TUCSON — Before Joe Beimel arrived in camp, he jokingly insisted the only thing he had missed by arriving a month late was a farmer’s tan.
While general manager Dan O’Dowd and manager Jim Tracy were pessimistic about the left-hander’s chances of breaking camp, Beimel took a small step in convincing them otherwise Wednesday.
The veteran threw live batting practice during the Rockies’ lone off day of the spring, and was impressive enough that he believes he will pitch in a game Saturday.
“It went really good,” Beimel said. “I would like to go Friday but I think (pitching coach Bob) Apodaca wants to give me two days off. They want to see how I bounce back, and I don’t anticipate any problems.”
Because he signed in March last spring, Beimel braced for that possibility again this year. As such, he altered his winter workouts, and was throwing every other day beginning in December, as many as 55 pitches at Redondo Beach South High School. The Rockies have one clear bullpen vacancy following the injury to closer Huston Street.
Beimel made the Nationals’ opening-day roster last year after signing on March 18. The difference, obviously, is that the Rockies fashion themselves as a World Series contender. So Beimel must be better, explained Tracy, “than what we already have in camp.”
Still, his outing Wednesday kept the door slightly ajar.
“I think they were pleasantly surprised with the shape that I am in, so that’s good,” said Beimel, who signed an $850,000 minor-league deal that includes $300,000 in incentives and a mid-May out date. “I am very confident I’ll be ready.”
Footnotes
Left-hander Greg Smith endured his worst outing of the spring, though few people saw it and it won’t count against his statistics. Facing minor leaguers, Smith worked five innings, allowing 11 hits, six earned runs, no walks and four strikeouts. Smith, who is not being considered for a relief role, is expected to open the season in Triple-A Colorado Springs as the first option if there is an issue with the rotation. …
Tim Redding is scheduled to work four innings Saturday, leaving him in position to earn a potential roster spot if the Rockies choose to go with a long reliever rather than a one-inning bullpen pitcher. …
Ubaldo Jimenez starts against the Reds on Thursday at Hi Corbett Field.
