Friday Morning Rockpile: Hirsh To Be Out Longer

by Russ Oates on Mar 28, 2008 8:15 AM MDT in Rockpile

Jason Hirsh will be out longer than expected as the club has limited what he can do on his road back to the team:

The Rockies have reduced Jason Hirsh's throwing program, the club revealed on Thursday, limiting the right-hander to rehab exercises and treatment for a shoulder strain that has precluded him from all but one Spring Training appearance.

Hirsh's injury has definitely been the disappointment/surprise of camp for me. It isn't as severe as shoulder strain as Torrealba's in 2006, but the Rockies are being cautious with Hirsh. Can't say they're wrong. The last thing we need to see is Hirsh make a hasty return and injure his shoulder even more. So, as Bob Apodaca says, "You just go on." It's what the Rockies did last season when injuries hit the pitching staff. Just go out and play ball.

On the brighter side of things, Atkins hit his first homer of the spring in the last Cactus League game. The main point of the article is that we shouldn't worry about Atkins' bat. Even though he's playing for a long-term contract with the Rockies, Atkins hasn't fallen into the trap of trying to swing for the fences. Matt has it right at the end of the article: slow start or fast start, by the end of the season Garrett's going to hit.

This is a nice touch:

The Rockies are taking a personal touch to handing out the National League Championship rings. Owners Dick and Charlie Monfort and members of the front office will visit the organization's minor league teams to hand out rings to the minor league managers, coaches and trainers.

The Rockies will fly in scouts from surrounding areas to each city with a minor league team, and the scouts will be a part of the on-field presentations.

The Rockies have one last tuneup before the regular season starts on Monday as they take on the Diamondbacks tonight at Chase Field. [UPDATE] After tonight's game, Hurdle will officially announce the winners for the fifth outfield spot and the last member of the the 'pen.

Poll

Are you ready for the regular season to start?

Yes

26 votes

No

7 votes

Dude, you have to ask?

122 votes

155 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Steven Register

Interesting that Steven might be coming back, which I think is great. Hopefully no-one with the Rockies got too worked up about Register's comments while he was with the Mets and welcome him back with open arms and opportunities. He was just full of youthful exuberance. Frankly, I think the Rockies invested too much in him during his climb through the minors to let him go cheap.

He will have benefitted from getting coaching from a different organization, and having competed for a major league roster spot will only make him hungry.

I would love to see him as the CO Springs closer to start the year.

by Drewan on Mar 28, 2008 9:29 AM MDT reply actions

Check the last link.

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Mar 28, 2008 10:00 AM MDT up reply actions

Strange that I would vote no on the poll question

I know, but March 31... that just seems too early for baseball season to start. It's not even April yet! The Final Four isn't until NEXT weekend! And with all the problems with snow-outs during the first week last year... yeesh.

by Tom (RFTN) on Mar 28, 2008 9:55 AM MDT reply actions

Ready for the season?

I'm heading out to Wrigley for the weekend series with the Stros next weekend, and the weather report is a nightmare. I live in LA now, so anything less than "65 and sunny" is alarming...but it is going to be COLD. So I guess, while I'm mentally ready for the season, it seems crazy that so many games are going to be played in poor conditions.

by Teekalong on Mar 28, 2008 10:17 AM MDT reply actions

I watched Rockies All-Access last night...

It's really good...very funny. Spilly's section is hilarious...he was "cooking" a steak for Garrett at Daesie Mae's (sp?) but really not. Garrett's reaction to this was the best part.

by Squeaky on Mar 28, 2008 10:39 AM MDT reply actions

With the possible exception

of Helton and his killer wit, Spilly may simply be the funniest guy on the Rockies. He can come up with a great line from pretty much any situation, and Garrett's extremely dry reactions play off him perfectly. I'm looking forward to see who else Spilly torments this season...

Get Demented :: Gang Gridiron.

by Silverblood on Mar 28, 2008 12:30 PM MDT up reply actions

And I also think

that worrying over Atkins' bat is, as the article points out, totally pointless. Garrett is a proven and accomplished run producer for us who has been able to do so at a very high level ever since he came up. Yes, last year was tough, but only until the end of May. After that, he was a machine -- I seem to recall he led the majors with 79 RBI in 81 games from June until September. Of course, we'll wish to avoid similar torpor in starting off, but like them, my worry about Atkins' spring stats is pretty near zero. Now, the starting rotation + Vizcaino/Wells in the pen? THAT is terrifying.

Get Demented :: Gang Gridiron.

by Silverblood on Mar 28, 2008 12:37 PM MDT reply actions

Like the New Look

Left Tucson yesterday PM and it was 88 and today 37 in Denver.

by PinchHitLancePainter on Mar 28, 2008 1:57 PM MDT reply actions

I grew up in Wyo and went to college in Tucson--its fair to say I can never go back to the cold...

by Teekalong on Mar 28, 2008 2:25 PM MDT up reply actions

Watched Towers and Redman in the back field game

on Wed. I could've ripped them. Big time issues.

Fowler nice looking kid.

by PinchHitLancePainter on Mar 28, 2008 2:02 PM MDT reply actions

Fishing for minor league updates..

Has anyone heard anything new from minor league camp? (like recent releases or roster assignments?)

by malakian on Mar 28, 2008 2:05 PM MDT reply actions

Asheville Tourists release 2008 roster...

From their website:

Rotation:
RHP Jhoulys Chacin
RHP Connor Graham
RHP Cory Riordan
RHP Bruce Billings
RHP Sheng-An Kuo

Bullpen:
Closer: RHP Craig Baker
RHP Randall Taylor
RHP Andy Groves
RHP Joey Williamson
RHP Edgmer Escalona
LHP Craig Rodriguez
LHP Matt Reynolds

Position Players:
C Lars Davis
C Beau Seabury

1B Jeff Cunningham
2B Everth Cabrera
SS Helder Velazquez
3B Darin Holcomb
IF Spence Nagy
IF Warren Schaeffer

LF Kevin Clark
CF Mike Mitchell
RF Brian Rike
OF David Christensen
OF Brian Lapin

Surprised Christensen is skipping Tri-City. I expected a few others like Jordan Pacheco, Bo Bowman, Robinson Fabian and Kane Simmons to be on the roster as well.

by malakian on Mar 28, 2008 5:44 PM MDT reply actions

Interesting

Should be fascinating to see how Christensen does in A-ball as well as seeing how Holcomb can translate his apparent hitting prowess to a higher level.

by MADness on Mar 29, 2008 11:16 AM MDT up reply actions

Nice

I was the 101st vote for option 3 on the poll. However, I'm not sure I'm ready for the season to start, especially with Hirsh needing time to recover.

by oo_nrb on Mar 28, 2008 7:19 PM MDT reply actions