The Rockies have a love-hate relationship with their new left-handed starter, Greg Smith. While smitten with his competitive spirit and pitching knowledge, they are concerned about his control.
“To take the next step, he needs to cut down his walks dramatically,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “But I tell you what, he’s got a tremendous feel as a pitcher, he’s a tremendous athlete and he’s got a lot of guts. He’s got moxie.”
The Rockies acquired Smith in the Matt Holliday trade this week. A fifth-round draft choice by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of Arizona State in 2005, Smith became a hot prospect, not because he threw heat, but because he showed he could use all his pitches.
But as a rookie starter with Oakland last season, he ran hot and cold, walking 87 batters in 190 1/3 innings while striking out 111.
“Looking back, that wasn’t me,” Smith said. “Last season, I walked more guys than at any time in my life. But you have to learn from that and I think I have. Cutting down the walks is the No. 1 priority for me.”
Despite his control issues, Smith had a more-than-representative ERA, 4.16, though his win-loss record was a horrid 7-16. His main pitches are a cut fastball, a curve and a changeup. In 32 starts, he lasted seven innings or longer just seven times.
O’Dowd projects Smith as a back-of-the-rotation starter who could slot higher if he improves his control.
“There’s a limit to what he’s got because he’s not blessed with an unbelievable arm,” O’Dowd said. “But he really knows how to carve people up, so he should get better.”
Smith, who turns 25 next month, believes his failures as a rookie are correctable.
“I really don’t think it was a lack of pitch command,” he said. “I think 99 percent of it was mental. Going up against Double-A and Triple-A guys, you have that confidence in your pitches. But then you get up against the big-league guys and they make the strike zone seem so small. I just have to trust my pitches more.”
Smith recently underwent surgery to remove a small bone chip in his pitching elbow but said he’ll be ready for spring training.
As it stands, right-handers Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez and left-hander Jeff Francis are at the top of the rotation. After that, it’s a scramble, with Smith likely to fill the No. 4 or No. 5 spot. The Rockies hope talented but erratic lefty Franklin Morales bounces back from a disastrous 2008 season. After a shaky start, left-hander Jorge De La Rosa (10-8, 4.92 ERA) was pitching better at season’s end.
Young right-handers Jason Hirsh and Greg Reynolds still must prove they are big-league ready.
Footnote.
Don Baylor, the first manager in Rockies history, took a step toward a possible return to purple pinstripes Thursday. Baylor interviewed with O’Dowd and manager Clint Hurdle for a position on Hurdle’s revamped staff.
“We talked about both the bench coach job and hitting instructor, both jobs I’m qualified for,” Baylor said. “It was a great interview. I felt good about it. But it was a little eerie, going back to the organization you started your managerial career with.”
The Rockies are expected to announce the new staff next week. Former Seattle manager John McLaren and Triple-A Colorado Springs manager Tom Runnells interviewed last week about the bench and third-base jobs. It is believed roving pitching coordinator Jim Wright will be hired as bullpen coach.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
