PHOENIX — The drive up Interstate 10 for Cactus League games may become shorter for the Rockies if their plan to move to Marana comes to fruition.
The Rockies have talked with Tucson officials about building the team a new facility in Marana, located 20 minutes east of downtown Tucson. Club executives envision a ballpark with the mountains in the background, not far from the highway. Rockies owner Charlie Monfort confirmed that talks are ongoing.
“We would like to start building by the all-star break if it goes through,” Monfort said.
The Rockies would likely continue training at Hi Corbett Field for two more years. Colorado has enjoyed its stay there, but is facing a crossroads. The Chicago White Sox are bent on leaving Tucson for Glendale, Ariz., next season to share a complex with the Los Angeles Dodgers. If the White Sox go, the Arizona Diamondbacks have talked about relocating to Phoenix. If either team leaves Tucson, the Rockies can break their lease at Hi Corbett Field.
In moving to Marana, the Rockies would be trying to keep ties to Tucson while also easing travel for both themselves and opponents.
“We have been (in Tucson) since our inception and our thoughts are to stay here,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
Stay a good sign.
The stay of discipline for major-leaguers Jose Guillen and Jay Gibbons for 10 days bodes well for Rockies reliever Matt Herges, who is facing a suspension for admitted use of performance-enhancing drugs. Herges was implicated in the Mitchell report.
Sen. George Mitchell recommended amnesty for those named in his investigation, which appears to be gaining momentum based on recent actions regarding Guillen and Gibbons.
Both had been suspended for 15 days on Dec. 6 after media reports linked them to illegal drug use. If the players association and the owners reach an agreement on more frequent testing and more authority for an independent test administrator, players like Herges who were named in the Mitchell report could go unpunished.
“I haven’t heard anything yet,” Herges said.
Sullivan update.
At spring training’s finish line, Scott Podsednik’s speed nosed him past Cory Sullivan for the Rockies’ final roster spot. Hurdle wanted a different bench dynamic, with Podsednik providing a burst on the bases and an alternative leadoff hitter when Willy Taveras needs a break.
Sullivan admitted it was difficult to learn that he would start his second consecutive year at Triple-A Colorado Springs.
“It’s disappointing,” Sullivan said. “You have to accept it. There’s nothing I can do about it.”
Footnotes.
With Jonathan Herrera and Omar Quintanilla set to start in Triple-A, the Rockies traded utilityman Matt Kata to the Pittsburgh Pirates. . . . Pitchers Jose Capellan and Josh Towers cleared waivers and have been assigned to Colorado Springs.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
