TUCSON, Ariz.-
Aaron Cook has put 2005 far out of his mind.
He was forced to take almost that entire year off from baseball because of blood clots in his lungs.
Now the Colorado Rockies pitcher is coming off his first full season with a major league club and is in the hunt for the No. 1 starter spot.
“I feel perfectly healthy,” Cook said. “I feel strong and where I need to be, mentally and physically.”
Working from the No. 2 position in the rotation in 2006, the right-hander went 9-15 with a 4.23 ERA.
He is now 28-28 over his five seasons with Colorado. His losing record last year hides the fact that he had the seventh-lowest run support of all National League pitchers. The 76-86 Rockies scored two runs or fewer in 11 of his 15 loses.
Cook, 28, was the work horse of the rotation. He led all Rockies pitchers last year with 212.2 innings pitched.
His 125 innings in hitter-friendly Coors Field set a club record.
“For me, not missing a start last year was big,” Cook said. “I learned how to pace myself throughout the year and what I need to do to stay healthy. I think the main thing was learning what to do over a full season to stay ready for every day, every five days.”
The sinker-ball pitcher has been working on his fast ball and change-up.
“I am incorporating my four-seamer (fastball) a little bit more,” Cook said. “I worked on my change a lot more. Hopefully, that will be a pitch that I will have in my repertoire earlier in the season.”
Colorado opens the season April 2 against Arizona at Coors Field. Left-hander Jeff Francis and former Baltimore Oriole Rodrigo Lopez are also being considered for the start that day.
“I think the club looking for consistency in that spot,” Cook said. “Someone who can eat up innings. I think your No. 1 has to be durable. He has to keep you in the game and give you a chance to win. The team has to believe he can win every time he comes on the mound.”
Manager Clint Hurdle said he’s looking for a player who can handle the matchup against the opposing team’s No. 1 starter.
“Then, the pitcher has to put that aside and pitch his game,” Hurdle said. “Making that decision out of spring training won’t necessarily be statistical. I just think it will be some developmental things we’re looking at, some challenges we’ve issued early to each one of them individually.”
Notes:@ Hurdle said new acquisition Willy Taveras will more than likely hit at the top of the order. “We want Willy in the best position to have the most success,” Hurdle said. Taveras came to Colorado in the December trade with the Houston Astros for Jason Jennings. … Kazuo Matsui is also being considered for the leadoff spot but will more than likely be second in the order, Hurdle said.
