Tucson – After getting shellacked by an Oakland split squad Sunday afternoon, Rockies starting pitcher Zach Day talked a good game, explaining that once he gets his mechanics straightened out, he’ll pitch better.
Manager Clint Hurdle’s response was to challenge Day to turn talk into action.
“He’s said the same thing for three outings,” Hurdle said after the Rockies lost 9-5 to the Athletics. “I would like to see him make that adjustment. It’s been a long time since Zach Day has pitched effectively. … If he knows what (the adjustment) is, God bless him, do it.”
Day is competing with Josh Fogg, Sunny Kim and Jose Acevedo for the fifth starter spot. But Fogg is out because of a strained groin, Kim is pitching for South Korea in the World Baseball Classic and Acevedo isn’t even on Colorado’s 40-man roster. This should be Day’s chance to shine, but so far he has struggled.
In three innings Sunday, he gave up five runs on six hits, including a leadoff homer to Mark Ellis, and two doubles. He also walked three and was called for a balk.
“I’m rushing; that would be a good word for it,” he said after watching himself on tape for a half-hour. “As I’m rushing, my arm is late, and therefore the ball is up.”
Day has four or five more spring starts left to find his groove and prove he’s starter-worthy. He said he’s confident he will.
Fogg out
Fogg tweaked his right groin while running Friday and has been scratched from today’s lineup. He was scheduled to pitch tonight against Arizona in the second outing of the split-squad games. Instead, Keiichi Yabu will start, followed by Acevedo.
“This is not the perfect time to get hurt, but some things you can’t control,” Fogg said. “I’ve been playing long enough now to know that it’s worth missing a week now, instead of a month later.”
