TUCSON — A couple of hours before today’s Cubs-Rockies game, Colorado general manager Dan O’Dowd watched closer Manny Corpas warm up.
“Hey, Manny, it’s time for you to crank it up,” O’Dowd said.
O’Dowd smiled when he said it, but his message was clear.
The Rockies are expecting big things out of Corpas, who earlier in spring training signed a four-year, $8.025 million deal with two club option years that, if exercised, would increase the value to $22.025 million.
Thursday, in the Rockies’ 8-6 loss to the Cubs in Mesa, Corpas was lackluster, giving up two runs on four hits in one inning.
Today, in the Rockies’ 7-3 victory over the Cubs at Hi Corbett Field, Corpas pitched a crisp seventh, setting the Cubs down in order on two groundballs and a pop fly. He looked like the pitcher who converted 19 of 20 saves after taking over the closer role last season.
“He was another guy that, after yesterday’s performance, we wanted to see him get in the express lane over the next week,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He’s got to pitch inside and dial up the velocity. He’s been working on things, with a plan and with a purpose, but now it’s time to crank things up across the board.”
Meanwhile, Mark Redman showed excellent command of his sinker and changeup to help his bid to make the starting rotation. He held the Cubs to two runs on seven hits over six innings.
“My approach is really not to show I belong, that will take care of itself,” Redman said. “My focus is just to get that sinker down and get results off it. I got a lot of groundballs today and our defense played outstanding.”
Redman, competing with Kip Wells, Josh Towers and Franklin Morales for a fourth or fifth spot in the rotation, is pitching from a comfort zone. He impressed the Rockies last September, going 2-0 with a 3.20 ERA in five appearances/three starts.
“I think I made my impression last season down the stretch,” Redman said. “That’s giving me a leash a little bit this spring training. They know what I can do.”
In a minor-league game against Arizona’s Double-A team, Towers pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, including a solo homer. He threw 64 pitches, 46 for strikes.
“I thought I threw pretty good,” Towers said. “When I was up, I was able to bring it back in the zone. I used my slider really well today.”
Staff ace Jeff Francis pitched six solid innings against the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A team. Francis gave up two runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking none. Although he would have preferred to have pitched against the Cubs at Hi Corbett Field rather than on the back fields in minor-league action, Francis was pleased with his day’s work.
“I think I could be a little more consistent with my execution, but overall I feel good,” he said. “But it’s definitely different over there, especially when there are 8,000 people or whatever at the (big league) game. It’s a little more intense, more game speed. But you go over there to get your work in, and I think I accomplished that.”
Podsednik audition
Outfielder Scott Podsednik doesn’t know if he’ll make the Rockies” roster, but he’s positive he can play for somebody. Indeed, the former White Sox speedster believes he can be a starter.
“I feel like I can go out and be an impact player again, and I feel as good as I did back in ’05,” he said, referring to the year he helped the White Sox win the World Series. “I feel like I’m running just as well and I’m just as strong.”
The battle for the fifth and final outfield spot has come down to Cory Sullivan and Podsednik. Sullivan’s defense and long history with the Rockies organization seems to give him the edge, but Podsednik believes he’s been able to showcase his talent.
“I think I’ve come in and had a good spring and showed them that my legs are underneath me and that I’m healthy again,” he said. “I feel like I have played well enough to make somebody’s club. If not the Rockies, hopefully I can play somewhere else.”
Footnotes
Bolstered by spring breakers, the Rockies drew 8,597 fans today at Hi Corbett. Thursday’s Rockies-Cubs game at HoHoKam Park in Mesa drew 12,885 fans, the fourth largest crowd in that park’s history. Pitcher John Patterson, released by the Nationals, is not on the Rockies’ radar. While the Rockies have liked him in the past, general manager Dan O’Dowd said he had concerns about Patterson’s health.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
