CHICAGO — Yorvit Torrealba began serving his two-game suspension today by napping at the team hotel.
“I can’t be here, so I might as well get some sleep,” Torrealba said. “I am not a morning person.”
Edwin Bellorin, hitting .310 in Triple-A, arrived to take Torrealba’s roster spot for the next two days. Infielder Jonathan Herrera was optioned out to make room on the roster.
“I am going to enjoy this even if I just get pinch-hit or watch,” Bellorin said.
Herrera impressed the Rockies with his versatility. He played shortstop and second base well, but needs to continue to show improvement with his bat. He has worked himself into the utility player mix, though Omar Quintanilla is likely to fill that role if Troy Tulowitzki and Clint Barmes return this weekend.
Manager Clint Hurdle indicated that calling up an infielder to fill out the bench is a possibility until then. First baseman Joe Koshansky is the only infielder in Triple-A on the 40-man roster. Theoretically, he could be used as a left-handed pinch-hitter.
“I just want to have good energy and help a team out any way I can,” Herrera said after his demotion. “I will go down there and work hard to get back. It’s good to know that the team has confidence in the way I played.”
Hurdle appeared to be leaning toward Jorge De La Rosa for Thursday’s start against Cleveland rather than Glendon Rusch. He called Rusch’s Triple-A outing Saturday “fair.” De La Rosa pitched five scoreless innings in Saturday’s win.
“I was able to command my pitches,” De La Rosa said. “They haven’t told me anything about what I will do next. I will wait and see.”
The Rockies will try to win their fourth consecutive series today with Aaron Cook on the mound. Colorado is 10-4 in Cook’s starts. The White Sox made a late lineup change, scratching first baseman Paul Konerko. That leaves Nick Swisher at first base and regular second baseman Alexei Ramirez in center field.
A look:
Rockies (27-41)AVGHRRBI
CF Willy Taveras.238112
DH Scott Podsednik.222110
LF Matt Holliday.316828
1B Todd Helton.289726
3B Garrett Atkins.309938
RF Brad Hawpe.249624
C Chris Iannetta.278621
2B Ian Stewart.24435
SS Omar Quintanilla.24318
RHP Aaron Cook(9-3, 3.21)
White Sox (38-30)
SS Orlando Cabrera.260423
C A.J. Pierzynski.304426
RF Jermaine Dye.2811027
DH Jim Thome.2191333
3B Joe Crede.2781441
1B Nick Swisher.218824
LF Brian Anderson.258210
CF Alexei Ramirez.287417
2B Juan Uribe.198317
RHP Jose Contreras(6-4, 3.18)
