Ubaldo Jimenez was expecting to get the Opening Day assignment for the Rockies, which he did Wednesday. The surprise came when Aaron Cook was in Jim Tracy’s office when the manager told Jimenez he would oppose the Brewers on April 5 in Milwaukee.
Hawpe to play Thursday, Giambi on Friday and Helton on Sunday
Rockies left fielder Seth Smith left after the fifth inning Thursday, his three at-bats resulting in a single, double, three-run homer and one playful question: Has anyone hit for the cycle on opening day of the Cactus League? “Hmm,” Smith said. “What a stat.”
Reliever Rafael Betancourt, who didn’t feel he was ready to pitch in a game Thursday as scheduled, threw batting practice Tuesday with good results while Brad Hawpe took swings in batting practice for the first time this spring.
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.
Since spring training began, Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy has stressed the importance of players paying attention to details in every drill. Friday, before the first full squad workout, he made that point again in his speech to the team.
Reliever Manuel Corpas threw his bullpen session as scheduled and said the right hamstring he tweaked in a fielding drill Saturday gave him “no problem.”
Multi-year contract signed over the winter and approach at the plate implemented late last year should help catcher worry and press less than in the past
Reliever Manuel Corpas will throw a bullpen session Monday as scheduled and take part in other drills but won’t do any running as his right hamstring, which he tweaked Saturday, heals.
More efficiency pitching from a stretch will enable Ubaldo Jimenez, who will draw the Opening Day assignment, to rise to No. 1 starter status.
Loss of 20 pounds expected to put less stress on Aaron Cook’s body and enable the right-hander to get better extension on his pitches and, hence, open up the strike zone.