Benjamin Button has nothing on him.
Consider it the Curious Case of Chris Iannetta. At times, he looks like a future star. Then for long stretches, the catcher becomes a ghost in uniform, or worse, a Sky Sox.
Of all the lineup tweaks recently, the most noticeable in San Francisco was the one never made. Iannetta didn’t start or receive a single at-bat against the Giants.
He left the clubhouse quickly after Wednesday’s game. And he swiftly made a statement Thursday for more playing time. In his first opportunity, Iannetta clubbed a three-run home run. It appeared personal to Iannetta, who admired his shot and flipped his bat. The Rockies’ catching situation bears watching this offseason.
Iannetta is under contract for two more seasons, guaranteed $6.6 million. The Red Sox were among the teams interested in acquiring him in July.
Miguel Olivo, the Rockies’ starter, has a club option for $2.5 million next season. Olivo made a case for the all-star team in the first half but has batted just .165 with two home runs in 97 at-bats since the break. Iannetta owns a .197 average with two home runs in 61 at-bats during that same stretch.
You the Manny.
Three years later, reliever Manny Delcarmen is finally a Rockie. The club attempted to acquire him in the Mike Lowell-Todd Helton deal that fizzled. Delcarmen grew up in Boston as the local-kid-makes-good story. But he welcomed the trade because he admittedly no longer had a role in the Red Sox bullpen.
“And (Rockies’) management told me today that they aren’t just looking at me for September — that they want me to be here,” said the right-hander, who is under the team’s control for two more seasons.
Delcarmen will be worked into a sixth-inning role and, if his command improves, could ease the burden on Matt Belisle.
Elbow talk.
Manuel Corpas admitted Thursday that he considered having Tommy John elbow surgery last season when bone chips were removed. But doctors told him to keep pitching until the ligament tore. That happened last week, leaving Corpas out for roughly a calendar year.
“I will get through this,” Corpas said.
Lamenting the loss.
Twenty hours later, catcher Olivo still couldn’t wrap his head around Wednesday’s throwing error.
“I just wanted to dig a hole and crawl in. I lost the game for us,” Olivo said.
Footnote.
This much is certain: Ubaldo Jimenez is starting Monday against the Reds. Where the rest of the rotation fits is slightly uncertain, hinging on Aaron Cook’s game tonight. If Cook pitches well, Esmil Rogers will go to the bullpen.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
