SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The day after 49-year-old Jamie Moyer staked his claim to the final spot in the Rockies’ rotation by throwing four perfect innings, 22-year-old Tyler Chatwood stumbled trying to do the same.
Chatwood’s fastball and usually snappy curve stayed up in the zone, and he paid for it Friday. The right-hander gave up nine runs (seven earned) on nine hits in 4 ⅓ innings in a 10-8 loss to the Cubs. Chicago’s Geovany Soto hit a pair of mammoth two-run homers off him.
“I got ahead of some hitters, but I couldn’t finish them when I had to,” Chatwood said.
He hung a slider for Soto’s first homer. On the second homer, Chatwood said, “He just ambushed me and got the first pitch.”
If manager Jim Tracy knows how his rotation sets up, he’s not ready to reveal it. He did say he would like to have things in place by Wednesday.
Regarding Chatwood, Tracy said: “The ball was up today. His timing is vitally important, and if it is off, you are going to see what you saw today.”
Arenado sent down. Rockies third base prospect Nolan Arenado, who arrived at spring training with dreams of sticking with the big-league club, was reassigned to the minors.
That doesn’t mean the Rockies’ second-round pick from 2009 didn’t impress, despite hitting just .192 in 12 Cactus League games.
“If I were a betting man, I would say he’s going to get to the (big leagues) sooner rather than later,” Tracy said.
Footnotes. Right-hander Alex White, once a contender for the rotation, appears headed for the bullpen. He pitched one inning Thursday and is scheduled to pitch one or two innings Sunday. …
In addition to Arenado, the other Rockies moved down to the minors were right-handed pitchers Zach Putnam and Carlos Torres, outfielder Tim Wheeler and infielders DJ LeMahieu and Chad Tracy. …
Outfielder Charlie Blackmon continues to deal with a sore big toe. It has kept him out of two games, and the Rockies are conducting tests to find out the cause of the injury.
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
