Colorado Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood apparently has nothing more than what back in simpler times we called a “pulled muscle” in the upper part of his throwing arm, and will miss only tonight’s scheduled start, avoiding, for now, the Disabled List. Jeff Francis will return from his own turn on the DL to make the start, in a 5:15 pm MDT contest against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field in Denver. To make room for the left-hander, reports say late-spring acquisition Jon Garland will be designated for assignment, preempting any immediate need to disable Chatwood. In the meantime, reliever Rob Scahill, promoted May 29 with the Rockies returning to Denver for 14 of their next 17 games, presided over batting practice for the Padres in Friday’s 7th inning, casting doubts upon his Major League worthiness. Manuel Corpas is anchoring the long-end of the Colorado bullpen with closer Rafael Betancourt out and not expected to return until well beyond the June 16 expiration his his 15 day DL term. Eric Young Jr, whose limited functionality has been exposed in extended 2013 playing time, hangs on the roster by a thread as Big Money Michael Cuddyer nurses what many fear is a recurrence of the oblique strain that ended his 2012 campaign, and all the while we hear from Carlos Gonzalez that the knee he tweaked in his 6th inning at-bat Friday has been troubling him “to be honest… since spring training.” Clubhouse stability aside, the Rockies are 5-2 for the first week of June, and moved ahead of San Francisco into 2nd place in the National League West, 2-1/2 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Francis (2-3, 6.00) pitched well in his May 14 start against the Cubs, allowing one run in 6 innings on just 3 hits while striking out 7. Two days later he went down with with a left groin strain. Francis will face fellow lefty Eric Stults (4-5, 3.74). Stults pitched well Monday at Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles, but took the loss in a 2-1 defeat to the Dodgers. He allowed both runs in 7 innings, surrendering 6 hits, walking none, and striking-out 3.
Colorado fans will be delighted to discover Young back in Walt Weiss’ Saturday line-up, hitting 2nd behind Dexter Fowler. More inspiring, perhaps, Gonzalez returns as well, following Young in the 3-hole. Jordan Pacheco will spell Todd Helton against Stults, and Wilin Rosario will be behind the plate on the heels of a big night Thursday. Bud Black is running-out the same group as Friday, with the annoying Chris Denorfia leading-off, and Yasmani Grandal, who according to teammate Nick Hundley “had a few good months on steroids” in 2012, hitting 8th.
It’s a partly cloudy and windy day in Denver. Game time temperatures will be in the mid 70°s and the gusts will blow-in from left-center at 12-14 MPH. It’s a regional telecast on FOX Sports (channel 31 in Denver) tonight, providing viewers with respite from the Clown Show, which appeared to tone-down the Fan Friday nonsense in yesterday’s 10-9 victory. Mum’s the word on which of its crews FOX has covering the match-up. Jack and Jerry are over on radio KOA 850 am.
IN GAME CHAT
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I wonder if the Rox will ask Garland to accept an assignment to CS to keep him around for depth and security throughout the summer with the promise they’ll at least bring him back in the Sept call ups. Would he accept the offer to go to CS? Can’t imagine other teams are lining up for his services.
I think EYjr us living on borrowed time with this team.
A special thank you to all those legislators and network executives who have decided to ram the Cards-Reds game down my throat here in West Virginia and preventing me from watching the Rockies game with their stupid blackout restrictions
. Well guess what, Fox? I will find something else to watch and MLB will have one less viewer this evening. What a farce.
Blacked out here in on the left coast as well, Bob. Pure BS.
You didn’t miss much. Arenado made a highlight reel play. Otherwise it was nothing but wasted opportunities and home run swings resulting in fly ball outs by the Rockies.
…and walks by Rockies pitchers.
Mitch Williams my favorite MLB desk anchor is announcing the Rox game on fox.
Don’t like what I read about Cuddy :(. We can NOT lose him and hope to stay in it.
Garland was scheduled to pitch Tuesday. Rox off Monday. Chacin pitched last Thursday. Think it will be Chacin pitching or Pomeranz / Oswalt?
EYJ has a noodle arm. Runner walked to third on shallow fly to RF.
What more evidence do you need before you finally cut ties with EYJ? Dropped fly again.
Yeh, it’s one thing to slump at the plate but wearing a stone glove on defense is inexcusable. Corey Dickerson deserves a look
With the game being on Fox tonite, it’s refreshing to get Mitch Williams, who doesn’t pull any punches and isn’t beholding to either of the teams.
Bet 29 teams are saying, damn you Arenado. Another highlight reel play.
By my count that was 0-14 with RISP.
Terrible LOB but there seemed to be a real high number of hard-hit balls right at-em 🙁
I totally agree. Its not like we were striking out with RISPs early in the game. Some OF balls that just hung up or had a good play made.
Not only that, we had runners on third base in 7 of 9 innings.
Yes we were horrible with RISP but I place a lot of the blame on management/front office for this one. They simply are not putting the best team out there to win. As we’ve all vented about, EYJr has worn out his welcome on this team. He should’ve been DFA’d today along with Garland. Colvin was finally brought up but didn’t start! EYJr started and look how that turned out (still can’t believe he wasn’t charged with an error). And… Read more »
Not a bad analysis! I’ve never been an EYJr fan, but he’s gone from being one dimensional in my mind to having no dimensions!!!!! Agree, time to DFA him.
I was traveling last night and missed the game. Checked the score just as I boarded and it was 1-1. By the time I landed we had lost. Obviously I can’t comment on the game but I’m trying to understand some of the moves this team made. I understand cutting loose of Garland but why Francis instead of Pomeranze or Oswalt? Was it because it wasn’t their turn? They must have been pretty sure all week that Chatwood wasn’t going… Read more »