Life On The Farm: Colorado Rockies (# 20)

Surprise playoff team. Improved system?

Graduated To Majors: Seth Smith (OF, # 8), Dexter Fowler (OF, # 1), Eric Young Jr. (2B, # 18), Jhoulys Chacin (SP, # 2), Esmil Rogers (SP, # 7), Juan Morillo (RP, # 23, now with Twins), Steven Register (RP, UR, now with Phillies)

The Rest Of The Top 10 (with quick commentary)
Hitters: BA-OBP-SLG, AB, HR-RBI, BB-K, SB-CS
Pitchers: G-GS, W-L, ERA, IP-H-HR-BB-K

3 - Christian Friedrich: LHP
Lo A: 8-8, 3-3, 2.18, 45.1-35-2-15-66
Hi A: 14-14, 3-2, 2.54, 74.1-59-3-28-93
Quick Take: Why hasn't he gotten more hype? All he did was strike out 159 in 119.2 innings with just 43 walks. AND he's a lefty.

4 - Wilin Rosario: C
Hi A: .266-.297-.404, 203, 4-33, 10-55, 2-1
Quick Take: Disappointing season, but was an aggressive promotion, as this was his full-season debut, skipping over Low A.

5 - Hector Gomez: SS
Hi A: .266-.302-.411, 338, 7-46, 15-68, 9-4
Quick Take: Lost last season to injury, so good to see him back and returning to develop.

6 - Casey Weathers: RHP
DNP
Quick Take: Missed season due to injury rehabbing from ligament transplant surgery in arm.

9 - Michael McKenry: C
AA: .279-.376-.455, 358, 12-50, 54-69, 2-2
Quick Take: Showed pretty well in all phases of the game, especially in regards to the slash stats.

10 - Charlie Blackmon: CF
Hi A: .307-.370-.433, 550, 7-69, 39-83, 29-13
Quick Take: Another who made his full season debut at High A as opposed to Low A, he showed very well but also showed some rawness that needs to be developed.

AAA: Colorado Springs Sky Sox (PCL)
Breakout Hitter: Carlos Gonzalez (UL): .339-.418-.630, 10-59, 22-32, 6-3
Disappointing Hitter: Jonathan Herrera (# 27): .268-.353-.339, 381, 2-33, 49-51, 16-5
Breakout Pitcher: Brandon Hynick (# 22): 26-26, 10-9, 3.83, 155-153-17-48-92
Disappointing Pitcher: Greg Smith (UL): 7-7, 1-2, 7.28, 29.2-34-5-11-15
Quick Take: Gonzalez propelled himself into a key role with the Rockies in their playoff push. Hynick didn't get to the bigs yet, but has shown himself as a capable replacement if injuries happen next season. Herrera was the worst performer on the offensive side of the ball for the Sky Sox. Smith went from average major league starter with Oakland to bad starter in AAA.

AA: Tulsa Drillers (TL)
Breakout Hitter: Cole Garner (UR): .288-.342-.492, 396, 16-64, 23-78, 13-5
Disappointing Hitter: Anthony Jackson (UR): .220-.301-.294, 422, 4-34, 44-58, 27-5
Breakout Pitcher: Sam Deduno (UR): 24-24, 12-4, 2.57, 133-94-3-72-123
Disappointing Pitcher: Keith Weiser (UR): 27-27, 9-15, 5.23, 156.2-195-23-29-97
Quick Take: Garner showed a solid all around offensive season, though his plate discipline needs to improve. Deduno shows electric stuff and occasional command, but put up a very strong season. Jackson had an all around disappointing season at a position (CF) of strength in the organization. Weiser is a lefty who struggled to pitch around the swings and misses he couldn't generate.

Hi A: Modesto Nuts (CL)
Breakout Hitter: Charlie Blackmon (#10): Line above.
Disappointing Hitter: Brian Rike (UR): .196-.271-.361, 368, 11-59, 34-147, 4-3
Breakout Pitcher: Christian Friedrich (# 3): Line above.
Disappointing Pitcher: Kenny Durst (UR): 28-28, 4-13, 5.25, 152.2-163-13-59-95
Quick Take: Blackmon and Friedrich were the Rockies 1st and 2nd round picks respectively in the 2008 draft and they have appeared to hit on both. Rike's season was a lost cause and he has a lot of improvements ot make. Durst is another lefty still trying to learn how to pitch to soft contact and not hard contact.

Lo A: Asheville Tourists (SAL)
Breakout Hitter: Mike Zuanich (UL): .362-.450-.616, 138, 7-34, 20-36, 1-1
Disappointing Hitter: Carlos Martinez (# 30): .197-.253-.244, 295, 0-19, 14-92, 12-6
Breakout Pitcher: Juan Nicasio (UL): 18-18, 9-3, 2.73, 112-111-6-23-115
Disappointing Pitcher: Robinson Fabian (UL): 24-12, 3-6, 6.24, 83.2-105-6-21-54
Quick Take: Zuanich was a 28th round pick in 2008 who got a midseason promotion here from SS after posting a .340-.476-.809 line in 47 at bats. Nicasio was a free agent signee from the Dominican who made his first appearance in full season ball and shined. Martinez struggled in every facet of the game while Fabian struggled to do much of anything on the mound.

TK's Early 2010 Top 10 Prospects
1) Tyler Matzek: LHP
Regarded as the top prep arm in the draft, the 11th overall pick will make his debut next season.
2) Christian Friedrich: LHP
Stud numbers and could be in Colorado for a cup of coffee next September.
3) Charlie Blackmon: CF
Toolsy OF will make the move to AA.
4) Michael McKenry: C
Talented catcher will make the move to AAA next season.
5) Rex Brothers: LHP
Supplement 1st rounder struck out 28 in 21 innings in pro debut split between SS and Low A.
6) Tim Wheeler: CF
Other first rounder struggled some in debut, but has the tools for future production.
7) Nolan Arenado: 3B
High Schooler 2nd round pick hit .300-.351-.404 at Rookie ball with 16 walks and 18 strikeouts in 203 at bats.
8) Wilin Rosario: C
Needs a little bit of a bounceback season and will likely repeat High A.
9) Darin Holcomb: 3B
Solid season (.271-.348-.411, 54 BB's vs. 50 K's) after being SAL MVP at Low A may repeat AA again after skipping High A.
10) Hector Gomez: SS
Year back from injury, will the true Gomez show himself?

Dropped From Top 10: Weathers (# 6)

Final Overview: This system is on the uptick and it is because of a renewed emphasis on the draft. The club spent big money to lure Matzek and then spent to land both Wheeler and Brothers, who were both projected to go higher then where they ended up. When supplemented with the breakout seasons of Friedrich and Blackmon, this system has some high impact talent moving through. While still lacking in depth, this system's strengths are in some of the toughest things to find, such as speedy CF's, left handed pitching and catching. I would say this is a slightly above average farm system overall, even with the defections and the loss of guys through trades to fortify the team for their current run.