Tucson – The Rockies play their first 19 games against National League West opponents. But they won an important series last fall, aggravating the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.
After losing the opportunity to host the New York Yankees in the revised interleague schedule to the Padres, the Rockies successfully appealed to the commissioner’s office and regained the Yankees, owner Charlie Monfort confirmed Monday.
That upset the Padres, because they had already released tentative schedules featuring the Yankees. The Padres wound up with Boston, a series that already has sold out, but the switch removed the Red Sox from the Dodgers’ home schedule, leaving them angry.
“We had people at all levels involved and yes, I spoke with the commissioner,” Monfort said after the Rockies’ 8-2 loss to the Texas Rangers. “We had already geared our marketing around having the Yankees. Obviously, it benefits anyone who does not regularly play the Yankees to have them on your schedule. We thought it was only fair.”
The Rockies host the Yankees from June 19-21, games that are close to selling out, according to Monfort. In the Yankees’ only previous regular-season trip to Coors Field in 2002, they set attendance records for a three-game series. Had the revised schedule been ratified, Baltimore would have replaced the Yankees.
Katy Feeney, Major League Baseball’s vice president of scheduling, said the Rockies’ request was reasonable given the space between Yankees visits and Colorado’s concern about lost attendance and revenue. Feeney said the Yankees did not object to visiting Colorado.
Fuentes better
Closer Brian Fuentes expects to pitch Wednesday after getting scratched Sunday with a tight middle back. Fuentes has experienced back problems in the past, but said, “I have no worries.”
Todd Helton (right knee inflammation) returned and went 2-for-3.
Footnotes
The possibility of Brian Lawrence winning a rotation spot remained realistic with Monday’s successful debut in a B game against the White Sox. Throwing only fastballs (82 mph) and sliders (77 mph), Lawrence worked two scoreless innings. … Reliever Dave Veres reached 85 mph on his fastball and impressed scouts with his splitter Monday.
Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
