TULSA, Okla. — Opening day is a sunrise away and Rockies manager Jim Tracy has yet to decide on his starting second baseman.
“That’s something I’m still mulling over,” Tracy said. “We have a number of wonderful options depending on what we’re up against. We have an opportunity to pick and choose in given situations.”
Translation: It’s nobody’s job. Jose Lopez was acquired to play there, but Tracy plans to give Jonathan Herrera and Ty Wigginton significant playing time. Any of them could find himself starting Friday at Coors Field against the Diamondbacks.
“Opening day is an event, but it’s the first of 162 games we have to go out there,” Tracy said. “All those situations will resolve themselves as we move forward.”
There’s no doubt that Wigginton would give the Rockies more pop than they’ve been accustomed to at second. He has four 20-homer seasons on his resume and hit .304 with three home runs and a team-leading 14 RBIs in the Cactus League.
Herrera batted .371 in Arizona, but profiles as a utility infielder. Lopez hit .224 with no home runs and four RBIs in 58 at-bats, but Tracy is eager to see him hit during the season. His numbers were .272-25-96 for the Mariners in 2009.
“The ceiling of Jose Lopez continues to go like this,” said Tracy, raising his hand. “I guarantee you there’s more bat there than what we’ve seen so far. He’s given us glimpses of it at times. I’m excited about him, no question, but they’ll all play.”
Stewart update.
Ian Stewart DH’d in a minor-league game in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Wednesday, launching two home runs against the Giants’ Triple-A team. Stewart (left hamstring cramp) will play third base in Arizona today before the Rockies decide whether to put him on the 25-man roster or place him on the 15-day disabled list.
It’s official.
If Stewart lands on the DL, the Rockies would carry Willy Taveras as a fifth outfielder on the opening-day roster. Tracy informed him of the team’s plans on the flight to Tulsa, where the Rockies on Wednesday played their Double-A affiliate at ONEOK Field.
The Rockies are carrying 39 players on their 40-man roster, with the last spot ticketed for Jason Giambi. If Stewart doesn’t open the season, Aaron Cook would figure to be placed on the 60-day disabled list.
Footnotes.
Tracy said the Rockies wouldn’t announce a decision on the backup catcher until today. Each of the candidates, Matt Pagnozzi and Jose Morales, made the trip to Tulsa. . . . Temperatures were in the low 40s in Tulsa, and that’s not all that was cold. The Rockies were no-hit for eight innings by a handful of Drillers pitchers, including starter Christian Friedrich, who went six innings. Friedrich, a left-hander, was the Rockies’ No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft.
