The Rockies made room on their opening-day roster for 3B/LF/2B Ian Stewart, who turned 24 on April 5 and has impact power, and speedy CF Dexter Fowler, 23, the team's best outfielder and a potential base-stealer even though he hasn't learned to use his speed. Both players are key parts of the Rockies' future.
PLAYER NEWS: --3B Garrett Atkins is 0-for-11 with one RBI (on a sacrifice fly) and one walk. RF Brad Hawpe, who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs on opening day, is hitless in his past eight at-bats.
--RHP Ubaldo Jimenez and LHP Franklin Morales, the starting and winning pitchers in the final two games at Arizona, combined to allow one run and eight hits in 13 innings with four walks and 14 strikeouts.
--SS Troy Tulowitzki goes into the home opener 3-for-10 with two homers and a .462 on-base percentage, thanks in part to a career-high three walks Wednesday. He walked twice in 10 different games during his rookie season of 2007, but he didn't walk more than once in a game last year, in a season that was marred by early injuries.
"My rookie year, there were some nerves and a little emotion," said Tulowitzki, 24. "Last year, I got overexcited because I felt like I needed to do a little bit too much. But you get older in this game; I'm not old by any means, but it's my third year going into it. It's all a learning experience every year. I'm more relaxed than I have been."
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Taylor Buchholz (partial tear in right ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He will miss at least the first month of the season. The Rockies are being very cautious with Buchholz, trying to make sure the partial tear doesn't become a full-blown one and require Tommy John surgery that would sideline Buchholz for about a year.
LHP Jeff Francis (left shoulder surgery in February 2009) went on the 60-day disabled list April 5. He likely will miss the entire season. Recovery time ranges from six to 12 months, meaning it's possible Francis could pitch in September but not very likely.
ROTATION:
1. RHP Aaron Cook
2. RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
3. RHP Jason Marquis
4. LHP Jorge De La Rosa
BULLPEN:
RHP Huston Street (closer)
RHP Manuel Corpas
RHP Jason Hammel
LHP Alan Embree
LHP Glendon Rusch
RHP Ryan Speier
RHP Jason Grilli
RHP Juan Morillo
LINEUP:
1. CF Ryan Spilborghs
2. SS Troy Tulowitzki
3. 1B Todd Helton
4. 3B Garrett Atkins
5. RF Brad Hawpe
6. C Chris Iannetta
7. LF Seth Smith
8. 2B Clint Barmes
RESERVES:
OF/INF Ian Stewart
INF/OF Jeff Baker
INF Omar Quintanilla
OF Dexter Fowler
C Yorvit Torrealba
