Let the excitement begin: Rockies set for Cactus League opener
By John Livingston | March 3, 2010
After much anticipation built after the great success a season ago, the time is finally upon us for Colorado Rockies spring training baseball.
The Rockies will play their first Cactus League game Thursday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. MDT against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Tucson Electric Park.
Getting the start on the mound for the Rockies will be the team’s likely fifth starter in the rotation, Jason Hammel.
“It’s kind of a cool little honor,” said Hammel about getting the start. “It fires up the 2010 season for us and hopefully starts us off on the right foot.”
Other notable Rockies expected to play include: projected catchers Chris Iannetta and Miguel Olivo; third baseman Ian Stewart, and outfielders Carlos Gonzalez, Seth Smith and Ryan Spilborghs. Also, utility players Eric Young Jr. and newly acquired Melvin Mora will make the trip. Both players are expected to play multiple positions in both the infield and outfield this year, making the Rockies one of the deepest teams in the National League when paired with the rest of the Rockies bench.
The Rockies also have some veterans expected to compete for roster spots on the big league club and the always improving farm system general manager Dan O’Dowd has put together has once again generated some young talent looking to make names for themselves this spring training.
“I really believe that anytime you go into a season and think you have a chance to be a successful club, you know you need more than 25 (guys) to do it with,” Rockies coach Jim Tracy said. “All these kids have to realize that they are Rockies.”
Many of those players will have a chance to play side by side with Rockies starters Thursday as many players will not make the trip for various reasons.
Among projected starters not making the trip are first baseman Todd Helton, second baseman Clint Barmes, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, center fielder Dexter Fowler and right fielder Brad Hawpe.
Following Thursday’s game with the D-Backs the Rockies will play split-squad games against the Los Angeles Angels in Tempe and the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale on Friday.
The team will not make its home spring training debut until Saturday when they take on the Milwaukee Brewers.
This, of course, will be the Rockies final year at Hi Corbett Field, their spring training home since 1993.
Next spring, the team will move to a new complex, along with the D-backs, on Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community land near Scottsdale.
ROCKIES NOTE: ROCKIES ALREADY FEELING INJURIES
Right fielder Brad Hawpe is on just his second day of baseball activity after recovering from an infection of an ingrown toenail on his left foot.
Set-up man Rafael Betancourt will wait to make play in his first contest after being sick just before camp He will need more time to prepare for game action.
Centerfielder Dexter Fowler has also missed the last two days with a stomach illness.
RHP Greg Reynolds has been scratched from his spring debut on Friday. He was hit just above the right elbow with a line drive during drills on Monday and has since been been diagnosed with a bone chip above his right elbow. He will reportedly require surgery.
Closer Huston Street’s shoulder inflammation does not appear to be too serious and it is something he called “normal,” for this time of spring training.
Here is the schedule for the Rockies this upcoming weekend with a list, provided by ColoradoRockies.com, of the projected pitchers to appear in each game:
Thursday at D-backs: Hammel, Jorge De La Rosa, Manuel Corpas, Randy Flores, Juan Rincon, Franklin Morales. Backups: Alberto Alburquerque, Shane Lindsay, Edgmer Escalona, Andrew Johnston.
Friday vs. Giants at Scottsdale: Jeff Francis, Chaz Roe, Esmil Rogers, Jimmy Gobble, Ryan Speier. Backups: Johnston, Alburquerque.
Friday vs. Angels at Tempe: Ubaldo Jimenez, Greg Smith, Matt Belisle, Matt Daley, Matt Reynolds. Backups: Andrew Graham, Craig Baker.
Saturday vs. Brewers at Hi Corbett: Tim Redding, Jhoulys Chacin, Alburquerque, Escalona, Lindsay, Baker, Johnston. Backups: Rincon, Graham.
Sunday vs. D-backs at Hi Corbett: Aaron Cook, Samuel Deduno, Christian Friedrich, Manuel Corpas, Randy Flores. Backups: Gobble, Escalona.
Sunday at D-backs: Roe, Morales, Juan Nicasio, Graham, Rincon. Backups: Speier, Matt Reynolds.
Thanks to MLB.com’s Thomas Harding for providing news and notes on the Rockies.
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