It sure has been a week of movement for a team floundering after such a fantastic start. While glimpses of the poor play that earned the Rockies NL West last place last year have been flashed around with absolute abandon, there have been some call-ups that many a fan has been begging for. Here are the moves made this week:
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TYLER CHATWOOD UP
It isn’t certain who will be sent down to make room, but it is anticipated that it will be Scahill (see below) when Tyler takes the mound on Saturday. Saturday you say? Why, yes i do say. In what is normally Nicasio’s spot in the lineup, Chatwood will take the game into his hands opposite cry-baby Lincecum. Nicasio, who many thought would be the one sent down to make room for Chatwood after his horrible season continued, was moved to Sunday. Ultimately the person that “gave up” his spot for Chatwood to come up is Jeff Francis.
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JEFF FRANCIS DL’d
Francis was in the conversation with Nicasio as the “Player to be Named Sky Sox Bound” after struggling mightily since the home opener. He looked to be safely out of the conversation, and the pitching crappy woods, after his last outing saw him go six innings and only give up 1 run on 3 hits. He took a no-no past the sixth and looked very effective against what many feel is the best team in the majors right now. But, alas, Francis hurt himself and was placed on the 15-day DL with a groin strain.
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DJ LEMAHIEU UP
Several fans have been calling for the reappearance of DJ LeMahieu, especially during the “dark hitting ages against the Yankees and Cardinals” took place. LeMahieu has been tearing up the Springs, hitting .364 (52-for-143) with 8 doubles, 5 triples, 1 home run, 22 RBI and 34 runs scored in 33 games. His thanks to the team that called him up on Thursday? A pinch-hit single.
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REID BRIGNAC DFA’d
The fact that Brignac was hitting .250 (12-for-48) with 3 doubles, 1 home run, 6 RBI and 4 runs scored in 29 games wasn’t lost on anyone. Seeming to be the odd-man-out, Sunday lineup candidate or just plain “who?”, Brignac was given a shot to compete and came up short. Well respected in the AL West for his time with Tampa, his time with the Rockies will be short-lived and even shorter in people’s memories.
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ROB SCAHILL UP (AND DOWN?)
Rob Scahill could possibly grace this “week of movements” list twice before the week is out. Favored to be the man without a job come game-time Saturday, Scahill was called up with LeMahieu to join the pen after Francis went on the DL. Knowing that someone would be called up to start in a few days, Scahill was given a VERY brief window to show what he could do. In that window he printed the following: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R. Not bad at all. Possibly enough to keep him up and send someone else down (Lopez?).
Good to see you back JD. Hopefully last night was a springboard, but if a win can ever feel like a loss, this was it
Thanks my friend. I’m not back yet, another week to go. I just saw all of the changes and had a min to type something.
Brignac has been sold to the Yankees for $75,000.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/05/yankees-acquire-reid-brignac.html
So what do the Yankees see with out castoffs??? Kinda makes me nervous.
I don’t what they saw in Chris Nelson – but it didn’t work. They designated him for assignment, and I believe Anaheim has picked him up.
Speaking of the Yankees (and a bit off-topic), I just read a Yahoo article that mentioned that Mariano Rivera could have been had by the Rox or the Fish in the expansion draft. As a Rockies fan and a lifelong Yankee-hater, I must say though that I am glad he stayed in New York… this organization would have just screwed him up and I think a man of Rivera’s stature and character belongs with the nation’s most celebrated team. Plus,… Read more »
During the pre-season, I remember reading an article by some national baseball blog type (it may have been Jim Bowden) regarding deals that teams should make. He had maybe 8-10 deals involving random teams. One of the deals was the Cardinals acquiring Tulo. The theory was the Cards have the deepest Minor League system in baseball, and the Rox need pitching, and also need 1B. Given what has transpired with Arenado up, Rutledge looking serviceable at a minimum, and maybe… Read more »
Wouldn’t bother me if Tulo went to the Cards.
Respectfully, why would you possibly want to see the Cards, who are just fine year after year, get so much better by trading our potential Hall of Fame shortstop for absolutely no guarantee of improvement-by-prospect for the Rockies? That just strikes me as crazy.
sdcarp, the idea of trading Tulo makes a lot of sense given where the Rockies are in the competition cycle (namely, a few years away from contending even if things break right). But Wheeler (if you mean Tim) is not looking solid in the high minors. He’s hitting about .200, following a really weak season last year. He’s in danger of washing out of baseball entirely. And Story is even more disappointing so far if that’s possible. Moving from Low… Read more »
Ryan Wheeler.
Trading Tulo makes zero sense cuz he draws the crowds to the game. Also Rockies are picking third on draft. They are project Ed to take the best hitter in college who happens to play first base.
Plus, you have to remember that without Tulo in the lineup, Cargo has nothing to hit. Proven last year. I have daydreamed about Tulo to STL for Matt Adams and a stud SP prospect, but when all is said and done, if you want Cargo to be a stud, you have to protect him in the lineup.
Remember, there is no guarantee a “stud pitcher” will work out. Remember, Pomeranz and White were both supposed to be studs, and one is gone and the other just north of average. I would rather keep Tulo on our side and build around him.
RMH, isn’t “the best hitter in college who happens to play first base” the same as “the best hitter in college?” Anyone playing another position could certainly be moved to first base. The problem is that you’ve got to be one heckuva hitter to justify such a high pick if you’re going to play 1B and not provide much defensive value anywhere else.
personally i think that a first baseman with an amazing glove is vital, especially since we’ve been severely spoiled with Todd’s mitt over the years…i’d take a “best hitter in college” with an excellent glove at first any day…
So who is this “best hitter in college who happens to play first base”? I keep seeing that the Rockies are projected to pick “San Diego third baseman Kris Bryant”. I am worried that for some reason that the Astros and Cubs don’t pick Stanford pitcher Mark Appel and the Rockies do. I think that Pittsburgh was very fortunate last year when Appel refused to sign with them. Do a search and see just how badly previous Stanford pitchers have… Read more »
Yes, that’s Kris Bryant I was thinking of. And if drafted by the Rox, they plan to move him to 1B. We better pick Bryant instead of a pitcher to make up for the mistake of passing on Longoria and taking Craig Reynolds instead.
Maybe Tulo for Wainwright and Garcia,otherwise you are all vastly underestimating Tulo.Right now he is having an MVP type year and if {I know a big if} he stays healthy he will put up monster numbers.Although I am not a cheerleader for Tulo,I just don’t get the lack of love displayed on this site whenever Tulo’s name comes up.
Not all, Gary. I don’t get the negativity either (much muted on RWO, generally, compared to the Post- you’d think he was Hitler or something by the hatred over there). I love Tulo, am thrilled to have a player of his gifts and passion, and can forgive his verbal gaffes that many people are irritated by, because he cares so much and tries so hard to be a vocal leader he stumbles over his tongue sometimes.
Gary, I’ve tried to defend Tulo in the past when he was down or struggling and was met with some pretty big push-back from the faithful…i completely understand the feelings about his being a punk, etc…i don’t understand the animosity either (especially his “camp tulo” which i thought was an excellent idea), but love that people are so passionate about it…i do think that when he is doing better (like now) that he is for sure more liked around here… Read more »
I wouldn’t get too hung up on rankings coming to the majors. How often does that actually translate? Just remember Ian Stewart was rank 4th overall.
I never meant to start a discussion on Tulo. I just don’t like him….going back to his fan treatment/attitude at Spring Training for years. I agree he is a great player, and I actually am feeling a bit sorry for him after reading today’s article in Denver Post about his groin “injury”. Guess some of us were correct that this goes back to the pulled hamstring. I know management will never trade Tulo, nor should they.
I’m truly sorry to hear the reports of his poor attitude/behavior in this regard. And truly hope he has learned, matured, been humbled enough to be a better man.
I am going to drift into darker thematic waters myself if someone do#e&ns8217;t send me an email =P. Is it on DVD? Because I thought I saw this title and cover at a DVD store here in Hungary!