PHOENIX — It’s now too late to say it’s too early. Before their 40th game, the season’s quarter pole, the Rockies held a players-only meeting. They kept the details private, but in recent days the message among players has been simple: Focus on playing more unselfishly, on doing the little things well.
There’s no secret why the Rockies began Wednesday nine games under .500. Their starting pitchers owned a 5.47 ERA, and the team was batting .228 with runners in scoring position with a staggering 84 strikeouts.
“We deserve to be right where we are because we haven’t played winning baseball in any facet,” pitching coach Bob Apodaca said before the meeting was held.
“This is a hole that every one of us, from the coaching staff to the players, has to find a way out of. We have to push different buttons. I am not going to say our backs are against the wall, but we need to play with professional pride. It’s not just about living up to your employer’s expectations, but your teammates’ expectations.”
Jeff Francis has become a poster child for the dismal start. The ace of the staff is winless in eight starts. Francis was sabotaged by his changeup Tuesday, cutting it across the plate rather than diving it away from right- handers. That should be a simple mechanical adjustment. For now, there are no plans to push back Francis’ next start.
“In order for us to start turning this season around, Jeff is going to be a very big part of it,” Apodaca said. “I don’t know that more days off would be more beneficial than him facing these problems and meeting them head-on. He’s a blue-collar type pitcher in the trenches who excels at grinding things out.”
Spy placed on DL.
A stint on the disabled list became reality Wednesday when Ryan Speier couldn’t throw for a second straight day because of a bruised right rotator cuff. He was replaced on the roster by left-hander Josh Newman. Speier was examined Wednesday in Phoenix and X-rays were negative. Apodaca said the Rockies can work around Speier’s absence. This is Newman’s second callup this season. He posted a 1.59 ERA in Triple-A.
Footnotes.
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has begun strengthening exercises on his torn right quadriceps, feeling no pain. . . . Pitcher Kip Wells, who underwent surgery to relieve blood clots in his pitching hand, is riding a stationary bike and will begin baseball activities next week in Denver.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
