Catch the daily spring training roundup each afternoon from Rockies beat writers Troy E. Renck and Patrick Saunders in Tucson. You’ll find insider information on players and what the team is working on as they get ready for the 2007 season. Check every afternoon for the Rockies Rundown.
Tucson – After getting tattooed, reliever Danny Graves sat out today’s practice.
No, hitters didn’t pummel Graves into submission. He actually received a color touchup on his many tattoos Wednesday and was sidelined with a strained left oblique muscle suffered while bunting.
Graves skipped today’s bullpen session, but plans to throw Sunday. He was more annoyed by his injury than concerned since he purposely didn’t take batting practice to avoid getting hurt.
“I already have two home runs (in the major leagues). I don’t need any more, so I was slug bunting,” Graves said. “I could have thrown today, but there was no reason to rush it. I will be fine.”
Graves, 33, is competing for a late-inning bullpen role after signing a $600,000 minor league contract in December. He pitched for the Indians and Mets the previous two seasons. Manager Clint Hurdle’s preference is to use a veteran like Graves or Dave Veres to ease primary setup man LaTroy Hawkins’ workload.
If Graves is not on the opening-day roster, he can request his release.
By the numbers: 2-10
That was Aaron Cook’s record last season against National League West opponents. Familiarity and predictability doomed Cook, the right-hander admitted. Cook throws one of baseball’s better sinkers, but when hitters can focus on a pitch thrown in the same area repeatedly, they have more success.
“I think they see me more so I am going to have to mix it up and throw more four-seam (straight) fastballs,” Cook said. “I am not going to stop throwing my sinker, obviously. I just have to make an adjustment.”
Inside the game
The statistics scream that Garrett Atkins is an elite hitter from his .329 average to his 78 extra-base hits last season. What they don’t explain is why. In 2005, Atkins tweaked his stance, opening up his front leg to allow him to better handle inside pitches. As last year played out, Atkins became more comfortable with his approach, loading his weight on his back leg to produce more power.
As one scout explained, “His pitch recognition is so good now, that when he gets an inside pitch he can keep his front leg open and not stride back in. It makes it that much easier for him to drive the ball.”
Atkins hit 18 home runs after the all-star break last season after clubbing just 13 overall in his rookie season.
Did you know?
The Rockies signed reliever Mike DeJean to a minor-league deal. DeJean, rehabbing from shoulder surgery, plans to arrive in Tucson on Sunday where he will remain in extended spring training. DeJean has been throwing off a mound and said he will have a much better idea of his availability by mid-April.
“I am not going to go out there if I am 80 percent. I need to make sure I am ready,” DeJean said today. “Staying in Colorado was my first choice. There was interest from other teams but they were scared off by the workman’s comp issue. The Rockies know me and represent the quickest way to get back on the mound.”
