Rockies manager Jim Tracy (left) managed Paul Lo Duca with the Dodgers between 2001 and 2004. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The list of veteran catchers parading through Colorado Springs may add its biggest name yet, as Paul Lo Duca signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies this week.

Unlike journeymen Humberto Cota, Sal Fasano, Adam Melhuse, Miguel Ojeda and Paul Phillips – Sky Sox catchers at times over the past three seasons — Lo Duca brings an All-Star body of work to the organization.

What he brings to the big-league club remains a bit foggy, particularly after being out of baseball last year.

Several reports about Lo Duca’s signing mentioned his versatility as an asset, as he can catch as well as play in the outfield or first base. I can’t imagine a scenario, however, where the Rockies would want him as anything beyond an insurance policy between their two big-league catchers (Chris Iannetta and Miguel Olivo) and not-yet-ready prospects Mike McKenry (the Sky Sox likely every day catcher) and Wilin Rosario (likely to start at Double A).

The organization is too deep to throw Lo Duca in the outfield and there are far better options should a need arise at first base — the list of remaining free agents includes Hank Blalock, Russell Branyan, Carlos Delgado, Nomar Garciaparra and, of course, Jason Giambi. Besides, the club has already mentioned the possibility of playing Brad Hawpe at first base to spell Todd Helton.

Lo Duca’s role, as I see it, will be a combination of  those played by Phillips and Fasano last year. While Phillips was the on-call major-league fill-in, Fasano was a mentoring presence and de facto coach (as it turned out, he landed a minor league managing gig shortly after the season ended). Lo Duca seems idealfor both, and Rockies manager Jim Tracy ought to know, having managed Lo Duca for two of his four All-Star seasons with the Dodgers.

All of this is assuming Lo Duca makes it through spring training and is willing to accept a minor-league assignment, both of which are far from certainties. He has made more than $30 million in his career – so you hope money is not an issue — and he has played just 22 minor-league games in the past decade, it’s one thing to say you are willing to fill a role within an organization but quite another to put up with a minor-league schedule and travel.  But if Lo Duca wants to keep putting the uniform on for at least one more season, it looks like he’ll have that chance with the Sky Sox.

Note: This is the second in a series looking at potential Sky Sox in 2010.

Chris Nelson

Even if Eric Young Jr. never travels south down I-25 this season, Colorado Springs could feature elite speed in the infield if shortstop Chris Nelson makes the jump to Triple A.

Nelson hasn’t posted Young-style stolen base totals during his climb through the minors (27 at Class-A Modesto in 2007 represents a career high), but he’s been a player with extreme quickness since the Rockies took him out of high school with the ninth overall pick in the 2004 draft.

After that breakthrough season with Modesto (42 doubles, 19 home runs, 99 RBIs, .289 avg., .502 slg to go along with the 27 steals), Nelson reverted to project mode through two injury-plagued seasons. Nelson’s 2009 campaign ended in mid-June after with a torn ligament in his right wrist. He was hitting .280 through 29 games at Double-A Tulsa at the time.

The Rockies are to the point where they need to see some return on their investment (Justin Verlander, Stephen Drew and Huston Street also went early in the 2004 draft, to give it a little perspective). For that reason, expect Nelson, 24, to start with the Sky Sox despite an inconclusive showing at Double A (.249 in 102 games).

In addition to his speed, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Nelson comes complete with the full set of skills expected out of a high first-rounder. His strong arm is the primary reason he’s stayed at shortstop, but the Rockies have tinkered with him at second base at times through his career and that would certainly seem the position with the best longterm hope for playing time as Troy Tulowitzki seems entrenched at shortstop in Colorado.

So, that’s the long answer to the shortstop situation, now lets take a look around the rest of the infield:

Jeff Kindel

FIRST BASE

It’s a good bet that the Sky Sox first baseman isn’t yet with the organization. Jeff Kindel has to be considered the frontrunner after spending the last two seasons in Tulsa, where he hit just six home runs and batted .265 this year.

Given his less-than-stellar minor-league production (.290 avg., .424 slg.) and age (he’ll be 27 in Sept.),  Kindel shouldn’t be looked at as anything beyond a roster filler.

Last year’s primary first baseman, Dan Ortmeier, didn’t sign with the team until late in the spring. A similar signing to provide insurance for Todd Helton is likely again in a few months. 

Daniel Mayora

SECOND BASE

This spot could be something of a revolving door for the Sky Sox. Nelson is sure to appear at second at least a handful of times and Daniel Mayora (.294 lifetime hitter in the minors) could be promoted from Double-A and take the spot.

The most intriguing option at second base is Eric Young Jr., last year’s Pacific Coast League rookie of the year. Assuming Young doesn’t unseat Clint Barmes — and why should he, Barmes played some of the best defense in baseball last year and clubbed 23 home runs — that puts the speedy youngster as a pair of legs earning nothing but pinch-running assignments and scrap time off the big-league bench. Frankly, it seems like a wiser move to let Jonathan Herrera or Omar Quintanilla fill that role (though Colorado was reportedly seeking help in the infield with names like Jamey Carroll, Fernando Tatis and Orlando Hudson being tossed around according to InsidetheRockies.com). Doing so would allow Young to come back to Triple A for regular at bats, not to mention more work in the field.

By burying Young on the bench, the Rockies risk stunting his growth. If that’s the role they choose, it will speak volumes as to how the organization values him. And if he is, indeed, viewed as a longterm spare part, couldn’t the club be better served by showcasing him and his blazing speed in Triple A and dangling him as trade bait if they need to grab an arm or a bat at midseason?

Anyway, stay tuned on that situation…

Darin Holcomb

THIRD BASE

The writing was on the wall for Christian Colonel last season when the Rockies called up a slew of Sky Sox players in September and left the former Triple-A All-Star behind. Colonel, who occupied third base for two seasons in Colorado Springs, turned 28 on Christmas and his slugging percentage has dropped for three consecutive years, bottoming out at a pedestrian .386 a year ago. He certainly had his moments with a second-half surge last year, but in all likelihood Colonel’s time in the organization is finished.

Darin Holcomb, who skipped High A to jump to Double A last season, is the probable candidate to play third. The Gonzaga product, 24, slugged .411 for the Drillers and walked more times (54) than he struck out (50). Holcomb was a 12th-round pick in 2007 and owns a .297 career average through 339 minor-league games.

We’ll preview other positions in the coming weeks

KOA has named veteran Denver-area broadcaster Jerry Schemmel to team with Jack Corrigan on Rockies broadcasts, according to the Denver Post. Schemmel replaces Jack Kingery, who retired after last season.

Schemmel, who has been working with the Nuggets on radio since 1992, will do his last game Jan. 25.

Jason Kosmicki, who has done some road Nuggets games, is expected to pick up home and road games for the rest of the season.

There were 196 applicants, the Post said, and perhaps some from the Sky Sox.

Schemmel has worked some baseball games and was coach of Metro State for one season recently.

Some folks have strong feelings about broadcasters. Let us know what your thoughts are on the hire of Schemmel.

Ryne Sandberg led the Tennessee Smokies to a 71-69 mark in 2009, advancing to the Southern League playoffs. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg will manage in the Pacific Coast League this season, earning a promotion to the Cubs top affiliate, Triple-A Iowa.

The Sky Sox travel to Iowa for a four-game series May 20-23, but the PCL American North foes are not scheduled to play in Colorado Springs this year.

Sandberg, 50, spent two seasons with Single-A Peoria and one year with Double-A Tennessee, both also affiliates in the Chicago system.

“It’s a step in the right direction for what I’m doing,” Sandberg said at a Monday press conference in Des Moines. “This is something I really have taken to, I really enjoy. My goal is to do this at the major league level, so this is obviously a real nice stepping stone.”

Sandberg wouldn’t add to speculation that his promotion meant he’s in line to replace Chicago manger Lou Piniella, whose contract runs through 2010.

“Things have kind of worked their way out where I’ve been able to move up the ladder in three years and now be at Triple-A,” Sandberg said. “I just know that I have a job to do. I want to focus on what I have to do here and do a nice job and then see what happens.”

Sandberg, a former MVP and nine-time Gold Glove winner at second base,  instantly becomes the highest profile manager in the league. Other managers with all-star credentials include Tim Wallach (Albuquerque), Terry Kennedy (Portland) and Brett Butler (Reno) — all of whom will visit Security Service Field this year.

According to The Associated Press, Sandberg said he likely could have hooked on with Chicago as a coach, but he always thought the best path to a managing job in the majors was by being a skipper in the minors.

Click here for the Iowa Cubs release on Sandberg’s promotion.

Stu Cole

The Sky Sox’s late-season collapse didn’t cost manager Stu Cole a chance at his first full-season in Triple A.

Cole, promoted from Double A to the first-place Sky Sox in late May, held a lead as high as 7 1/2-games with 17 to play (and a 13-game homestand) and couldn’t hold off Tacoma.

There was no doubt that Cole stood the most to lose as the team was searching for victories in the final weeks. Several players knew they were headed to Colorado as soon as the Triple-A season ended and others had no incentives beyond pride and a few more days of prorated minor-league pay. The real pressure fell on the management, and Wednesday’s announcement that Cole would retain his job is a clear indication that the Rockies’ brass didn’t put too much stock in the disappointing finish.

Along with Cole, Rene Lachemann will return to his role as hitting coach.

The lone newcomer to the staff is pitching coach Doug Linton, who will be entering his fifth season in the Rockies’ system. Linton, a seven-year major-league veteran who won 10 games for the Sky Sox in 2000, replaces Chuck Kniffin. According to InsidetheRockeis.com, Kniffin left the spot he had held for four years to care for his ailing father.

Click here for the full Sky Sox press release on the 2010 coaching staff.

An early glance as a potential Sky Sox roster for 2010 indicates the possibility of a hot-shot rotation.

Chacin

Rogers

Deduno

Right-handers Jhoulys Chacin and Esmil Rogers will likely return to Triple-A, while Samuel Deduno will likely see his first full season at the level after going 12-4 with a 2.57 ERA at Double-A Tulsa last year.

Chacin initially bypassed Triple-A last year, but was brought to the Sky Sox after control issues plagued his time in the majors. Among the 14 1/3 innings he pitched for the Sky Sox included the first five innings of a no-hitter (the team’s second no-hitter of the season). With the Rockies rotation spots likely spoken for, he seems a safe bet for more Pacific Coast League innings.

Rogers, a converted infielder who was on the fast-track through the system, hit a stumbling block after a midseason call-up to the Sky Sox (3-5, 7.42 ERA in 12 games).  The Rockies showed they were not deterred by his struggles when they made him a September call-up and started him once during the pennant race, but a return to Colorado Springs seems the best bet barring a sizzling spring.

Deduno will be a newcomer to fans as Security Service Field, despite pitching the most important game of the season for the Sky Sox last year. He was the pitcher summoned from Double-A to pitch the season finale with the division title on the line at Tacoma (a loss, which cost the team a postseason berth despite leading most of the season). Though Deduno wasn’t added to the Rockies roster, he was invited to suit up with the team in September to gain familiarity with the players and the workings of the major leagues. He will almost assuredly open in Colorado Springs.

A lot can happen between now and early April, but here are other pitchers likely to be in competition for the Sky Sox rotation:

Greg Reynolds: The 2006 No. 2 overall pick started on opening day for the Sky Sox in 2009 but missed the rest of the season with injuries. He might start the season at a lower level and might settle in at a more pitcher friendly spot like Tulsa, but a jump right back to Triple-A for the pitcher who has spent time in the majors doesn’t seem unlikely.

Kurt Birkins: Re-signed by the Rockies immediately after the season, the 29-year-old lefty has to be considered a contender for a bullpen spot in Colorado (he’s been a reliever with Baltimore and Tampa). However, the club might have liked what it saw out of Birkins as a starter late in the season with the Sky Sox. In his last four games, all starts, he went 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA with 25 strikeouts and just one walk in 17 innings.

Alan Johnson: He seems likely to return after tying for the team-lead with 10 wins last year, but with an ERA over 5.00 in both of his full seasons at Double-A and Triple-A, it’s hard to consider Johnson more than a roster filler in the high minors at this point.

Chaz Roe: A sandwich pick (between the first and second round) in 2005, Roe was traveling through the system along with Alan Johnson and former Sky Sox pitcher Brandon Hynick before being held back a year at Double-A. He will likely make that jump this year, after posting a 3.15 ERA in 20 starts (117 innings) for Tulsa last season. Roe, who was once ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the organization, is a lanky righty (6-foot-5, 180 pounds). The Rockies protected him this offseason by adding him to the 40-man roster.

Keith Weiser: His progression would call for an Alan Johnson-type promotion this year (based more on schedule than performance), the difference being that Weiser was once a third-r0und pick while Johnson was an undrafted free agent. Even after a rough season in Double-A last year (9-15, 5.23 ERA), Weiser has a minor-league ERA under 4.00 and a record just one game under .500. If it comes time to choose between he and Johnson, the smart money would be on Weiser.

On a side note, in researching Weiser’s career I stumbled upon this gem: In 1915 and 1916 a player by the name of Harry Budson Weiser appeared in 41 games with the Phillies, hitting .162. What’s noteworthy about this? Harry Budson went by the name Bud. So his name was Bud Weiser. Fantastic.

Christian Friedrich: It would be a little stunning if the Rockies didn’t start Friedrich in Double-A after his dominant season split between Low- and High-A last year, but stranger things have happened. Listed as the organization’s No. 2 prospect by a recent edition of Baseball America, he seems the complete package with a mid-90s fastball, an active curve ball and decent control (43 walks in 119 innings last year). Class A hitters batted just .215 against the rising star, who may be in Colorado Springs by midseason if he dominates Double-A in the same manner.

BULLPEN

The Sky Sox bullpen is much trickier to predict. Last year it was stocked with veterans signed in spring training or during the season, providing depth for the big-league club more than a training ground for youngsters. Assuming the Rockies are competitive again, the same scenario could play out. Two names that won’t be in there from last year are Ryan Speier, who has 44 saves with Colorado Springs, and Joel Peralta, the veteran who was 6-0 with a 2.45 ERA for the Sky Sox in 31 games last year. Speier and Peralta both signed minor-league deals with the Nationals last week.

PITCHING COACH

InsidetheRockies.com reported on Dec. 11 that Chuck Kniffin resigned after four seasons as the Sky Sox pitching coach to attend to his elderly father. Kniffin, who lives in Florissant, told the site that “it’s probably the hardest decision I’ve had to make in my life.”

I’ll be back in the coming weeks with a look at other positions.

Toronto, or at least the Blue Jays organization, added a pair of former Sky Sox in recent weeks and is reportedly in talks for another.

On Nov. 11 Toronto signed supersub Mike McCoy, the 28-year-old who had a breakout season in Colorado Springs last season and finished the season on the Rockies’ roster in September. The Blue Jays claimed McCoy off waivers and added him to their 40-man roster.

McCoy, who played every position except catcher and first base, hit .307, stole 40 bases and scored 102 runs for the Sky Sox in 2009.

Sal Fasano was the next one to sign up, as the former Sky Sox catcher accepted a Single-A managerial position last week.

“I retired,” Fasano said Wednesday on his Facebook page. “I’m now the manager of the Lansing Lugnuts.”

Fasano, who turned 38 in August, expressed interest last year in extending his playing career at least one more season. Those plans obviously changed. It’s not surprising, considering what he had to say to Sports Illustrated’s Jeff Pearlman, calling his season with the Sky Sox the worst of his long professional career.

Fasano, who played in 427 major league games between 1996 and 2008, his .236 in 61 games for the Sky Sox.

Granted, McCoy and Fasano’s departures didn’t exactly light up message boards. This next one probably won’t either, but it will certainly draw more attention if it goes through.

On his MLB.com blog, Blue Jays reporter Jordan Bastian reported that the Blue Jays have inquired about free agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba several times and are believed to be preparing a formal offer. Bastian also reported that the Rockies and Giants are among Torrealba’s top suitors.

Torrealba, despite the Rockies intentions of giving the catcher’s spot to the younger Chris Iannetta, was again an integral cog in a postseason run. From July 5 through the end of the season, he hit .314 in 45 games. He caught all four Rockies games in the NLDS.

Torrealba briefly appeared for the Sky Sox last season as he tuned up after missing time to deal with a family situation in Venezuela that included the kidnapping of his son, who was returned unharmed.

Jose Contreras is coming off a 6-13 season and will be 38 on opening day, so there's a strong chance his career is over.

Jose Contreras filed for free agency on Monday, a mere formality that signals the end to his time in Colorado.

I know I’ve harped on this before, but I wanted to take one more look at the Contreras-for-Brandon Hynick deal.

In his brief time with the Rockies — seven games — Contreras faced all of 76 batters, made two starts (one of which lasted just three innings), blew a save and ate up three mop-up innings in a late loss to the Dodgers. Officially he went 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA with 17 strikeouts and eight walks.

He also threw two postseason innings, giving up one run on three hits with two walks.

It could be argued that he played a valuable role in the bullpen, but that role could just have well been filled by someone like Joel Peralta or Juan Rincon, both of whom were left off the postseason roster.

I’ll say this for Contreras – he certainly didn’t fall flat. But his contributions barely made a blip on the screen.

After the trade, Hynick was assigned to the White Sox’s Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte, where he won his only start with seven dominate innings. Giving the 24-year-old righty 11 wins for his third-straight season in double-figure victories. His minor-league record now stands at 41-24 with a 3.40 ERA.

Hynick will likely compete for a spot in Chicago’s bullpen next year. Contreras, on the other hand, was not classified as a Class A or Class B free agent, meaning the Rockies will receive no draft picks as compensation if he signs elsewhere.

So Hynick’s future, whatever that might be, went into 270 Jose Contreras pitches. Sure seemed like a lot to give up.

I don’t think it would be possible for anyone closely involved with a minor-league baseball club – be it a team employee, a season-ticket holder or, yes, a reporter in the press box – to not feel a connection with the players to some degree.

I knew I was watching something special as I watched Eric Young Jr. tear around the basepaths. So it’s fun to hear his new manager talk about him the way Jim Tracy did on Thursday. He talked about how speed kills, how Cincinnati bungled a play by trying to rush it because Young was racing down the line and how that started a game-changing rally.

Now I never hit a fungo in Young’s direction. I never helped set up his profile page in the media guide or even applauded one of his great plays. But I did talk with him on many occasions about his past, his future and about his unique abilities. I observed as he set team records and showed me the way blinding speed can change plays that change innings that change games.

I think I’ll continue observing as he tries to stick at the next level.

But Young wasn’t the only one who drew my interest.

I was legitimately happy for Mike McCoy when he was called up earlier this week. Here’s a guy whose career almost ended last year out of pure exhaustion as he and his wife struggled to care for newborn twins on a paltry salary while he endured the brutality of a minor-league schedule. Now McCoy is about to make somewhere in the neighborhood of $60,000 to live his dream for a month.

I didn’t get to know McCoy all that well, our conversations were mostly two- or three-minute talks about the game that just ended. I was usually on deadline and he was usually annoyed to talk to a small-town reporter. But I did see those little boys play in the clubhouse and on the field after games. I’m happy for McCoy that he’ll have the money to provide for that family and that for the rest of their lives those two little boys will be able to boast that their dad made it to the major leagues.

It was pretty cool to be around that.

It was also cool to see Carlos Gonzalez lay out his arsenal of skills one by one. First his speed, then his arm and finally his bat.

I reminded myself on a couple of occasions that his game might be elevated because of the elevation. But compared to everyone else playing on the same field he was simply different.

I talked with him about his frustration with being stuck in the minor leagues and how he couldn’t wait to get back up to prove that his failures a year ago in Oakland were not indicative of his talent.

So it’s been a treat to catch him on SportsCenter, watching him emerge as a star.

There were more personalities that I’ll remember, of course. Paul Phillips — before the frustrations of a late-season collapse — was gracious and very real, Joel Peralta was generous with his time and Matt Miller was just plain cool. Josh Fogg and Jason Hirsh were hilarious, Adam Eaton was delightfully strange and Alan Johnson seemed so afraid to fail. Brandon Hynick struck me as the kind of person who would be successful at anything, and because he chooses to play baseball I think he’ll find a way to make it work despite any perceived shortcomings in natural talent. Talking baseball with Sal Fasano reminded me of talking writing with my favorite professor at the University of Kansas in the way that both had a complete understanding of their craft. Fasano will be a manager in the major leagues one day.

I’m still not a Sky Sox fan, per se. I stayed impartial enough that my interest in the pennant chase went nowhere beyond wondering what my work schedule might look like for a few weeks in September.

What engrossed me were those stories, those players on the way up, on the way out or on the way to figuring out if they were on the way up or out.

So am I interested to see how these stories unfold? You bet. Does that make me a poor journalist? I hope not, because I can’t possibly imagine it any other way.

Jim Tracy is 62-32 with the Rockies this year.

Colorado manager Jim Tracy spent much of his postgame press conference on Thursday praising the Rockies’ minor-league system, which keeps providing him with reinforcements as key players go down with injuries.

Here’s some of what he said:

On the foresight of the franchise to load the system with a mix of veterans and prospects ready to help at the next level…

“It speaks volumes as to the depth and the strength of this organization and the job that was done, I would say, going back to the end of last season. When the season was over the they went back to work on putting things back together and addressing some things they weren’t comfortable with. I think you combine that with the additions we’ve made and on top of that I think you have to give a tip of the cap to our minor-league people – our coordinators, our managers, our pitching coaches and our hitting instructors in the minor leagues.”

On the way the players have accepted their roles…

“Here’s Matt Belisle who’s gone back and fourth a couple of times. The communication between here at the major league level and especially at Triple A and Double A. When you send a guy back I think they really feel that they haven’t been dropped, there’s just something they need to work on and eventually they’ll come back here and help us. But in order to do so, this is what you have to do to improve yourself to be more competitive at this level. That’s exactly what several of these guys have done and as a result of that you create depth. So when you get these bumps and bruises like we have over the last couple of weeks you create opportunities. Here’s an opportunity for you within the framework of your capabilities, we won’t ask you to do anything beyond your capabilities. And they’ve embraced that.”

Quick note on that: Not every Sky Sox player claimed to have the same level of communication that Tracy is talking about here. The prospects — even Eric Young Jr. before his call-up — had no clue how they fit into the club’s plans beyond what they could figure out themselves. And the same went for the veterans. Adam Eaton said the club told him nothing more than it was making decisions on an inning-by-inning basis after his brief callup late in August. He assumed he would be heading back up (where he was 1-0 in four appearances and drew a bases-loaded walk in the 14th inning against the Giants just before Ryan Spilborghs ended the game with a grand slam), but instead he was released after the Sky Sox season ended.

On the performance of Juan Rincon and Matt Belisle after recent stays with the Sky Sox…

“In the case of Juan Rincon and Matt Belisle, that’s as good as we’ve seen them all year long. I was so impressed and pleased to see the way the ball, the fastball, was coming out of their hand today. Both had explosive fastballs, both jumped out of their hands. Both were throwing strikes, both were getting after the bat right from the get-go and they just did a tremendous job. … I can’t say enough about the job that they did.”

On Eric Young Jr.’s game-changing speed…

“I was so intrigued by the way we jumped on a situation where we had two out and nobody on and the kid (Young) lays down a bunt for a base hit. I think if they take the ball cleanly there’s a good chance they can get him out, but speed kills. And that having to hurry up because of whose going down the line they didn’t get the ball cleanly and then things happened from there, obviously, we put five runs on the board in a hurry.”

Summing it all up…

“We’ve made some big strides, and our minor-league people have a hell of a lot to do with that.”