2B Clint Barmes had no walks in his first 49 plate appearances, hardly a surprise since he walked 17 times in 417 plate appearances last year. But Barmes gives the Rockies some punch batting eighth, having opened the season 13-for-48 with four doubles, three homers and seven RBI. Todd Helton has played in 15 of the first 16 games and started 14 of them. But the power stroke he showed in spring training has been missing. He began the season 14-for-55 with two doubles and one homer. Troy Tulowitzki and Chris Iannetta, two young players the Rockies hoped would show improvement, are trying to dig their way out of huge holes. Tulowitzki got off to a 9-for-54 start, and Iannetta was 5-for-39.
PLAYER NEWS: --1B Todd Helton's homer April 21 at Arizona came on his 44th at-bat of the season and was his first since June 10 at Coors Field when he hit a two-run homer against Vinnie Chulk of the Giants.
--RHP Manuel Corpas' save April 21 at Arizona was his first since April 19, 2008, at Houston. It broke a string of eight consecutive blown saves for the Rockies' closer, including one this year on April 12 against the Phillies.
--RHP Matt Daley made his major league debut April 25. Coming in with one out, a runner on first in the seventh and the Dodgers leading 6-5, he gave up a long out when Russell Martin sent CF Dexter Fowler crashing into the wall in right-center to make a catch. He then walked Matt Kemp but in the process James Loney was out trying to advance to second on a ball that bounced in front of the plate. Daley hit Casey Blake with a pitch but struck out pitcher Ramon Troncoso to end the inning.
"I definitely didn't write it up that way, but as long as no runs score, I'll take it every time," Daley said. "It was a dream come true, no doubt about it. It was exactly what I'd pictured."
--RHP Jason Hammel will start Monday against the Padres. He has made three relief appearances for the Rockies since being acquired from the Rays the day before the regular season started and will be making his first start since April 29, 2008, at Baltimore.
"What I'd like to see is for him to give us a quality start," manager Clint Hurdle said. "If we can get past the fifth and he's got us in a position to win the game, that's what we're looking for. He's geared up to go. He wants to start, and he's going to get the opportunity to."
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 Dexter Fowler
OF/INF Ian Stewart
