Phoenix – As Brian Lawrence headed to Tucson, Rodrigo Lopez, if only briefly, exited the rotation with elbow inflammation.
Lawrence agreed to make a final Triple-A rehab start today after being told his future with the team will be decided Monday when he’s eligible to come off the disabled list.
“The reason I made these starts in the first place is because I want to be with the Rockies,” Lawrence said. “But it’s not up to me.”
If Lawrence is not added to the 25-man roster, he can refuse to remain on the DL and request his release. Based on Lopez’s optimism, his injury doesn’t figure to influence the roster decision on Lawrence. Lopez experienced slight swelling in his elbow after Tuesday’s start in Los Angeles. He said he could have pitched today if it were later in the season, but agreed to proceed with caution, pushing his next start to Wednesday.
“I had this problem a little bit at the end of last season. But it was fine in spring training. It feels a lot better,” said Lopez, who didn’t require an MRI. “It’s no big deal. They just want to be careful.”
Through two games, Lopez has been the Rockies’ most effective and efficient starter. He has required only 145 pitches to navigate 13 innings. Pitching coach Bob Apodaca said Lopez was moved to Wednesday because it creates the least disruption for the rest of the staff.
Byung-Hyun Kim, whom the team continues to try to trade, will start in Lopez’s place today. The Rockies’ most involved talks have been with the Baltimore Orioles, though they balked at the Rockies’ asking price of relievers Todd Williams and Scott Williamson.
Nice gesture for Mr. 1,000
Todd Helton doesn’t talk much about statistics, but admitted that reaching 1,000 career RBIs on Friday night humbled him.
Helton said he will give the ball to the Rockies to permanently display. He received a more meaningful gift from his teammates Saturday – a bottle of Dom Perignon signed by all the players. Steve Finley presented the bottle to Helton in front of the team.
“It was really a nice thing for them to do. It means a lot,” Helton said.
Footnotes
Rockies players were disappointed to learn that Houston’s Jason Jennings will miss up to three starts, if not more, with elbow tendinitis. Jennings earned respect last season from teammates by pitching much of the second half of last season in pain. … There is only a 50 percent chance Arizona’s Randy Johnson will make his season debut Thursday at San Diego. Johnson will decide after a bullpen session Monday if he’s ready to be activated. … Arizona’s Brandon Webb received his NL Cy Young Award before the game along with a custom guitar. The first 35,000 fans received bobbleheads in his likeness.
