PHOENIX – Though thrilled with the Rockies’ victory in Game 1, Aaron Cook didn’t hide his disappointment at being left off the National League Championship Series roster.
“I thought I was ready to pitch, so yeah, I’m disappointed,” he said in the Rockies’ businesslike clubhouse. “Clint did what he thought was best for the team, so I respect that.”
Cook said he didn’t know whether he would be added to the roster if the Rockies advanced to the World Series.
“I can’t answer that,” Cook said. “I just have to stay prepared and be ready. Right now, I’m just so proud and happy of what this team is doing. I still feel a part of it, but I’d like to be a part of it on the field.”
After a solid tuneup in an Instructional League game Wednesday, the right-hander expected to rejoin the Rockies’ rotation for the first time since Aug. 10. He drove from Tucson to Chase Field, where his optimism was shattered by bad news.
General manager Dan O’Dowd watched Cook’s outing and was open to putting the right-hander in the bullpen and going with one fewer bench player. That idea was nixed because Cook threw 90 pitches Wednesday, leaving him unavailable until Sunday.
So the Rockies’ opening-day starter was out. O’Dowd called it a “gut-wrenching” choice. He said Cook would remain under consideration if the team advanced to the World Series or suffered an injury. Acknowledging that Cook wasn’t happy, O’Dowd provided insight into the team’s thinking.
For starters, there was never a consideration of not using rookie Franklin Morales, 21, even though he let his emotions overwhelm him against the Phillies. Ultimately the Rockies couldn’t ignore Josh Fogg’s success against the Diamondbacks this season (2.63 ERA) or how his finesse in Game 3 represented a change of pace sandwiched between the flame-dripping fastballs of Ubaldo Jimenez and Morales.
“It’s hard not to think with your heart. But you have to think more with your head,” O’Dowd said. “When players take a step back and are unemotional about it, common sense will prevail. It would be surprised if it didn’t. But again, you have got to make the decision, you can’t let them.”
While there was plenty of involved discussions regarding the rotation, here’s one item that never came up: pitching Jeff Francis on three days’ rest Monday.
“We aren’t going to do something now we haven’t done all season,” O’Dowd said.
As for Morales going in Game 4, the Rockies wanted to give him a chance to watch a home game while learning something from Jimenez and calming his nerves.
