Philadelphia – The quirk in the Rockies’ youth movement is their kids aren’t young.
Until reliever Ramon Ramirez was called up, they were one of only three teams in the big leagues – joining Boston and Toronto – that did not have a 23-and-under player on their roster. The significance is twofold: This is the year decisions will be made on their future and their age could accelerate their growth chart.
“Last year we couldn’t determine who the core players were because they were just trying to survive,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “After this season we will know who the core players are and who they aren’t.”
Is Cory Sullivan a starting center fielder, is Clint Barmes an everyday shortstop, can Brad Hawpe handle right field?
This season has amounted to a three-week jab into the chest of skeptics. The Rockies began Tuesday tied for first and sat two victories from securing their first winning April since 2003. There are those in the clubhouse who say young players being older has aided the quick start.
“We aren’t going to be intimidated by another team or a pitcher,” Hawpe said. “We have played four or five years in the minor leagues and won together.”
Discipline on the horizon
Major League Baseball discipline czar Bob Watson did not meet with Rockies reliever Jose Mesa at Citizens Bank Park – “It’s kind of hard when I am in Houston,” he said, laughing – but does plan to mete out punishment, possibly today, for the Rockies-Giants beanbrawl series.
“We are about to do something,” Watson told The Denver Post.
Manager Clint Hurdle expects to be suspended one game and could be joined by reliever Ray King and Mesa, whose feud with the Giants’ Omar Vizquel triggered the incident at Coors Field.
“If King gets fined I will pay his, but I am not paying mine,” said Mesa, who plans to get Vizquel out every time from now on rather than “throw inside” to the shortstop. “I don’t know how they can suspend me when they didn’t warn me or eject me. That’s garbage.”
Kim expected back in mix
Barring any problems with a blistered finger, Byung-Hyun Kim will join the Rockies’ rotation Sunday, replacing Miguel Asencio. Kim had uneven performances during three rehab starts.
New Day for Zach
A grievance was avoided when the Washington Nationals claimed pitcher Zach Day off waivers, ending the right- hander’s brief tenure with the Rockies.
Day had planned to file a grievance against the Rockies to regain service time, citing an injured shoulder when they made their roster move. The Nationals are responsible for the remaining $521,000 of his salary.
