Rockies farm report: Adjustments helping Modesto's Carte

Published May 17, 2007 at midnight

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Without question, right fielder Daniel Carte is having a breakout season for high Class A Modesto. He has been far more consistent, highly productive and has made his presence felt in the middle of the Nuts' lineup and, at long last, in the Rockies organization.

Carte is hitting .339 with three home runs and 18 RBI. He's fourth in hitting in the California League, first in doubles (15) and third in slugging percentage (.559).

That said, there is an eyebrow-raising aspect to Carte's season. He has two walks and 33 strikeouts in 118 at-bats.

Carte has hit in nine straight games and 13 of his past 14. He has also struck out in 10 straight games and 14 of his past 15. All of which can be explained. The Rockies second-round pick out of Winthrop University in 2005, Carte is growing as a hitter, making changes that are imperative for his professional success but still reverting at times to old habits.

"He's got better control of the strike zone," Modesto manager Jerry Weinstein said. "Early in the year, he just didn't control the outside half of the plate. And now he's starting to control the outside half of the plate, so he's doing a much better job with two strikes. He uses the whole field and (has a) more gap-to-gap approach and less spin off and pull everything."

Carte went 5-for-5 with three doubles May 5. Four of those hits came with two strikes, said Modesto hitting coach Dave Hajek.

He and Carte were together last season at low Single A Asheville, before Hajek moved up to Modesto when an opening developed there in June. Hajek said he complicated things with Carte at Asheville, talking about what the upper half of his body was doing in addition to the lower half.

"This year, we've really made a commitment to keeping it simple," Hajek said, "and he's really responded to that very well."

Carte said he has been working diligently this year on keeping his weight back. "That would obviously let me stay back longer to let the pitch outside get deeper," he said, "and be able to hit it the other way."

Hajek added a semantic shading to the work he has been doing with Carte, saying it's more a matter of Carte keeping his weight balanced than back.

"He has a tendency to kind of lunge forward at the pitcher," Hajek said. "We're just kind of in the beginning stages of this process of making this adjustment. So to have the kind of success he's had already, I'm very excited about it, and I'm sure he is. I think it's just a question of comfort, keeping your weight in the right place, staying balanced."

There were members of the Rockies organization upon seeing Carte who wondered how he could have been drafted so high and given a $670,000 bonus. He went to Short-season Tri-City in 2005 and began his professional career by hitting .225-6-25 and averaging one strikeout every 3.3 at-bats. Statistics are borderline irrelevant to a new professional at the short-season level, and Carte moved up to Asheville where he hit .258-14-66 with 107 strikeouts or one every four at-bats.

"I was disappointed in it," Carte said of his Asheville season. "I set pretty high standards for myself. I didn't think it was a complete failure. I learned some things, but I wouldn't say I was happy at all with it."

Carte is an adequate outfielder, whose best asset is an arm that is accurate and reasonably strong. He projects to be a player who will hit more for average than power, with 12-15 home runs a likely output in the majors and a slew of doubles.

There's reason to believe Carte's strikeout totals will drop as a balanced approach with his weight at the plate becomes part of Carte's muscle memory.

"I'm not going to say he's totally fixed it," Hajek said, "and I think he would agree with that. It's not something that's always working. He really has a tendency to go out and get the ball and (try to) generate some power.

"When he stays back, he makes contact. When he goes forward, he misses it. It is that simple. When your body, your eyes and everything are moving forward, your pitch recognition goes down, and he swings at balls out of the zone and fouls off the good pitches to hit. When he is in a good position and his eyes stop moving and his weight stops moving, No. 1, he puts the good pitch in play and lays off the bad pitch."

That work-in-progress description is appropriate, Carte said. Asked whether he was aware last year at Asheville when his weight wasn't balanced, Carte said, "I didn't even know I did it last year, to be honest."

If awareness is the necessary first step to correcting this or any problem, Carte has made huge strides.

"Sometimes I get it right, and sometimes I'm still drifting," Carte said. "But the good thing about it is when I'm doing it now, I can tell that I'm doing it, and I can try to correct it right away.

"Before it was something I'd always done and using a metal bat, I could get away with it. Here in pro ball, you can't get away with it. Just being able to recognize it now is a big thing, and hopefully by the end of this year, it won't be a problem for me anymore."

Triple-A Colorado Springs

Sky Sox Web site | Sky Sox Roster

After starting Saturday for Double-A Tulsa, left-hander Oscar Rivera is scheduled to start tonight for the Sky Sox and work about six innings or 70 pitches. The Rockies have until June 1 to decide whether to keep Rivera in the organization and pay $1.3 million to the Yucatan Lions or return him to that Mexican League team . . . Five walks and five strikeouts in 56 at-bats for catcher Edwin Bellorin (.393-3-16), whose on-base percentage is .438 and whose 22 hits include five doubles and three homers, leading to a .643 slugging percentage . . . First baseman Joe Koshansky (.325-4-25) has hit in 14 of his past 16 games, going 24-for-60 (.400) in that stretch with two doubles, one homer and 13 RBI . . . Jorge DePaula (4-0, 2.00), who began his career in the Rockies organization, has returned and is thriving. He started the year in extended spring training, made his first appearance for the Sky Sox in relief April 22 and has gone 3-0, 2.25 in four starts while holding opposing batters to a .179 average. DePaula, 28, was back at low Class A Asheville for a second season in 2001 when the Rockies traded him April 20 to the Yankees to complete a deal for reliever Craig Dingman. DePaula pitched a combined total of 10 games in relief for the Yankees in 2003, 2004 and 2005. He underwent reconstructive elbow surgery April 22, 2004, and was released by the Yankees following the 2006 season where he went a combined 4-14, 4.50 at Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Columbus. DePaula resigned with the Rockies in January and while winning his past three starts, has allowed four runs, three earned, and 11 hits in 19 innings with seven walks and 14 strikeouts . . . Outfielder Alexis Gomez (.268-1-9) went on the disabled list for the second time this season with an inflamed left (throwing) elbow . . . The Sky Sox finally got to .500 for the first time this season Sunday in their 34th game. They've won eight of their past nine games, including a seven-game winning streak that ended Monday . . . Left-hander Eric Dubose (0-3, 7.83) was released. Opponents batted .359 against DuBose, 31, who was in big-league spring training and in seven games, including five starts, allowed 45 baserunners in 23 innings.

Double-A Tulsa

Tulsa Drillers Web site | Drillers Roster

Left-hander Franklin Morales (0-2, 3.67) is scheduled to pitch a simulated game Saturday and return to the Drillers rotation Thursday. He has been sidelined with a left hamstring strain and last pitched April 28 . . . Mike DeJean, 36, who had been in extended spring training, joined the Drillers bullpen on Thursday and threw two scoreless innings as he continues trying to work his way back from June 14 shoulder surgery. DeJean pitched twice for the Rockies in 2006, the last time on April 7. Rockies trainer Keith Dugger said DeJean stopped by Coors Field on his way to Tulsa and played long toss. "He feels his strength is getting better every time he throws," Dugger said. "He just needs to go pitch." . . . Right-hander Greg Reynolds (4-1, 1.58) will begin a three-day suspension Friday. On May 10, Reynolds was ejected after hitting Arkansas' Sean Rodriguez, the first batter he faced in the bottom of the sixth. Reynolds was 0-2 on Rodriguez, who twice called time during Reynolds' delivery and was hit in the back with a 94 mph fastball. Opponents are hitting .185 against Reynolds, who has eight walks and 34 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings and has allowed two wind-blown homers. Against Wichita on Tuesday, Reynolds threw 70 of 103 pitches for strikes, including 56 of 81 fastballs, he averages 90-91 mph with that pitch, and got 16 ground ball outs and three fly outs in 7 2/3 innings . . . Reliever Juan Morillo (1-1, 2.35) has made great strides, working with Tulsa pitching coach Bo McLaughlin to simplify his delivery while taking the mound every third or fourth day for the Drillers. Morillo has worked four straight scoreless outings, covering eight innings with one walk, six strikeouts and four hits allowed. He touched 100 mph with his fastball Monday and averaged 97 mph but more importantly, threw 24 of 31 for strikes in a two-inning outing. Morillo, who allowed three singles, also threw four sliders and four changeups and finished with 27 strikes . . . In his final outing Tuesday before being promoted to the Rockies, reliever Darren Clarke (1-0, 0.00) threw 15-18 pitches for strikes including 12 of 13 fastballs at 94-96 mph. Clarke also was 84-87 mph with his slider, threw three of five for strikes, he went 1-0, 0.00 in five games, working 6 1/3 innings and allowing one hit and one walk with 10 strikeouts. in five games with one walk and 10 strikeouts . . . Third baseman b>Christian Colonel (.293-1-21) has raised his average from .209 on May 1 by going 22-for-49 with four doubles and 10 RBI while hitting in 11 of his past 13 games . . . Left fielder Matt Miller (.299-4-19) has hit in six straight games and eight of his past nine, going 14-for-29 with three doubles, two homers and seven RBI and raising his on-base percentage to .371 . . . Reliever Jarrett Grube (3-0, 0.38) has made 14 consecutive scoreless appearances since he allowed his only run of the season April 8 in his second outing. Grube has pitched two or more innings in eight of his 16 games and has limited opponents to a .159 average . . . Infielder Matt Macri (.342-0-3) has hit in eight of 10 games since joining the Drillers. Macri spent April in extended spring training recovering from a hamstring strain . . . The Drillers have won four straight games, five of their past six and nine of their past 11.

High Single-A Modesto

Modesto Nuts Web site | Nuts Roster

Brandon Hynick (6-0, 0.68) has walked four of the 202 batters he has faced. He has four walks and 37 strikeouts while allowing 36 hits in 53 innings. Of those 53 innings, 49 have been scoreless . . . In his 39th professional start, Chaz Roe (0-5, 3.48) threw his first complete game, losing 1-0 Monday at San Jose. Roe threw 77 pitches, 52 strikes, including 41 of 61 strikes with an 88-92 mph fastball. Roe has a power curveball, it ranged from 78-82 mph and averaged 80 mph, that he threw 12 times, nine for strikes. Roe's changeup has improved, thanks to a grip he learned in spring training from Asheville pitching coach Bryan Harvey. Like a lot of young pitchers, Roe, 20, the 32nd player taken overall in the 2005 draft, is working on staying over the rubber more consistently to develop better rhythm. He's done just that in his past two starts, allowing two unearned runs and four hits in 14 innings with four walks and nine strikeouts. Roe has not allowed a home run in 44 innings this season . . . Shortstop Chris Nelson (.260-4-21) pulled out of a 1-for-22 slide that had dropped his average 38 points to .239 by going 4-for-4 on Sunday with a double and a home run. Those were Nelson's first extra-base hits in 10 games going back to May 1 when he also doubled and homered. In addition to going 6-for-12 in his past four games, Nelson has drawn six walks. He had seven walks in first 32 games . . . Two straight wins have put the Nuts two games above .500 (21-19) for the second time this season. They were 10-8 on April 23 . . . The Nuts' bullpen is well rested, having pitched three innings the past three games. In addition to Roe's complete game loss Monday, left-hander Brandon Durden (2-2, 4.47) pitched eight innings Tuesday in a 6-2 win at San Jose followed by seven innings Wednesday at San Jose from Hynick in a 5-0 win.

Low Single-A Asheville

Asheville Tourists Web site | Tourists Roster

Josh Sullivan (3-1, 3.00) is scheduled to return to the rotation Wednesday and make his first start since April 27. He has been sidelined with triceps tendonitis . . . Asheville's 28-10 record is the second-best in the minors, trailing only low-Single A Dayton (28-8). The Tourists are 14-4 at home and 14-6 on the road. They have won five straight games, 12 of their past 13 and 15 of their past 17. The Tourists are 24-1 when leading after seven innings and 12-4 in games decided by two or fewer runs . . . Left-hander Keith Weiser (.7-0, 2.32) has five walks and 35 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings and has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of his eight starts . . . First baseman Michael Paulk (.380-1-29) is second and second baseman Daniel Mayora (.344-2-20) is fifth in the South Atlantic League in hitting. Mayora is 20-for-41 (.488) this month with six three-hit games . . . Both Mayora and center fielder Anthony Jackson (.250-1-10) are 12-for-13 in stolen bases. Jackson, Asheville's leadoff hitter, has four steals in his past 16 games but has scored 18 runs in that span. With 66 stolen bases, the Tourists are second in the league . . . Catcher Jhaysson Agustin (.194-2-12) began the season by going 51 at-bats without a homer before hitting two in a span of three at-bats Saturday. Agustin hit three homers last season in 203 at-bats for Rookie Casper. He drove in five runs Saturday, one fewer RBI than in his previous 14 games . . . After drawing walks in four consecutive games April 27-30 and five in that span, shortstop Hector Gomez (.227-4-10) has not walked in 57 at-bats this month . . . Left-hander Tommy Baumgardner (0-0, 3.24 with two saves), has allowed five hits and no walks in 5 1/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts in his past six games. He has has taken over as Asheville's closer following an elbow injury to Sean Jarrett (0-1, 1.15 with five saves). Jarrett, has four walks and 21 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings, will undergo an MRI exam on his inflammed right elbow, that forced him to leave a game Saturday . . . Reliever William Harris joined the Tourists after beginning the season in extended spring training with right forearm tendinitis . . . Infielder Matt Repec (.333-0-0) made his 2007 debut Thursday after beginning the season in extended spring training with a hamate injury. Infielder Radames Nazario (.196-0-4) was sent back to extended spring training.