The Asheville Tourists were able to snap a five game losing streak against the Rome Braves in their home opener winning 5-4 in ten innings in walk off fashion. The Tourists faced a 4-0 deficit going into the bottom of the seventh inning as they only managed two hits in six innings off of Rome starter Max Fried. The Tourists cut it to 4-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning and an infield pop fly from centerfielder Mylz Jones that fell between the Rome pitcher and the third baseman and plated Jonathan Piron with the tying run. In the bottom of the tenth inning, Sam Hilliard hit a one out double to left field, was moved over to third base on a fly ball to right by Piron, and scored on a fly ball by Max George that landed in between the Rome leftfielder and third baseman, just a few feet fair.
This was not the offensive explosion I was hoping for but the Tourists still got 11 hits, nine of those in the last four innings. Starter Jack Wynkoop gave up three runs (all in the first inning) in six innings and relievers Drasen Johnson and Juan Pena pitched two innings a piece and only gave up one run between them.
The Tourists really needed this win after losing six of seven on the road to begin the season and a walk off win is a great way to start a home stand.
Friday, April 15, 2016
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
A Pitcher's Duel
The Asheville Tourists offensive slump continued last night as they lost 2-1 to the Charleston River Dogs. The Tourists only had six hits in the loss but only left four men on base and were zero for two with men in scoring position. The runners were just not out there for them to score. The Tourists got another strong pitching performance from right hander David Hill (six innings, one run) but he did not factor in the decision.
It is too early in the season for Tourists fans to be hitting the panic button as far as the offense goes and hopefully a return home on Thirsty Thursday will bring the bats out of their slump. The Tourists have finished near the top of the South Atlantic League for the past several seasons under hitting coach Mike Devereaux and I believe that they will come out of their slump very soon.
It is too early in the season for Tourists fans to be hitting the panic button as far as the offense goes and hopefully a return home on Thirsty Thursday will bring the bats out of their slump. The Tourists have finished near the top of the South Atlantic League for the past several seasons under hitting coach Mike Devereaux and I believe that they will come out of their slump very soon.
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Offense As Cold As The Mountain Air
The Asheville Tourists have gotten a slow start to the season only winning one game out of their first five. The offense has only scored 15 runs in five games and were shut out by the Charleston River Dogs in their latest effort. The team is only batting .209 and the Tourists are near the bottom of the South Atlantic League in runs scored. The pitching has not fared well either as their 4.61 ERA is second to the last in the league.
The Tourists have two more games in Charleston before they have their home opener on "Thirsty Thursday" in the friendly confines of McCormick Field. If anything will get the Tourists offense going, it ids playing a few games at home.
The Tourists have two more games in Charleston before they have their home opener on "Thirsty Thursday" in the friendly confines of McCormick Field. If anything will get the Tourists offense going, it ids playing a few games at home.
First
I just want to say I was one of the first to start following Asheville Tourist alumni and current Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story as he began spring training trying to earn a spot on the Colorado Rockies roster. I, nor anyone else for that matter, predicted the kind of success that he is having. Seven homeruns in his first six major league games. It is almost redundant to list all of the records he has set. Throw in a .333 batting average and 12 runs batted in, and he is the National League Player of the Week.
Baseball bloggers and writers are a dime a dozen. My baseball blogs blog have not captured anyone's attention and probably won't but I can say that I was one of the first (if not the first) to start following Trevor Story. I started out spring training writing about several ex-Asheville Tourists that had a chance to make the team but Story's name is the one that kept appearing at the top of the list. Story is the #11 ranked Rockies prospect and he wasn't even on the team's radar for this season. Story had a very good camp and throw in Jose Reyes' legal problems and Story emerged as the starting shortstop. He knocked the rest of it out of the ballpark.
Baseball bloggers and writers are a dime a dozen. My baseball blogs blog have not captured anyone's attention and probably won't but I can say that I was one of the first (if not the first) to start following Trevor Story. I started out spring training writing about several ex-Asheville Tourists that had a chance to make the team but Story's name is the one that kept appearing at the top of the list. Story is the #11 ranked Rockies prospect and he wasn't even on the team's radar for this season. Story had a very good camp and throw in Jose Reyes' legal problems and Story emerged as the starting shortstop. He knocked the rest of it out of the ballpark.
Friday, April 8, 2016
The Season Opener
The Asheville Tourists started their 2016 season on the road against the Greenville Drive at Fluor Field. The Tourists dropped the opener 4-3 giving up the deciding two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Tourists starter David Hill pitched six strong innings only giving up two earned runs, striking out seven and walking only one.
Top Rockies draft pick, shortstop Brendan Rodgers, went one for three in his Tourists debut with a double and a walk. Leadoff hitter Mylz Jones got two of the Tourists five hits but was picked off first base and was caught stealing.
Top Rockies draft pick, shortstop Brendan Rodgers, went one for three in his Tourists debut with a double and a walk. Leadoff hitter Mylz Jones got two of the Tourists five hits but was picked off first base and was caught stealing.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
The Story Turning Into Legend
Ex-Asheville Tourist Trevor Story hit two homeruns off of Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke in his major league debut on Opening Day leading the Colorado Rockies to a 10-5 win in the season opener. Story hit the first pitch Greinke threw to him in the third inning for a three-run homer for his first major league hit and hit a monstrous solo homerun in the fourth inning that traveled well over 400 feet. The first homerun came off an outside fastball that Story took to the opposite field and the second homerun was on an inside breaking pitch that Story pulled into the left field stands.
That is a historical debut for a player that is only the #11 ranked prospect in the Rockies organization. Story hit these homeruns off major league veteran and former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke. Granted, there is probably not a "book" on how to pitch to Story yet but Story's power display was impressive nonetheless.
Another ex-Asheville Tourist I have been following this spring, Cristhian Adames, got into the game at second base but went hitless in three at bats.
That is a historical debut for a player that is only the #11 ranked prospect in the Rockies organization. Story hit these homeruns off major league veteran and former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke. Granted, there is probably not a "book" on how to pitch to Story yet but Story's power display was impressive nonetheless.
Another ex-Asheville Tourist I have been following this spring, Cristhian Adames, got into the game at second base but went hitless in three at bats.
Monday, April 4, 2016
The Asheville Tourists Opening Day Roster
The Asheville Tourists announced their Opening Day Roster and the Colorado Rockies are unlike most other major league baseball teams in that their top prospects are playing in the higher levels of their minor league system. Most of the Rockies top 30 prospects have already passed through Asheville at some point and time and played for the Tourists.
Mlb.com has shortstop Brendan Rogers as the #1 ranked prospect in the Rockies system and he will start the season in Asheville with the Tourists. The Tourists will have several other top prospects start the season with the team. Pitcher Peter Lambert (#16) and infielder Jonathan Piron (#29) also made the top thirty prospects list.
The Tourists will also have several top draft picks of the Rockies start the season with them. Pitchers David Hill (second round), Parker French (fifth round), Jack Wynkoop (sixth round), and Trey Killian (ninth round). Lambert and those four pitchers are expected to form the Tourists starting rotation to start the season.
The Tourists are going to carry 13 pitchers and 12 position players to open the season. They are also only going to carry three outfielders with middle infielder Mylz Jones also being able to play the outfield. Jones spent 2015 with Grand Junction in the Rookie League and he played every position except for pitcher, catcher, and first base. Jones has already filled the Rockies criteria for positional versatility.
Mlb.com has shortstop Brendan Rogers as the #1 ranked prospect in the Rockies system and he will start the season in Asheville with the Tourists. The Tourists will have several other top prospects start the season with the team. Pitcher Peter Lambert (#16) and infielder Jonathan Piron (#29) also made the top thirty prospects list.
The Tourists will also have several top draft picks of the Rockies start the season with them. Pitchers David Hill (second round), Parker French (fifth round), Jack Wynkoop (sixth round), and Trey Killian (ninth round). Lambert and those four pitchers are expected to form the Tourists starting rotation to start the season.
The Tourists are going to carry 13 pitchers and 12 position players to open the season. They are also only going to carry three outfielders with middle infielder Mylz Jones also being able to play the outfield. Jones spent 2015 with Grand Junction in the Rookie League and he played every position except for pitcher, catcher, and first base. Jones has already filled the Rockies criteria for positional versatility.
Opening Day Roster
Two ex-Asheville Tourists that I have been following since the beginning of training camp have made the Colorado Rockies Opening Day roster. Trevor will open the season as the Rockies starting shortstop and Cristhian Adames has made the roster as a backup infielder. When Story starts tonight, it will be his first appearance in the major leagues. Adames has made brief appearances with the Rockies in 2014 and '15 totaling 33 games, batting .206 with three runs batted in.
Major league rosters are always in a state of flux. The Rockies put six players on the Disabled List and as the players come off the Disabled List, moves will have to be made. Infielder Daniel Descalso is on the Disabled List with a fracture of his left hand and shortstop Jose Reyes is still on the Restricted List and both of these players play shortstop. When these players are eligible to come off the Disabled List, moves will have to be made that could affect the status of Story and Adames.
Major league rosters are always in a state of flux. The Rockies put six players on the Disabled List and as the players come off the Disabled List, moves will have to be made. Infielder Daniel Descalso is on the Disabled List with a fracture of his left hand and shortstop Jose Reyes is still on the Restricted List and both of these players play shortstop. When these players are eligible to come off the Disabled List, moves will have to be made that could affect the status of Story and Adames.
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Breaking Camp
Two days before the Colorado Rockies season opener and the Colorado Rockies do not have still their 25 man roster set. The Rockies are going to start the season with 13 position players and 12 pitchers. There are still 17 pitchers on the roster and 14 position players.
Brandon Barnes is still being considered for a roster spot as the fifth outfielder but the Rockies believe in positional versatility and infielders Ben Paulsen and Mark Reynolds can play the outfield. Ex-Asheville Tourist Trevor Story will begin the season as the starting shortstop and it looks like Cristhian Adames has made the roster as a backup middle infielder. Tony Wolters has won the backup catching job in spite of the fact the highest level he has played at is AA.
The Rockies announced that they have released former 2010 first round draft pick (#26 overall), ex-Asheville Tourist, and ex-Clemson football and baseball star Kyle Parker. Parker was in camp as a non-roster invitee. He batted .182 with three homeruns and 12 runs batted in 64 major league games between 2014 and '15. He spent 2011 with the Asheville Tourists and batted .285 with 21 homeruns and 95 RBI's. He batted .290 with 91 homeruns in 563 minor league games. He was never able to translate his minor league success to the major leagues. He is only 26 years old and I hope another major league team picks him up.
Brandon Barnes is still being considered for a roster spot as the fifth outfielder but the Rockies believe in positional versatility and infielders Ben Paulsen and Mark Reynolds can play the outfield. Ex-Asheville Tourist Trevor Story will begin the season as the starting shortstop and it looks like Cristhian Adames has made the roster as a backup middle infielder. Tony Wolters has won the backup catching job in spite of the fact the highest level he has played at is AA.
The Rockies announced that they have released former 2010 first round draft pick (#26 overall), ex-Asheville Tourist, and ex-Clemson football and baseball star Kyle Parker. Parker was in camp as a non-roster invitee. He batted .182 with three homeruns and 12 runs batted in 64 major league games between 2014 and '15. He spent 2011 with the Asheville Tourists and batted .285 with 21 homeruns and 95 RBI's. He batted .290 with 91 homeruns in 563 minor league games. He was never able to translate his minor league success to the major leagues. He is only 26 years old and I hope another major league team picks him up.
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