DENVER — The Rockies acquired right-handed pitcher Tyler Chatwood from the Angels on Wednesday for catcher Chris Iannetta in a deal that increases Colorado’s stable of young pitchers and puts it in position to put the finishing touches on a two-year offer to free-agent catcher Ramon Hernandez.

ABD STANDOUT TYLER CHATWOOD

Chatwood, who turns 22 on Dec. 16, went 6-11 with a 4.75 ERA in 27 games — 25 starts — for the Angels as a rookie last season. A second-round Draft pick of the Angels in 2008 out of Redlands (Calif.) East Valley High School, Chatwood becomes the third highly touted young pitcher the Rockies have acquired since last July.

Hernandez agreed a two-year deal with the Rockies, pending a physical, the team announced on Twitter. Hernandez, who turns 36 on May 20, hit .282 with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs in 91 games last season with the Reds. A 2003 All-Star with the Athletics, Hernandez is a .266 hitter with 161 homers and 723 RBIs in 13 seasons with the Athletics, Padres, Orioles and, for the past three seasons, the Reds.

The Rockies received left-hander Drew Pomeranz, who turned 23 on Nov. 22, and right-hander Alex White, 23, from the Indians for former staff ace Ubaldo Jimenez in July, just before the non-waiver Trade Deadline.

Hernandez gives the Rockies a veteran who can lead the club’s young staff. Fellow Venezuelan Jhoulys Chacin, a right-hander who had his moments in 2011 during his first full Major League season, is a talented but raw potential ace. Chatwood, Pomeranz and White are joined by other young Major Leaguers, including Juan Nicasio and Esmil Rogers.

Chatwood had typical big league growing pains last season, which he finished with 74 strikeouts to 71 walks while allowing 14 home runs. He endured two demotions to Triple-A Salt Lake. But Chatwood possesses a fastball that can reach 96 mph and a curveball, and he is developing a cut fastball and a changeup. He could take a major step forward if he improves his command. The Rockies are excited about his competitiveness.

“He’s young, he has a power arm, he’s a tremendous athlete, and from what we have gathered, he’s ultra-competitive,” Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “We’re not looking at his numbers because of his age and where he was at when he reached the big league level.

“He had 100-plus innings at the Major League level [at 21]. He’s a lot like Alex White in that he needs to dial it down a little bit, not overthrow and things of that nature. But he adds to our good, young arms and pitching depth of impactful pitching that we need to have.”

Chatwood is often compared to veteran pitcher Roy Oswalt because he is an undersized (listed at six-foot) righty with a strong arm. He entered last season ranked by MLB.com as the No. 5 prospect in the Angels’ system. Early-season injuries to Joel Pineiro and Scott Kazmir forced the club to call him up in April after just 6 2/3 Triple-A innings.

NEW ANGEL CHRIS IANNETTA

Iannetta, who turns 29 on April 8, has batted .235 with 63 home runs and 236 RBIs in 458 games over six seasons. A fourth-round pick out of the University of North Carolina in 2004, Iannetta hit .264 in 104 games in 2008, but he struggled the following two years and was demoted to Triple-A Colorado Springs each season. Last season, Iannetta regained his big league footing, playing in 112 games, and finished with a .238 batting average and .370 on-base percentage, with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs.

“It’s hard with any of our guys, but he’s a fantastic young man, a great husband, a great father, a hard worker and he wore the uniform extremely proudly,” O’Dowd said. “But with the other young catchers we have coming along, we felt it was in Chris’ best interest to be put in a position that’s going to be a great, great opportunity for him. They got value and we got value out of it.”

Hernandez does not necessarily need a heavy workload, so there will be playing time for a young catcher.

Wilin Rosario, who turns 23 on Feb. 23, spent most of last season at Double-A Tulsa and showed promise during a big league trial at the end of the season and during winter ball in the Dominican Republic.

Jordan Pacheco, who turns 26 on Jan. 30, impressed the Rockies with his hitting approach during a late-season callup. Pacheco played several infield positions in the Majors but was trained as a catcher, and will be given the opportunity to compete for playing time there.

Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Hardball in the Rockies, and follow him on Twitter @harding_at_mlb. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — When Nolan Arenado has the chance to finally take a breath and look at his 2011 season, he should feel pretty good about all that he accomplished.

The Rockies’ third-base prospect went to the All-Star Futures game in Phoenix in July, was a California League All-Star and led all Minor League hitters in RBIs. And on Saturday, for icing on that very large cake, Arenado was presented with the Arizona Fall League’s Joe Black MVP Award prior to the championship game.

Nolan Hits Solo HR in AFL Championships

“There were a lot of great players in this league,” an appreciative Arenado said. “Mike Olt had a really good year and [could've been the choice]. I’m just blessed that the Rockies allowed me to come out here and play.”

Arenado led the AFL in hits and doubles, tied for the lead in extra-base hits, ranked second in total bases and RBIs, finished third in average, tied for third in home runs and finished fifth in slugging percentage.

Olt was his stiffest competition for the award, having topped the league in both homers and RBIs, along with some other offensive categories. The Padres’ Jedd Gyorko — who won the batting title — as well as Olt’s Surprise teammates Kevin Mattison (Marlins) and Wil Myers (Royals) also received votes from the managers and coaches who determined the winner.

“I was tired, but I got to go home for a week before I came out here,” Arenado said. “I was excited. This was a great opportunity. The Rockies were sending me because they think I can play with these guys. That gives me confidence, knowing that they have confidence in me. I’m happy to be here. I’ve shown what I can do and I’m really thankful that they sent me here.

“I’m very happy. Baseball is a crazy game. You can go well and then you can go bad, so it’s been pretty cool to be consistent through the whole thing.”

While his performance in the Fall League is obviously a small sample size, his ability to excel here — he hit safely in 26 of 29 games and had two separate hitting streaks of 10 or more games — has helped begin to answer the one question that some might have had about his regular-season output. It’s not his fault, but any time someone puts up big numbers in the Cal League, skeptics will wonder just how much the performance was a product of his environment.

“I understood that,” Arenado said about the perception of the league as being a hitter’s paradise. “I knew when it was happening. The pitchers here are really good. I know when I go to the next level, I’ll have confidence in myself that I’m going to have a good season. I expect a lot out of myself. It’s always tough to go up, and that’s why I have to get better at what I do.”

An MVP season, no matter how short, typically involves winning. Arenado helped Salt River do just that, as it clinched its division with nearly a week to spare. His Modesto Nuts made the postseason, but got bounced in the first round, so Arenado was happy to get the chance to play for a title here.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Arenado said. “We’re tired, but the good thing is that we have the drive to win it. Knowing we have a chance for a ring, it’s pretty cool. We didn’t come here for two months just to mess around. We came here to win.”

ST. LOUIS—The St. Louis Cardinals’ Allen Craig made headlines with his déjà vu pinch-hitting performances in Games 1 and 2 of the World Series. But he won’t be on the bench in Games 3-5.

That is because he will be a regular in the lineup with the DH in play as the series moves to the Ballpark in Arlington.
Allen Craig came through with some huge hits for St. Louis.

FORMER ABD BULLDOG IS CLUTCH, AGAIN

“He’s an everyday player who’s been waiting to play every day,” manager Tony La Russa told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He’s a good weapon. Very good.”

Craig’s pinch-hit single in Game 1 drove in the game-winning run, and his pinch-hit single in Game 2 gave St. Louis a 1-0 lead. However, the Texas Rangers scored twice in the ninth inning to score a come-from-behind 2-1 win.

But he welcomes the opportunity to get more than one at-bat in the next few games.

“Getting four or five at-bats is definitely easier than pinch-hitter,” Craig told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “You have a chance to make more adjustments throughout the game.”

In the AL park, Craig either will DH or play one of the corner outfield spots, allowing left fielder Matt Holliday or right fielder Lance Berkman to DH. However, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes the versatile Craig played every position but shortstop, catcher and pitcher this season.

Craig was confined to the bench in the first two games, but he could turn up just about anywhere in the next three.

Perhaps even back in the spotlight.

Fisher, a sophomore from Fontana, Calif. (A.B. Miller HS), helped the Aggies to a 3-1 record last week against Northern Colorado. Fisher did not play in the series-opening loss to the Bears, but played the next three games, hitting .545 with half of his hits being home runs. Fisher went 6-for-11 at the plate during the three games, tallying nine RBI, three home runs, four runs scored and a pair of walks. The three home runs marked Fisher’s first home runs of the season.

Dudley, a sophomore from Texarkana, Texas (Texas HS), picked up two saves on the week to bring his season total to five, moving him into seventh on the all-time single season list at LA Tech. Dudley stranded two runners on base in the eighth inning against Southern Arkansas and then retired the side with two strikeouts in the ninth to earn his first save of the week. He then threw a season-long 4.0 relief innings on Sunday, allowing one hit while striking out a career-high seven batters to earn his second save. On the week, Dudley gave up only three hits, did not allow a run and tallied nine strikeouts with a pair of saves in 5.1 innings of work.

The other hitter of the week nominations : Fresno State senior Jordan Ribera … Hawai‘i junior Kolten Wong … Louisiana Tech senior Clint Ewing … Nevada junior Nick Melino … San Jose State senior Danny Stienstra.

The other pitcher of the week nominations : Fresno State junior Cody Kendall … Nevada junior Matt Gardner … New Mexico State junior Scott Coffman … San Jose State freshman Johnny Melero.

Equalibryum, an ABD Sponsor

“We’re very pleased to be a partner of the ABD Baseball Academy as they have a history of producing some of the top talent in the United States. We feel fortunate to be involved with the future of ABD and are looking forward to helping the ABD student athletes perform at a higher level on the field”, says founder Andrew Tansley.

ABD is happy to announce that All players who join the ABD program in 2011 receive a Free Equalibryum Power Balance Band. In addition, the families of the ABD player can get a 25% discount on all online purchases through the Equalibryum website. Please email randycurtislive@gmail.com for the code (ABD players and family only)

“I’m excited for Andrew and his Equalibryum company. It was long ago when he shared this technology with me and I was Shocked at the immediate effect it had on my own balance and strength.  I’m glad this technology and information is finally going mainstream and being accepted everywhere.  I think its very important for people to understand the power of frequency technology, how it can benefit well being and is even proven to cure ailments.  I personally wear the technology daily and am glad our players and their families get to have the same opportunity”, Randy Curtis.

Make sure to like our Fan Page in order to receive a free Bracelet

New For 2011:

Randy Curtis unveils the new ABD 2011 Program

Westhamptons’ Best Kept Secret

ABD Player, Mark Podlas Taking his swings

A 6’3 lean, lefty ball player is a very rare find, but out east in Remsenberg, NY, you’ll find Mark Podlas, one of Long Island’s top and perhaps most unrecognized talents. Podlas started playing baseball when he was just a little boy. Taking swings and having a catch with his dad in the backyard was his favorite way to spend the afternoon. Little did he know that just over a decade later all that backyard fun would pay off and he’d be hitting .488 at Westhampton Beach High School and shagging fly balls at Yankee Stadium. Podlas is now training for the journey that lies ahead. The question is, “Will that journey be at UVA or with a professional baseball team?” We won’t get an answer until mid June, but for now let’s meet Mark Podlas, the four year starter from Westhampton Beach High School and early signee at University of Virginia.

For the Complete Mark Podlas Interview Click Here

Read the Article Here