Colorado Rockies Rundown: Kahnle Optioned To AAA, Gurka Recalled, Roberts DFA'd, Betancourt Released

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Jun 10, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher T. Kahnle (54) delivers a pitch in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field. The Cardinals defeated the Rockies 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Your morning rundown — news, notes, analysis, and more — on the biggest stories surrounding the Colorado Rockies for this Saturday, August 29, 2015.

Kahnle to AAA; Gurka recalled

(via MLB.com)

The Colorado Rockies selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Jason Gurka on Friday afternoon before their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. To make room for Gurka on the 40-man roster, Kenny Roberts was designated for assignment.

And, to make room for Gurka on the 25-man roster, Tommy Kahnle was optioned to AAA Albuquerque, after walking hitters in 10 of his last 14 appearances and losing his feel for the strike zone late in close games.

The Colorado Rockies no doubt wanted another left-handed arm in the bullpen in the short run, after LHP Christian Friedrich — who leads the team in games pitched — has been fading recently in the bullpen, himself.

Kahnle will likely be back when rosters expand in September, but for now, Gurka is set to make his Major League debut as a member of the Colorado Rockies, after being stuck in the minor leagues in the Baltimore Orioles’ system up through 2014.

Gurka, a 15th round pick in 2008, spoke to MLB.com about the Orioles, and getting an opportunity with the Rockies:

“To be honest, I was happy I was playing a game for a job. I loved every day of it. I never looked up. I knew opportunity would happen, and I got one with the Rockies.”

Congratulations to him, as he will soon make his Major League debut in purple pinstripes.

On a side note, it’s interesting that the Colorado Rockies bypassed Roberts to get an untested lefty specialist, choosing to forgo the (limited) experience Roberts had coming out of the bullpen this year. We’ll keep you updated with where the DFA takes Roberts.

Next: Rafael Betancourt officially released

Aug 19, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher R. Betancourt (63) reacts during the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Coors Field. The Nationals won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Happy trails, Rafael Betancourt

(via RotoWorld)

Via RotoWorld and others (thus via the Colorado Rockies’ transactions page, though the team hasn’t made an official announcement), Rafael Betancourt was released by the Colorado Rockies late Thursday.

This move was expected, sadly, after he was designated for assignment last week amid a season where he had really struggled to find consistency as part of a very poor bullpen.

At 40 years old, Betancourt’s career may very well be over. If that’s the case, he’d finish his career with 680 games pitched (309 with the Colorado Rockies), a 3.36 ERA (3.53), 75 saves (58 saves), and very solid peripherals, including 4.41 strikeouts per walk for his career, 7.8 hits per nine innings, just 2.2 walks per nine, and 9.5 strikeouts per nine.

His best season with the Colorado Rockies without a doubt came in 2012, when he recorded 31 saves and a 1.12 WHIP in 60 games, with a 2.81 ERA and just 12 walks against 57 strikeouts in 57.2 innings.

Betancourt, along with Brian Fuentes, is one of the very best relievers in the history of the Colorado Rockies. So 2015 notwithstanding, he had a wonderful career in Denver.

Next: Justin Morneau is nearing a return

Apr 21, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman J. Morneau (33) is congratulated after scoring in the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Morneau gets closer to returning

(via MiLB.com)

Justin Morneau began a rehab assignment with the New Britain Rock Cats on Friday night, on a three-game injury rehab stint that’s set to last him through the Rock Cats’ series against the Portland Sea Dogs over the weekend.

Morneau, who left a game in May with concussion-related symptoms and hasn’t played since, has been on the long mend, slowly taking batting practice on the field and recovering from an injury that cropped up again (albeit, slightly less severely) after nearly derailing his career as part of the Minnesota Twins.

Morneau will likely return to the Colorado Rockies when rosters expand in September, and fight for at-bats at first base with fellow left-handed hitter Ben Paulsen, and perhaps right-hander Wilin Rosario.

The Colorado Rockies and Morneau hold a mutual option for 2016, though considering his age and now his injury history — as well as the Rockies’ relative depth at first base, with Paulsen asserting himself at the position — I’d be very surprised if the club picked up their portion of the option to bring Morneau back to Denver.

Eitehr way, congratulations to him for overcoming a serious injury and it’s a great sign to see that he’s well enough to play again despite his tenuous history with concussions.

Next: The Mariners are after Dan O'Dowd

Aug 22, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher E. Olmos (49) covers his face with his mitt after giving up two-runs in the tenth inning against the Chicago White Sox. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

The Mariners want Dan O’Dowd

(via Seattle Times)

According to the Seattle Times and plenty of other outlets, the Seattle Mariners are supposedly discussing general manager options with men including Dan O’Dowd, after the Mariners fired their general manager on Friday morning.

Ken Rosenthal sent this little tweet early on Friday morning:

#Mariners quietly have been reaching out to candidates. Have contacted former #Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd, among others, according to sources.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 28, 2015

That’s… something.

Hey, I get it, O’Dowd defenders. He did well for the Colorado Rockies from 2007-2010 (except not that great for most of 2007 until lightning was captured in the proverbial bottle, and then the letdown in 2008, and the letdown in 2010).

He also did pretty poorly from 2000-2006, and then again from 2011-2014, where he put up a few truly abysmal seasons helming the front office.

But, hey, the Mariners can figure all that out about O’Dowd themselves. And what do we know, maybe Dan O’Dowd will get that Mariners job and win a few World Series’ or something. But still… damn.

Next: Tyler Matzek talks to PDP

Apr 27, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher T. Matzek (15) throws during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Matzek talks to the PDP guys

(via Purple Row/Purple Dinosaur Podcast)

Tyler Matzek had a really nice interview with the Purple Dinosaur Podcast guys (Tyler and Anthony) about coming back to the Colorado Rockies and working his way back from a pretty significant and ugly bout of wildness earlier this season that sent him to AAA Albuquerque, short-season A Boise, and then eventually home for a few weeks to relax and take his mind off baseball.

Obviously, at just 24 years old, there’s still (a lot of) hope for Matzek, so hopefully he makes some strides in Spring Training next season, and begins to re-build the Colorado Rockies’ trust in him. You can never have too much pitching…

Next: Adam Ottavino takes a big step forward

Apr 14, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher N. Hundley (4) celebrates their 4-1 win over the San Francisco Giants with releif pitcher A. Ottavino (0) at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

Adam Ottavino throws again!

(via Instagram)

So this is pretty cool:

https://instagram.com/p/65vT1ckKae/

Adam Ottavino threw a baseball for the first time on Thursday after undergoing elbow surgery earlier this season, and he did it in style. Well, not the throwing part, that was probably more by the book — but the filming part was at least in style!

Photographers and Instagram, man.

Oh, and Adam — get well really soon. The Colorado Rockies need you pretty badly next season.

Next: Harrison Musgrave continues his good work

Apr 3, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; General view of baseballs before a game between the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Harrison Musgrave continues to dominate

(via MiLB.com)

We’ve written about Colorado Rockies ~~prospect~~ minor league pitcher Harrison Musgrave before. Actually, several times. And I cross out prospect on Musgrave because up until about the middle of 2015, nobody thought of the 2014 8th round draft pick out of West Virginia University as a significant prospect as a left-handed starting pitcher.

But this year, he’s putting up numbers that are absolutely impossible to ignore, including his current scoreless innings streak — which stands at 17 straight innings, going back to August 9 — and his midseason promotion from class-A Advanced Modesto to AA New Britain.

On Thursday in New Britain, Musgrave tossed six more shutout innings, while allowing no hits (!) and just one walk (!) to go along with seven strikeouts.

On the season, he’s 12-4 with a 2.75 ERA in 25 starts between Modesto and New Britain, and holds a .243 batting average against and a 1.13 WHIP in 134.1 innings.

I’d imagine Musgrave is a great candidate to represent the Colorado Rockies in the Arizona Fall League, because he’s torn up Modesto and New Britain this season, and he’s got a shot to at least spend some time in AAA Albuquerque next year.

Next: Blue Jays Johnny Cash = Perfection

Aug 21, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop T. Tulowitzki (2) hits a double against the Los Angeles Angels during the eighth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Blue Jays gonna cut you down

(via YouTube)

Somebody made this video showing every single home run by the Toronto Blue Jays through August 26, set to the tune of a Johnny Cash song… and it’s incredible:

You’ll spot Troy Tulowitzki in there a few times, including his first bomb as a member of the Blue Jays when he went yard off Jerome Williams of the Philadelphia Phillies at the end of July right after the trade.

No real news on this one, just that it’s pretty damn cool.

Maybe we’ll do something similar for the Colorado Rockies this offseason… like… setting a goofy song to all of their base running mistakes this year. (I know, the song would have to be fifteen minutes long.)

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Colorado Rockies Rundown: Kahnle Optioned To AAA, Gurka Recalled, Roberts DFA’d, Betancourt Released