The Colorado Rockies have designated 27-year old righty starting pitcher Alan Johnson for assignment to make room on the roster for 33-year old switch-hitting IF/OF Alfredo Amezaga. Johnson started 1 game for the Rockies this year and he didn’t get the decision as he worked 4 innings in which he allowed 6 hits, 3 walks and 4 earned runs. Johnson also started 2 games (both starts) in AAA-ball for the Rockies this year and he was 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Amezaga’s versatility is going to really help the Rockies’ bench. He has played in 17 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he was 24 of 66 (.364 avg, .939 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 1 homer, 11 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Amezaga last played in the majors back in 2009 with the Marlins. He has played in 544 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 334 of 1,331 (.251 avg, .652 OPS) with 167 runs scored, 12 homers, 106 RBIs and 49 stolen bases.

Righty swinging 3B Vinny Casilla was a product of Coors Field during the live ball era. He hit over 30 homers six times in his major league career (all with Colorado), he knocked in over 100 runs five times in his career (all with the Rockies) and he hit over .300 five times (all with the Rockies). Castilla played in 1,098 games in his 9 years with the Rockies and he was 1,206 of 4,099 (.294 avg, .870 OPS) with 611 runs scored, 239 homers, 745 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. Castilla is all over the record books of the Colorado Rockies. He is #3 in Rockies’ history in games played (1,098). He also is #4 in hits (1,206), #4 in runs scored (611), #4 in doubles (208), tied for #10 in triples (20), #3 in homers (239), #4 in RBIs (745) and he’s #6 in walks (273) in Rockies’ history. Castilla was awesome for the Rockies, but not so much for any other team. In Castilla’s seven seasons not spent in Colorado, he played in 756 games in which he was 678 of 2,723 (.249 avg) with 291 runs scored, 81 homers, 360 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.

37-year old lefty swinging 1B Todd Helton looked like he was toast in 2010. He played in 118 games last season for the Rockies and he was 102 of 398 (.256 avg, .728 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 8 homers and 37 RBIs. Helton last hit 20 homers way back in the 2005 season for the Rockies as his power seemed to have left him. But, he’s on fire right now with the bat and the Rockies hope he will keep up the good work. Helton has played in 19 games for the Rockies so far this year and he is 20 for 63 (.317 avg, .911 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 3 homers and 10 RBIs.

The Colorado Rockies have acquired 25-year old righty swinging 2B Brad Emaus from the Toronto Blue Jays for 27-year old righty reliever Chris Malone. Emaus played in 14 games for the Mets earlier this year and he was 6 for 37 (.162 avg, .424 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 0 homers and 1 RBI. He has played in 425 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 431 of 1,559 (.276 avg, .790 OPS) with 254 runs scored, 39 homers, 227 RBIs and 37 stolen bases. Emaus will start out in AAA and get a call to the Rockies if he’s needed. Chris Malone has pitched in 4 games (0 starts) in AA-ball so far this year and he was 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP. Malone isn’t much of a prospect, so I like the Rockies’ side of this deal.

Young righty starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin is off to an outstanding start this season for the Colorado Rockies. Chacin has started 3 games for the Rockies so far this year and he is 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He has only given up 18 hits in his first 22 innings while walking only 6 batters as he has been outstanding. The Rockies needed someone to step up when Ubaldo Jimenez got hurt, and Chacin has been that guy so far this year. I think he’s going to win at least 15 games for the Rockies and maybe close to 20 for them this year as long as he can stay healthy.