TUCSON — Greg Smith took a step forward Wednesday, albeit a baby step, in his quest to be part of the Rockies’ starting rotation.
While most of his teammates reveled in their only day off of spring training, Smith pitched two perfect innings against Arizona’s Single-A and Double-A players. Smith’s line — no hits, four strikeouts — was good, but that wasn’t the most important thing. Coming back from a nasty flu bug that put him in bed for a week with a 101-degree fever, Smith needed the work.
“I would have liked to be a little sharper, and I let a few fastballs get away,” Smith said. “But other than that, I felt OK. I thought it was good for the first time back.”
Smith said his arm strength is at only about 80 percent.
“It was probably more than I had hoped for, given he’s been out as long as he has,” pitching coach Bob Apodaca said.
Apodaca added that there’s still a chance Smith could be ready for the regular season.
The first three spots in the rotation are set with Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Marquis. Jorge De La Rosa, who has been erratic, is sketched in at No. 4.
The fifth spot remains up for grabs with Smith, Franklin Morales and Greg Reynolds. Josh Fogg is a longshot.
Footnotes.
Reynolds pitched five innings in a minor-league game at Tucson Electric Park, allowing four runs and five hits. . . . Morales is scheduled to start against the Dodgers today in Glendale, Ariz.
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
