Saturday Rockpile: Injury updates (and fear-mongering), Hawpe changes diet, more

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Mar 6, 2010 9:21 AM MST in Rockpile Comment 93 comments

Stiff shoulder sidelining Betancourt - The Denver Post
Rafael Betancourt was going to get a late start at Spring Training anyway because of an illness that caused him to lose ten pounds. Now, he will be delayed even further because of shoulder stiffness. It certainly isn't time to push the panic button or anything yet, but the Rockies now have their two best relievers shelved - hopefully not for an extended period of time.

Inside the Colorado Rockies | Major League Baseball in Denver " MRI negative on Reynolds’ elbow; Street’s shoulder improves
Greg Reynolds doesn't have any structural damage in his elbow after being hit by a line drive on Monday. Also, Huston Street has been extending himself on a daily basis trying to get back into action. Yesterday, Street threw from 120 feet and tossed some pitches (though, not off a mound) for the second straight day. Finally, Juan Nicasio looks to be healed of his torn fingernail and should pitch Sunday or Monday.

Francis still feeling his way on mound - The Denver Post
Just as was reported after his very first live session of the spring, Jeff Francis continued to show poor command yesterday - this time in a game situation. He says his shoulder feels good, but he had a lot of issues on the mound against the Giants and when all was said and done, showed that he isn't quite ready to pitch at the big league level yet. Aaron Rowand of the Giants had this to say of Francis, who topped out at 86 MPH on his fastball:

"I know he used to throw 89 to 90 (mph) ... I'm sure he's trying to round back into form. He's not going to be where he wants right now. But he's the same guy I remember. He had the same action on his pitches. If he pitches like he's capable of, I am sure he will be a key guy in their rotation."

Hawpe looks to former mate Podsednik for diet tips - USATODAY.com
Brad Hawpe says that a poor diet played a large part in his second half slide last season. Apparently, Hawpe started to feel "run down" as the season went on. A phone call to former Rockie Scott Podsednik has changed all of that, as Hawpe has now been seeing the same nutritionist. Hopefully it pays dividends, but who knows if Bradley will even stick with is, as speculated in the last quote of the article (by Hawpe himself).

Cactus League: Arizona has more ballparks and teams for spring training - latimes.com
Charlie Vascellaro has a nice piece for the LA Times, discussing the recent (and future) growth of the Cactus League. The Reds and Dodgers have recently moved their ST headquarters to Arizona, and the Indians made their return recently as well. That, added to the fact that there are a bunch of new ballparks in the area (and one more coming next year, obviously) and the soon-to-be close proximity of all 15 clubs, and suddenly Arizona is becoming the top-notch Spring Training destination. Plus, you don't have to deal with the Yankees and Red Sox - always a plus.

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by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 9:30 AM MST reply actions

Hehe. Typo in my sig.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 9:31 AM MST up reply actions

Lineup

1. Dexter Fowler, CF
2. Paul LoDuca, 1B
3. Ryan Spilborghs, RF
4. Troy Tulowitzki, SS
5. Melvin Mora, LF
6. Clint Barmes, 2B
7. Paul Phillips, C
8. Darin Holcomb, 3B
9. Tim Redding, P

Hating Cubs fans since 1908

by Hizilla on Mar 6, 2010 9:43 AM MST reply actions

Unbelievable

Smith has one bad game and he’s back to riding the pine. Free Seth Smith!

Seriously though, interesting to see Mora in left. You’d think that the Rockies have plenty of outfield depth that they’d rather move Mora around the infield instead of into the outfield.

by controlled_slide on Mar 6, 2010 9:45 AM MST up reply actions

It's all about getting Mora used to playing the outfield at a major league level...

I don’t believe he has much experience there.

The writer formerly known as Jabberwocky
READ and LEARN about the business of baseball at Purple Row Academy
Eschew Obfuscation!

by Jeff Aberle on Mar 6, 2010 9:46 AM MST up reply actions

It's ST so it's not that big of a deal.

Mora is probably in the outfield so Holcomb can play third

by GoRockies!! on Mar 6, 2010 9:47 AM MST up reply actions

They want Mora to be able to play every position except catcher on the club if need be.

Expect to see him moving around a lot.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 9:54 AM MST up reply actions

When do we see him pitch?

"Shall it be peace, or a sword?" - Excised line from Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.

by Russ Oates on Mar 6, 2010 9:55 AM MST up reply actions

Opening day.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 9:57 AM MST up reply actions

Sweet!

30-inning game!

"Shall it be peace, or a sword?" - Excised line from Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.

by Russ Oates on Mar 6, 2010 9:59 AM MST up reply actions

Seth Smith is being rested from getting a slider in the knee cap yesterday

by BringItHome on Mar 6, 2010 10:01 AM MST up reply actions

Good to see Fowler in there today though.

by GoRockies!! on Mar 6, 2010 9:49 AM MST up reply actions

Dexxxxxxx

go rocks…how about a nice TULO bomb today

TULO = 2010 MVP!

Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."

LETS GO WINGS!

by TuLoRocks2008 on Mar 6, 2010 10:01 AM MST up reply actions

Being a Mets fan must suck...

Jose Reyes has thyroid issues.

by GoRockies!! on Mar 6, 2010 9:48 AM MST reply actions

I think the Mets are cursed.

"And I'm sick of all my judges/They're so scared of letting me shine/but I know that I can take it/So long as somebody takes me home every now and then" -- The Killers

by Squeaky on Mar 6, 2010 9:49 AM MST up reply actions

like the cubs? :)

by GoRockies!! on Mar 6, 2010 9:50 AM MST up reply actions

I think the Mets are ~~cursed~~ the Mets.

Iron Maiden? Excellent!

by Muzia on Mar 6, 2010 9:50 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs

Agree.

It’s insulting to curses to say the Mets are cursed.

"Shall it be peace, or a sword?" - Excised line from Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.

by Russ Oates on Mar 6, 2010 9:54 AM MST up reply actions

To paraphrase Casey Stengle...

Can any one talk about this game?

by Oldfoagie on Mar 6, 2010 9:54 PM MST up reply actions

on there way to another healthy season lol

TULO = 2010 MVP!

Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."

LETS GO WINGS!

by TuLoRocks2008 on Mar 6, 2010 10:01 AM MST up reply actions

Iron Maiden? Excellent!

by Muzia on Mar 6, 2010 10:09 AM MST up reply actions

.........Hawpe....

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 10:17 AM MST up reply actions

......................................................hawpe.

Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave

by Mondogarage on Mar 6, 2010 10:20 AM MST up reply actions

Hop.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 10:23 AM MST up reply actions

Just a Hawpe, Skip, and a Jump away

Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave

by Mondogarage on Mar 6, 2010 10:27 AM MST up reply actions

aaaaand.....

we have baseball

Troy Tulowitzki - Best SS in the MLB - 2010 MVP
"With a guy like Melo, it’s tough to stop him with one person. You can’t. I don’t know one guy who can stop Melo on a consistent basis."-CP3
Brad Hawpe - Will prove the doubters wrong

PS Let's win the NL West in 2010, shall we?

by SDcat09 on Mar 6, 2010 11:13 AM MST up reply actions

Sack

Meant to say, before I hit enter accidentally, that Hawpe’s nutritional foibles illustrate a point that Neyer was making earlier this week about minor league nutrition. If players were given better nutrition early in their careers, they’d probably be more likely to continue those habits later.

by controlled_slide on Mar 6, 2010 10:07 AM MST up reply actions

I was just thinking

that this is an interesting point. I know myself that I used to be able to eat whatever/whenever and be fine for all purposes, but as I get older time/quality of meals seems to really matter to my energy, etc, and I spend 10 hours a day at a desk, so I can’t imagine how it impacts athletes. Moreover, we talk a lot about how losing greenies as a source of “energy” impacts these guys, so undoubtedly older guys who played in the greenies era (coin a phrase?) might need nutritionists even more to mitigate the loss. A lot of this might have hit GA over the past few years too. Who knows, I guess, except the players themselves, but I find all of this interesting and hopefully this works for Hawpe…or it could just be a convenient excuse.

by Teekalong on Mar 6, 2010 10:27 AM MST up reply actions

As a young guy with a good metabolism

I can totally understand the mentality that you can eat whatever you want and always be fine. Especially for professional athletes that have been able to excel on their natural talents alone for about 25 years. It’s tough to make a change after that much lifetime momentum, so when you start not being able to dominate anymore without careful training and nutrition, it would be pretty hard to force yourself to eat right and work hard at keeping yourself fit. If players were forced (or as close as you can get in the minors) to at least eat well, they would be much better set up for their post-peak years and possible have a less steep career decline.

by controlled_slide on Mar 6, 2010 10:37 AM MST up reply actions

Very true

I follow college recruiting for football and hoops a lot, and its always interesting to read about the changes these guys go through in terms of exercise and nutrition just going from HS to college, and then, even more radically, to the pros. Guys that appear to be world-class conditioned athletes have real reality-checks when these nutritionists (particularly pre-draft type academies) have them eating nothing but grilled chicken and broccoli all the time. I wonder about minor league conditioning/nutrition programs, too, because I know most major colleges seem to really be ramping up on these issues, which of course have always been important, but now are becoming real focal points.

(tangentally, google the Senior Bowl weigh-in pictures of Alabama stud Terrance Cody for a real eye-opener…)

by Teekalong on Mar 6, 2010 11:30 AM MST up reply actions

Just received a

Mets 2010 ticket information package in the mail. Apparently the club’s phrase this season is “We believe in comebacks.”

"Shall it be peace, or a sword?" - Excised line from Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.

by Russ Oates on Mar 6, 2010 10:36 AM MST reply actions

Sad and funny at the same time

There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson

JFK

by jrockies on Mar 6, 2010 10:40 AM MST up reply actions

are you serious?

yo they’re sad. I hate the Mets. I feel like they have no self-respect or something…

"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker

by Resolution on Mar 6, 2010 11:20 AM MST up reply actions

It's clear

That the Mets believe in comebacks.

by controlled_slide on Mar 6, 2010 11:30 AM MST up reply actions

I know it's just ST and all and every little ache and pain is going to be magnified because there's nothing else to write about but

DANG GUYS. Quit with the strains and aches already. You’re going to make me start rummaging around for my panic button.

Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything. ~Toby Harrah, 1983

by pedalpusher on Mar 6, 2010 10:37 AM MST reply actions

(I was talking to the players, not the bloggers/writers)

Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything. ~Toby Harrah, 1983

by pedalpusher on Mar 6, 2010 10:38 AM MST up reply actions

I have plenty of strains and aches myself.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 10:42 AM MST up reply actions

So do I but I'm not counting on either of us to win the NL West :)

Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything. ~Toby Harrah, 1983

by pedalpusher on Mar 6, 2010 10:56 AM MST up reply actions

I'm actually Troy Tulowitzki.

Didn’t you know?

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 10:57 AM MST up reply actions

No wonder you don't participate in gamee threads

by controlled_slide on Mar 6, 2010 10:58 AM MST up reply actions

well in that case, don'

Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything. ~Toby Harrah, 1983

by pedalpusher on Mar 6, 2010 10:59 AM MST up reply actions

reply fail reply fail reply fail....guess thats what ST is for.

Any way what I was about to say before I was so rudely interrupted by an inadvertent post stroke was “In that case, stop with the aches and pains”.

Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything. ~Toby Harrah, 1983

by pedalpusher on Mar 6, 2010 11:02 AM MST up reply actions

Hah

pokemon master by day, Troy Tulowitzki by night. And uhh… spare time blogger…

"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker

by Resolution on Mar 6, 2010 11:21 AM MST up reply actions

Pokemon master?

Where’d that come from?

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 11:24 AM MST up reply actions

Your blastoise/snorlax comment from the other day

as well as giving me props for spelling electabuzz properly.

Also, pokemon master juxtaposes nicely with awesome professional athlete.

"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker

by Resolution on Mar 6, 2010 3:31 PM MST up reply actions

Any other requests while I have time?

Iron Maiden? Excellent!

by Muzia on Mar 6, 2010 10:40 AM MST reply actions 8 recs

recd

JFK

by jrockies on Mar 6, 2010 10:41 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs

I think King would have been a better choice than Cap'n

But I love it.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 10:41 AM MST up reply actions

I tried King yesterday, but Cap'n seems to have stuck

Iron Maiden? Excellent!

by Muzia on Mar 6, 2010 10:42 AM MST up reply actions

Exceptional.

"Shall it be peace, or a sword?" - Excised line from Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.

by Russ Oates on Mar 6, 2010 10:42 AM MST up reply actions

Lemme make that green.

That’s hilarious

by GoRockies!! on Mar 6, 2010 10:43 AM MST up reply actions

New desktop, that's beyond awesome

Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave

by Mondogarage on Mar 6, 2010 10:43 AM MST up reply actions

Gorgeous.

At this rate you’ll have to make a photoshop for every new player nickname.

by Shoemaker on Mar 6, 2010 10:44 AM MST up reply actions

that's what Spring training is for!

who should I do next?

Iron Maiden? Excellent!

by Muzia on Mar 6, 2010 10:45 AM MST up reply actions

I know I'm the only one who called Jhoulys Chacin "Denton"...

… but a Deus Ex chop of Chacin as JC Denton would be a miracle. lol

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 10:51 AM MST up reply actions

I could have sworn that Chacin's nickanme is The Machine.

by Shoemaker on Mar 6, 2010 10:53 AM MST up reply actions

Read the subject line.

I’m the only one who uses that nickname, because I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who knows who JC Denton is.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 10:55 AM MST up reply actions

I know who he is,

but I don’t get it. I do, however, know that the guy who voices Denton also starred in early-to-mid 90s show California Dreams.

"Shall it be peace, or a sword?" - Excised line from Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.

by Russ Oates on Mar 6, 2010 10:56 AM MST up reply actions

He sure did.

And the connection is pretty simple. When people were first starting to have trouble pronouncing/spelling his name, people were just calling him JC. Which obviously made me think of JC Denton.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 10:59 AM MST up reply actions

How's this?

Iron Maiden? Excellent!

by Muzia on Mar 6, 2010 11:57 AM MST up reply actions

LMAO

A bit goofy, but I’ll take it.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 12:03 PM MST up reply actions

I'll try a Chacin one next

Iron Maiden? Excellent!

by Muzia on Mar 6, 2010 11:09 AM MST up reply actions

You should put a cookie in Cook's hands over the baseball.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 11:11 AM MST up reply actions

Done.

Iron Maiden? Excellent!

by Muzia on Mar 6, 2010 11:27 AM MST up reply actions

Teehee.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 11:28 AM MST up reply actions

I dunno...I'm thinking

Cookie’s head superimpose on CookieMonster’s body?

PS Let's win the NL West in 2010, shall we?

by SDcat09 on Mar 6, 2010 11:28 AM MST up reply actions

Then there's only be one Cookie, and the tagline wouldn't work.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 11:29 AM MST up reply actions

well this is what I get for coming into threads

half-assed and misunderstanding….

so…then NEVERMIND!

PS Let's win the NL West in 2010, shall we?

by SDcat09 on Mar 6, 2010 11:31 AM MST up reply actions

plus that would be super hard

Iron Maiden? Excellent!

by Muzia on Mar 6, 2010 11:35 AM MST up reply actions

I thought you were Cap'n Photoshop?

You can do anything!!

PS Let's win the NL West in 2010, shall we?

by SDcat09 on Mar 6, 2010 11:36 AM MST up reply actions

You could try to make RMN's caber nickname for Stewart stick

Picture of him tossing a caber or something.

by controlled_slide on Mar 6, 2010 11:40 AM MST up reply actions

This one might work

by controlled_slide on Mar 6, 2010 11:50 AM MST up reply actions

How's this?

Iron Maiden? Excellent!

by Muzia on Mar 6, 2010 12:19 PM MST up reply actions

Not bad

I like it.

by controlled_slide on Mar 6, 2010 12:29 PM MST up reply actions

we already have one of stew from last spring training

Wearing a kilt and weilding a caber

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 6, 2010 2:17 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

I still don't like that nickname at all.

The writer formerly known as Jabberwocky
READ and LEARN about the business of baseball at Purple Row Academy
Eschew Obfuscation!

by Jeff Aberle on Mar 6, 2010 4:29 PM MST up reply actions

Me neither.

To me it’s similar to someone’s nickname being Log or Pole. It makes no sense.

by holly96 on Mar 6, 2010 5:14 PM MST up reply actions

Looks shopped

by controlled_slide on Mar 6, 2010 10:45 AM MST up reply actions

You're telling me

he doesn’t really have a palace?

"Shall it be peace, or a sword?" - Excised line from Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.

by Russ Oates on Mar 6, 2010 10:46 AM MST up reply actions

That's exactly what I'm telling you

Don’t believe everything you see on here Russ.

by controlled_slide on Mar 6, 2010 10:47 AM MST up reply actions

I thought

we established that PR was the only place you could find the truth.

I think my world has been shattered.

"Shall it be peace, or a sword?" - Excised line from Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.

by Russ Oates on Mar 6, 2010 10:49 AM MST up reply actions

Of course he has the palace

Free agent big bucks, yo.

The robe was a rental, though.

Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave

by Mondogarage on Mar 6, 2010 10:51 AM MST up reply actions

I think we also need a Quintanilla pixie pic.

by WolfMarauder on Mar 6, 2010 11:42 AM MST up reply actions

I will be at Regis University

today watching Colorado School of Mines baseball if anyone wants to join. I will be the one Mines student with a glove and a little yellow radio to listen to the Rockies game. Game times are 11:00 (9 innings) and ~2:00 (7 innings).

GO ROCKIES!!!!!!!!!!

JFK

by jrockies on Mar 6, 2010 10:43 AM MST reply actions