There will be no Rockies’ winter Fanfest before the 2008 season, leaving the first opportunity for fans to cheer the National League pennant winners Feb. 27. That’s when Colorado will open its 16th spring-training exhibition season on the road against the Chicago White Sox.
The Rockies will play 31 spring-training games (schedule Page 13D), including 15 at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson. They will conclude Friday, March 28, at Chase Field in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks before opening the regular season on the road at St. Louis.
Spring-training tickets can be purchased beginning at 9 a.m. on Jan. 12 at Hi Corbett, Coors Field, dugout stores, King Soopers, on the club’s website or by calling 1-800-388-ROCK.
Serafini suspended. Left-handed reliever Dan Serafini, who pitched briefly for the Rockies last season, was suspended for 50 games Tuesday after testing positive for a banned substance. Serafini appeared in three games for the Rockies, compiling a 54.00 ERA. He is a free agent.
Serafini released the following statement:
“Although I understand that I must accept the terms of the suspension, I want to make it known that I did not use any banned substances in order to gain a competitive advantage. However, while playing baseball in Japan, I suffered two significant injuries that limited my playing time. While trying to accelerate the healing process of these injuries, I took substances that were prescribed for me by a doctor in Japan. What I did not know at the time was that these substances would cause me to test positive once I returned to the U.S. I have not taken these or any banned substances since returning to the U.S. and signing with the Rockies organization in July.”
