Concerned about his shoulder after playing catch Saturday, Colorado Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt wanted to be examined by medical director Dr. Tom Noonan. The news Betancourt got should ease hit mind.
Melvin Mora’s career took a while to get going, but once it did he settled into a decade-long run as a regular in the Baltimore Orioles lineup. Now, as he prepares for a backup role with the Colorado Rockies at age 38, he has plenty of wisdom to share with his new teammates.
Jason Hammel, Jeff Francis and Ubaldo Jimenez draw starting assignments for first three spring training games later this week.
The Colorado Rockies enter 2010 with a bullpen that, like the team’s starting rotation, could be the most stable in franchise history. The late-innings trio returns intact while the rest of the bullpen will be comprised of 2009 holdovers, veterans returning from injuries and a pack of young arms trying to find a way to stick in the major leagues.
Five starting pitchers accounted for 155 of the Colorado Rockies’ 162 starts in 2009, unheard of stability for a franchise whose pitching staff at times has been one of baseball’s most tired jokes. The Rockies likely will see one change in their starting rotation in 2010, and that to welcome back an old friend.
Some quick hits on the Rockies and the off-season.
Junking his sinker helped Hammel become more consistent and put him on a path to a spot in the postseason rotation
The Colorado Rockies offense woke up and the bullpen survived a nailbiter against the Philadelphia Phillies to take Game 2 and even the series as it moves to Denver.
Lee thows complete game and stymies Rockies on six hits, Jimenez stumbles in mid-game and Phillies cruise to victory in Game 1 of the NLDS
De La Rosa suffers groin injury and Rockies hopes to win division come crashing down in five-run seventh, sending them Philadelphia as the wild card to start the playoffs Wednesday
Rockies win second straight from Brewers, cut wild-card magic number to one as the Braves lose. They can clinch a trip to the playoffs Thursday by sweeping the Brewers and have crept within 2 1/2 games of the Dodgers, losers of four straight and six of eight to the Nationals, Pirates and Padres.
The Colorado Rockies failed to capitalize on a fast start provided by a Troy Tulowitzki three-run home run and fell to the San Diego Padres, who came from behind to again play spoiler.