Results tagged ‘ Jeff Baker ’
No patience with walks
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle has attempted to maintain a consistent and calm demeanor, even though the execution and fundamentals the Rockies emphasized all spring have been lacking. But that patience disappears when relievers can’t throw strikes in the late innings of close games.
Huston Street lost his closer job that way last week at Wrigley Field. Tuesday night, Hurdle unceremoniously yanked righty setup man Jason Grilli when he walked two in the eighth inning of the 9-6 victory over the D-backs.
There would have been cause for Hurdle to try to let Grilli escape. By using lefty Alan Embree to complete the inning, Hurdle left himself with only Manuel Corpas to finish the game. The only other reliever on the squad, Jason Hammel, had thrown two innings the previous game, and Franklin Morales’ injury early in Tuesday’s game meant Hammel was going to move into the starting rotation.
But he was not going to lose a game because Grilli wasn’t throwing strikes.
“We’ve got no time for walks late in ballgames,” Hurdle said. “Nobody. We’re not going to put up with that. If you can’t throw the ball over the plate late in a ballgame, I’ve got to get somebody else. It’s that simple.
“If you want more, and you’ve got an opportunity to do more but you walk two left-handed batters and you’re missing on your arm side six or seven straight pitches, I’ve got to go get you. He knows that.
“You saw the guy two nights ago, then you saw the guy last night. I asked him, ‘Which guy are you?’ That’s part of the challenge that’s in front of him. If you want more, do more.”
Here are the lineups for Wednesday afternoon:
Rockies
Ryan Spilborghs CF
Jeff Baker 2B
Todd Helton 1B
Garrett Atkins 3B
Brad Hawpe RF
Troy Tulowitzki SS
Chris Iannetta C
Seth Smith LF
Jorge De La Rosa P
D-backs
Felipe Lopez 2B
Stephen Drew SS
Conor Jackson LF
Mark Reynolds 3B
Chad Tracy 1B
Chris Young CF
Eric Byrnes RF
Chris Snyder C
Dan Haren P
Wrigley in the rain
Who knows if we’re going to get in the Cubs’ home opener. It’s been raining steadily all day. But if it works out, here are the lineups:
Rockies
Dexter Fowler CF
Ryan Spilborghs LF
Todd Helton 1B
Brad Hawpe RF
Troy Tulowitzki SS
Jeff Baker 2B
Chris Iannetta C
Ubaldo Jimenez P
Cubs
Alfonso Soriano LF
Ryan Theriot SS
Kosuke Fukudome RF
Derrek Lee 1B
Mike Fontenot 3B
Reed Johnson CF
Aaron Miles 2B
Koyie Hill C
Ted Lilly P
The last days of sweat …
Manager Clint Hurdle announced the position players for his Opening Day roster, but until the team takes the field Monday against the D-backs no one can be sure.
This makes for nervous moments for some players.
– Utility man Jeff Baker is considered a player who could hit for power with regular playing time. Manager Clint Hurdle will try to find that for him, but there’s always a shot that another team with a greater opportunity for him at third base may want to make a trade.
– It looks as if right-hander Juan Morillo will make the squad. Morillo is out of options but has pitched well enough in camp to earn a job. However, the Denver Post reported Wednesday that the Rockies are considering trading for the Rays’ Jason Hammel, a starter type, or the Cubs’ Chad Gaudin.
Right-hander Matt Belisle, who looks to be the odd man out with the Rockies, also is in a fluid situation, since deals could open a spot for him here or something could pop elsewhere.
Colonel wows his manager
Prospect Christian Colonel, who has received extensive playing time this spring because of injuries to third basemen Garrett Atkins and Jeff Baker, had manager Clint Hurdle talking about his ninth-inning, three-run homer in Monday’s 8-3 victory over the D-backs at Tucson Electric Park.
“I was waiting to hear some cars,” Hurdle said before making a car alarm sound.
– Baker, limited to two games this spring because of an elbow issue, was available but did not play Monday. Hurdle said Baker will start at third base on Tuesday against the Royals.
– Atkins has been out lately with a strained right hip flexor, but told the Denver Post on Monday that his right groin is sore, and limiting his lateral movement. Hurdle said after Monday’s game that there is no reason to push him into the lineup Tuesday. The club is off on Wednesday.
– Closer candidate Huston Street struck out two in two spotless innings on Monday. After struggling in his first two official spring outings, Street has thrown three perfect innings in his last two appearances. Righty releiver Jason Grilli, coming off a poor outing against the Mariners (three hits, two runs in one inning), walked one on Monday but pitched a scoreless inning. Lefty Glendon Rusch was credited with a save Monday after giving up three hits and a walk but no runs in two innings. He has thrown 4 1/3 scoreless innings in Cactus League games. He did give up two runs, one earned, in an intrasquad contest.
Baker ready to play
Infielder-outfielder Jeff Baker, who has been limited to two appearances this spring because of an elbow issue, is in uniform for the Rockies for their game against the D-backs at Tucson Electric Park on Monday. Baker said he doesn’t know how much he will play or what position.
Baker taking it easy
Utility man Jeff Baker is being careful with his right elbow, which has been sore since the start of Spring Training. Baker, who was scratched from Saturday’s game because of elbow tenderness, had a cortisone shot a couple of weeks ago.
“I’ve been able to hit the whole time,” said Baker, who said the injury didn’t occur on a single swing or throw. “But we’re switching up some medication and trying to get some better anti-inflammatories. I’m going to take a couple days and try to let it kick in, knock the pain out and keep going.”
He doesn’t think his absence will be long-term.
Third baseman-outfielder Ian Stewart had hoped to swing in the batting cage on Sunday, but he wound up having treatment instead.
Lineups are in, Baker is out
The Rockies put up a lineup for this afternoon against the Dodgers, and already have a change. Jeff Baker was supposed to be designated hitter, but he was scratched for Matt Murton because of tenderness in his right elbow.
Speaking of injuries, third baseman-outfielder Ian Stewart said he is gradually healing from a left biceps strain he suffered while swinging before Thursday’s game. Stewart said he is hoping to return to the batting cage on Sunday.
So here’s today’s lineup:
Eric Young Jr. 2B
Scott Podsednik LF
Troy Tulowitzki SS
Matt Murton DH
Yorvit Torrealba C
Daniel Ortmeier 1B
Carlos Gonzalez CF
Christian Colonel RF
Jason Marquis P
Jorge De La Rosa and Josh Fogg also are schedueld to throw two innings apiece.
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