian Stewart, Dexter Fowler and Everth Cabrera have had nice starts to the season at the plate while Casey Weathers, Jhoulys Chacin and Cory Riordan are matching them on the mound.

4/7/08
Signed: RHP Josh Towers
Released: RHP Alec Zumwalt, C David Parrish, 1B Fernando Seguignol, OF Jordan Czarniecki, OF Ruddy Yan
Traded: 2B Matt Kata to Pirates for future considerations
Voluntarily retired: 1B Brandon Reichert
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Micah Bowie, OF Scott Podsednik
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Ryan Speier, OF Cory Sullivan
Outrighted off 40-man roster: RHP Jose Capellan, RHP Josh Towers
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jon George, OF Joe Gaetti

4/6/08.. Rocky
Samuel Deduno, who was scheduled to return to Double-A Tulsa this season, underwent ligament-transplant surgery on his right elbow Wednesday. That procedure, known as Tommy John surgery, will sideine Deduno for about a year.

4/5/08.. Rox Head
It appears as though for some reason the Rockies have given up on Corey Wimberly as a legit prospect. Why else would they have not promoted him to AAA this year?

I don't think they should give up on him yet. Move him up to the Springs and give him 4 starts a week at 2nd. Let Jonathan Herrera and Q move around the infield for their playing time because they are both obviously more suited to the utility role in the majors. As for Corey, even if they have no plans for him here in Denver.. some other team might find him appealing.

4/2/08
Signed: RHP Ryan Speier, C Edwin Bellorin
Released: RHP Mike Esposito, RHP Matt Hirsh, RHP Marc Kaiser, RHP Andrew Kreidermacher, RHP Chris Young, LHP Jesse Hall, C Nate Anderson, C Mike Rose, 2B Marcus Giles, 3B Phillip Cuadrado, 3B Jose Valdez, OF Josh Burrus, OF Lino Garcia
Outrighted off 40-man roster: RHP Jose Capellan
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Josh Newman, C Edwin Bellorin, 1B Joe Koshansky, 3B Ian Stewart, SS Omar Quintanilla, OF Seth Smith

3/31/08 MiLB.com
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
2007 Results: 69-75
2008 Manager: Tom Runnells
Things to look forward to: 1B Joe Koshansky, he of the 21 home runs, 30 doubles and 99 RBIs, will be on the Sky Sox Opening Day roster. Koshansky is a former Texas League and South Atlantic League All-Star. ... The Rockies top overall pick in the 2006 Draft, Greg Reynolds, could find his way to Colorado Springs once he's given a clean bill of health after undergoing rotator cuff surgery last summer. The 6-foot-7 Reynolds, a Stanford product, went 4-1 with a 1.42 ERA last year with Double-A Tulsa. ... On Sunday, June 22, the Sky Sox will bring about cancer awareness with a special charity jersey auction giveaway. The players will wear alternative uniform tops and fans will be given the chance to bid on their favorite player's game-worn jersey... The Rockies and Sky Sox extended their Player Development Contract through the 2010 season.

3/24/08
Signed: C Humberto Cota
Released: RHP David Arnold, RHP Matthew Trent, RHP Mike Vicaro, LHP Ricardo Morales, 2B Gary Cates
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Juan Morillo

3/17/08
Signed: LHP Jesse Hall, C Nick Valdez, 1B Fernando Seguignol, OF Ruddy Yan
Released: LHP Sean Thompson
Optioned to Triple-A: SS Jonathan Herrera
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Pedro Strop
Optioned to high Class A: RHP Esmil Rogers

3/3/08
Released: RHP Agustin Arias, RHP Riquy Pena

2/25/08
Typical spring training player info article's are some what repetitive year after year just the names are different. Such is the case with this one about Joe Ko on MilB.com as we don't learn a whole lot that we didn't know already.

2/23/08
The biggest name to watch in the early part of the 2008 season is Chris Nelson. If he gets off to a fast start in Tulsa, then his prospect ranking will sky rocket. His future with the Rockies then depends on Jayson Nix. If Nix bombs in Denver, then Nelson will be moved to second and promoted to AAA as quickly as possible. If Nix does well, then Chris' name will be at the top of trade lists for rotation help for the Rox. The reason for the trade is because he'll be blocked at both short and 2nd for years to come.

2/19/08
Projected lineups posted.

2/11/08
Signed: RHP Victor Zambrano, RHP Alec Zumwalt, OF Scott Podsednik

2/4/08
Signed: RHP Sandy Nin

1/28/08
Signed: RHP Chris Young, 2B Marcus Giles

1/23/08
Signed: RHP Matt Hirsh, LHP Cedrick Bowers, LHP Luis Gonzalez, C Dave Parrish
Released: RHP Jose Campos, RHP Leonel Lopez, RHP Jonathan Molina, RHP Luis Noboa, RHP James Zink, OF Maruis Loupadiere

1/14/08
Signed: RHP Eric Schaler, LHP Valerio de los Santos, LHP Ricardo Morales, C Nelson Robledo, 3B Tony Blanco
Released: LHP Stephen Shao

1/4/08
Signed: RHP Darren Clarke, LHP Micah Bowie, OF Josh Burrus

11/21/07
Moved to the 40-man roster: RHP Esmil Rogers, RHP Pedro Strop
Pedro Strop, a converted shortstop, was rumored to be a top Rule 5 candidate a year ago, when he was left unprotected. He went 5-2, 4.28 with 75 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings.

10/13/07
1st baseman Jeff Kindel, catcher Michael McKenry and reliever David Patton are doing well in the Hawiian Winter League.

The AFL is under way also.

Check the links below.

9/19/07... milb.com
On Sept. 29, the Hawaii Winter Baseball League kicks off its 2007 schedule. The four-team developmental circuit -- playing its second consecutive season and seventh overall -- features prospects from 24 Major League clubs. The rosters are rounded out with Japanese players from the Nippon Professional Baseball League, which has seven of its 12 squads represented.

9/17/07... Purple Row.com
Purple Row discuses the lower rookie level teams here.

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Since Ubaldo Jimenez has exceeded the rookie minimum levels, he can no longer be ranked as a prospect. With that in mind, RoxHead has not decided who will be the number 1 ranked pitching prospect as of yet.

The easy thing to do would be to move Franklin Morales into the top slot because he is certainly worthy of the rank but we have a little time before the end of the MLB season so I'll wait before doing that. I may even wait until we have gone through a few weeks of the hot stove league, the AFL and other winter leagues.. I really want to see if Shane Lindsay is healthy. If so, he may shoot up the list.

9/9/07
End of the year article from the Tulsa World about the playoff qualifier, Tulsa Drillers (here).

Modesto Bee has a year end article (here) about the playoff qualifier Modesto team. The piece talks about how the players have grown together after being on the same team for 2-3 years now. Since they made the playoffs, then fans of the Rockies should be excited to know that there is another wave of top notch prospects in the pipe line to Coors Field on the way.

Six Players to watch for next year: Eric Young Jr. (2003, Rd 30), Chris Nelson (2004, Rd 1), Jeff Kindel (2006, Rd 14), Alan Johnson (undrafted and signed in 2005), Dexter Fowler (2004, Rd 14), and Brandon Hynick (2006, 8th rd pick).

9/1/07
Mike Paulk (2005, Rd 13), the Sally League's First Baseman of the Year, and Casey Weathers (2007, Rd 1) have been promoted. Paulk will go to Triple-A Colorado Springs, while Weathers will be in High-A Modesto.

8/31/07.. Rocky
Tulsa pitchers Ching-Lung Lo (signed in 2001), Darren Clarke (2000, Rd 35), Sean Thompson (2002, Rd 5 Pods... signed by Rox in 2007) and Jarrett Grube (2004, Rd 10) will go to the Arizona Fall League along with Modesto center fielder Dexter Fowler (2004, Rd 14), Tulsa second baseman Corey Wimberly (2005, Rd 6) and Tulsa third baseman/first baseman/outfielder Christian Colonel (2003, Rd 5).

Pitchers Shane Lindsay (signed in 2003), David Patton (2004, Rd 12) and Josh Sullivan (2005, Rd 5), catcher Mike McKenry (2006, Rd 6), first baseman Jeff Kindel (2006, Rd 14) and outfielder Cole Garner (2003, Rd 26) will play for the Waikiki Beach Boys in Hawaii Winter Baseball.

8/29/07
2nd baseman Eric Young Jr. (2003, Rd 30) and shortstop Chris Nelson (2004, Rd 1) of Modesto were selected to the All-Star team in the California League.

Also, infielder Daniel Mayora (signed in 2003) and shortstop Hector Gomez (signed in 2004) of Asheville were selected to the All-Star team in the South Atlantic League.

8/25/07
The Modesto Nuts have clinched a playoff spot.

8/23/07... purplerow.com
Purple Row compares hot shortstop prospects, Hector Gomez and Chris Nelson, here.

8/15/07
The trade of Matt Macri (2004, Rd 5) for basically nothing is not necessarily a big blow to the farm system, however, you'd certainly like to get some value in return besides a 30-something bullpen pitcher... even if the parent club is hurting for pitching depth.

7/23/07
Mike Coolbaugh, the first base coach of the Tulsa Drillers, died after being struck by a foul ball during a game at Dickey-Stephens Park on Sunday night. (read more here)

Sympathies from RoxHead to his family and friends.

7/17/07
There's some talk that Michael Paulk (2005, Rd 13) will be promoted from Asheville to Modesto. If that happens, then look for Jeff Kindel (2006, Rd 14) to be moved up to Tulsa while Jeff Cunningham (2007, Rd 7) is taken out of the losing atmosphere in Casper and thrown into a winning one with the Tourists.

This would be quite a jump for Kindel was just drafted last year, but all reports are that he is a solid prospect who can handle himself in AA... plus he will be 24 in Sept. so he's no spring chicken.

7/12/07
This is the time of the season that we start to see some player movements through promotions. I don't expect to see too many this year mainly because the starting pitching up and down the system has been subpar as of late.

Five moves that I'm aware of happened yesterday at Tri-City, Casper and Modesto.

Devin Collis (2006, 26th rd pick), Edgar Huerta, Jorge Sandes and Login Wiens (2006, non drafted FA) were released while Kenneth Durst (2007, 15th rd pick) was sent down to Casper.

Possible promotions might include relievers Juan Morillo of Tulsa, Modesto's Pedro Strop and Asheville's James Burok.

6/30/07
New rankings are out.

6/28/07
Clint Barmes (2000, 10th rd pick), Ryan Speier, Sean Barker (2002, 6th rd pick) and Matt Herges will represent the Sky Sox in the AAA All-Star game.

6/21/07
Third baseman Ian Stewart (2003, 1st rd pick) was named to the U.S. Team for the All-Star Futures Game on July 8 at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

Left-hander Franklin Morales was named to the World Team

6/14/07
Tulsa's Texas League All-Star's are:
Starter Greg Reynolds, closer Steven Register and relievers Jarrett Grube and Juan Morillo, shortstop Jon Herrera and left fielder Matt Miller.

6/7/07
From Modesto, only starter Brandon Hynick (2006, 8th rd pick) and closer Andrew Johnston (2005, 9th rd pick) were named to the California League All-Star team.

6/5/07
Asheville nabbed a few all-star spots.. check out it out here.

6/1/07
New rankings are out.

5/30/07.. purplerow.com
Purple Row has a short interview with Rockies assistant GM Bill Geivett. You can link over there from here.

5/23/04... BA
Scouts talking about Josh Sullivan (2005, 5th rd pick).

5/10/07.. purplerow.com
Purple Row interviewed Starting pitching prospect, Brandon Hynick, today. You can link over there here.
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New Rankings are up.

5/08/07.. BA
Recalled: SS Omar Quintanilla
Selected to major league roster: RHP Alberto Arias
Optioned to Triple-A: SS Clint Barmes
Outrighted off 40-man roster: RHP Bob Keppel
Placed on minor league disabled list: LHP Zach Parker, C Agustin Sanchez, 3B Duke Sardinha
Reinstated from disabled list: RHP Darren Clarke

Info...
Jeff Baker (2002, 4th round pick), Troy Tulowitzki (2005, 1st round pick), Chris Iannetta (2004, 4th round pick), and Jason Hirsh (2003, 1st round pick of the Astros) will all be coming off the prospect list soon because they'll have too many games under their leather belts to be considered. So look for some serious ranking adjustments from RoxHead in the coming days.

5/3/07
First baseman Michael Paulk (2005, 13th round pick), who plays for Asheville, and starter Brandon Hynick (2006, 8th round pick) of Modesto were selected the organizational player and pitcher of the month for April.