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 Jason Grilli, making his 175th relief appearance and 173rd in succession, earned his second career save. He rescued closer Huston Street after entering with no outs in the ninth, runners on first and second and the Rockies leading the Cubs 5-2. Grilli's other save was Aug. 26, 2008, at San Francisco.
--INF/OF Ian Stewart made his first career start in right field. Regular RF Brad Hawpe, who left Monday's game in the fifth with cramping in his left hamstring, said his hamstring felt better, but he was held out of the lineup as a precaution on a cool afternoon.
--1B Todd Helton's double in the third inning was his first extra-base hit of the season and came on his 22nd at-bat. The hit came off Cubs RHP Rich Harden and ended Helton's string of 11 hitless at-bats against right-handers to start the season. Helton has five hits this season, four off left-handers.
--CF Dexter Fowler's run-scoring pinch double in the eighth inning was his first career pinch hit. He was 0-for-3 as a pinch hitter last season after being recalled in September.
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
