The ever-changing face of the Rockies’ bullpen is fast approaching another nip-and- tuck after Sunday’s cringe-producing performance.
Byung- Hyun Kim, Scott Doh- mann and Ryan Speier all have struggled, disrupting late-inning roles and leaving manager Clint Hurdle grasping to find consistently reliable matchups.
Kim could benefit from a minor-league refresher to correct flaws that have produced 11 walks and two hit batters in 9 1/3 innings. However, because he has five years of service time, he can refuse a Triple-A assignment and become a free agent, complicating any move.
“Obviously he needs to start pitching better soon or we are going to have do something,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said Monday. “I think it’s mental. He is worrying too much about his mechanics.”
Speier, who rocketed straight from Double-A, has impressed the coaching staff with his competitiveness, but is showing signs that he needs a Triple-A breather. Opponents are hitting .438 against him, and he’s hung repeated sliders in his past two appearances.
Veteran Jay Witasick, showing improvement in Triple-A Colorado Springs, remains the most likely replacement. He has compiled a 4.00 ERA in nine innings with increased velocity in recent appearances.
“We continue discussing Jay. We have to make a decision soon. Either he can help us or he can’t,” said O’Dowd, who continues to explore avenues for trades. “Sitting here today, other than the bullpen, I don’t think anybody can be disappointed with how our young players have performed. But the bullpen has been an Achilles’ heel.”
The problems go beyond the troubling statistics – 1-7, 9.12 ERA. Dohmann, for instance, is showing signs of snapping out of a season-long slump, but his inconsistency in late innings has forced others into critical situations earmarked for his nasty slider when camp broke.
“The inability of our bullpen to put back-to-back outings together, really anybody, with any efficiency has (hurt),” Hurdle said. “Fastball command remains a hot spot out there.”
Cook battles illness
Pitcher , hit hard by a viral infection that struck 17 players in extended spring training, threw live batting practice Monday. He will soon begin a rehab assignment, likely needing four Triple-A starts before joining the Rockies around the end of next month. Players have hung his jersey in the clubhouse as a tribute.
“We want to have him back,” shortstop said.
Footnotes
Former Rockie Greg Norton signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago White Sox and began playing for their Triple-A Charlotte affiliate Sunday. … (hamstring) and Dustan Mohr (calf) must prove they are healthy and show their timing has returned in Triple-A before rejoining the Rockies this week.
