Drillers arrive in Springdale for playoff chase
Published on June 14, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release
The Drillers arrived Sunday with one notable change to their club since their series from May 18th-21st. There is a new boss at the helm.
When the Drillers' parent-club, the Colorado Rockies, relieved their manager Clint Hurdle of his duties in late May, it sent a ripple effect through the minor league system to fill an open Bench Coach role after Jim Tracy, the Bench Coach under Hurdle, took over as interim skipper. Tom Runnels, the former Drillers' manager who had been managing at Triple-A Colorado Springs, moved up to take Tracy's former role, and Stu Cole, previously the Drillers' skipper, moved up to Colorado Springs.
The Rockies tabbed Field Coordinator Ron Gideon to fill Stu Cole's role with the Drillers. Gideon had prior minor league managing experience and stepped right in at the helm of a club in a pennant chase.
Currently on a season-high six game winning streak, the Naturals find themselves a season-high four games over the .500 mark with a 32-28 record. Tulsa arrives one game behind the Naturals and in third-place with a 31-29 record.
The Drillers roster features seven of the Rockies' top 30 prospects according to Baseball America. The headliner for Tulsa is 2nd ranked prospect Jhoulys Chacin. The 21-year old right handed pitcher lead the Minors in wins last season with 18, and is 4-5 with a 3.13 ERA this season so far. The Venezuelan native features the best changeup in the Rockies organization according to Baseball America. The Naturals were able to beat Chacin on his first start at Arvest Ballpark on May 19th, but Chacin will get another crack at Northwest Arkansas during this four-game set.
Catcher Mike McKenry is ranked as the Rockies 9th best prospect. McKenry has combined for 40 home runs over the last two seasons. 19th ranked prospect Darin Holcomb, who plays third base, was the South Atlantic League MVP in 2008 and made the jump up two levels to the Texas League. Infielder Chris Nelson, the 13th ranked prospect, is having somewhat of a bounceback season (.280, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 5 SB) after a lost 2008 campaign with injuries and scuffles at the plate The 7th ranked prospect, pitcher Esmil Rogers will not be seen during this series. Rogers is second in the Texas League in earned run average and has a 2.82 ERA to go along with 67 strikeouts against only 15 walks. Two more prospects, right-hander Chaz Roe (#24) and right-hander Andy Graham (#29) are on the disabled list.
OF Cole Garner comes in swinging a hot bat for Tulsa, batting .462 (6-for-13) in his past five games with a homer and five runs driven in. He has hit Naturals' pitching well thus far also, batting .333 in five games. INF Daniel Mayora (.382) also has good numbers thus far against Northwest Arkansas, while OF Ryan Harvey has clobbered three of his eight Texas League homers in 2009 off Naturals' pitching. Their closer, Andrew Johnston, leads the loop in saves with 17.
On the stat sheet, Tulsa's pitching staff has a 3.90 ERA, which for the most part has consistently ranked them second in the Texas League this season. They also lead the league is strikeouts with 263. The Naturals come in fourth in the Texas League with a team ERA of 4.42. The Naturals find themselves in fifth place in batting average, with a .274 mark, although their 305 runs scored places them fourth. Tulsa (242 runs) is next to last in that category while their batting average as a club is seventh (.256). Tulsa's 194 walks are tied for fewest in the Texas League.
The season series between the two clubs is tied at four games apiece. The Naturals face the Drillers in six of their final ten games, so this series is pivotal to determine whether the Naturals have a chance to catch first-place Springfield.
Sunday's pitching matchup places right-hander Robinson Tejeda, on a major league rehab stint, against fellow righty Joey Williamson. Monday, left-hander Everett Teaford, making his first start for the Naturals, takes the ball opposite right-hander Brandon Durden. Tuesday evening will feature right-hander Blake Wood for the Naturals against top prospect Jhoulys Chacin, and the four game series wraps Wednesday afternoon with right-hander Dan Cortes throwing for the Naturals against lefty Keith Weiser.
Texas League Stories from June 14, 2009
- Travs top Cards 7-3 - Arkansas Travelers
- Cards Drop Third Straight - Springfield Cardinals
- Reliever Herndon Placed on Disabled List - Arkansas Travelers
- Drillers Cool Off Naturals - Tulsa Drillers
- Tulsa Blanks Naturals Sunday - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Mother Nature reschedules kids clinic again - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Drillers arrive in Springdale for playoff chase - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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