SURPRISE, Ariz. — As far as his manager is concerned, Joe Beimel isn’t ready to start the season. But he sure looked like it Monday.
Beimel’s Cactus League debut with the Rockies was a breeze as he needed only nine pitches to retire all three Texas hitters he faced. His fastball hit 89 mph and he even got Andres Blanco and Julio Borbon with his slider, a pitch that deserted Beimel last season.
“I’d always thrown a slider, and for some reason last year it kind of morphed into a curveball,” Beimel said. “I wasn’t comfortable throwing it at all last year. So what I worked on this winter was getting back to more of a slider break on it.”
Beimel, signed last week to provide left-handed depth in the bullpen, called the outing “something to build on.” All indications are he will do it in extended spring training.
Rockies manager Jim Tracy said last week it wasn’t feasible to expect Beimel to open the season on such short notice. And Monday didn’t do anything to change his mind.
“That’s still the term I’d use,” Tracy said. “I’m not going to lay in bed at night thinking we rushed toward a decision . . . and then see him walk out there and get hurt.”
Stewart dialed in.
Ian Stewart’s impressive spring continues. He blasted a home run in the second inning, but it was a groundball single that caught Tracy’s attention. The hit came through the hole at shortstop after Miguel Olivo had advanced to second on a wild pitch. “That was a tremendous piece of hitting,” Tracy said. “That was an at-bat that you wouldn’t have seen him take last year.”
Hammel ready to roll.
Jason Hammel, who will stay in Arizona to pitch to minor-leaguers since he isn’t scheduled to pitch in the opening series at Milwaukee, allowed five runs and five hits in his final Cactus League appearance. Now for the asterisk: It would have been three runs if not for a two-out, bad-hop single by Vladimir Guerrero that preceded a two-run homer by Nelson Cruz in the fifth.
Said Hammel: “I must have really ticked somebody off to get that hop.”
Hammel said he finally felt comfortable throwing his slider, using 10 to 15 in a 90-pitch outing. “I’m ready to make them count,” he said.
Quote, unquote.
Tracy on the Rangers: “I don’t know how many runs you need to beat them on a given day, but it looks like more than two or three are going to be necessary to beat that squad. They can flat hit.”
Jim Armstrong, The Denver Post
Rangers 7, Rockies 6
Surprise Stadium
Hits: The Rockies, again showing aggressiveness on the bases, scored in the seventh inning Monday on a squeeze bunt by Jonathan Herrera. . . . Ian Stewart hit a two-run homer, his first of the spring, off Rangers starter Matt Harrison. . . . Carlos Gonzalez doubled and singled in his first two at-bats, both to center field. . . . Franklin Morales showed he’s ready for the regular season, pitching a spotless inning.
Misses: Chris Nelson struck out to end the game on a 101 mph heater from Rangers setup man Neftali Perez, who was consistently clocked in the high 90s and low 100s. . . . Rafael Betancourt, in his second Cactus League outing, struggled with his location. He served up doubles to Michael Young and Nelson Cruz that barely missed being home runs. . . . The Rockies had no idea how to deal with Cruz, who finished with two doubles and a towering home run to center off Jason Hammel.
What’s next: L.A. Dodgers, 2:10 p.m. today, Hi Corbett Field. Greg Smith vs. Eric Stults.
Jim Armstrong, The Denver Post
