Rox Pile » Yorvit Torrealba http://roxpile.com A Colorado Rockies Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More Wed, 22 May 2013 19:13:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 Yorvit Torrealba Will Make Rockies; Ramon Hernandez Out http://roxpile.com/2013/03/28/yorvit-torrealba-rockies-2013/ http://roxpile.com/2013/03/28/yorvit-torrealba-rockies-2013/#comments Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:17:30 +0000 Hayden Kane http://roxpile.com/?p=6141 In the not-so-compelling battle for the roster spot as Wilin Rosario‘s back-up at catcher, former franchise hero Yorvit Torrealba has beaten out incumbent Ramon Hernandez:

Torrealba has hit the ball significantly better than his happy-footed competition. In 19 at-bats, Torrealba has 10 hits for a .526 mark. In stark contrast, Hernandez is batting .160 in 25 at-bats. It has been rumored for a while now that the Rockies would shop Hernandez to teams in need of a back-up catcher. Given his utterly depleted trade value at this point, those teams will presumably just wait for the Rockies to release him sometime in the next 24 hours or so.

Torrealba. Image: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Besides his inexplicably hot bat this spring, Torrealba brings a proven track record in the “mentor” department. In the past he has used that to help mold young pitchers. After all, let’s remember that Yorvit was central to the team in some of its recent and rare moments when it actually had competent pitching. In 2013 that mentor work will also be dedicated to the young Rosario and helping him grow into an acceptable defensive catcher at the Major League level.

Start the celebration. Yorvit is a Rockie again.

]]> http://roxpile.com/2013/03/28/yorvit-torrealba-rockies-2013/feed/ 0 Imagine Yorvit Torrealba’s First Day Back With The Rockies http://roxpile.com/2013/02/02/imagine-yorvit-torrealbas-first-day-back-with-the-rockies/ http://roxpile.com/2013/02/02/imagine-yorvit-torrealbas-first-day-back-with-the-rockies/#comments Sat, 02 Feb 2013 18:40:35 +0000 Hayden Kane http://roxpile.com/?p=5788 Whatever happens in 2013, catcher Yorvit Torrealba owns some memorable images in the Colorado Rockies history book. The image of him rounding first, hand in the air, after hitting a playoff home run in the rain against the Arizona Diamondbacks, immediately comes to mind. Somehow Torrealba always found himself in the heart of the two recent successful seasons for this otherwise struggling franchise.

Torrealba, Rockies legend. Image: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

You cannot overstate how different the context is for Torrealba this time around. Look no further than the other catchers on the roster this time around as compared to his previous stint. In the past the catcher situation was pretty simple.

Yorvit: Hey, so is that bald catcher who is supposed to start still here?

His name is Chris Iannetta, and you’re right, he should be starting. 

Now things are, shall we say, more complicated. And the catcher position certainly enjoys less stability these days.

Yorvit: So there is that one really old guy who is here to provide stability, right?

Do you mean you, Yorvit?

Yorvit: No this guy is way older than me. 

Ah, Ramon Hernandez. But he’s only two years older than you, bro.

Yorvit: And then there is that young kid who is still learning how to play the position.

Yes, you are thinking of Jordan Pacheco. He is a utility player who is learning to catch as a way to gain more at-bats. 

Yorvit: Noo….not him. This guy, he seriously looks like he’s never caught before. I’m talking passed ball after passed ball after passed ball…

Oh! Wilin Rosario. He’s the starting catcher for this team. He’s rough around the edges behind the plate, sure, but he has some pop at the plate. The Rockies need that bat in the…

Yorvit: …he starts?!? No wonder you guys signed two veteran mentor guys. I like my chances. 

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