LOS ANGELES —The experimentation continues as the Rockies search for a viable starting rotation.
On Friday, the Rockies sent prized lefty Drew Pomeranz to Triple-A Colorado Springs to work on his mechanics. Pomeranz, who was 0-2 with a 4.70 ERA in five starts, was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland.
Lefty reliever Josh Outman, back from a stint rehabbing a strained oblique muscle, took Pomeranz’s place on the 25-man roster.
“I think, really, this is the right thing to do,” manager Jim Tracy said. “There are a couple of things in relation to Drew’s delivery that we need to get cleaned up. I think it’s important — knowing how special he is, and the potential that he has — that we get him right. We don’t want him up in the big leagues right now just trying to get by.”
Pomeranz suffered a nasty bruise on his right thigh Monday night when he was struck by a line drive during a game at San Diego. Tracy said the bruise had nothing to do with the Rockies’ decision to send Pomeranz down.
“It has to do with his mechanics and his capability to repeat his delivery,” Tracy said.
Pomeranz will pitch for the Sky Sox on Sunday at Memphis.
Also factoring into the equation were the strong performances this week by youngsters Alex White and Christian Friedrich. White will start Sunday against the Dodgers, and Friedrich will start Monday in San Francisco. Jeremy Guthrie, his right shoulder healed, will return from the disabled list and start Tuesday against the Giants.
Pomeranz was not available to the media before Friday night’s game, but Tracy said the young left-hander took the demotion well.
“He gets it, he understands,” Tracy said. “After explaining to him about creating a different environment, where you have the opportunity to step back, take a couple of deep breaths and work on the stuff, not worry about the result, he’s all in.”
Tulo time. After two days of rest, Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was back in the starting lineup Friday night vs. the Dodgers. Tulo has been bothered by a slight groin pull that dates to spring training. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
