Pitching Potential: David Hale Is Ready For Colorado

David Hale has looked good in Albuquerque, and may be ready for a shot with the Colorado Rockies.

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“It’s the best I have felt all year, without question,” David Hale said following his latest start for the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes. “I felt like I was being very efficient. I felt like I was making the pitches I needed to.”

David Hale was sharp on May 12th, against Fresno, throwing 58 of his 89 pitches for strikes. He did walk three, but struck out five. He would take the loss in the 6-4 affair but to a rough sixth inning partly caused by mother nature.

Hale made no excuses for the home runs he gave up even though it was raining.

“I was just dancing around them a little bit,” Hale said. “I should have been attacking them a little better.”

Even with the issues he was not upset with the outing.

“It was my best outing of the season. That slider to Hoes and the other (pitch that got caught in the wind) were the only mistakes.” Hale said, “I felt really good.”

Hale has improved since since returning from injury. His first start back was against Las Vegas and they were on fire. He was unable to extinguish it giving up 7 runs on 8 hits in just 1 and two-thirds innings. On a tight pitch count, Hale managed four-and-a-third innings in Salt Lake allowing 3 runs on seven hits, striking out five.

A second meeting with Las Vegas was much improved allowing just 2 runs on 10 hits in 5 and two-thirds innings. Then there was the Fresno game above.

Hale realizes he needs to be sharper in his approach and is consistently working on that.

On the 17th, it was more of the same for Hale. The first inning was odd with two infield hits and a dribbler scoring a run but after that Hale settled in. It wasn’t until the forth inning that Hale saw any issue. In the fourth he gave up a lead off single to Jarret Parker. Parker would reach second on a fielding error by Jose Rivera.

Hale would strike out Trevor Brown and would get a grounder from John Bowker that would move the runners to second and third. They would then intentionally walk Roger Cedeno to put the force out at any base and bring up the pitcher, Austin Fleet. Fleet would get a hold of the ball but Brandon Barnes would run it down ending the inning for Sacramento and getting Hale out of trouble.

The fifth brought some trouble for Hale. He opened the inning with a strike out of Brett Jackson but was extremely wild to Ehire Adrianza, walking him and prompting a lengthy mound visit from Albuquerque.

Singles by Adam Duval and Jarrett Parker would bring home Ehire Adriannza before Juan Perez would ground into a double play to end the inning. Hale would exit the game down 2-1 but Matt McBride would lace a solo homer just inside the foul pole to tie the game.

Justin Miller would cost Hale the win in the seventh. He would strike out Brett Jackson before allowing a hit to Ehire Adrianza and a home run to Adam Duvall, his tenth in the PCL.

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He would strike out the side to end the inning after the damage was done.

Hale would throw 6 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, striking out six while walking four.

Hale is a good pitcher who has showed his chops at the major league level. He has a 3.02 ERA in 47 MLB games with a 1.45/1 strike out to walk ratio. He has shown he can handle the altitude here in Albuquerque except that first rehab start and could be an easy addition to the Rockies even if he is showing an Albuquerque ERA of 6.93.

Troy Olsen can be heard, talking Topes, every Friday around 5:35 p.m, on 610 KNML. Listen on tunein, IHeartRadio, or the 610 Website along with many other places. Listen in and let me know what you think!

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