Site icon Hardball Retro

Expansion Era Minor League All-Star Rosters – Rockies

Derek Bain

Founded on my research for the “Minors vs Majors” chapter in my book, “Hardball Retroactive” paired with complementary articles “Minors vs. Majors: The Top Minor League Batters in the Expansion Era” and “Minors vs. Majors: The Top Minor League Pitchers in the Expansion Era“, the ensuing series will reveal the Minor League All-Star rosters for every MLB franchise based primarily on single-season statistics in Runs Created / 140 Games (batters) and Fielding Independent Pitching (pitchers).

Selection Criteria

Terminology

RC – Runs Created – using the basic formula devised by Bill James:

((H + BB) * TB) / (AB + BB)

Note: I utilized the basic formula as opposed to the Technical Version due to incomplete GIDP and IBB data.

RC/140 – Runs Created per 140 Games as Minor League ballplayers

RC / (G / 140)

FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching – “Fielding Independent Pitching converts a pitcher’s three true outcomes into an earned run average-like number. The formula is (13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP, plus a constant (usually around 3.2) to put it on the same scale as earned run average.

FIP is a component ERA inspired by the work of Voros McCracken on defense-independent pitching statistics, but has become more widely used because of the ease of computation – it requires only four easily-found box score stats, uses only basic arithmetic operations and has four easily-memorized constants. It was conceived of by both Tom Tango and Clay Dreslough, the latter of who called it Defense-Independent Component ERA.” (definition courtesy of Baseball Prospectus Glossary).

((13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP)+3.2)

Assessment

The Colorado Rockies 

Corey Dickerson logged the top RC/140 (155.9) in the first quarter-century of the Rockies’ existence while slashing .371/.414/.632 at Colorado Springs (AAA) in 2013. Dickerson rapped 30+ doubles in three consecutive seasons (2016-18), achieved All-Star status with the Rays in 2017 and claimed Gold Glove honors as a Pirate in the subsequent season. Todd Helton (#1, 1995) placed runner-up in the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year race and fifth in the 2000 NL MVP vote after pacing the circuit with a .372 BA, .463 OBP, .698 SLG, 216 hits, 59 doubles and 147 RBI. “The Toddfather” compiled a .316 lifetime batting average across 17 seasons in the Mile High City after hitting .352 as a member of the SkySox (AAA) in ’97. Brad Hawpe (.347/22/97) led the 2002 Salem Avalanche (A+) in the Triple Crown categories along with 38 two-baggers, 81 walks, an OBP of .447 and a .587 SLG. Five years later he established career-highs with 29 jacks and 116 ribbies. Third-sacker Garrett Atkins finished fourth in the 2005 NL Rookie of the Year balloting and recorded a .305 BA with 25 jacks and 110 RBI over a three-year period (2006-08) in Colorado. Atkins slashed .343/.408/.529 against Pacific Coast League pitching before   ascending to full-time status in the big leagues. Neifi Perez captured a Gold Glove award and drilled 39 doubles in 2000. The slick-fielding shortstop batted at a .363 clip in 68 Triple-A contests, then closed out the campaign with 10 triples and a .291 BA across 83 games with the Rockies. Dexter Fowler merited a cup of coffee in September 2008 as the result of a .335 BA, 31 two-base knocks and 20 stolen bases for the Tulsa Drillers (AA).

Jeff Francis (#1, 2002) made his MLB debut on August 25, 2004 following a dominant campaign in the upper minors as he combined for 16 victories, an ERA of 2.22 and a WHIP of 0.888 spanning 24 starts. Bryan Rekar fashioned a 10-5 mark with a 1.90 ERA and a 0.959 WHIP while splitting the first half of 1995 between the New Haven Ravens (AA) and the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (AAA). Juan Nicasio delivered a 9-3 record with a 2.41 ERA with the Asheville Tourists (A) in ’09. He excelled in a setup role for the Bucs in 2016 (10.5 SO/9) after toiling with mixed results through four seasons as a starter with the Rockies.

Starting Lineup Age Year Teams Levels POS RC140 BA HR RBI OBP SLG
Corey Dickerson* 24 2013 CSP AAA LF 155.9 0.371 11 50 0.414 0.632
Joe Gaetti 23 2005 MOD A+ CF 121.2 0.332 21 87 0.418 0.605
Todd Helton* 23 1997 CSP AAA 1B 137.3 0.352 16 88 0.434 0.564
Brad Hawpe* 23 2002 SAL A+ DH 135.2 0.347 22 97 0.447 0.587
Kent Matthes 24 2011 MOD A+ RF 133.1 0.334 23 95 0.378 0.642
Garrett Atkins 24 2004 CSP AAA 3B 129.2 0.366 15 94 0.434 0.578
Jim Tatum 26 1994 CSP AAA C 124.3 0.351 21 97 0.408 0.597
Neifi Perez# 24 1997 CSP AAA SS 134.0 0.363 8 46 0.393 0.541
Mike Benjamin 22 2014 AVL A 2B 119 0.341 12 47 0.385 0.566
Bench Age Year Teams Levels POS RC140 BA HR RBI OBP SLG
Ryan McMahon* 22 2017 ABQ,HRT AAA,AA 1B 131.2 0.355 20 88 0.403 0.583
Ian Stewart* 19 2004 AVL A 3B 127.5 0.319 30 101 0.398 0.594
Mike Zuanich 24 2011 MOD,TUL A+,AA 1B 127.3 0.337 20 60 0.426 0.625
Ryan Shealy 25 2005 CSP AAA 1B 124.7 0.328 26 88 0.393 0.601
Tom Murphy 25 2016 ABQ AAA C 123.7 0.327 19 59 0.361 0.647
Kyle Parker 22 2012 MOD A+ RF 122.6 0.308 23 73 0.415 0.562
Kiel Roling 22 2009 AVL A 1B 121.4 0.331 20 66 0.401 0.593
Joe Koshansky* 26 2008 CSP AAA 1B 119.8 0.300 31 121 0.380 0.600
Brendan Rodgers 20 2017 LNR,HRT A+,AA SS 119.6 0.336 18 64 0.372 0.567
Dexter Fowler# 22 2008 TUL AA CF 119.3 0.335 9 64 0.431 0.515
David Dahl* 22 2016 HRT,ABQ AA,AAA LF 118.8 0.314 18 61 0.394 0.569
Josh Rutledge 22 2011 MOD A+ SS 118.3 0.348 9 71 0.414 0.517
Pedro Castellano 26 1996 CSP AAA 3B 118.3 0.337 13 59 0.406 0.544
Matt Miller 22 2005 AVL,MOD A,A+ LF 116.9 0.331 30 101 0.375 0.573
Ryan Spilborghs 25 2005 TUL,CSP AA,AAA LF 115.6 0.340 11 84 0.421 0.537

 

 

Starters Age Year Teams Levels FIP WLSV ERA WHIP BB9 SO9
Jeff Francis* 23 2004 TUL,CSP AA,AAA 2.41 16-3 2.22 0.888 1.7 11.4
Chin-hui Tsao 19 2000 AVL A 2.27 11-8 2.73 1.097 2.5 11.6
Chris Balcom-Miller 21 2010 AVL A 2.29 6-7 3.33 0.970 1.6 9.7
Christian Friedrich* 21 2009 MOD,AVL A+,A 2.31 6-5 2.42 1.149 3.2 12.0
Bryan Rekar 23 1995 NHV,CSP AA,AAA 2.54 10-5 1.90 0.959 2.0 8.4
Relievers Age Year Teams Levels FIP WLSV ERA WHIP BB9 SO9
Heath Bost 21 1996 AVL,NHV A,AA 1.82 15 1.32 0.866 2.3 12.0
Rayan Gonzalez 22 2013 AVL A 1.87 12 2.71 1.353 3.6 11.8
Colin Young* 22 2000 AVL A 1.98 3-1 1.41 0.922 3.1 12.8
Carlos Estevez 22 2015 NBR,MOD AA,A+ 2.02 18 3.42 1.178 2.3 11.1
Matt Reynolds* 25 2010 CSP AAA 2.16 7 2.62 1.182 2.6 11.0
Bench Age Year Teams Levels FIP WLSV ERA WHIP BB9 SO9
Juan Nicasio 22 2009 AVL A 2.57 9-3 2.41 1.188 1.8 9.2
Mike Kusiewicz* 21 1998 NHV AA 2.66 14-7 2.32 1.100 1.8 7.6
Josh Kalinowski* 22 1999 SAL A+ 2.69 11-6 2.11 1.172 3.9 9.8
Cam Esslinger 23 2000 AVL A 2.20 24 3.08 1.215 3.2 11.8
Kurt Yacko 23 2011 MOD A+ 2.23 3 1.87 1.205 1.7 8.0
Craig Baker 24 2009 MOD A+ 2.25 33 2.32 1.125 3.0 10.9

Honorable Mention

Through 13 MLB seasons, backstop Chris Iannetta blasted 135 round-trippers. “Destructobeam” achieved a late-season recall in 2006 after supplying a .336 BA and slugging .564 with Tulsa (AA) and Colorado Springs (AAA). Quinton McCracken pilfered 43 bags and supplied a .359 BA to merit a cup of coffee in ’95. Clint Barmes produced career-bests in doubles (32) and home runs (23) with Colorado in 2009, five seasons after pounding PCL pitching for a .328 BA, 42 two-base knocks and 104 tallies.

Jhoulys Chacin delivered a 2.03 ERA and recorded 18 victories during his age-20 season as a Rockies farmhand. Chad Bettis furnished an ERA of 3.35 along with 9.8 SO/9 for the Modesto Nuts (A+) in 2011.

Batter Age Year Teams Levels POS RC140 BA HR RBI OBP SLG
Mike Tauchman* 26 2017 ABQ AAA OF 115.4 0.331 16 80 0.386 0.555
Ben Petrick 22 1999 CSP,CAR AAA,AA C 114.2 0.311 23 86 0.400 0.603
Chris Iannetta 23 2006 TUL,CSP AA,AAA C 113.2 0.336 14 48 0.433 0.564
Rosell Herrera# 20 2013 AVL A SS 113.0 0.343 16 76 0.419 0.515
Jeff Baker 23 2004 VIS,TUL A+,AA 3B 112.6 0.318 15 84 0.413 0.530
Quinton McCracken# 24 1995 CSP,NHV AAA,AA OF 112.1 0.359 4 54 0.418 0.482
Derrick Gibson 22 1997 NHV,CSP AA,AAA OF 110.8 0.332 26 87 0.389 0.542
Shane Hoelscher 23 2015 AVL,MOD A,A+ 3B 110.7 0.318 11 62 0.413 0.512
Jorge Piedra* 25 2004 CSP AAA OF 110.6 0.334 15 55 0.372 0.557
Clint Barmes 25 2004 CSP AAA SS 109.0 0.328 16 51 0.376 0.505

 

Pitcher Age Year Teams Levels FIP WLSV ERA WHIP BB9 SO9
Chad Bettis 22 2011 MOD A+ 2.73 12-5 3.35 1.105 2.4 9.8
Shigeki Noguchi* 20 1994 CNV A+ 2.78 8-3 2.56 1.224 3.7 10.6
Jhoulys Chacin 20 2008 AVL,MOD A,A+ 2.82 18-3 2.03 1.044 2.1 8.1
Bill Eden* 22 1995 AVL A 2.26 9 2.15 1.028 1.9 10.7
Troy Neiman 23 2014 AVL A 2.30 6 1.59 0.924 2.4 10.1
Tommy Baumgardner* 23 2007 AVL A 2.30 15 2.33 1.036 1.4 9.3

 

References and Resources

Baseball-Reference

Bill James Baseball Abstract

Seamheads – Baseball Gauge

About the Author 

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com along with digital eBook format at GooglePlay.com.  

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in digital format on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GooglePlay, iTunes and KoboBooks. The paperback edition is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here.

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital formats through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace.

Exit mobile version