Matt Daley fires a strike against Oakland. Matt Daley, a 2000 Garden City graduate, continues to work his way through the Colorado Rockies baseball organization. Coming into Spring training this season Matt had the privilege of being invited to the major league camp and was looking to take the next step in the organization - a spot in 'The Show,' that is, making the roster of the Rockies.

For those of you who haven't been keeping up with the Friends of Matt Daley fan club, he had another fantastic season in the Rockies minor league organization last year. Matt was assigned to the Rockies Triple A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sox, for the 2008 season and he continued his pursuit of a major league career. Matt led the team with 60 appearances (finishing third in the league), had a very respectable ERA of 3.75 in the thin air of Colorado Springs, with a WHIP (walks plus hits over innings pitched) of 1.43 and a strikeout total of 61 in 62 innings of work. For the Sox, he pitched on a staff that included former major leaguers up and down the list - like ex Mets Glendon Rusch and Victor Zambrano, as well as Luis Vizcaino, Ryan Speier, Josh Towers, John Koronka, Kip Wells and Franklin Morales. Not bad company for a kid from Garden City!

So coming into Rockies camp, Matt continued his hard work and disciplined approach to the game and produced some terrific Spring numbers. Unfortunately, even after getting four appearances in major league pre season games, producing a 1.93 ERA, with 5 strikeouts and a win, Matt was sent back down to the Triple A Rockies affiliate Colorado Springs. His last appearance was his best as he came into the game in the first inning and pitched 2 and 2/3 innings of scoreless ball against the Oakland A's. With his work in this game, Matt faced hitters like A's starters Ryan Sweeney, Kurt Suzuki, Matt Holiday, Jack Cust and Jack Hannahan and retired all of them! The appearance hopefully left a lasting impression with manager Clint Hurdle and pitching coach Bob Apodaca - who actually broke the news to Matt that right now wasn't his time. Both spoke highly of his future prospects for a major league career. So although Matt leaves camp right now for the minors he still has strong feelings that there is a part for him in The Show.