In Chaz Roe, high Single-A Modesto pitching coach Butch Hughes has a willing pupil, a committed professional and a pitcher who has turned his season around.

With Hughes' help, Roe has made several minor mechanical adjustments, simple ones, Hughes says, but important ones, and they have paid off for Roe. There is one change Hughes would like to incorporate, alas one that is beyond the ability of Hughes, regardless of how much time he spends with the 6-feet-5 Roe.

"My problem with him more than anything is he's 170 pounds," Hughes said. Close enough. Roe claims he's 175 pounds, not enough of a difference to ruin any beanpole analogies.

"I've met his mother and father and they're both big people," Hughes added, "and I'm just thinking he's a little bit of a late bloomer as far as his physical development. And I think once that catches up, he's going to be something real special."

In the far less visible area of mental development, Roe, who turns 21 in October, has shown his mettle this season. On a Modesto team that is 10 games above .500, Roe is 7-11 with a 4.46 ERA. What that bottom line doesn't reveal is the significant progress Roe has made recently.

In his past six starts, Roe is 4-0, 2.06 with 28 hits allowed in 35 innings along with eight walks and 32 strikeouts. Consider that Roe issued four walks in three consecutive April starts followed by a six-walk start May 3 and four more games with four walks, the last on June 26, and Roe's drop in walks has been remarkable.

"He was really wild coming out of spring training," Hughes said. "He had a decent enough delivery where I couldn't understand why he was so wild. It was just a matter of his mind-set. He just wouldn't trust his stuff enough, and he was trying to corner-pick too much. We got him to just go after hitters, see what happens. And I think his confidence just shot up."

Roe gives credit to Alan Johnson, his roommate on the road who is 12-7, 3.26, for convincing Roe not to worry about things beyond his control like errors, calls by an umpire or runs that have already scored.

"I just let all that go," Roe said, "and if a man got a double leading off, (in) the first half, I kind of freaked out about it. But now I just let it go and have confidence in myself to say, 'That guy's not going to score.' "

Roe typically pitches at 90-91 mph, with his fastball expected to gain velocity as his frame fills out. His curveball – Hughes said Roe had "no command of it the start of the year" – is much improved, and a pitch Roe will throw in fastball counts.

Roe said with Hughes' help he varied the grip on his changeup after the All-Star break. That pitch has improved, although Modesto manager Jerry Weinstein said Roe will have to throw his changeup more and undoubtedly will as he hones his skills.

Roe went 5-2, 4.17 at Rookie Casper in 2005 after the Rockies took him 32nd overall in the draft that year out of a Kentucky high school. Roe had a scholarship to play football – he was a wide receiver and safety – at Marshall and a baseball scholarship at the University of Kentucky but opted for baseball when the Rockies chose him with a sandwich pick after the first round and gave him a $1.025 million signing bonus.

From Casper, Roe moved up to low Single-A Asheville last year where he went 7-4, 4.06. He began the 2006 season in extended spring training because the Rockies wanted to limit the innings he pitched in his first full professional season. Roe finished with 99 2/3 innings and this season has thrown 159 1/3 for Modesto where he lost his first five decisions, didn't win his first game until May 19 and fell to 1-9 on June 9.

"Any dummy could see that he's got great stuff," Hughes said. "My question was how fast is he going to come? I don't care what kind of stuff you got; ask (Juan) Morillo (who can throw 100 mph). You got to get the thing over the plate, and you got to be able to keep it down and have good (downhill) angle and you got to be able to change speeds.

"That's what's impressed me about (Roe) more than anything. It took him about a half year to get it and figure it out, and he did."

Triple-A Colorado Springs (65-67, second, 3½ games behind)

Sky Sox Web site | Sky Sox Roster



The Sky Sox, who have lost nine of their past 13 games, slipped below .500 on Tuesday for the first time since June 7 when they were 28-29 . . . After one start at Double-A Tulsa, left-hander Mark Redman will move into the Sky Sox's rotation. Redman, 33, has pitched for seven teams in the majors, the last being Atlanta earlier this year. The Braves signed Redman after a season-ending injury to Mike Hampton but released him after Redman went 0-4, 11.63 in six games, five starts . . . First baseman Joe Koshansky (.302-21-99) has seven RBI in his past six games, putting him on the cusp of another 100-RBI season. Koshansky, who is third in the Pacific Coast League, three RBI behind the leader, had 115 RBI in 2005, including 103 at low Single-A Asheville where he spent most of the season and 12 at Double-A Tulsa, and led the Texas League last year with 109 RBI for Tulsa. Koshansky has three doubles and four homers in 70 at-bats this month, his worst as far as slugging since April when he had three doubles and three homers in 70 at-bats . . . In the wake of Ian Stewart's promotion to the Rockies, second Jayson Nix (.289-9-49) played third base in three games this week. Nix has rebounded from a .238-0-5 July by going 26-for-77 (.338) with seven doubles, four homers and 13 RBI this month . . . Outfielder Joe Gaetti (.284-10-29) went hitless in eight at-bats with five strikeouts on the heels of a 10-game hitting streak that ended Tuesday during which he went 13-for-36 . . . Left-hander Josh Newman (3-2, 4.47), who was in big league camp for the first time this year, has been scored upon in three straight games, four of his past seven and eight of his past 12. In 19 games dating to July 2, Newman has allowed 30 hits and 17 runs, 15 earned, in 26 1/3 innings with 15 walks and 19 strikeouts. Left-handed hitters are batting just .200 against Newman, but right-handers are hitting .352 . . . In eight games with the Sky Six, infielder-outfielder Jolbert Cabrera has gone 15-for-31 with eight doubles, one homer and nine RBI.



Double-A Tulsa (62-64 overall, 27-29 second half, third, 2 games behind)

Tulsa Drillers Web site | Drillers Roster

The Drillers were 0-50 when trailing after eight innings before scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth Monday on Christian Colonel's three-run homer with one out to tie Midland before winning 6-5 in 11 innings and scoring three in the top of the ninth Tuesday to win 4-3 at Springfield . . . Ching-Lung Lo (6-8, 5.87) threw a season-high 7 2/3 innings Tuesday at Springfield, allowed four hits and three runs and left trailing 3-2 before the Drillers came back to win. It was just the second time in 24 starts that Lo pitched seven innings. The other was his last win five starts ago July 27 at Arkansas when pitched seven innings . . . The game-winning homer by third baseman Colonel (.313-14-74) produced his fifth three-RBI game of the season. He drove in a season-high four runs June 9 at Wichita with a grand-slam in the 12th that came after the Drillers had already scored once in that inning. Colonel continues to lead the Texas League in hits (152) and doubles (43). With two doubles dating to Aug. 3, Colonel has little chance to break the Tulsa record of 51 doubles set by Mike Lamb in 1999 but could break the Rockies Double-A record of 46 doubles set by Seth Smith at Tulsa last year . . . Closer Steven Register (0-3, 4.25 with 35 saves) has made six consecutive scoreless appearances and has allowed one run in his past nine outings. Register has blown six saves, the last on July 26 and since then has converted six straight save opportunities. He needs two more saves to tie the franchise record of 37 set by Ryan Speier in 2004.



High Single-A Modesto (70-59 overall, 36-23 second half, first, ½ game ahead)

Modesto Nuts Web site | Nuts Roster



Alan Johnson (12-7, 3.26) broke his first two-game – and two-start – losing streak of the season Sunday when he allowed two runs in seven innings and won 5-3 against San Jose . . . Shortstop Chris Nelson (.285-17-91) on Tuesday hit his first homer since July 31 and drove in four runs, matching his season high set that day. Nelson has hit safely in eight straight games and 11 of his past 12 and is second in the California League with 38 doubles . . . Second baseman Eric Young Jr. (.288-6-58) stole two bases Tuesday, his first two-steal game since Aug. 3. Young is 69-for-87 in stolen base attempts and 32-for-39 since the beginning of July . . . Third baseman Nick Haley (.296-0-14) has at least one hit and one RBI in his past five games, going 7-for-14 in that span with two doubles and seven RBI. Haley's 40 hits include seven doubles and 33 singles, but he has 28 walks and 23 strikeouts in 135 at-bats and a .421 on-base percentage . . . With 29 walks in 172 1/3 innings, Brandon Hynick (15-4, 2.30) is averaging 1.51 walks per nine innings. He has issued one or fewer walks in 17 of 26 starts. Hynick leads all minor league pitchers with 172 1/3 innings . . . First baseman Jeff Kindel (.323-13-81) is hitting .382-2-19 this month after hitting .417-5-25 in July. Kindel has hit safely in 16 of his past 17 games and 42 of his past 45 . . . Outfielder Lino Garcia (.264-7-17) returned from Colorado Springs where he hit .227-0-2 in 16 games and catcher Kyle Blumenthal (.172-4-21) was placed on the inactive list . . . Reliever James Burok (0-0, 10.80) who moved up after going 4-1, 1.72 in 41 games at Asheville went on the disabled list with shoulder soreness after four appearances for the Nuts, the last on Aug. 14 . . . The Nuts are 20-9 at home in the second half. A loss Wednesday ended their first three-game winning streak since a six-game winning streak July 26-31 that completed a 23-6 month.



Low Single-A Asheville (76-51 overall, 34-24 second half, second tied, 1½ games behind)

Asheville Tourists Web site | Tourists Roster



Second baseman Daniel Mayora (.313-14-39) has gone 21-for-56 during his 14-game hitting streak. Mayora had three doubles Tuesday while going 4-for-5, giving him 39 doubles for the season. He's second in the South Atlantic League in that category, four behind the leader . . . Shortstop Hector Gomez (.274-10-55) homered Wednesday for the first time since July 27 and had two RBI in a game for the first time since July 18. Gomez had four hits in his previous 29 at-bats before going 2-for-4 on Wednesday . . . While pitching four scoreless innings in his past two outings, Will Harris (1-2, 1.44) has struck out seven. Harris has 63 strikeouts and 12 walks and has allowed 37 hits in 43 2/3 innings . . . Catcher Mike McKenry (.288-18-83) is hitting .337-14-56 at hitter-friendly McCormick Field and .238-4-27 on the road . . . First baseman Michael Paulk (.308-11-92) is leading the South Atlantic League in RBI but has driven in just six runs dating back to Aug. 4 . . . Center fielder Anthony Jackson (.249-6-41) went 7-for-7 in a July 26 doubleheader but has since gone 8-for-59 . . . Left fielder Jay Cox (.266-8-64) has gone 11-for-22 during his six-game hitting streak with two doubles, two triples and five RBI. Cox has four homers at home and on the road and nearly as many RBI on the road (31) as at home (33) but is batting .300 (62-for-207) at McCormick Field and .229 (43-for-188) on the road . . . The Tourists are 23-8 at home in the second half and 46-19 there overall . . . The season seems to be catching up with knuckleballer Simon Ferrer (7-10, 5.30). A converted infielder, Ferrer began pitching last year and worked 34 innings in relief. Ferrer has been in Asheville's rotation all season and has pitched 156 1/3 innings. In his past three starts, Ferrer is 0-2, 14.14 and has allowed 10 walks and 26 hits, including eight homers, in 14 innings.



Short-season Single-A Tri-City (28-34, tied second, 1½ games behind)

Tri-City Dust Devils Web site | Dust Devils Roster

Robinson Fabian (3-5, 4.07) has allowed four runs, two earned, in 12 2/3 innings in his past two starts with four walks and 10 strikeouts. Fabian has yielded four homers in 66 1/3 innings and ranks second in the Northwest League in that category . . . Bruce Billings (3-2, 3.12) leads the league with 73 strikeouts – and just 11 walks – in 60 2/3 innings . . . Center fielder Michael Mitchell (.272-0-22) leads the league with 24 stolen bases in 30 attempts. Mitchell's 52 hits include 47 singles, two doubles and three triples . . . Cory Riordan (2-2, 2.89) has 52 strikeouts and 14 walks in 53 innings. He had a career-high 11 strikeouts Monday against Eugene, giving Riordan 19 strikeouts and just three walks in 12 2/3 innings in his past two starts . . . After giving up two runs in nine games, a span of 11 innings, left-hander John Rodriguez (2-2, 3.90) has allowed five runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings in his past two games.



Rookie Casper (16-44 overall, 6-16 second half, fourth, 7½ games behind)

Casper Rockies Web site | Rockies Roster



Third baseman Jordan Pacheco (.292-3-25) has hit safely in six straight games and 12 of his past 13, going 18-for-46 over this stretch with six strikeouts, including just one in his past 21 at-bats . . . Jeff Fischer (0-9, 6.17) has allowed a Pioneer League-leading 16 home runs in 58 1/3 innings and also tops the league in losses . . . Jhouylis Chacin (5-4, 3.75) has gone 4-1, 1.49 in his past six starts with 12 walks and 45 strikeouts – including a career-high 13 on Aug. 17 – in 42 1/3 innings . . . The Rockies have struck out 588 times, an average of 9.8 per game and by far the most in the league. Billings is a distant second with 496 strikeouts . . . J.T. Zink (0-0, 3.00) has replaced Robert Paschal (0-5, 6.27 in the rotation). Signed out of a semi-pro collegiate league in the Seattle area after getting released by Boston's high Single-A Lancaster affiliate, Zink, 22, made one relief appearance for Casper before allowing two runs and seven hits in five innings Sunday with one strikeout and six strikeouts.



etkinj@RockyMountainNews.com