Colorado Rockies @ Bare Baseball - Baseball MLB Blog

Notes: Morillo readies for debut

2006-09-25T00:02:00.000-07:00

09/23/2006

DENVER -- Add Juan Morillo to the list of Rockies making a quick jump from Double-A to the Majors -- though Morillo's trip has the illusion of being even faster than most, thanks to a 100-mph fastball he showcased throughout the season in Tulsa.
The 22-year-old right-hander will be the fourth youngest pitcher in franchise history when he starts Sunday's game. He signed with the Rockies out of the Dominican Republic in 2001 and has made steady progress from the Dominican Summer League through every step of the Rockies system, with the exception of Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Morillo went 12-8 with a 4.62 ERA for the Drillers this season, and was given the opening start in their playoff appearance against the Wichita Wranglers earlier this month. He pitched seven shutout innings, walking two and striking out 10. He retired the last 11 batters he faced and left the game with a lead, but the Wranglers won in extra innings and went on to win the series.
"It was real exciting," Morillo said of his postseason experience. "I was hoping to help my team and I did. We didn't win, but we gave everything we've got. We did pretty good."
The playoffs capped a season of hard work for Morillo, who has concentrating on bringing a consistent approach to the mound and becoming a more well-rounded pitcher. He tried to make his dominant fastball just one of his tools, rather than the sole source of his 132 strikeouts in 140 1/3 innings this season.
The Rockies are eager to get a look at Morillo in a big-league environment in hopes of getting insight to how he could fit in their future plans.
"I haven't seen much of him," manager Clint Hurdle said Saturday. "We're just hoping he can go out there and control his emotions and his adrenaline and throw strikes and give us a chance to win a ballgame -- show up good. He's got a top-shelf arm. A lot of guys have that. We just need to see how it plays out at this level."
Morillo laughed off questions about bringing out his 100-mph heater on Sunday.
"I'm trying to throw low strikes," Morillo emphasized. "I'm going to give 100 percent and throw as hard as I can, but I'm going to try to keep my pitches down low. That's the main thing."
Tulsa tandem? With Morillo on the hill Sunday, Alvin Colina could find himself in the familiar position of receiving Morillo's fastballs behind the plate, replicating the role he shared in Tulsa with Chris Iannetta. Either one of the catchers could be a comfort to Morillo in his first big-league appearance, but as Hurdle has been looking to give Colina a start, Colina's history with Morillo could make Sunday his day.
"It very well could be," said Hurdle. "We've had conversations about it. What's more important? The catcher knowing the hitters? [JD] Closser has limited experience, Iannetta has very limited experience, Colina has no experience. Or having somebody that the guy's very familiar with and probably very comfortable with? What we need to have Juan focus on is pitching his game and not trying to pitch around hitters or away from hitters' strengths. Just make his pitches."
Colina has appeared in one game since coming up from Tulsa on Sept. 10. He pinch-hit against the Giants Monday, lacing an RBI single to left.
Endangered species: With the lack of lefties in big-league rotations, the Rockies don't see themselves entertaining the notion of a true platoon. Right fielder Jeff Baker's emergence as a force to be reckoned into future plans begs the question, since the right-handed hitter is .231 (6-for-26) against right-handers and .556 (5-for-9) against left-handers, and left-handed right fielder Brad Hawpe has put up opposite numbers, hitting .298 (124-for-416) against righties and .203 (13-for-64) against southpaws.
The opportunity to make one uber-outfielder out of the complementary strengths of the two is tempting, but the Rockies have faced 28 left-handed starters, and no Rockies batter has more than 121 at bats against left-handers.
"It doesn't make any sense to me to limit a right-handed hitter who's pretty good to 110 at-bats," Hurdle said. "I've mixed and matched Hawpe and Baker up since they've been here, but I hate to put a ceiling on anybody at this particular point in time."
The straight platoon is increasingly fading into baseball's past, but the memories of then-Orioles manager Earl Weaver's getting 45 home runs and 137 RBIs out of a 1982 Gary Roenicke/John Lowenstein platoon remain fresh for the Rockies as they look for creative ways to build a roster. Hurdle had first-hand experience as part of a platoon when he played for Whitey Herzog in Kansas City and St. Louis.
"When I played for Whitey, you could start and come out of the game in the fourth inning if a left-hander came in and there was a runner in scoring position," Hurdle recalled. "I was in that role with Joe Zdeb [a right-handed outfielder platooning with the left-handed Hurdle] for a while. That's the way it was. But the number of left-handers, whether we're going through a cycle or whatever, the opportunities have really been minimized, compared to what they used to be."
Thanks, Vinny: The Rockies will honor one of the franchise's all-time greats on Sunday, with Vinny Castilla scheduled to start at third base in his last weekend game at home before retiring at the end of the season.
Fans voted Castilla their final "Player of the Homestand," and in keeping with that new tradition, the first 7,500 fans at Sunday's game will receive a Castilla jersey T-shirt.
Sunday also caps Spanish Heritage Awareness Month, and Castilla will participate in pregame ceremonies honoring the winner of the Colorado Rockies Hispanic Adult Leadership Award.
On tap: Morillo (Major League debut) toes the rubber Sunday in the series finale against southpaw Chuck James (10-4, 3.62) at 1:05 p.m. MT

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

After big third, Rockies hold off Braves

2006-09-24T23:04:00.000-07:00

09/24/2006

DENVER -- A day after being officially eliminated from the playoff race, the Rockies' Saturday night bash with the Braves in town was a promise for the future.
Five Rockies had multihit games, with Jeff Salazar leading the way with a double, two singles, two RBIs, and a steal as the Rockies beat the Braves, 10-9.
"I was more happy about the situations where I came up," said Salazar, who had runners in scoring position in three of his five at-bats. "I came up a few times tonight, runner on third, less than two outs, and I would have been just as happy if I would have grounded out to second and got the run in."
After striking out in the first run-scoring situation, Salazar doubled to right in the six-run third inning and singled over a drawn-in infield in the fifth, plating runs both times.
Rockies starter Jeff Francis (13-11) delivered on his own promise and became the winningest southpaw in club history by notching his 30th career win despite a subpar performance. Francis struggled with his fastball command and pitched behind in counts most of the night, but he held on for five innings, giving up five runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out two.
"It was a battle the whole way," Francis said. "It's nice having run support like that. Having a five-, six-run lead most of the way, I was able to just go out there and try to throw strikes. The fifth inning got away from me, but fortunately, I came out of it, and the bullpen held it and we came out with a win."
Francis loaded the bases on two walks and a single before recording an out in the fifth, but he induced Jeff Francoeur into a run-scoring double play to Garrett Atkins at third, before coaxing a grounder to second from Adam LaRoche to end the inning and preserve a five-run lead.
While his ERA crept over 4.00 for the first time in over two months, Francis joined Tom Glavine (14) and Andy Pettitte (13) as the only National League left-handers with at least 13 wins in '06. He was unaware that he had set a Rockies record for career wins by a left-hander -- and that he set the record for left-handed wins at Coors with 20 -- before finishing just his second full season in the big leagues.
"That's a pretty cool thing," Francis said when informed of the milestone. "To hold any record of any kind is an accomplishment. It's flattering that people even talk about it. Hopefully, there's more to come."
Francis would probably prefer not to see any more of Andruw Jones, however. Jones knocked a run-scoring double over the center-field fence in the first and a solo homer over the left-field fence in the third. He homered again in the seventh off Jose Mesa and singled up the middle in the ninth off Brian Fuentes.
"We'll be glad to see him leave town," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's done a lot of trotting since he's been here. Every time I look up the ball's bouncing off a wall."
Four Rockies relievers diffused a serious threat in the eighth, when Mesa, beginning his third inning of work, gave up a leadoff single to Willy Aybar and Tom Martin gave up a one-out double to Todd Pratt before walking Martin Prado to load the bases.
The Braves sent switch-hitting Chipper Jones to the plate against the left-handed Martin. Jones came off the disabled list Tuesday but hasn't played since Wednesday, due to a sore right foot that kept him from making right-handed at bats until Saturday night.
The Rockies countered with another left-hander, Jeremy Affeldt, who struck out Jones in the critical at-bat.
"He's given us some peaks and some valleys," Hurdle said of Affeldt. "That's a big out right there. We wanted to make sure we kept Chipper right. He's a good hitter from both sides, but if you got to pick one poison, you're going to pick that one."
It would be natural to assume that Affeldt must have had a good history against Jones to be used for that one bases-loaded at bat with the game on the line, but Affeldt was quick to clarify to the contrary his previous knowledge of Jones.
"I've never seen him in my life," Affeldt said of Jones. "Sometimes you got to go on strictly your strength, and get a feel for the guys. I didn't know who I was facing when I was coming in. Iannetta said, 'What do you want to throw Chipper?' I said 'Chipper? All right, well, we got to go with our strengths, we got to mix it up on him.' I know he's got some power. He can hit the fastball. So it was all about location."
After starting him off with a "bad" curve and falling to 2-0, he got Jones to foul off two strikes before finishing him off with a cut fastball.
Nate Field came on and gave up a two-run single to Edgar Renteria before Many Corpas took the baton and ended the inning with one pitch.
Fuentes pitched the ninth, yielding a run on Andruw Jones' leadoff single and a run-scoring double from Aybar before striking out the side to earn his 28th save of the season.
The Rockies have averaged 9.8 runs in their 10 September home games, a refreshing change of pace after their late-summer scoring draught.
"The whole time I've been here we've done that" Salazar said. "It's kind of strange. I can't picture them not doing it. For all I know they could have been doing this all year."
They haven't done it all year, but as September comes to a close, the Rockies are keeping their eyes on the future.
"It's been a very good look," Hurdle said of the revitalized offense. "It's been a promising look

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Notes: Rockies honor Castilla

2006-09-24T22:59:00.000-07:00

09/24/2006

DENVER -- During a hot streak a few years ago, Vinny Castilla said in an interview that he was getting better with age, like a wine.
Fittingly on Sunday morning, veteran pitcher Mike DeJean stopped by Castilla's locker in the Rockies' clubhouse at Coors Field and presented him with a bottle of wine, expertly picked by DeJean's wife.
Castilla, 39, is past the age of outstanding seasons, but he was golden at Coors Field nonetheless. The Rockies honored Castillla before Sunday's game against the Braves, which he started a third base. He'll retire at season's end.
As the team took the field, the rest of the starters stopped at the first-base line and cheered as they let Castilla run to his position alone. In the clubhouse, most of the players wore the Castilla T-shirt that was available for fans.
"You're the first one to know when it's time to go, and it's time to go," Castilla said. "It's a great day. I'm very nervous and excited at the same time. It feels like I'm starting my first big-league game. It's good."
It was Castilla's first start at third for the Rockies at Coors since Oct. 3, 2004. An early start with the club (1993-99), Castilla returned in 2004 and led the National League in RBIs. Castilla ranks among franchise leaders in several offensive categories, was an outstanding defender and appeared in All-Star Games in 1995 and 1998.
"He's hitting in the lineup right behind [Todd] Helton," manager Clint Hurdle said. "To see them together on deck -- he broke Helton in -- and now Helton is here for him.
"Vinny's a good man. His smile is illuminating. That's the one thing whenever I think of him or whenever you see his face, it's the smile on his face. "
It was fitting he would be honored during a game against the Braves, for whom he went to the playoffs twice. Castilla never won a Gold Glove, but Braves manager Bobby Cox ranks him among all-time great fielders.
"He was wonderful for our team, right up there with the best of them -- Brooks [Robinson] and all of them," Cox told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "He never missed a ball."
Amazement: Padres standout closer Trevor Hoffman earned his 478th save on Saturday night to tie Lee Smith for the all-time record.
Hoffman has done much of that work against the Rockies, converting 47-of-52 against them. The Dodgers are the only team against whom he has earned more saves, 55.
"I don't think anybody can ever say they look forward to facing a Hall of Fame pitcher, but you're excited about the challenge, no doubt about that," Helton said. "You know what you're going to get. That's one of the good things about it. He's not going to make anything up. He's got what he's got and he's coming right at you with it."
Hoffman is known for frustrating hitters with his changeup, but what amazes most players is Hoffman pitches the same way he did when he had a 93 mph fastball. His fastball might be 8 mph slower, but his changeup is still 10 mph below that.
"It's maddening, borderline comical," Hurdle said.
Rockies reliever Jose Mesa, who has 320 career saves, said the only closer whose changeup was even close to the quality of Hoffman's was Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter, but Sutter's main pitch was the slit-finger fastball. Mesa said Hoffman is special because of the confidence he has in his pitching style.
"When you used to throw hard and you come back and throw 84 or 85, a lot of guys start to say, 'I might as well hang it up, because I don't have it anymore,'" Mesa said. "But he still does what he's always done."
Up next: After an off-day on Monday, right-hander Jason Jennings (9-12, 3.65 ERA) will start the opener of the final home series of the season, a three-game set with the Dodgers, who will start righty Greg Maddux (13-14, 4.25 ERA

Source : http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Rockies' bats beat up on Braves

2006-09-24T22:45:00.000-07:00

09/24/2006

DENVER -- The Rockies acknowledged their past and, they hope, previewed the future Sunday afternoon.
The Rockies used a Brad Hawpe two-run homer in the eighth to beat the Braves, 9-8, at Coors Field in front of 30,216 in a game reminiscent of the prime of Vinny Castilla, whom the Rockies honored.
The teams hit seven home runs. The Braves' Brian McCann knocked a first-inning grand slam for one of his two homers, and the Rockies' Matt Holliday knocked a slam in the fifth, his team-leading 32nd homer.
The Rockies trailed, 7-0, before the bottom of the fourth and didn't lead until Hawpe entered as a pinch-hitter after Jamey Carroll's single and homered off Tyler Yates (2-5).
The Rockies won three of four, handed the Braves their 81st loss, and officially ended their string of playoff trips at 15 and winning seasons at 16. The win also brought Colorado out of last place for the first time since Aug. 20.
"It was nice today," said Hawpe, whose homer was his 20th this season. "To take the series from the Braves, which is a quality team, and to do it on Vinny Castilla's day was special, too."
The Rockies started Castilla, who is retiring at season's end, at third base and fans greeted his every at-bat with applause.
About all that was missing was a big hit from Castilla, who had two on in the eighth, but grounded into an inning-ending forceout. He was 0-for-4 and was hit by a pitch.
The old-time homer spree started with Jeff Baker's fifth in 17 games since being promoted from Triple-A Colorado Springs, against Braves starter Chuck James to lead off the fourth. It ended with the Hawpe's shot. Castilla said his son, Marcos, serving as bat boy, predicted the winning homer in the dugout.
Castilla experienced similar magic when the third-year Rockies went to the playoffs in 1995, and believes today's Rockies, who played well early but faded and are 74-82, can make it happen again.
Hawpe's homer gave the Rockies three with at least 20. He joined Holliday and Garrett Atkins, who has 27. It's not 1996-98, when Castilla reached or exceeded 40 and had company in doing so, but it's a start.
"I've never seen so many young kids at the same time that good," said Castilla, who will work for the Rockies' front office. "We had a great time in '95, but in those years we weren't that young."
However, Sunday conjured nightmarish memories of starting pitching struggles.
The team's newest pitcher, right-handed Juan Morillo, who spent the season at Double-A Tulsa but hadn't pitched since a Texas League playoff game on Sept. 5, took the old-fashioned hard hits.
Morillo, 22, walked the first three batters he faced, hit Andruw Jones to force in the first run and served up McCann's homer before finally forcing a Jeff Francoeur grounder for his first out.
Castilla, first baseman Todd Helton and shortstop Clint Barmes (who drove in two runs), catcher Alvin Colina, his usual receiver in Tulsa, and pitching coach Bob Apodaca visited Morillo during his struggles. But after the homer, he didn't walk anyone else, and struck out four against eight hits in four innings.
In the fourth, Morillo yielded a Chipper Jones' 24th homer of the season and McCann's 23rd.
Next time he takes the ball in the Majors, which he hopes is next season, Morillo will have a 15.75 ERA. But thanks to Hawpe he won't have a loss.
"I know we've got a lot of good hitters, so I was waiting for that," said Morillo, known for a triple-digits fastball but spotty control.
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said, "I told him, 'You're not the first pitcher to pitch here four innings and give up seven runs, so don't get carried away on that.'
"He said, 'I got a lot better and they didn't take as good swings when I kept the ball down.'"
Holliday also tripled and scored, and Baker added a triple to his homer. But Hawpe's swing might have been bigger.
The left-handed-hitting Hawpe has lost playing time in right field lately as the Rockies have taken a long, and thus far pleasant, look at the right-handed-hitting Baker.
Baker could be used at several positions in addition to right field, but Hawpe will have to produce offensively to get his starts in right. The ability he flashed on a homer, when he clubbed Yates' slider, could help make him effective off the bench when he doesn't start.
"It's been different, of course," Hawpe said. "Baker's got a good opportunity right now and he's run with it, that's good for him. I need to be ready whenever I get [at-bats]."
Edgar Renteria gave the Braves an 8-6 lead with a solo shot off Justin Hampson in the sixth. Holliday tripled and scored on Barmes' double in the seventh.
Jeremy Affeldt (4-1) escaped an eighth-inning jam, and closer Brian Fuentes overcame two hits in the ninth by forcing a two-out Renteria grounder for his 29th save

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Rox rout Bucs to snap losing streak

2006-07-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

07/19/2006
PITTSBURGH -- Colorado snapped its season-high eight-game losing streak by pounding Pittsburgh, 13-4, in front of 20,086 people on Tuesday night at PNC Park.
"We showed ourselves that we're capable of doing some good things," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "We put a nice package together tonight. The offense showed up."
The Rockies got a solid start from lefty Jeff Francis, who hurled seven innings and surrendered two runs (one earned run) on eight hits. Francis upped his record to 7-8 with the win.
"We got a big start again from Francis," Hurdle explained. "Another quality start from our rotation. He pitched strong effective baseball. He went through that lineup pretty effectively [and] followed his game plan very well. [He] mixed in his offspeed stuff with his fastball on both sides and elevated when he wanted to. It was just the start we needed."
Francis was pleased with the offensive explosion as well.
"To come out with seven runs in the first three innings helps you relax a little bit," Francis said. "But you've still got to go after guys and you've still got to get outs."
Left fielder Matt Holliday had high praise for another well pitched game by a Colorado starter.
"That's pretty much every day these days or it has been," Holliday offered. "We'll keep riding them as long as they'll carry us. They have pitched great."
Pittsburgh starter Tom Gorzelanny was tagged with the loss as he lasted just 2 2/3 innings, surrendering seven runs (five earned) on four hits. He issued five walks as he fell to 0-2 on the campaign.
The Rockies jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Garrett Atkins drew a walk and advanced to third on a double by catcher Yorvit Torrealba. Atkins scored on a sacrifice fly by Luis Gonzalez. Torrealba scored after Francis hit a grounder to Gorzelanny, who threw wide of third base for an error. Jamey Carroll delivered a sacrifice fly to right field knocking in Choo Freeman, who singled.
Colorado upped its advantage to 7-0 in the third inning when Torrealba hit a two-run double into the right-field corner after Gorzelanny issued a pair of walks. Gorzelanny walked two more to load the bases before making an early exit. He was replaced by right-hander Victor Santos, who was greeted by a two-run double by Carroll.
"A big night for Torrealba," Hurdle stated. "He strung together four [quality] at-bats. You don't envision the guy going 3-for-5 every night. His swings were real clean tonight. He hit the ball where it was pitched and he hit it hard."
Pittsburgh tagged Francis for his first run in the bottom of the third inning. Jason Bay's RBI double drove in Jack Wilson to make it 7-1 Colorado.
The Rockies added the eighth run in the fourth inning.
Then they tacked on four more in the sixth when Holliday crushed a two-run homer off Santos and Freeman smacked a two-run triple making it 12-1. It was Holliday's 17th home run on the season.
"It was a first-pitch curveball that I hit," Holliday said. "I was looking fastball, but when a breaking ball [hung] up a little bit, I just put a good swing on it and luckily I got enough of it."
The offensive pyrotechnics were just what the doctor ordered.
"It was a nice way for the offense to kind of break out of a team-wide slump that we'd been in," Holliday explained. "Hopefully, we've turned the page on what was a bad 10 days and we can now move forward."
"I think that win goes to the offense," Francis stated. "That's what we've been struggling to do the last couple of games. They came through big time."
Jason Smith rounded out the Rockies' scoring with a solo homer in the ninth.
"That might be the most pleasant part offensively speaking," Hurdle observed. "That so many people were able to participate, help out and have a hand in what we did tonight offensively up and down the lineup.
"We had good at-bats throughout the lineup. Guys were much more patient and more disciplined. We showed up good."
Rookie right-hander Manuel Corpas and closer Brian Fuentes tossed the final two frames for the Rockies.
"I think you got to see flashes of what Corpas can bring and that's a pretty exciting arm." Hurdle explained. "[Then with] Fuentes, we needed to get him back on the mound [to] let him air it out a little bit and get ready for a save tomorrow."

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Notes: Focusing on internal options

2006-07-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

07/19/2006
PITTSBURGH -- With baseball's July 31 trade deadline looming, the Rockies would seem to be buyers, considering they are in a pennant race in the National League West and are only five games out of first place.
"We really haven't worried about our division all year," Rockies general manager Daniel O'Dowd said. "We're just trying to focus on how we can get better. We've hit a rough stretch here, and there's no doubt about that. We've just got to focus on the fact that we've come a long way from last year. We still have to stay patient."
He cautioned that just because the Rockies are in a pennant race does not mean they are in trade mode.
"I don't think we are there at all," O'Dowd stated. "I think we'll focus on our internal options. We've only made four player moves based upon performance all year, leading up to some of those we made on Monday. And that's because our starters have been good and our bullpen hasn't gotten enough work. So, I don't think we'll do that. If there is something that ends up falling in our lap, we certainly will, but I don't think we're going to be actively out trying to force things to happen at this point."
Family business: Some families own a grocery store, others own a garage or auto dealership and that is the family business. But with the Holliday family, baseball is the family business.
Matt Holliday, 26, is an All-Star outfielder with the Rockies. His father Tom was the longtime baseball coach at Oklahoma State and then the pitching coach at the University of Texas. He recently became associate head coach at North Carolina State.
Matt's older brother, Josh, is the hitting coach at Georgia Tech and Uncle Dave is a scout for the Rockies.
"That's a funny way to put it -- family business," Matt said. "I've been around [baseball] a long time. It's a fun thing and it's something our whole family has in common."
Matt is excited about his father's new job. "I think it will be a good spot for him," he said. "He'll have a boss who he has known for a long time and is a good friend of our family, and I think they'll have a lot of fun together."
"I think when you get to a point in your career, this is one of those things when you sit around in your chair and you jump up and say, 'You're going to go do this,'" Tom Holliday said of his current coaching role. "I don't act on impulse very often. But this is a longtime friend that I've seen work his rear end off for 20 years, and in our business of college baseball, getting to the College World Series is a lot of people's goal and it's a dream.
"Having been there 16 times [with Oklahoma State and Texas] and this program hasn't been there, this may be my last drive, my last goal in this college baseball business. If North Carolina State can get there in the next couple of years, then maybe I'll go do something else. But at this point, I think I've earned the right to do what I want to do."
It will place Tom and Josh in the same conference as opponents.
"That's an accident," Tom said. "We'll play three games against each other. I know him and he knows me, and when we put our uniforms on we'll play the game properly and when it's over there is still going to be a hug and a kiss."
"They both will want to win," Matt said. "They're both competitive."
The elder Holliday is still feeling the exhilaration of watching his son play in the All-Star Game.
"The biggest rush I ever had was watching Matt in a big-league game," Tom said. "When he was called up, I had to find his mother an airline ticket because we were playing, too. She was able to fly in and see his first big-league game in St. Louis and I had to watch it on tape. That rookie year, every time I saw him on television I got big goose bumps.
"To watch him in the All-Star Game is like -- I don't even know if I can describe it and I probably still haven't been able to put a word to it. He's only 26, so I don't want to say it's a dream come true, because I know Matt better than that, and probably a World Series is something I want to see him play in. But the goose bumps were really big again and to sit there with my mother was special."
Helton sits: Manager Clint Hurdle inserted recent callup Ryan Shealy in the lineup at first base on Wednesday afternoon, giving veteran Todd Helton a day off.
"It's going to be a situational-type thing. [Helton] has played six straight days in the heat," Hurdle explained. "Give him a blow today, and a day off tomorrow -- it just makes sense. We'll just see how it develops, but I'm using Shealy more as a bat off the bench."

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Rockies' rally falls short

2006-07-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

07/19/2006
PITTSBURGH -- Colorado had hoped to build some momentum after snapping an eight-game losing streak on Tuesday night. But the Pirates held the Rockies down to take the rubber game of a three-game series, 6-5, before 19,881 on Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park.
Colorado staged a ninth-inning rally against Pirates closer Mike Gonzalez, but came up short. Choo Freeman led off with a single. After pinch-hitter J.D. Closser struck out, Jamey Carroll drew a walk. Clint Barmes then singled to load the bases and Garrett Atkins singled to drive in Freeman and make it a one-run affair.
Not wanting to get doubled up on Atkins' hit, Carroll hesitated at second and only made it to third base. Gonzalez then struck out Matt Holliday and Ryan Shealy to end the game.
"We didn't make a clean read at second base on the single by Atkins," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle lamented. "We had a runner that broke back to second base, unfortunately. Jamey is probably one of our best baserunners. He just didn't get a clean read on it. He broke back to second base on a ball where really nobody is there. You don't want to get doubled off, but I think in that situation, he knew where the guys were. He wasn't sure, but when he looked around, he saw that he might have misread it."
"When he hit it, it just kind of froze me," Carroll said. "You don't want to get doubled off in that situation. I went too cautious of a route, and knowing that Holliday and Shealy were coming up, I just froze on it. I just played too cautious."
Hurdle bemoaned the missed opportunities.
"There were opportunities a couple of times today to get it done," Hurdle stated. "We were talking earlier about finding a way to get a run going. Today is a perfect example. We had different situations where guys could have showed up and given us that opportunity."
Rockies starter Jason Jennings (6-8) gave up six runs on seven hits in six innings of work and was tagged with the loss.
"The way [Jennings] pitched -- it wasn't his best day," Hurdle said. "[Pittsburgh] didn't pound the ball on him in the sixth inning, but he got the balls up. Whenever you get the ball up, more often than not, good things don't happen. A couple balls dropped in that weren't hit hard to score the three runs. He wasn't able to get the big out."
The loss was a stinging one for Jennings.
"I feel like I made the pitches to get out of the inning," Jennings explained. "We were winning and I had two outs in the sixth and we were leading, 4-3, and I come out and we're losing, 6-4. It's frustrating all the way around. Today, I didn't throw as good, but for most of the game, I had us in a position to win and let it slip by."
Pittsburgh lefty starter Zach Duke got the win and upped his record to 7-8. He tossed six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits.
Colorado nicked Duke for a run in the second inning. First baseman Shealy paid immediate dividends after being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Monday. In his first action of the season, he led off with a double to right-center field and scored on a two-out single by Freeman.
Jennings did not allow a Pittsburgh hit until the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Jack Wilson tripled. He later scored on a two-out RBI single by Sean Casey, tying the game at 1. Veteran Joe Randa then smacked a two-run double to left-center field, giving the Pirates a 3-1 lead.
Shealy struck again in the sixth inning. With one out after a walk to Atkins, Shealy stroked a run-scoring double to center field. He scored on a two-out RBI double by Yorvit Torrealba. Duke surrendered his third RBI double of the inning to Luis Gonzalez, putting the Rockies on top, 4-3.
Pittsburgh rallied with two outs in the bottom of the sixth and tied the score at 4 on a bloop RBI single by Randa. Ronny Paulino then delivered a two-run double, putting Pittsburgh on top, 6-4.
Gonzalez notched his 15th save for Pittsburgh.
The loss was a tough one to swallow for the Rockies.
"It's definitely a frustrating loss," Carroll explained. "If I scored, it could have been a totally different ballgame."

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Athletic trainers hands-on in Colorado

2006-07-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

07/20/2006
DENVER -- Before many games, Rockies head trainer Keith Dugger puts down his athletic tape and first-aid kit and picks up a baseball glove.
In a somewhat different ritual, one he believes brings him closer to the players, Dugger participates in baseball activities, activities he considers part of the job.
For example, catcher Yorvit Torrealba needs to play long toss -- a game of catch from 90 or more feet -- before games to loosen a right shoulder that suffered a strain during Spring Training and caused him to miss the season's first two months. Dugger, 40, a former junior college infielder, is Torrealba's throwing partner. The games of catch free a teammate or a coach for other duties, and give Dugger a different point of observation.
"It helps to at least be able to play catch, or at least know what the guys are talking about," said Dugger, who also pitches to rehabbing hitters in the batting cage. "I can say I've never experienced playing 162 games a year, but I do know the difference between pain and soreness from just doing the daily throwing routine with these guys. And in a sense, you gain a little respect from showing that you're coordinated."
It's part of the Rockies' creative use of staff members. Strength and conditioning coach Brad Andress, a former Penn State football player, is valuable as a batting practice pitcher, because none of the coaches with a baseball background throw left-handed. Video coordinator Mike Hamilton hits ground balls to infielders.
Dugger's assistant, Scott Gehret, also picks up a glove -- a catcher's mitt for a left-handed thrower. It's something that the former head trainer, Tom Probst, did during his six seasons in the job before becoming the club's medical operations director.
"Pretty much all of us realized we weren't the best baseball players, but we loved being around the sport," Dugger said.
Getting on the field is not the only way for trainers to gain the respect of players that spend as much or more time around the ballpark as they do with families.
"I don't spend any time on the field besides for the game, [but] I think you have to have the players' trust and respect," Pirates head athletic trainer Brad Henderson said. "There are times when guys take us out to dinner, kind of a thank you. Some of the more veteran guys over the years have enjoyed good wines and good dinners like I do, so they may take you out to dinner and that forms a relationship."
The Rockies staff has company in its more active approach to gaining insights on a player's health. For example, Giants trainer Stan Conte throwing the ball around or a member of his staff running through agility drills with a rehabbing player is a common sight.
Baseball skill is not a job requirement, but the Rockies encourage trainers to be jack-of-all-trades from the lowest levels. Dugger served as a batting practice pitcher and bullpen catcher in the Rockies' system before joining the big-league club in 1998.
"You don't have to, but we encourage all our Minor League guys to at least grab a glove during Spring Training to play catch with the guys that are going through rehab," Dugger said. "When it gets to the point -- especially pitchers -- when they're throwing bullpens and throwing too hard for us, we'll move them on over to a coach or another player.
"We don't want to get hurt."
It's OK for trainers to throw and catch like players, as long as they don't get hurt like them.

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Notes: Sunny days for Cook

2006-03-05T08:05:00.000-08:00

02/17/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- In no way is this meant to make those dealing with snow and single-digit temperature in Denver jealous or anything. But Friday was cool enough that Colorado Rockies pitcher Aaron Cook needed to wear a sweatshirt while throwing and executing fielding drills at Hi Corbett Field.
Whatever the weather is in the desert, the point is Cook can finally enjoy it.
After his strong comeback from thoracic outlet surgery last season, Cook reported to Spring Training with the rest of the Colorado pitchers and catchers Friday with confidence, health and the reward of a new, two-year, $4.55 million contract. That hasn't been the case the last three years.
• In 2003, injuries to other pitchers forced the Rockies to keep Cook in their starting rotation even though they were convinced he wasn't ready. That proved true, as Cook pitched himself in and out of the rotation and in and out of Triple-A Colorado Springs en route to a 4-6 record with a 6.02 ERA.
• In 2004, Cook pitched well in Spring Training but it didn't matter, since the Rockies vowed to send him back to Colorado Springs to complete his development. When he earned his promotion, he proved he belonged before blood clots in both lungs struck him down in August.
• Last spring was the one that never seemed to end for Cook, whose rehab from a pair of surgeries to correct the clotting problem required him to stay in Tucson until June. Then it was a climb through the Minor League system on rehab assignments.
Finally, Cook can enjoy Tucson, even if it's cool and windy -- which, sorry, Denver, is the forecast for Saturday afternoon's initial workout for pitchers and catchers.
"I think any player will tell you once they've got a little security, it takes a little extra weight off their shoulders, and I think that's when guys start to perform better," Cook said. "You get your first guaranteed deal and you're not worried about what's going to happen day to day, not worried about getting sent down. You play baseball like it's a game and not like it's a job.
"I know I've still got to bust my butt as much as ever, but I can concentrate on getting ready for the season."
Cook battles fellow right-hander Jason Jennings for the No. 1 spot in the rotation. After going 7-2 with a 3.67 ERA in his 13 starts last season and demonstrating durability with two complete games and 10 "quality starts" -- six or more innings, three or fewer earned runs -- Cook will be depended upon to help reduce the workload of the bullpen.
"We've got so much territory in front of us that we don't want to get in front of ourselves, but he's healthy, he's in a good position mentally and physically -- the best position he's been in in a long time," manager Clint Hurdle said.
School days: In the corner of Hurdle's office was a stack of sweatshirts, T-shirts and baseball caps from universities in the Rocky Mountain region. He'll wear those during television interviews at Spring Training.
Hurdle has been a presence at the University of Wyoming, but he said he wants to "spread the love" to other programs.
Gang's (almost) all here: An informal workout for pitchers and catchers broke out Friday because nearly everyone was in camp. Hurdle said the club had made contact with players who had not arrived as of Friday, such as newly acquired catcher Yorvit Torrealba and pitcher Jose Mesa.
On the board: Jennings and Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Kip Wells each donated $50,000 to Baylor University, their alma mater, on a scoreboard project at the field where they played in college.
The current team thanked Jennings and other former Bears in the pros by beating them, 13-1, in an alumni game earlier this month. Jennings, who earned consensus collegiate Player of the Year honors at Baylor in 1999, started the game and didn't have much help.
"Two errors and two passed balls in the first innings," he said with a laugh. "Baylor guys were out there to play hard and win the game. We were still trying to get in shape."

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Rockies ready for serious spring work

2006-03-05T08:04:00.000-08:00

02/17/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Colorado pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training on Friday morning, in preparation for Saturday afternoon's initial workout. Pitching coach Bob Apodaca is expecting his starters to be ready to work -- hard for now, and long when the season starts.
The starters will pitch every four days during the early portion of the Spring Training schedule instead of the usual once every five days. It's because the Rockies want to achieve a durability that's common elsewhere but unprecedented with this franchise, which operates in a demanding atmosphere.
In the 13-year history of the Rockies, just eight times has a pitcher surpassed 200 innings in a season. As a comparison, last season saw the world champion Chicago White Sox feature four that surpassed the 200 mark. Apocaca thinks something similar is doable in Colorado. Right-handers Aaron Cook and Jason Jennings, who are competing for the Opening Day start, and lefty Jeff Francis, who led the team with 183 2/3 innings last season as a rookie, have demonstrated durability traits.
Just three times have the Rockies had two pitchers surpass 200.
"I'd like to see at least three guys go 200 innings," said Apodaca, heading into his fourth year as the Rockies' pitching coach. "I think 'Cookie' can do it because he's a guy who likes to finish what he starts, and he gets ground balls with runners on base. That helps him get deep in games. Jeff Francis threw almost 190 last year.
"I know it would be a very, very bold statement to have five guys over 200 innings, but that should be a goal for us."
Four jobs are set, with Cook, Jennings, Francis and right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim. The fifth job is a competition among Sunny Kim, Zach Day, Josh Fogg and, possibly, non-roster right-hander Keiichi Yabu. Those who don't make the rotation could be up for bullpen jobs. Speaking of the bullpen, the Rockies will go with a seven-man bullpen again, with jobs expected to go to lefty closer Brian Fuentes, veteran lefty Ray King and righties Mike DeJean and Jose Mesa.
There could be plenty of opportunity to see the competitors for the final starting spot in camp. Francis will pitch for Canada in the World Baseball Classic, and the two Kims will pitch for Korea. That means plenty of innings for those who stay in camp.
The four-day schedule will most likely start with an intrasquad game on Feb. 27 (there will be another intrasquad game on March 3, a scheduled off-day). Apodaca will be flexible about the schedule, since many pitchers go through a dead-arm period during Spring Training.
The new schedule also is designed to get the staff off to a better start. None of the pitchers have been dominant in the season's first month. Jennings (6-11, 6.32 ERA) has been bad in April. He went 1-3 with a 4.55 ERA last April, struggled in May but had rebounded and was 6-9 with a 5.02 ERA in 20 starts before suffering a fractured finger on July 20 to end his season.
"Back when we went to the four-man rotation (in 2004), I said the more you do something, the better you get at it, whether you're pitching, swinging a golf club, whatever," Jennings said. "Maybe we can get stronger and get off to a better start."
Given the history of the franchise, 200 innings seems an accomplishment. But 2006 is about increasing standards. The Rockies believe better starting pitching can be a key to ending a streak of five losing seasons and becoming a factor in a National League West that has no clear favorite.
Francis, who led the team in wins last year while going 14-12 with a 5.68 ERA, isn't accepting 200 as the gold standard.
Francis reached 183 2/3 innings last year even though he went into the seventh inning just three times. A No. 1 draft pick in 2002, Francis comes with higher expectations.
"That's just a little more than a third of an inning more per start," Francis said. "My goal is to be more consistent, and I know I'm capable of that. There were a lot of games when I either had a lead or I fell behind early. I want to be the type of pitcher that can pitch for a long time and keep his team in a tight game."

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Fuentes seeking a repeat performance

2006-03-05T08:03:00.000-08:00

02/18/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Rockies history is full of relief pitchers who have had big seasons. But those who have had 70 or more appearances in one season and done well the following year compose a small category that left-handed closer Brian Fuentes hopes to enter this year.
By earning 31 saves last season, Fuentes became the most decorated reliever in Rockies history. He became the first Colorado reliever to appear in the All-Star Game and has been chosen to Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. But the Rockies' hopes for 2006 are dependent on him beating the odds and doing it again.
Fuentes himself has experienced the difficulty of carrying a heavy workload two straight seasons. In 2003, he posted a 2.75 ERA and struck out 82 in 75 1/3 innings of mostly setup work. But in 2004, he missed 62 games with a strained back and made just 47 appearances. Even though his strikeout rate was high (48 in 44 2/3 innings), he saw his ERA balloon to 5.64.
Whether he can repeat his 2005 performance -- a key to Colorado improving on a 67-95 finish -- is a question even he will answer only on the mound.
"I don't really know that I can, I just know that I've prepared myself and I'm not surprised when I do something like that," Fuentes said after Saturday's initial workout for pitchers and catchers at Hi Corbett Field. "I prepare myself in the offseason and during the season to go out for multiple innings, whether it's at Coors Field or someplace else."
The amount of fair ground, how batted balls sometimes can carry, and a mile-high atmosphere that's hard on the muscles are reasons for the difficulty. In recent years, pitchers such as Dave Veres, Todd Jones, Gabe White and Javier Lopez have experienced a good year of 70-plus appearances followed by a moderate to colossal downfall. In the cases of Veres, Jones and White, they were able to find themselves only after leaving Coors Field and sometimes even that took years.
It's especially true in the closer role, where just once has a pitcher earned more than 20 saves in consecutive seasons. That pitcher, Jose Jimenez, went from a club-record 41 saves to 20 the following season, during which he experienced vicious fan booing and lost his job.
But success can be sustained. Steve Reed pitched for Colorado from 1994-97 and 2003-04, throwing anywhere from 61 to 67 games each season, yet only twice finishing with an ERA above 4.00. In the days before the club began storing baseballs in an atmospherically controlled chamber to keep them at manufacturers' specifications (the climate would cause them to shrink and become slick), below 5.00 was considered outstanding.
In the 1990s, Darren Holmes, Curtis Leskanic, Jerry Dipoto and Mike DeJean -- who returned to the Rockies last season and is part of the 2006 staff -- also were credible pitchers despite heavy workloads.
Manager Clint Hurdle said he has found that if a pitcher exceeds 70 appearances, he needs to be watched closely the following year. So even though Fuentes is the key to the bullpen, Hurdle said the Rockies protected themselves by retaining DeJean, signing right-hander Jose Mesa and trading with St. Louis for left-hander Ray King.
Hurdle has operated under a policy of not asking a pitcher to throw more than three straight days. Now he can even avoid using Fuentes a third straight day if necessary.
"We've got a number of guys to go to late, where we basically pretty much had one to look at, and one eighth-inning guy to get to the ninth-inning guy," he said. "We've got some flexibility there that we've never had before."
DeJean, whose success in a Rockies uniform could partly be due to the fact that he throws often but has never reached the red flag number of 70, said the syndrome is as much mental as it is physical.
"'Reeder' [Reed] was the one that kind of ingrained in everybody, young guys, to take the ball every chance you get and go out there with the same frame of mind, no matter if your arm feels really good or feels really bad," he said. "If you keep that aggressive attitude, more times than not you're going to come out on top. I think that's probably been why I've been pretty decent at Coors Field."
Fuentes, 31, said he is addressing the physical and the mental. The WBC should get him ready for the season quicker, and daily back-strengthening exercises have made the pain of 2004 a non-issue.
Also, he doesn't stress over the occasional bad performance. He said he'll study film of his mechanics just once or twice in a season so he won't overthink. The relaxed attitude helped him keep a 2.91 ERA in 2005 despite high traffic on the bases (55 hits, 34 walks, 10 hit batsmen).
"I just have the confidence of letting things roll off my back," he said. "I usually don't worry about things until absolutely necessary. In that many appearances, things are going to happen. In that many appearances, having a calm, cool, collected attitude seems to be the best remedy."

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Notes: Marrero hoping to catch on

2006-03-05T08:02:00.000-08:00

02/18/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- For Eli Marrero to step forward in his career, he began to step back into his past Saturday, the first day for pitchers and catchers in the Colorado Rockies' camp.
Marrero, 32, began his career in the late 1990s as a catching prospect with St. Louis. He grew into a utility infielder and outfielder and hasn't caught since suffering a right ankle injury in 2003. However, he broke out the mask Saturday at Hi Corbett Field.
In camp under a Minor League contract, Marrero is here now in case his ability to catch -- which would give manager Clint Hurdle an offensive third option at a position now manned by glove men Yorvit Torrealba and Danny Ardoin -- helps put him on the club.
He knows that his versatility is his shot to make the big club, and even that would be tough. Part of the reason for Colorado's 67-95 record last year was the emphasis on youth, and Marrero will find himself in competition with many of those homegrown prospects for backup jobs.
"I've got to come here early and get some work," Marrero said. "If they ask me to do it during the season, obviously I'd do it, but it would be a lot harder."
Marrero survived a bout with thyroid cancer in 1998 to earn the Cardinals' Rookie of the Year award at the end of that season, but he never established himself as the club's backstop. As a utility man in 2002, he played a career-high 131 games and batted .262 with 18 home runs and 66 RBIs. He played in 44 games behind the plate, but had 46 in right field, 39 in left and 36 in center. The ankle injury, which occurred on a wet Wrigley Field in a game that was called shortly after the incident, limited him to 41 games in 2003.
In 2004, Marrero joined the Atlanta Braves and hit a career-best .320 in 90 games, with defensive appearances in the outfield. Last season, however, Marrero struggled with Kansas City and Baltimore, batting a combined .181 against unfamiliar American League pitching.
Catching is only part of Marrero's assignment, which is a tough one. Pinch-hit standout Jorge Piedra is ticketed for one of the two backup spots. Power-hitting infield prospects Jeff Baker and Ryan Shealy are hoping to play the corners well enough to deserve a job, and prospects Choo Freeman, Jeff Salazar and Ryan Spilborghs come with the demonstrated ability to play center.
Another complication is Freeman, the 36th overall pick in 1998, is out of Minor League options and would have to be waived if he doesn't make the team.
"[Marrero] needs to show us he can capture pretty quickly his catching skills, and the ability to play all three outfield positions is something we're going to take a good, long look at," manager Clint Hurdle said.
The expansive center territory at Coors Field is the big question.
"I love playing center field," Marrero said. "I'm not a center fielder, but I can do it.
"I don't really look ahead. Today I'm working on catching and I'm doing that 100 percent. You really have no control. You can have a great spring and somebody up there might say, 'You know what? I don't like it.' So I'll give 100 percent and whatever happens, happens."
Travel difficulty: Right-hander Jose Mesa did not make it in time for Saturday's first workout. He flew from the Dominican Republic to Miami and was supposed to continue to Dallas, but that airport experienced weather-related cancellations. He might arrive at the end of Sunday's workout and throw a bullpen session.
General manager Dan O'Dowd, who was part of the front office in Cleveland when Mesa was breaking in with the Indians, found humor in the situation.
"I gave him a lot of grief," O'Dowd said. "He said he had never gotten to camp late in his career and I said, 'Great, you saved it for us.'"
Hurdle also got a laugh.
"He's a guy that's big on conditioning, and he thought that in order to take it to the next level, he'd just run to Spring Training from the Dominican," he said. "He'll be all right."
Also, non-roster right-hander Nate Field missed the first workout to be in Denver with his wife, Jamie, for the birth of their son, Jacob Patrick, on Thursday.
Catching some relief: The presence of Torrealba and Ardoin, as well as non-roster candidates Miguel Ojeda (182 games over three seasons) and Marrero, means the Rockies can spend some time training less-experienced catchers.
JD Closser, who had a harrowing rookie season (.219 batting average, seven of 53 basestealers thrown out), and prospect Chris Iannetta will receive attention.
"It frees us up to get Chris Iannetta a good feel for what the Major Leagues is about," said bench coach Jamie Quirk, who works with the Colorado catchers. "We want him to get a good feel for us, and it gives us a chance to get JD Closser back mentally and physically and he feels good about himself."

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Notes: Acevedo could pitch in Classic

2006-03-05T08:01:00.000-08:00

02/19/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Right-hander Jose Acevedo has enough confidence in his ability that he accepted being taken off the Rockies' Major League roster this winter, making it logistically harder for him to make the squad this spring.
That same confidence, combined with a love for his home country, could soon take Acevedo away from camp. On the strength of his strong playoff performance this winter in the Dominican Republic, the country could add him as early as Monday to its starting staff for the World Baseball Classic. Pool D play is March 7-10 in Orlando, Fla. Injuries to Bartolo Colon and Pedro Martinez mean the Dominicans could need his services.
Acevedo, 27, represented the Dominicans in the 2003 Caribbean World Series. An outing during which he threw seven innings of one-hit ball and fanned 13 helped the Dominicans stave off elimination against Puerto Rico. The Dominicans won the title and provided Acevedo with a thrill that he'd like to repeat. He also believes that leaving the Rockies for the tournament won't hurt him if he gets innings and pitches well.
"[Colorado general manager] Dan O'Dowd told me he doesn't want me to go over there and not get to pitch," Acevedo said. "He didn't want me to go and just hang around. If I go, I'm going to be a starter. That's a good point."
The Rockies acquired Acevedo from Cincinnati last April. He had moments when it appeared he'd be part of Colorado's pitching future as a long reliever and spot starter, but an inability to correct mechanical flaws that reared during games led to a 2-4 finish with a 6.47 ERA. The Rockies did not tender Acevedo a contract offer, so he didn't stay on the winter roster, but Acevedo agreed to return. His Major League rate is based on a $550,000 salary for the season, with incentives based on games pitched.
Going 1-0 and holding opponents to one earned run in 13 2/3 innings for Aguilas this winter helped Acevedo prepare. He said he understands not having a roster spot because of his up-and-down 2005, but there's something else that drives him. Last spring, Cincinnati questioned his physical conditioning because of his weight. He took it as a slam against his work ethic.
"You can see right now, I have the same weight and I'll prove myself, you'll see it," said Acevedo, who is 225 pounds and expects to lose 10 before Opening Day. "Everybody called me the day I was traded because they know how hard I work.
"I feel comfortable, feel strong. I like the way I look."
Answer coming quickly: Manager Clint Hurdle said he'll announce an Opening Day starter quickly, most likely before Spring Training games begin March 1. Barring injury, right-handers Aaron Cook and Jason Jennings will compete for the start April 3 at home against Arizona.
"That's something we're probably going to decide on sooner than later," manager Clint Hurdle said. "I don't want them to think that they're going to pitch their way into the spot and that's all going to be what Spring Training is about. Either one of them is going to be a very solid choice for us."
The last time an Opening Day starter was named before camp was 2003, when Jennings got the call on the strength of his National League Rookie of the Year effort the previous year. In 2004, the decision was delayed until non-roster candidate Shawn Estes, a veteran, earned the job. Last season, amid some hard feelings from Jennings, left-hander Joe Kennedy was named during camp.
Same emphasis, better tools: Last spring, improving the pitchers' ability to hold runners was a spoken goal. A lot of that had to do with the catching, with rookie JD Closser and oft-injured Todd Greene expected to share the job.
But Closser and Greene would throw out just eight of the 87 runners that attempted to steal. How often the pitchers were at fault is conjecture, but the fact was that Danny Ardoin threw out 18 of the 41 that tried to run on him after he was promoted from Triple-A Colorado Springs.
The first couple of days of camp, pitchers worked on pickoff moves and holding runners just as much as they did last year, but having Ardoin and newcomer Yorvit Torrealba makes it less an issue.
"It remains an issue because that's what good pitchers do," Hurdle said. "You won't be the total package on the mound unless you're able to hold runners, throw over when you need to, throw quick when you need to, give your catcher a chance to throw out a runner. We just have more depth behind the plate than we've ever had."
Still waiting: Right-hander Jose Mesa had not arrived in time for Sunday's workout. Righty Nate Field worked out Sunday. He missed Saturday for the birth of his son. Righty Miguel Asencio, who also missed Saturday, arrived in Tucson on Sunday but not in time to work out.

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Notes: Mesa makes grand entrance

2006-03-05T08:00:00.001-08:00

02/20/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Jose Mesa arrived at the Colorado Rockies' clubhouse at Hi Corbett Field on Monday morning expecting a ribbing. To help him take it in stride, manager Clint Hurdle, who no doubt helped engineer some of the grief Mesa got for reporting to camp two days late, walked him to his locker.
Easily visible from his cubicle was a computer-generated sign bearing his picture and asking for a $1.50 reward.
"I didn't really know that I was on 'America's Most Wanted,' but I found out now," joked Mesa, whose on-time arrival was blocked by weather problems in Dallas that caused flight cancellations. "But just $1.50?"
Hurdle could laugh off not having Mesa in camp for a couple of days. He watched Mesa throw briefly on Monday and relaxed.
"Mesa's shape is not an issue, never has been," Hurdle said.
Mesa's presence as a right-handed setup man is a key cog in the health off the bullpen. The Rockies have always liked bringing in veteran relievers, and Mesa's experience as a closer (319 career saves, 12th all-time) gives Hurdle an option should lefty closer Brian Fuentes need a rest.
Mesa's first pro season was 1982. Five players in camp weren't born until 1983 or later, and four others were born that same year. But Mesa spent two seasons with young teammates in Pittsburgh before the Rockies signed him in December, and is comfortable around youth.
"I don't know if I'm going to keep pitching until Julio Franco retires, but it depends," said Mesa, who turns 40 on May 22. "My arm is in good shape. I still throw hard. I still get guys out. As long as I keep getting the guys out and doing the job, I'm going to keep playing.
"[The Rockies are] young, but I guess you're never too young to win."
Early poll: Colorado third base prospect Ian Stewart is ranked 16th on the Baseball Prospectus Top 50 Prospects Report. He is the only Rockies prospect listed.
Spoiling plans? Most of the position players worked out on Monday, even though they aren't required to be in town until Wednesday and Colorado doesn't have a full-squad workout until Friday.
Of course, if all goes according to the club's plan, shortstop Omar Quintanilla will simply be getting some work against Major Leaguers before going to Triple-A Colorado Springs to begin his regular season.
One reason the Rockies acquired Jamey Carroll from Washington for cash is to allow Quintanilla some time to complete his offensive development. He came over last season from Oakland, where he was a Double-A player, spent 13 games at Colorado Springs, then was called up. He hit .219 in 39 games.
"I'm here to prove myself," said Quintanilla, 24. "Of course, what I want to do is make the big-league team. That's the dream I have.
"I came up here and I saw what it takes to be up here. I saw a lot of film in the offseason of what I was doing. I've just got to be more patient and wait for my pitch. That's what I'm going to try to do this spring."
Ready for the world: Hurdle chooses to look at the big picture when it comes to the World Baseball Classic. He'll miss three potential starting pitchers -- Jeff Francis (Canada), Byung-Hyun Kim and Sunny Kim (Korea); closer Brian Fuentes (USA) and left fielder Matt Holliday (USA); and reliever David Cortes (Mexico) among players with a good chance to break with the big club, and could lose relief pitching candidate Jose Acevedo (Dominican Republic). Acevedo had not heard for sure on Monday whether he was invited.
"Everybody has their own feelings and own opinions, and I've been asked," Hurdle said. "I'm for it. I think we're trying to do it for all the right reasons. We're going to work through some of the kinks initially in the inaugural season. Hopefully, in the big picture, this will pay big dividends for everybody and there won't be any injuries.
"The game of baseball is a wonderful vehicle to utilize for a lot of different things besides playing the game of baseball."
Best wishes for Barry: San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds has been talking retirement because of health issues. Hurdle said he'd like for Bonds to finish his career demonstrating his greatness, rather than battling pain.
But, after avoiding pitching to Bonds the past couple of years, Hurdle made it clear that he doesn't want to give him many opportunities for highlight moments.
"I'm not sure how much we're going to let him swing the bat," Hurdle said. "He can be somebody else's laboratory experiment. I've had my time with it. ... I'm working on the premise that he can still hit."

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Mailbag: Full Nelson in store?

2006-03-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

02/20/2006
What's your outlook on former first-round pick Chris Nelson, a shortstop taken ninth overall in 2004? He dropped significantly on Baseball America's prospect list. Are injuries the only reason for this? -- Eli R., Boulder, Colo.
Nelson went from No. 2 on the Rockies' list last season to No. 10 this year, coinciding with a drop in performance. He hit .347 with a .432 on-base percentage in 38 games at Rookie-level Casper in 2004 after celebrating his high school graduation, but dropped to .241 in an injury-filled 79 games at Class A Asheville in 2005.
In a nutshell, the drop has a lot to do with the fact that he turned 20 last season. In his first year out of high school, Nelson felt he needed to build muscle for his first full pro season. But his program did not work for him, and the result was a year interrupted by groin and hamstring problems.
"The day-in and day-out process was much different than the strength he acquired in the offseason," Rockies player development director Marc Gustafson said. "I think he's figured out his body a little bit in terms of the strength he needs. I think all players go through that."
Nelson worked out at Coors Field this winter with Rockies strength and conditioning coach Brad Andress along with a few of the club's youngest prospects -- outfielders Dexter Fowler and Bret Berglund, and infielder Eric Young Jr.
On the field, Nelson's plate discipline fell into question, but Gustafson said things "clicked for him" during the postseason instructional program in Arizona. Nelson will be in Minor League camp.
I'm glad the Rockies acquired utility infielder Jamey Carroll from Washington. I like him because of his defensive versatility and because his career on-base percentage is pretty high (and the top of the order needs all the help it can get in the OBP department). What kind of playing time do you think he'll get? -- Robert Z., Northglenn, Colo.
I can envision Carroll getting considerable time, much of it at second base, possibly equaling or slightly surpassing last year's career high of 72 starts.
The Rockies still want starting second baseman Luis Gonzalez to play other positions, and he'll move to third when Garrett Atkins needs a break. Also, the Rockies will need to rest Gonzalez. And Carroll's ability to play shortstop will get him some starts when Clint Barmes needs a break.
Carroll's long-term prospects will be dependent upon what he can add offensively. He fits best second (.265, .340 OBP in 129 career games) or eighth (.323, .385 in 50 games) and gives manager Clint Hurdle a right-handed pinch-hit option (.346 in 52 pinch-hit at-bats).
Do you see Jose Acevedo ever making a big impact with the Rockies or any other team? I remember him two years ago with Cincinnati, and he seemed to have real promise. -- Rob S., Hillsdale, Mich.
The fact that someone competing for a rotation spot will fall into the bullpen only further complicates Acevedo's chances of breaking camp with the Rockies, but you can pretty much guarantee that the club will need Major League-caliber hurlers at Triple-A Colorado Springs.
If Acevedo can achieve consistency, he'll have a productive career because of his ability to start or handle any bullpen job.

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Kim, Rox seeking balance to tap talent

2006-03-05T07:59:00.000-08:00

02/20/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Colorado right-handed pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim felt he was back on the right path, even if the destination is perfection and impossible to achieve.
An old workout has him close to regaining the "balance" that eluded him the last two seasons. He is comfortable with a young Colorado squad that also employs fellow Korean pitcher Sunny Kim. Starting has given him the certainty that he lacked at the start of last season, when he faltered in a middle-relief role. Yet, his journey is about to take a detour.
Kim (and Sunny Kim) will pitch for Korea in the World Baseball Classic, which would require him to leave camp at Hi Corbett Field for Tokyo, where Pool A play takes place March 3-5.
"To go to Japan, it's a 14-hour flight there, then two weeks, then we have to come back here," Kim said. "It's hard to have jet lag. I've been here seven years. This year is the first time I've had that trip. I'm a little bit worried about that. I will do it because I'm honored for my country."
That statement is a small window into the inner and outer pressures and difficulties that Kim, 27, and the Rockies face as they work together to convert immense talent into lasting success.
On the plus side, Kim is special when he is clicking. As a closer earlier in his career, Kim helped Arizona to the 2001 World Series title and pulled Boston into the 2003 playoffs. Traded from the Red Sox to the Rockies in 2005, Kim posted a 4.50 Coors Field ERA, the third-best such figure in club history. That included some terrible relief appearances that nearly cost him his roster spot, before injuries forced him into the rotation.
However, the good seems to be counterbalanced by factors that have made him an outsider on previous teams. Those would be a physical and mental approach that is so delicate it frustrates those he works for and with, a suffocating sense of duty and an obsessive search for perfection.
Of course, it could be that Kim is like anyone else trying to reach his potential, only his methods and intentions sometimes get lost in the translation. If that is the case, this may mesh perfectly, with the Rockies giving Kim freedom to find himself in return for attempting to become less of an outsider.
"Last year, I think I liked this team," Kim said. "They gave me a chance. In Boston, I was really comfortable in Boston, but I didn't play good, so last year was a rebuild kind of thing."
Since arriving just before last season in a trade that allowed the Red Sox to exchange a huge salary commitment for Kim and allowed the Rockies to jettison their commitment to catcher Charles Johnson, the club-player relationship has had some twists.
Kim came with friend and interpreter Daniel Kim, although the Rockies encouraged him to wean himself off language services for fear it would create separation. When Kim was struggling out of the bullpen, manager Clint Hurdle asked Kim to go to the Minors, tantamount to releasing him because the pitcher would have refused. But Hurdle recanted minutes later because of an injury to Shawn Chacon. Kim would go from a struggling reliever (0-3, 7.66 ERA) to a serviceable starter (5-9, 4.37) who improved as the year progressed.
The Rockies were so concerned about Kim taking the next step to fitting in that they delayed re-signing him this winter until having a conference call with Kim, his representatives and key members of the coaching staff and front office. The Rockies are giving chemistry issues heavy weight in roster makeup.
Yet, in a no-brainer decision, the Rockies retained him on a one-year, $1.5 million contract with incentives worth another $1 million and a club option worth $2.5 million. The option can rise to $4 million if he throws 200 innings. So the Rockies understand what matters most -- Kim's talent.
Pitching coach Bob Apodaca said last season he is fascinated by Kim's creative balance exercises and his creative approach during bullpen sessions, how he'd stop and look skyward after each pitch to visualize the proper technique and action on the ball. But there comes a point Kim tires himself out with his tirelessness, Apodaca believes.
"I know that he is totally immersed in baseball, I don't know if you can say to a fault," Apodaca said. "It's so consuming, it just doesn't seem he has time to enjoy, and that's so much part of baseball, the enjoyment of the game -- the strive for perfection and realizing you're going to fall far short of it. I don't get the sense that he's enjoying that ride and trying to strive for perfection."
The Rockies claimed Sunny Kim off waivers from Washington last August. Sunny Kim has a greater grasp of English, which helped bring Byung-Hyun Kim into greater communication with the other Rockies. Sunny Kim also fully understood how difficult it is to have the intelligence to express deep thoughts on and off the field but only having command of the fraction of the language.
"With baseball or life, everything, we understood each other," Sunny Kim said, with Byung-Hyun Kim sitting at his side and playfully cupping his ear. "If I have a pitching problem, I'll tell 'B.K.' and he'll say, 'Do this.' If he has a problem, he'll tell me. It's so different."
Byung-Hyun Kim believes the biggest issue is the communication from brain to muscle. He experimented with a different workout after the 2003 season and made just seven appearances for Boston during an injury-plagued 2004 (2-1, 6.23 ERA).
This winter, he endured physical and mental conditioning under a strength and conditioning expert in Seoul, a woman known as "Dr. Sunny" (he said he didn't have the English spelling of her full name), who pushed his mind as well as his muscles.
"When I play good, my body was OK, I didn't think about that. But my body was totally different, so I have to do that. If I'm two or three years later, it's comfortable, I don't have to do that. Now it's beginning. This year, still, I'm trying to find the old B.K. It's not complete yet, but I try my best and I help the team."
The Rockies are hoping that the good ol' "B.K." doesn't get lost on the long WBC trip.

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Notes: Slimmer Shealy feeling confident

2006-03-05T07:58:00.000-08:00

02/21/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Much of the attention Colorado prospect Ryan Shealy received on Tuesday dealt with his looks. The drop of 15-17 pounds since the end of last season, which puts the 6-foot-5 Shealy at 235, is designed to allow him to play outfield as well as first base.
How Shealy plays is more important than how he looks, and he arrives with confidence thanks to his most recent performance. In Phoenix in November, Shealy batted .500 (10-for-20) while leading a group of prospects representing the U.S. to the championship of a qualifying tournament that kept the country alive for the 2008 Olympics.
"It was a blast," said Shealy, who batted .330 with two home runs in 36 Major League games and .329 with 28 homers at Triple-A Colorado Springs last year. "It was a great group of guys and a good experience. [In 2004], we didn't qualify. I was happy to be a part of it."
Shealy is trying to keep the presence of Todd Helton at first base from truncating his at-bats. Manager Clint Hurdle said Shealy would play primarily in right field at Coors if left-handed hitting Brad Hawpe is not in the lineup. Jeff Baker, another power-hitting infield prospect, also is following the Shealy plan.
At least he knows: Staying low-key this spring is right-hander Chin-hui Tsao, the story of last year's camp when he earned the closer job. Tsao experienced shoulder trouble late in last spring, began the year on the disabled list and, after some encouraging regular-season outings, was shelved for the year. He is not expected back until June.
On May 25, doctors repaired Tsao's superior labrum and cleaned out the fraying of the rotator cuff. He won't be ready for Major League action until at least June, but he has reason to rejoice.
Over the previous two years, Tsao had occasional flare-ups in the area. Members of the team's medical staff couldn't pinpoint the exact nature of the problem.
Now Tsao, 24, hopes he's a healthier pitcher through surgery. Tsao underwent elbow surgery in 2001.
"My elbow, my shoulder, everything is going to be brand new," Tsao said, laughing.
Tsao threw off a mound briefly before Spring Training and is hoping to do so again next week. He has also participated in fielding drills. Tsao said he just wants to make it back to the Majors this season, no matter what role is available.
"I hope to come back before my birthday, June 2 -- maybe on my birthday," he said.
Duty calls for him to stay: Right-hander Jose Acevedo said he had not heard as of Tuesday morning whether he was being picked up by the Dominican Republic for the World Baseball Classic, so he made the decision easy.
"I think I have a better chance staying here," said Acevedo, in camp under a Minor League contract. "I'm a little bit disappointed, a little bit sad. But this [tournament] is one time in four years. [Spring Training] is every year."
Acevedo had an opportunity last season to secure a role in Colorado's future as a spot starter and reliever, but struggled (2-4, 6.47 ERA). Acevedo is not included in the competition for the fifth starter spot, but he said he has prepared himself to be a starter.
Weight off the mind: Catcher JD Closser is a less-beefy 195 pounds, but extra weight wasn't all he left behind after struggling to a .219 batting average and some harrowing defensive problems last season as a rookie. The Rockies are planning to send him to Triple-A Colorado Springs to start this season.
The rough 2005 campaign dented Closser's confidence, but the ability to relax after the season helped him lose some of the mental weight.
"I think it was good to sit back and really evaluate what happened," said Closser, who said the new physical look was a matter of training and monitoring how much he ate. "I think that's what taking the whole month of October off did, just reflecting and spending time with my family and realizing that it's just a game and people have bad years. It's not like it's the first time that's happened to somebody."

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Torrealba excited for new role

2006-03-05T07:56:00.000-08:00

02/21/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The task for new Colorado catcher Yorvit Torrealba is familiar: be patient. This time, it will be a lot more fun being patient in the batter's box than on the bench.
Passed over the last two years by San Francisco and this winter by Seattle, Torrealba received his long-awaited big chance when the Rockies acquired him this winter from the Mariners for pitcher Marcos Carvajal. Torrealba, 27, is paired in Colorado with defensive specialist Danny Ardoin, but he is at the age and in the situation for a breakout -- if he doesn't try to do too much with the bat.
His defense helped get him to the Majors with the Giants in 2001 and kept him there to stay the following season, and his .260 batting average in 2002 seemed a sign that he could be special. But his attempt to make an impression in sporadic playing time over the next three seasons fostered bad offensive habits. Torrealba dipped to .227 in 2004 and was not much better last year, batting .234 in 76 games split between San Francisco and Seattle.
"I'm trying to be more patient at the plate -- it's been my biggest issue," said Torrealba, who has a .250 batting average and a .315 on-base percentage in 262 career games. "I don't strike out that much and I put the ball in play a lot, but sometimes the patience is what gets me in trouble. I start swinging at everything."
It's easy to understand how Torrealba tried to do so much with each opportunity. It wasn't as if he could be assured of earning another.
Veteran Benito Santiago was the catcher when Torrealba was first called up, but the Giants signed A.J. Pierzynski for 2004 and Mike Matheny before last season. The Giants sent Torrealba and pitcher Jesse Foppert to the Mariners last July 30 for outfielder Randy Winn, but Torrealba's chance to start all but vanished when the Mariners signed star Japanese catcher Kenji Johjima this past offseason.
Torrealba has thrown out 35.5 percent of would-be basestealers in his career, so there was a place for him somewhere. The Rockies avoided arbitration by signing him for $850,000, with the opportunity to bring that to $1 million with 115 starts at catcher and 425 plate appearances.
"We knew from what we saw that he was a good defensive catcher," Colorado bench coach Jamie Quirk said. "The evaluation of his offense is, you never know because he didn't get enough reps. He handled the staff very, very well and kept control of the game. He's been on our radar for a couple years."
At home in Venezuela this winter, however, Torrealba wondered if Colorado would switch signals, like his previous teams.
"It keeps happening to me," he said, smiling. "But because I was playing winter ball, I wasn't really looking in the paper. It was on my mind, a little bit, honestly. I'm just glad that they didn't."
Torrealba now can have his patience rewarded, instead of just being tested.

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Rox trio fighting for fifth starter spot

2006-03-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

02/22/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The back of the Colorado Rockies pitching rotation is in the front of manager Clint Hurdle's mind.
Right-handers Zach Day, Josh Fogg and Sunny Kim, all of whom have experienced varying degrees of Major League success, are the prime competitors. Righty prospect Mike Esposito will get a look, righty Jose Acevedo pines for a chance and the Rockies could stretch out Keiichi Yabu, who pitched exclusively in relief for Oakland last season but had a long career as a starter in Japan before then. The ones that don't prevail could land in the Rockies bullpen and easily end up getting chances to start down the road.
According to statistician John Dewan of ACTA Sports, 2005 fifth starters, which he defined as those remaining after the "four best" starters (determined by opponents' on-base plus slugging percentages) averaged a 14-21 record and 5.37 ERA. But on playoff teams, the numbers were 16-16 and 4.99, and playoff team's No. 5 starters went .500 in 2004. The trend suggests that teams don't need dominant No. 5s, but they can't have easy marks, either.
St. Louis' No. 5s led baseball at 17-10, 3.49 ERA, and other playoff teams among the top 10 in the survey were Atlanta (second), the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (ninth) and the World Series champion Chicago White Sox (10th). Only San Diego (12-21, 5.51 ERA), which won a weak division at barely above .500, had fifth starters worse than three games below .500.
"The fifth starter has probably been the Achilles starter for every ballclub in the Major Leagues for quite a while," Hurdle said.
Hurdle said he'd like to see the No. 4 and No. 5 starters pitch better than .500 with a high number of decisions, meaning they'd eat innings to save wear on the bullpen.
Here's a look at the top candidates:
• Day: Shortly after acquiring Day from Washington for outfielder Preston Wilson, Colorado dealt right-hander Shawn Chacon to the New York Yankees. On the night of the Chacon trade, general manager Dan O'Dowd noted that Day could replace Chacon in the club's future plans because he had similar talent but was at a payroll-friendly stage of his career.
Chacon helped the Yankees to the playoffs. Day, rehabbing a wrist injury at the time of the trade, went 0-1 with a 7.15 ERA in five games with Colorado before his season ended when he was hit in the right hand with a line drive on Sept. 17.
Day isn't pressuring himself.
"I just want to get the opportunity to go out there and throw innings and just prove that I can go out there and try to stay healthy," said Day, a combined 1-3 with a 6.85 ERA in 17 games, eight starts. "Sometimes you can't avoid that, obviously. I feel right now I'm in the right frame of mind as far as that goes. I've got last year behind me and I've been enjoying myself."
In 2004, Day went 5-10 but posted a comparatively strong 3.93 ERA in 19 starts with Washington. Other than just trying to stay away from line drives, Day hopes to make this a better year with a more detailed conditioning program. Ken Walter, a personal trainer from Cincinnati (where Day spends his offseasons), studied the baseball program at Athletes Performance Institute in Tempe, Ariz., came up with an offseason program for Day and will stay in contact throughout the season.
• Fogg: After offering Pittsburgh some encouragement by going 33-31 with a 4.70 ERA from 2002-04, Fogg faltered to 6-10 with a 5.05 ERA last season. Judged expendable because of other young starters, Fogg was not tendered an offer.
A former closer at the University of Florida, Fogg understood that the sooner he got over the disappointing season the better.
"When the season is over, I drive home," said Fogg, who lives in Tampa, Fla. "I drove from Pittsburgh, took about three days to get home. I take my time and just think about the season. But once I get out of the car, I know what I need to work on and it's something I do for the rest of the offseason, but I don't dwell on the negatives anymore."
Fogg, 29, has the right pitch mix for Coors Field, a sinker and a changeup. He also shakes off bad occurrences fairly well. He is a ground-ball pitcher, but his mistakes tend to fly -- he has given up 94 home runs in 697 1/3 career innings, yet has been competitive.
"My sinker and changeup are going to be two effective pitches for me to keep that guy off balance, try to get guys to miss-hit as many balls as I can," he said.
• Kim: Kim, 28, is scheduled to leave camp on Thursday, along with Rockies No. 4 starter Byung-Hyun Kim, and they will fly to Tokyo to represent Korea in the World Baseball Classic. Kim is proud for the chance, but hopes it doesn't cost him his chance to earn the rotation spot.
He may be out of sight, but he hopes his performance after being claimed off waivers from Washington last season isn't out of the Rockies' minds. Kim went 5-1 with a 4.22 ERA in 12 games, including 4-1, 4.60 ERA in eight starts.
"I keep telling them, just give me a chance," Kim said. "I know I can do it, but I know right now I'm going to the WBC so they'll not see me two or three weeks. So for me, minus. But I tell you one more time, I'm ready. I've found my confidence, if they give me a chance."
Kim struggled in Washington (1-2, 6.14 ERA in 12 games). He wound up in the doghouse of demanding manager Frank Robinson, but Kim said his problems were due to internal pressure that he couldn't quite explain. The young Colorado roster -- he and Fogg are the oldest possible rotation members -- and the presence of Byung-Hyun Kim calmed him, and he found proper mechanics at altitude.
"I wanted to remind my mechanics, that's why I just started earlier," said Kim, who began his throwing program in November instead of December or January as in the past. "Now I feel better."

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Notes: Efficient King ready for season

2006-03-05T07:54:00.000-08:00

02/22/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- New Colorado left-handed reliever Ray King pitches often -- an average of slightly over 80 appearances over the last five seasons -- but that's fine, as long as he doesn't pitch for long.
King learned about pitch efficiency early in his career. As he broke in with Milwaukee in 2000 and 2001 under current Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca, another member of the Brewers' staff made it a financial issue.
"Gary Matthews coached there and we used to have this game where if I pitched a full inning and I threw 15 pitches or less, he'd owe me $20," King said. "If I threw over 15, I'd owe him $20."
King, 32, said whenever he faces the Cubs, Matthews, now on that staff, still keeps a count. King can afford to pay up a little better now -- he'll earn $2.5 million this season, the second year of a two-year, $4.6 million deal -- but nonetheless he has learned that he pitches better when he holds onto his Andrew Jacksons.
Efficiency could make him a money pitcher for the Rockies, who plan to use him as a lefty setup man for lefty closer Brian Fuentes. Manager Clint Hurdle said he'll keep 70 appearances as a guideline, keeping in mind that the altitude and Coors Field tends to wear on pitchers.
In 2004, King held opposing hitters to a .197 batting average while appearing in 62 innings over 82 games for matchup-conscious St. Louis manager Tony La Russa. A secret to his success was he averaged 15.3 pitches per inning. But last season, King saw his per-inning average rise to 16.3 -- an indication of less consistency -- and batters tagged him for a .293 average.
King went through a rough 2005 -- during which his father died after a long illness -- but still managed to appear in 77 games and go 4-4 with a 3.38 ERA.
"I'm the type that never tries to use something for an excuse, especially for people that have been through it, if you're working a normal 9-to-5 job," he said. "If you lose your father or you go through a whole year knowing that he's going to be in God's hands soon, it's not really the person that's sick, it's the people that are around him, like my mom. I still went out to the ballpark every day and competed.
"A lot of the guys who came to the park every day and competed with nothing going on had a worse year than me."
Apodaca said he is seeing the fruits of what began in Milwaukee. King arrived with a 94-95 mph fastball but needed encouragement to throw a slider that has been good for him.
"He showed me his slider was his command pitch," Apodaca said. "I told him, 'You get behind in the count, throw it anyway.' He started throwing the breaking ball with the fastball."
However King mixes his pitches, he figures the fewer of them a batter sees, the better. Quick, quiet innings don't yield many highlights, but they do help win games.
"The less you're out three, the less you're seen," King said. "Don't get a lot of TV time, and stay away from SportsCenter."
Ready for anything: Luis Gonzalez arrives as the starting second baseman, but is prepared just in case the Rockies want to use him in a "super-utility" role -- where he would still get close to a full season's worth of starts, but at more than one position.
Gonzalez, who has hit .292 in each of his first two Major League seasons, played primarily third base in the Venezuelan Winter League, and is the first option if Garrett Atkins needs a rest. Gonzalez can play shortstop and the corner outfield positions, and the Rockies have veteran utilityman Jamey Carroll to play second when Gonzalez is out or at another spot.
"I'm going to be the second baseman and this is great for me, but I just want to play," Gonzalez said. "It's OK if they want me to play third base or the outfield. I just want to play a lot and get at-bats."
No waiting: All position players reported to Tucson by Wednesday, the club's reporting day. However, Hurdle said right-handed pitcher Nate Field has left camp because of a family matter.
Who's first? Hurdle said his leadoff hitter strategy will not be a mystery for long. Hurdle said he'll let the two candidates, shortstop Clint Barmes and center fielder Cory Sullivan, know his plans soon.
"Kind of like the Opening Day starter [the Rockies will decided between right-handed pitchers Aaron Cook and Jason Jennings], I really don't want them to feel that Spring Training, we're going to figure out from that who's going to lead off," Hurdle said. "I think we're going to move it around a little bit. There are going to be some matchups where it's going to be more advantageous to lead off Cory, and there are some where it's going to be more advantageous to lead off Barmes."

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/

Notes: Francis adding to arsenal

2006-03-05T07:53:00.000-08:00

02/23/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- A new year brings a new pitch, possibly two, for Colorado's second-year left-hander Jeff Francis.
On Thursday, Francis threw a "live" batting practice session -- meaning at full speed from behind a protective screen, with the batter swinging as if in a game -- as part of his preparation for his first start for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. It was as good a time as any for him to test a two-seam, sinking fastball that he developed over the winter and a variation of his regular four-seam fastball that he began using last September.
"I was getting the ball down better -- and if it helps me do that -- then definitely, I'll take it out there," Francis said. "I need to be able to harness that and do it when I want to."
Francis, 25, was Colorado's best wire-to-wire pitcher in 2005, when he went 14-12 with a 5.68 ERA and led the team in wins as a rookie, but he wants to improve.
The four-seam variation grew out of a problem last season. Francis wanted to get his fastball inside against right-handed batters, but sometimes it would drift back over the plate. Toward the end of the season, Francis' two Minor League pitching coaches, Bob McClure, now with the Kansas City Royals, and Bo McLaughlin joined Apodaca with the big club. The result was a suggestion that resulted with a straighter pitch that eliminated the drift into the hitter's zone.
The two-seamer could help get ground balls and quicker innings. Both fastballs were fine on Thursday, according to catcher Danny Ardoin, who batted against Francis.
"He worked on it, obviously, this offseason," Ardoin said. "Impressive. He looked good."
Finding consistency is more important to Francis than tinkering. A long phone conversation with Apodaca in January helped him crystallize his approach.
"The biggest things [we discussed] were the things we talked about in September that helped me through that slump I was going through in August," said Francis, who went 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA in his final three starts after a 2-5, 8.69 ERA skid over eight starts. "They're the same things I'm trying to take out here -- taking it slow, taking it easy, not trying to do too much with pitches. So far, that's helped me keep the ball down and hit the glove a little bit more."
Making their points, from afar: Right-handed pitcher David Cortes and catcher Miguel Ojeda will leave camp after the Rockies' March 2 game to join Team Mexico in Phoenix for the World Baseball Classic, trusting that they can continue to impress while away from camp.
It's especially sticky in Cortes' case. Cortes' 2005 performance (2-1, 4.50 ERA) earned consideration for this year's bullpen, but numerous veteran additions and the possibility of some starter types falling into bullpen roles has left his spot on the roster tenuous.
"It's important for me to be here in Spring Training because I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm not going to break my head thinking about it," Cortes said.
Cortes will trust that organization evaluators will keep up with his progress. He said he wants to help baseball's popularity in his country.
"For baseball, it's important for us to make headlines and important for people to know that there's something other than futbol -- soccer," he said.
The Rockies claimed Ojeda off waivers from Seattle after last season in an effort to build depth and improve the defense. But Colorado later traded with Seattle for Yorvit Torrealba, who they plan to use in tandem with Ardoin. Ojeda has not only dropped to third on the depth chart but was also taken off the Major League roster.
His presence gives the Rockies a Major League-caliber defensive catcher in case of injury. Also, Ojeda can play the outfield in a pinch.
"If they want to send me to Triple-A, I'll go, but I just want to do all I can to make the decision hard for them, that's it," he said.
Right-handers Byung-Hyun Kim, entrenched as the fourth starter, and Sunny Kim, battling for the fifth spot, will represent Korea and are scheduled to leave camp on Thursday. They will leave Los Angeles on Friday for Tokyo, where the Asian countries will participate in pool play.
On the Rox: Colorado will conduct its first full-squad workout on Friday, after manager Clint Hurdle addresses the club.
"I'm going to tell them, 'Look around, there's too much talent here to dream small,' " Hurdle said. "There are too many good players to dream small. Every year, we have gone in with an air of optimism and a lot of hope attached to it. I think this year, there's still hope -- but not as much -- and there's more substance to go with the hope."
The Rockies have reached an agreement on a Minor League contract with outfielder Ernie Young, who has played in the Majors with Oakland (1994-97), Kansas City (1998), Arizona (1999), Detroit (2003) and Cleveland (2004). The Rockies also have a Minor League deal with infielder Jesse Garcia, who has played with Baltimore (1999-2000), Atlanta (2001-04) and San Diego (2005). Neither was invited to big-league camp. ... Hurdle said non-roster right-hander Nate Field, who left camp to take care of a family issue, will be back in camp on Saturday. Hurdle did not discuss specifics out of respect for Field, but said things are "headed in the right direction."

Source: http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/