Team: Colorado Rockies Burning Question Where and how soon will Joe Koshansky fit into the Colorado lineup? This question has popped up more and more since Koshansky's monster season last year in Double-A Tulsa, hitting .284 with 31 homers and 109 RBIs. That certainly proved he wasn't a product of South Atlantic League pitching, as some had suggested following his 36-homer effort at Asheville in 2005. The persistent stories about the possibility of Boston acquiring Todd Helton earlier this winter only added to the speculation that the young slugger would be in Denver sooner rather than later. Let's just slow down, though. Koshansky may very well be the next big thing to hit the National League and right now it certainly does appear as if he is Helton's heir apparent. But the Rockies want to make sure he's ready for the big time, and that means seasoning at Colorado Springs against some wily Pacific Coast League veterans. Helton's most productive years may be behind him, but he's still a .300 hitter and an icon in Colorado. While Koshansky is a solid first baseman, Helton does have three Gold Gloves to his credit so what's the rush. Let Koshansky simmer in Triple-A for a few more months. "The big thing right now is to make sure he gets everyday Triple-A at-bats," Colorado's director of player development Marc Gustafson said. "It's like the whole Ryan Shealy thing. You never know what might happen, though. An injury might happen and we might need to take a look at him, but we have to make sure he's ready to go. "He's not a position change guy, though. He's an interesting guy who we just need to get some at-bats -- though I don't know if we expected the big years we've seen from him. He has tremendous power, but I think it would be appropriate that he spent more time at Triple-A. I can't wait to see what he'll do. He'll have a big year and down the road we'll see if he could be a left-handed bat off the bench, but that's at the end of the year." Other News of the Day Right-hander Samuel Deduno, one of the organization's more impressive prospects, remains the only Minor Leaguer out of camp because of visa issues. He's slated to begin the season at Double-A Tulsa but that's assuming he's in the country. Deduno, who possesses a wicked curveball, is still in the Dominican Republic trying to sort out the problem. Gustafson is hopeful that he'll be on a plane for the United States this week. ... RHP Shane Lindsey remains the only serious rehab concern in Minor League camp. He underwent surgery to repair a frayed labrum in the fall and isn't expected back on a mound until next month. Gustafson, however, expects him to be ready to pitch at Tri-City of the Northwest League when that season opens in June, and then finish up the year in Modesto of the California League. Lindsey was 4-3 with a 2.71 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) last year, splitting time between Tri-City and Asheville. ... Don't be surprised if Major League veteran Mike DeJean remains in Tucson when camp breaks later this month. He's still recovering from labrum/rotator cuff surgery and has yet to face live batters, though he has thrown several bullpens. #ques_include {width:300px;float:right;margin-left:5px;} #ques_content {border-top:1px solid #4C8CA8;border-left:1px solid #4C8CA8;padding-left:5px;} .ques_schedule {margin-top:5px;font-size:11px;} .ques_dates {font-size:11px;font-style:italic;color:#999;} 
Five Questions with Ian Stewart MiLB.com: Who is the one person in history you'd like to have dinner with and why? IS: Ted Williams, because not only was he a great hitter, he seemed like a genuine person. It would be great to sit down and have the chance to talk with him. MiLB.com: It would surprise people to know what about you? IS: I'm kind of a beach bum. I like to be around the water -- snorkeling, jet skiing, surfing, whatever. I just love being at the beach. With baseball, your summers are taken away, but heading to the beach is something I'm always looking to do. MiLB.com: What do you have to do this season to become a better ballplayer? IS: I have to work on being more consistent. You're always going to have ups and downs, but I have to shorten the downs. Just going out there every day and playing will help that. It takes a lot of hard work but you have to know what type of player and hitter you are. If I don't try to do too much and stay within myself, I should be fine. MiLB.com: Who is the most unusual character you've come across in the Minor Leagues? IS: Christian Colonel. I've played with him the last three or four years and he's one of my best friends in the organization. I just love to be around him. He's always doing something to make everyone laugh. He keeps everyone loose and on their toes. MiLB: Ginger or Maryanne? IS: Ginger because she's a red head. There's just something about that. Lasting Impression Greg Reynolds, last year's No. 2 overall draft pick, blends right into the background in the Colorado clubhouse. Considering it's his first Spring Training and he's with the Major League outfit, that's not a bad thing. He says he just wants to sit back, watch, learn and go about his business -- a strategy that will bring no complaints from management. Reynolds has looked solid so far in his first camp and clearly isn't awestruck by his surroundings. Not surprising since he's a Stanford guy and has the smarts not to be too intimidated. He won't be on the Major League side of camp for much longer, but what he takes back to the Minor League side from the few weeks he's been here will be invaluable. He has a corner locker that gives him a good view of the clubhouse and in plain sight of the veterans, all of whom are more than willing to keep him in check if he gets too big for his britches. That doesn't seem likely, though, considering his makeup. Not to mention, Reynolds is also invaluable because of his mid-90s fastball and the fact that he jumped right into the California League out of college last year with nary a struggle. By the way, he says there's no truth to the rumor that all Stanford pitchers have a plastic Mike Mussina on their dashboards. "I'd love to have one of them," Reynolds said. "He's kind of an icon at Stanford. It's nice to see someone who came where you came from. It gives you a good amount of hope." Off the Beaten Path Tucson certainly isn't a garden spot, but if you feel like driving a few miles out of town, there are some interesting sites. For starters, there's the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Farm a few miles up I-10. You can see the big birds from the road and there are big signs letting everyone know you can stop and feed them. ... There's also some great scenery between here and Phoenix. It's like driving through a John Ford western. For the younger crowd, or those who think Adam Sandler or Will Ferrell make good movies, go check out She Wore a Yellow Ribbon or the Searchers. They are two outstanding flicks that starred John Wayne, whose most famous character just happened to be Rooster Cogburn, a role for which he won his only Oscar. ... Most teams have cutesy sayings, gimmicky marketing slogans or largely ignored motivational signs hanging in the clubhouse. Not the Rockies. Walk into their clubhouse at Spring Training and a sign greets you with a quote from Julius Caesar that links confidence, knowledge and training to victory. Nothin' like a good Roman Empire reference to start the day. Parting Shots One of the more impressive aspects of Rockies camp was the fact that almost every Minor Leaguer was there despite the fact that position players didn't have to report until the end of the week. Sure, there were many non-roster guys on the Major League side, but only seven players remained out of camp on the Minor League side and one of them was Deduno. While that may or may not be unusual, Colorado certainly seems to foster an atmosphere that promotes hard work without being overbearing or demanding. The team can't insist that its players show up before they are scheduled to report, yet the fact that almost all of them do speaks volumes about the kind of system the Rockies have in place. "They're here on their own dime right now and we have a full camp," Gustafson said. "We have a pretty good spirit of competition here. It's a good way to get the season started."
Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs. |
