GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Rockies’ scheduled off day April 10 is creating flexibility as manager Jim Tracy draws closer to finalizing his rotation and bullpen. He’s mulling a four-man starting staff to begin the season.
Tracy conceded that including 49-year-old Jamie Moyer in the rotation “feels like the right thing to do” but that the team was still sifting through questions about the pitcher’s ability to recover every five days.
“I have never been in this position before with a 49-year-old starter. There’s no crystal ball,” Tracy said.
Tracy and pitching coach Bob Apodaca spoke with Moyer on Thursday and were encouraged that the left-hander felt only normal leg and upper back soreness following Wednesday’s 89-pitch outing.
As part of the Moyer discussion, Tracy revealed that the club has talked about starting the season with only four starters, possibly skipping rookie Drew Pomeranz until a fifth man is needed on April 15 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This would serve two purposes: conserve innings for the prized rookie, who’s expected to be capped at roughly 170 this season, while freeing a spot for an eighth reliever or extra bench player.
The possibility of Moyer making the team and pitching in Game 2, between opening-day starter Jeremy Guthrie and Juan Nicasio, also exists, Tracy admitted. This would sandwich two innings eaters around Moyer as protection, and also provide a jarring sequence of a 95-mph right-hander followed by an 80-mph lefty and a 97-mph righty. In that scenario, Jhoulys Chacin would start the home opener against the Giants, with Guthrie pitching on April 11.
The bullpen competition remains fierce. Rafael Betancourt, Matt Belisle and Rex Brothers are locks, with a lot of possibilities. Between left-handers Matt Reynolds and Josh Outman, one will make the pen, possibly both. It would leave Esmil Rogers, Josh Roenicke, Edgmer Escalona and Guillermo Moscoso in the mix for the final spots.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
