The bullpen was not effective in the season's first two weeks, in particular Huston Street, who lost his closing job to Manuel Corpas. Additional struggles by Matt Belisle and Alan Embree, and the elbow injury that knocked Taylor Buchholz out of action, left a glaring late-inning weakness.
PLAYER NEWS: --SS Troy Tulowitzki walked a career-high four times. He had never walked more than twice in a game before this season when he walked three times at Arizona April 8 and again against the Phillies April 12. Tulowitzki went eight games without a walk before his four-walk game Friday, which gave him a team-leading 10. Tulowitzki went hitless in his lone official at-bat, extending his hitless streak to 12 at-bats.
--RHP Jason Grilli has retired two of the seven batters he has faced in his last three outings, issuing five walks, one intentional, and one hit.
--RHP Ubaldo Jimenez will try to break a two-start losing streak in which he gave up a combined 11 hits and 10 runs in eight innings at Chicago, and Los Angeles with 10 walks and eight strikeouts. Jimenez's only decent start of the season was his first at Arizona April 7 when he worked seven scoreless innings and won 3-0.
MEDICAL WATCH:
LHP Franklin Morales (strained left lat) went on the 15-day disabled list April 22.
RHP Ryan Speier (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19.
RHP Taylor Buchholz (partial tear in right ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 22. 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
RHP Jason Hammel
BULLPEN:
RHP Manuel Corpas (closer)
RHP Huston Street
LHP Alan Embree
LHP Glendon Rusch
RHP Jason Grilli
RHP Matt Belisle
RHP Matt Daley
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
