Jason Jennings knows the end will come someday. But will it be today? There’s a strong possibility Jennings will pull the curtain on one of the best years by a Rockies starter when he faces the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight.
Jennings remains undecided whether he will start on the season’s final day against the Cubs in Chicago because it would require pitching on four days’ rest for the first time in nearly a month.
“I don’t want to do anything stupid. I will listen to my body and see how it feels. If I feel fine, I will do it,” Jennings said. “The last thing I want to do, though, is get hurt going into the offseason.”
Jennings’ routine changed as the Rockies created opportunities to audition potential 2007 rotation candidates Denny Bautista, Justin Hampson and Juan Morillo. As a result, Jennings has pitched on five days’ rest twice. He will work after a six-day hiatus tonight.
“We haven’t made any decision on the final game. If Jason wants it, he gets it,” pitching coach Bob Apodaca said.
The Rockies want to give Ubaldo Jimenez a start, so he would be the obvious candidate to fill in.
HOLLIDAY HONORED: Rockies left fielder Matt Holliday earned co-National League player of the week honors with Atlanta’s Andruw Jones. Holliday went 10-for-25 with four home runs, eight extra-base hits and 12 RBIs.
Holliday enters the final week of the season ranked in the top 25 in the major leagues in batting average (.332), home runs (32) and RBIs (107).
FOOTNOTES: The Rockies are interested in bringing back left-handed reliever Tom Martin, a free agent at season’s end. “Well, I want to be here. This team is only going to get better,” Martin said. … The Dodgers, chasing a playoff berth, are 12-4 against the Rockies this season.
