Fresh Produce (scores from the farm) 7/16…

CLASS AAA: FRESNO 7 @ COLORADO SPRINGS 6 – Fresno scored a run in the top of the 11th inning to down the Sky Sox. Matt Wilhite suffers the loss

CLASS AA: TULSA @ ARKANSAS - Postponed.

CLASS A (ADVANCED): MODESTO 3 @ SAN JOSE 1 – Charles Blackmon led Modesto with 2 RBIs on 3 for 4 hitting.

CLASS A: ASHEVILLE 2 @ LAKE COUNTY 7 – Ethan Hollingsworth struck out 10 batters in 5.2 innings and records the loss.

CLASS A (SHORT SEASON): TRI CITY 3 @ SPOKANE 2 – The Dust Devils score 2 in the 8th to take the lead and hold of the Indians for the win. Ben Paulsen led the team with 2 RBIs.

CLASS A (ROOKIE): MISSOULA 6 @ CASPER 8 – Casper broke a 6-6 tie in the 8th with 2 runs. Eliezer Mesa had 4 RBIs on 4 for 5 hitting.

Rockies(47-41) @ Padres(36-52) Preview…

In what should be an easy series on paper probably won’t play out that way. The Rockies are 127-122 coming into this season and are 5-3 so far in 2009 against the Padres. Last season both teams split the series 9 games apiece.

Adrian Gonzalez leads the Padres in homeruns (24) and RBIs (52), despite a .250 batting average. Will Aaron Cook (8-3) get the Rockies off on the right foot after the all-star break? Cook coming into the season has an overall record of 11-4 against the Padres and will be facing the Padres Chad Gaudin who has a record of 4-7 with an ERA of 5.03. Cook comes into Petco Park with a 5-1 record with an ERA of 1.69, his last outing was a no decision back on May 5th. The remaining matchups of the series are as follows.

Ubaldo Jimenez (6-9) vs Josh Geer(1-4)

Jason Hammel (5-4) vs Kevin Correia (6-7)

Jason Marquis (11-6) vs Tim Stauffer (0-1)

Fresh Produce (scores from the farm) 7/15…

CLASS AAA: COLORADO SPRINGS – PCL vs Intl League Triple A all-star game played. Rockies prospects Eric Young Jr, Matt Miller and Matt Murton collectively went 2 for 10 with 6 strikeouts.

CLASS AA: TULSA – Texas League off

CLASS A (ADVANCED): MODESTO 6 @ SAN JOSE 4 – Joey Williamson gets his 10 win of the season to go to 10-1. Shortstop Hector Gomez went 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs.

CLASS A: ASHEVILLE 11 @ LAKE COUNTY 3 – DH Kiel Roling led the way with 4 RBIs on 3 for 5 hitting.

CLASS A (SHORT SEASON): TRI CITY 2 @ SPOKANE 1 – The Dust Devils scored 2 in the top of the 9th and Charles Ruiz closed out the Indians in the bottom half for the save.

CLASS A (ROOKIE): MISSOULA 7 @ CASPER 3 – Casper scored in the first and second innings, but were shut out the rest of the way. The Ghosts left 8 men on base and were 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

Rockies midseason grades, pitchers..

Aaron Cook (B+) 8-3 with an ERA of 3.98 is a great improvement from where Cook started at the beginning of the season. Cook leads the team in homeruns given up with 13.

Ubaldo Jimenez (C+) 6-9 and an ERA of 3.81. Leads the team in strikeouts with 101 and has given up the least number of homeruns by a starter with 5. Run support has hurt him and an occasional poor start in games.

Jason Marquis (A-) 11-6, 3.65 ERA and an all-star selection. Another reason the Rockies front office will continue to believe they can buy low and hope for the best. In this case they were right.

Jason Hammel (C) 5-4 record with an ERA of 4.43 and 61 strikeouts, Hammel has turned out to be decent addition to the rotation.

Jorge De La Rosa (C-) 6-7, with an ERA of 5.21, highest of the starting rotation. You don’t know what you’re going to get with DLR each time he takes the mound. The only starter in the rotation without a complete game this season. Second in strikeouts (99) and leader in earned runs with 56. When he’s on, he’s on, but when he’s not, let’s just say it will be a long day.

Huston Street (A) With 22 saves in 23 save opportunities, a 3-1 record and a 2.75 ERA, Huston Street has proven to be more than what the Rockies were hoping for when they traded for him as part of the Matt Holliday trade and with the loss of former closer Brian Fuentes to the Angels. Street was 1 save short of tying the team record for saves at the all-star break.

Manny Corpas (C) 1-3 and a 5.40 ERA, Corpas has struggled some this season. He’s returning from the DL from having a sore elbow. We’re still waiting for the 2007 version of Manny to show up, maybe in the second half.

Alan Embree (C-) 2-2 with a 5.84 ERA, Embree has given up 12 walks in 24.2 innings along with 18 runs (16 earned) and 24 hits.

Matt Daley (C) 0-1, 4.50 Daley in 22 innings of work has given up 17 hits and 11 earned runs, but has struck out 21.

Franklin Morales (C) 1-0, 2.38, Morales has only appeared in 6 games, starting 2 games. Early in the season he was optioned to Triple A and he’s now back but as a reliever, a role in which he should flourish. In his 11.1 innings of work this season he has struck out 11 and given up only 3 earned runs.

Jason Grilli (D) 0-1, 6.05, in 19.1 innings has given up 29 hits, and 13 earned runs and walked 13. Grilli does have 1 save this season

Josh Fogg (C+) 0-1, 1.86, 10 hits and 4 earned runs in 19.1 innings. Also has 6 walks and 8 strikeouts

Joel Peralta (C) 1-0, 5.40, in 8.1 innings Rincon has struck out 9, given up 6 hits and 6 walks.

Glendon Rusch (D) 2-0, 6.75, still on the roster, but not playing due to not taking the option to Triple A earlier in the season. In 18.2 innings has given up 35 hits and 14 earned runs.

Matt Belisle (D) 1-1, 8.35 ERA. 18.1 innings of work, giving up 26 hits, 19 runs (17 earned).

Juan Rincon (C) 1-0, 5.40, in 8.1 innings has given up 6 runs, 5 of them earned.

Randy Flores (C-) 0-0, 5.63 through 8 innings. Flores has given up 11 hits, 5 runs and walked only 2.

Ryan Speier (C) 0-0, 4.76 in 5 appearances. 5.2 innings he’s given up 6 hits and 3 earned runs.

Fresh Produce (scores from the farm) 7/14…

CLASS AAA: COLORADO SPRINGS - Pacific Coast League night off.

CLASS AA: SAN ANTONIO 7 @ TULSA 3 - Keith Weiser takes the loss after giving up 8 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), and 2 homeruns through 5 innings.

CLASS A (ADVANCED): MODESTO – California League night off.

CLASS A: ASHEVILLE 4 @ LAKE COUNTY 0 - 4 runs on 9 hits and superb pitching by Juan Nicasio who went 7 innings, striking out 8. Nicasio moves to 4-1 on the season.

CLASS A (SHORT SEASON): TRI CITY - No game scheduled.

CLASS A (ROOKIE): CASPER – Pioneer League night off.

Rockies midseason grades, outfielders…

Brad Hawpe (A) Makes his first all-star appearance this year with a team leading .320 average and 59 RBIs. Hawpe has 14 homeruns, 27 doubles and 2 triples and a slugging percentage of .577. All of this despite 63 strikeouts on the season. He’s been more than consistent the first half of the season and he should continue to do so in the second half. Hawpe is clearly the Rockies team MVP this season.

Dexter Fowler (B+) When your first pitch of the season results in a homerun, you know to expect only great things from yourself in your rookie season. The fans have come to expect nothing but the same from Fowler. Dexter’s blazing speed allows him to cover some serious real-estate in centerfield with his .994 fielding percentage and committing only 1 error. And it’s no difference on the basepaths with 20 steals and 5 in a single game early in the season against the Padres. Patience goes both ways with Dexter, who leads the team in walks (44) and also strikeouts (73), while batting .260. If this is what it means to learn on the job, then next season and beyond should be really exciting for Dexter and for Rockies fans.

Ryan Spilborghs (C+) The unfortunate thing for Spilly is that on this team he is nothing more than a utility outfielder with Dexter Fowler setting up shop permanently in centerfield. Spilly is batting .258 and is capable of playing all three outfield positions, which makes him valuable. He has 6 homeruns and has drawn 21 walks and stolen 8 bases. He is also dependable in pinch hitting roles. Though he was the talk briefly of some trade rumors, Spilly should remain in a Rockies uniform, at least for the remainder of the season.

Seth Smith (B) I admit I wasn’t a fan of Smith at the start of the season but that all changed on a Sunday afternoon game against the Marlins back in May. Smith’s hustle and prowess in left field that day was none too shabby. His catch banging hard against the left field wall in foul territory and a homerun robbing catch at the wall made me a fan. Smith carries a .298 average with 7 homeruns and 23 RBIs. Smith is also good in pinch hitting situations and has recently taken over in left field in place of Carlos Gonzalez who is in a hitting slump. Smith has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Smith and Gonzalez are interchangeable in left field.

Carlos Gonzalez (C-) With less than 30 games under his belt with the Rockies, Carlos has been a bit of a letdown, but we’re only talking a month’s worth of games. He’s currently struggling with a .202 average after tearing up Triple A pitching with a .339 average, 10 homeruns and 59 RBIs. Gonzalez like Fowler is a threat on the bases and in the outfield, which is the main reason he hasn’t been sent back down to Triple A. Are we expecting too much to soon from the man who is to replace Matt Holliday in only his second major league season? Possibly. But his potential is great and he should be a major player in this team’s success the remainder of the season, despite his early struggles at the plate.

Matt Murton (C) While both Murton and Gonzalez had perfect fielding percentages, Murton grades slightly above Gonzalez mostly due to a higher batting average (.267) during his time with the Rockies, with a homerun, 5 doubles and 6 RBIs. Matt is currently batting .374 in Triple A and should get another shot with the Rockies before season’s end.

Next up: Pitchers.

Rockies midseason grades, infielders…

Todd Helton (B+) - After having season ending back surgery last season and the offseason to rehab it, Todd has done more than what was expected from a fan’s perspective. The ever patient Helton is second on the team in walks (43), batting (.319), slugging (.517) and RBIs (57). Helton’s healed back has allowed him to play in 81 of the first 88 games.

Clint Barmes (B-) - Struggled early in the season, it didn’t help that Hurdle moved him throughout the lineup numerous times. Now settled in at the 2 spot Barmes’ average has improved, currently .279 and has 10 homeruns so far on the season. Solid defensively at second base despite 7 errors so far. Problem here is too many strikeouts with 67 and not enough walks with only 13. Looking over his shoulder for Eric Young Jr, could send his season downhill.

Troy Tulowitzki (B) – Defensively one of the best in the Majors, certainly the best in the NL West and top 3 in the NL. Tulo struggled early and often at the plate and was made the scapegoat by Hurdle at times whether deserved or not. Tulo’s bat has picked up and he is tied for the team lead in homeruns with Ian Stewart with 16. His heart and hustle are undeniable with 11 stolen bases and 4 triples. Though visibly he’s not the leader he was in 2007, don’t give up on him yet, he’s only going to get better.

Ian Stewart (B-) Despite a .223 batting average Ian Stewart is going to be a star. His bat has plenty of pop as he has 16 homeruns and 44 RBIs at the break and that’s with only 38 starts at third base. When Garrett Atkins continued to slump at the plate, Stewart was able to step in and take over. Stewart will need to cut down on his strikeouts (64) if he wants to see his average go up. Stewart has a .965 fielding percentage with 4 errors and 92 assits so far.

Garrett Atkins (C) Atkins got out of the gate in bad fashion back at the start of the season, eventually being replaced on a more permanent basis at third by the up and coming Ian Stewart. Atkins could’ve moped around the dugout and brought the team down, but to his credit he hasn’t done that. Despite the recent trade rumors Atkins has done the opposite. When called upon in pinch hitting situations as of late Atkins has found his stroke. In his last 4 games his average is .333, 4 hits in 12 at-bats, with a double and 3 RBIs. Atkins current average at the break is .230.

Omar Quintanilla (D) Omar is one of my favorite players on the team and to really no fault of his own I have to give him a grade of a D. Omar has only appeared in 29 games and 31 at-bats, with 6 hits, a double and 16 strikeouts. He’s currently batting .194. Omar needs more playing time, but that looks unlikely as the season progresses forward and if the Rockies remain in contention.

Next up: Outfielders.

Rockies midseason grades, catchers…

Here is a look at where I believe the Rockies players are at the midway point of the season. Feel free to agree or disagree.

Chris Iannetta - (C+) I really had high hopes for Iannetta coming into this season based on the offensive numbers he put up last season. I predicted he would make the all-star team this year, but with a .232 batting average and a short stint on the DL he hasnt yet been able to match last seasons numbers. Maybe sharing more time behind the plate with Torrealba will help. There’s still plenty of time for him to rebound.

Yorvit Torrealba – (Incomplete) Yorvit has only seen action in 22 games as a backup and is batting .225 at the break. The real life drama of his son being kidnapped earlier in the season in Venezuela set him back. Yorvit needs to see more time behind the plate (at least 2 games a week) to be productive since trading him isn’t an option.

Paul Phillips – (B) In the 13 games Phillips played in after being called up from Triple A, he posted a .310 batting average. He managed 13 hits, 6 walks, 1 homerun, 2 doubles, 7 RBIs and scored 5 runs. He more than filled in as the backup during Torrealba’s absence.

Next up: Infielders.

Fresh Produce (scores from the farm) 7/13…

CLASS AAA: COLORADO SPRINGS - Pacific Coast League off.

CLASS AA: SAN ANTONIO 1 @ TULSA 14 – The Drillers put up 14 runs on 19 hits. Cole Garner led the way going 4 for 5 at the plate and 4 RBIs.

CLASS A (ADVANCED): HIGH DESERT 3 @ MODESTO 8 – Jason Van Kooten was perfect going 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs and 2 walks and scored 2 runs. See a pattern here? Christian Friedrich wins his second game going 5.2 innings giving up 1 run and striking out 4.

CLASS A: ASHEVILLE 1 @ LAKE COUNTY 0 – The Tourists banged out 10 hits and were only able to score 1 run and it proved to be enough. Outstanding effort by Parker Frazier who evens his record at 6-6. Frazier went 8 innings striking out 3 and only gave up 2 hits.

CLASS A (SHORT SEASON): EVERETT 1 @ TRI CITY 2 – The Dust Devils almost completed a shutout, but gave up a run in the 9th. The Tri City pitching staff struck out 8 batters and gave up only 5 hits.

CLASS A (ROOKIE): CASPER 7 @ HELENA 1 – The Helena Brewers committed 7 errors. Nathan Hines and Jared Clark both led the Ghosts with 2 RBIs apiece.

Rockies enter break with a win…

Third time’s a charm as the saying goes. The Rockies for the 3rd straight game had to rally from behind and this time they came out with a win, 8-7 over the Braves to even the series 2-2 and end their homestand with a record of 6-4. Brad Hawpe was the hero with his game winning RBI double securing the win and giving the Rockies a little momentum after the break when they face the Padres on Thursday to begin a 4 game series.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT: “We definitely wanted to win this, especially against a team with a lot of good pitchers.” – Brad Hawpe

STAT OF THE GAME: Barmes, Smith and Hawpe collectively went 6 for 12 with 4 RBIs.