It seems that in possibly his last season with the Rox, Aaron “Cookie” Cook, luck just isn’t on his side. Manager Jim Tracy announced after the team’s 4-3 victory over the Royals this afternoon that Cook would be out for “a few weeks” with a broken fingertip on his right ring finger. Cook’s been slow in recovering from right shoulder inflammation which flared up after his second bullpen session earlier this spring. He had been making good progress lately, having been throwing of the slope of the mound the last few days. With injuring his finger, his scheduled 35 pitch side session for today had to be canceled. Alas, not all hope is lost, among the contenders to fill in for Cook in the fifth rotation spot, Esmil Rogers, John Maine, and Clayton Mortenson are on manager Tracy and pitching coach Bob Apodaca’s radar. Tracy and Apodaca have asked Mortenson to adjust the timing on his delivery, and told him not to worry if initial results aren’t what he hopes. Mortenson’s scheduled to pitch six innings thursday, the 17th against the White Sox.
Third Basemen Ian Stewart made his return today as the DH in a minor league game. He went 2 for 4 in five at bats with two singles, an RBI, and a walk. When ask about his knee, he had this to say, “The knee felt good. My legs felt a little weak because I haven’t been able to do much lifting and running. But all in all, it felt good.”
Today marked the Rockies first roster cut as well. Fourteen players, including top prospects Wilin Rosario, catcher, and Christian Friedrich, were sent to the minor league camp after the game against the Royals. Though sent to the minor league camp, Rosario remains a part of the 40-man Major League roster, as does pitchers Bruce Billings and Casey Weathers, infielder Hector Gomez, and outfielder Cole Garner. Left hander and non-roster invitee, Greg Smith, joins the troop sent to the minor league camp. A high and low note for spring training is utility man, Eric Young Junior. Today he showed a flash of his old speed, yet also showed that his base running has rusted a bit. He beat out a bunt for a single, only to be picked off at first by pitcher Trevor Cahill. Things seem to be looking up a bit for the Rockies this spring, as they hope to be in the hunt this season for the frachise’s first NL West division title.
