ATLANTA — There is no bridge to Huston Street.
Manager Clint Hurdle admitted as much Monday as the musical chairs in the bullpen continued after the freak injury to Matt Daley. The right-hander landed on the disabled list with a sprained foot/ankle. Daley said he will undergo an MRI today in Denver. The Rockies summoned Triple-A’s Joel Peralta to replace him.
Ideally, Peralta would be eased into the mix. But that luxury doesn’t exist. Heck, with a few solid outings, he could be the primary right-handed setup man despite not signing until after spring training.
“I am going to mix and match, use the best available guy that night to find a way to get to Street,” Hurdle said. “We haven’t been able to do that, and it’s been frustrating.”
Alan Embree and Jason Grilli, two of the primary setup men when the season began, have struggled recently.
Aaron Cook was in the bullpen Monday, but not as a demotion. With the relievers taxed after Sunday’s seventh-inning fiasco in Pittsburgh. Cook, whose stiff back is better, volunteered to throw his side session during the game, if necessary.
Peralta went 4-0 with a 3.60 ERA in Triple-A and owns a 4.45 big-league ERA in 194 games with the Angels and Royals. He credits Royals pitching coach Bob McClure, who worked for the Sky Sox for years, for steering him in Colorado’s direction when he became a free agent.
“He was like my dad in Kansas City. He was really good for me,” the right-hander said. “He said it was a good organization. I am glad I did it. Now I will be ready to do whatever they need when they call down (to the bullpen).”
Baylor improves.
Out with pneumonia, Rockies hitting instructor Don Baylor was released from a Denver-area hospital Monday. If he makes progress at home the next two days, he will rejoin the Rockies in Detroit. He has been watching the games and communicating messages to players.
Footnote.
Garrett Atkins did not start for the second consecutive day. Hurdle will look for matchups and improvement during pregame batting practice to determine when Atkins will be in the lineup again.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
