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 it gets ready for the 2007 season. Check every afternoon for the Rockies Rundown.
Rockies prized rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki went out with a bruised right wrist today after being hit by a pitch from the Padres’ Doug Brocail. Tulowitzki, competing with Clint Barmes for the starting job, was hit in the fifth inning during a split-squad game in Peoria, Ariz.
The Rockies officially listed Tulowitzki as day-to-day. He’s scheduled to have an X-ray tomorrow.
The desert scene
Eric Young’s dream job was to play in the majors with his son, Eric. Jr. That wish was never granted, but his next one just might be.
“My new dream is to talk about my son on ESPN,” Young said.
The former Rockies outfielder and second baseman recently signed with ESPN as an analyst for “Baseball Tonight.” He began his job Friday, working the San Francisco Giants’ Cactus League game in Scottsdale. Young replaces Harold Reynolds, who was fired last year.
“It feels kind of strange to be on the other side of baseball,” Young said of his new gig.
Eric Young, Jr. is a minor league outfielder in the Rockies organization. At Single-A Asheville (N.C.) last season, he hit .295 and stole 87 bases.
“He has a chance to be a better ballplayer than I was, but he needs experience,” his father said. “The advice I gave him during the offseason was to take responsibility for his own mistakes.”
Eric Young Sr. put an indelible stamp on Rockies history on April 9, 1993, at Mile High Stadium. In that game, the Rockies’ first-ever home opener, Young led off the bottom of the first with a home run. He played for the Rockies from 1993-97, hitting .317 in 1995 and .324 in 1996.
Young recently retired after 15 seasons in the majors. He spent most of last season with the Padres, was released, then played four games with the Rangers. He finished his career with a .283 average and 465 stolen bases.
Hirsh roughed up
Starter Jason Hirsh’s sunny spring turned ugly this afternoon when he got the hook in the fourth inning.
The promising rookie right-hander, a key component of the Jason Jennings deal with Houston, entered today’s game having allowed no runs and three hits in two brief appearances. But he was wildly inefficient today against the White Sox, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits and walking four in 3 2/3 innings.
By the numbers: .471
That’s center fielder Steve Finley’s spring average (8-for-17). Heading into today’s game, Finley had hit safely in 5-of-6 games. In the last four games he was 6-for-12 with a double, triple and two RBIs.
Staff writer Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
