The Rockies have hopes for Jason Hirsh.

It’s just not right now.

They acquired him as part of the package from Houston for Jason Jennings hoping he would move quickly from the minor league pitcher of the year in 2006 to a stable part of their rotation.

It has not, however, worked that way.

Inconsistent two years ago, when his season was interrupted in June with a muscle pull and in August by a line drive that broke his leg, Hirsch spent last year nursing a bruised right rotator cuff. The comeback isn’t complete.

As a result, with Opening Day three weeks away, Hirsh became the first of the six candidates for the open spot in the rotation to be officially eliminated on Monday. He was among the players assigned to the Rockies minor-league camp.

“He needs to get out and get in a set routine and pitch innings,” said manager Clint Hurdle. “The work here was going to be spotty. We have to start stretching guys out.”

Translation: Hirsh was struggling. Scouts who watched him in the minor leagues with Houston say his fastball is a good five miles per hour less now. The command hasn’t been sharp. The results weren’t pretty.
In three games, four games, Hirsh had worked 10 1/3 innings, giving up 15 runs, 14 earned, on 22 hits, and eight walks. He had four strikeouts. He had a 12.19 ERA.

The Rockies don’t have enough time left to keep waiting for Hirsh to emerge as the pitcher they expected.

“Some honest self-evaluation will be critical for him,” said Hurdle.
Right now, the Rockies are focusing on evaluating the five other candidates for the job in the rotation behind Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Marquis and Jorge De La Rosa, who eased some growing concerns with three strong innings against the Dodgers on Sunday.

Lefty Franklin Morales has given them reason for optimism, showing the lively fastball that allowed him to be a part of their September surge two seasons ago. That was missing last year when Morales broke as the fifth starter but was quickly dispatched to the minor leagues.

Greg Smith remains a bit of a mystery because of his lack of time on the mound due to a battle with the flu. The left-hander who came as part of the package from Oakland for Matt Holliday does return on Wednesday in a minor-league game. Once his arm strength checks out, he will be back into scheduled games, the Rockies wanting a glimpse of a pitcher who knocked on the 200-inning door as a rookie with the A’s last year.

Greg Reynolds has show some progress, but most likely will soon join Hirsh at Triple-A Colorado Springs. He is throwing more strikes but not missing enough bats.

Matt Belisle had his injury problems early in the spring and has so far only worked three innings. He might be more suited for a bullpen role that is open in light of Taylor Buchholz most likely opening the season on the disabled list.

Josh Fogg remains the JIC (Just In Case), protection for something that could go wrong.

Trying to get a better look at each of those five made it difficult to project enough innings for Hirsh, who needs regular work to try and get back to the level of talent the scouts saw when he was in the minor leagues with Houston.

The Rockies weren’t looking for a miracle form Hirsh. They did, however, want to see a positive improvement. They are still waiting.

We expected incremental improvement (in velocity), but haven’t seen it,” said Hurdle. “You feel when he gets his mechanics in line he will get a better feel for his pitches.”

That will have to come with the Sky Sox, where “he will be given every opportunity to improve,” said Hurdle.