In the first week of the season, manager Clint Hurdle made it apparent he intends to give 1B Todd Helton ample rest and more than he ever has in past seasons. Helton underwent arthroscopic back surgery Sept. 30 to repair a bulging disk that was causing numbness in his left leg and making it hard, if not impossible, to set up on his back side. Helton went through a diligent rehabilitation process and does daily maintenance exercises for his back, and Hurdle said in spring training that Helton, who would play every day if it were up to him, would be rested more often. Helton was not in the lineup twice last week on day games following night games, and Hurdle indicated that pattern is likely to continue.
PLAYER NEWS: --RHP Ubaldo Jimenez tied his career high with six walks. He also walked six last season on Aug. 7 against Washington in the second game of a doubleheader in which he lasted five innings. Jimenez's scoreless streak ended at 15 consecutive innings when the Cubs scored in the second. He had pitched seven scoreless innings Sept. 28 in his final 2008 start at Arizona and began this season with seven scoreless innings at Arizona on April 7.
--Manager Clint Hurdle was ejected by first base umpire and crew chief Tim McClelland before the top of the fourth. McClelland had called a balk on RHP Ubaldo Jimenez in the bottom of the third as Jimenez was pitching Kosuke Fukodome with two outs and a runner on first and the Cubs leading 2-0. TV cameras caught Hurdle pointing to his eyes while yelling to McClelland from the dugout.
--RF Brad Hawpe left the game in the fifth inning due to tightness in his hamstring.
--LHP Alan Embree's Sunday appearance was his 849th in the major leagues, putting him in sole possession of 32nd place all-time in that category. He passed Roy Face. Next on the list is Yankees closer Mariano Rivera (853), whom Embree likely will not catch this season.
--The Rockies' early schedule has enabled manager Clint Hurdle to readily find at-bats for rookie CF Dexter Fowler, a switch hitter. Fowler was in the lineup for the fourth time in the past five games. Three of those starts came against lefties -- Doug Davis, Cole Hamels and Ted Lilly -- giving Fowler, a natural right-handed batter, a chance to hit from the right side. The fourth start came against RHP Chan Ho Park, a breaking-ball specialist with an average fastball. Fowler went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Monday after striking out twice in his first 13 at-bats.
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:
RHP Aaron Cook
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
RHP Jason Marquis
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 Matt Belisle
CATCHERS:
Chris Iannetta
Yorvit Torrealba
INFIELDERS:
1B Todd Helton
2B Clint Barmes
SS Troy Tulowitzki
3B Garrett Atkins
INF/OF Jeff Baker
INF Omar Quintanilla
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Seth Smith
CF Ryan Spilborghs
RF Brad Hawpe
OF/INF Ian Stewart
OF Dexter Fowler
