This was the comment made by Larimer Knights owner John Dybala this
morning after Curry Powell was placed on the disabled list. The Knights
gave up their #15 pick in the draft, and hence gave up their chance of
getting some starting pitching. Instead, they got three lower first-round
picks and drafted rookie catcher Kelly Stinnett, along with relievers
Robinson Checo and Matt Brenzel.
Stinnett was called up from Fort Morgan shortly before the start of
Wednesday's game with the expectation that he might see some late-inning
action for the first few weeks. Instead, he becomes the starting catcher
for at least the next four to six weeks. Calgary's Frank Thomas fouled a
ball off Curry Powell's foot in the fifth inning, forcing him out of the
game. X-rays taken later at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins
revealed that the foot was broken. Matt Ruebel, who was sent to AAA to
make room for Stinnett on the roster, will take Powell's place on the
roster for now.
"I just hope I have a job when I get back," Powell said. "Let's face it,
they may have said I had the starting catcher job, but when the first
draft choice they make is a catcher who, I will admit, has better ratings
than I have, you have to wonder. But I have to admit, I'm more comfortable
leaving my job in Kelly's hands than in, say, Barney Robinson's. Granted,
he's got good defensive numbers, but the guy can't hit." Robinson, when
asked, had no comment.
Ruebel returns to the team under the same cloud as Powell was. Last year
the reliever went just 1-8 on the year and had an ERA in the stratosphere.
This year, he cannot afford a slow start, or the two upstart draft picks
will get a chance while he is sent back to the minors, or even cut.
