Spring Training 2012: Colorado Rockies Ready For New Season

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Casey Blake Released By Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies announced another cut on Tuesday afternoon, breaking the news that 3B Casey Blake had failed to make the team:

#Rockies announce today that the club has unconditionally released third baseman Casey Blake.

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) March 27, 2012

Thomas Harding of MLB.com spoke with the Rockie's general manager, Dan O'Dowd about Blake, who was in competition for the 2012 starting third base job, and the GM had little else to say but compliments for the now-cut Blake:

#Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd: "Once we made the decision that Casey was not going to make our club, we wanted to do what was best for him.

— Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) March 27, 2012

Blake played for Los Angeles Dodgers from 2008 through 2011. He owns a career .264/.336/.442 slash and has earned about 23 wins above replacement in his 10 years as a starter. Blake would have been guaranteed $2 million had he made the Opening Day roster.

With Blake out of the third base scene, the Rockies appear to be down to 3B Chris Nelson and 3B Jordan Pacheco, who may even end up in a righty/lefty platoon.

For more coverage of all things Denver sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage of the Rockies, visit Purple Row. For more updates throughout Spring Training, check out Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.

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2012 Rockies Spring Training: Colorado Cuts 4 More Players, Roster At 44

Troy Renck of The Denver Post is reporting that the Colorado Rockies have made some additional cuts on Monday:

Rockies made some moves sending Christian Friedrich, Rob Scahill, Josh Sullivan, DJ LeMahieu to minors. But LeMahieu will stay in camp

— Troy Renck, Rockies (@TroyRenck) March 19, 2012

Infielder DJ LeMahieu, a former Chicago Cubs prospect, come over to the Rockies in the trade that sent 3B Ian Stewart and RHP Casey Weathers to the Cubs in exchange for OF Tyler Colvin and LeMahieu. Reaching the majors for the first time as a 22-year-old, LeMahieu played in 37 games for the 2011 season and hit .250/.262/.283 through 62 plate appearances.

SP Christian Friedrich has been consistently ranked as one of the team's top prospects over the last few years, and should start the season at Triple-A in 2011. He turns 24 in July.

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Rockies May Consider Dontrelle Willis, According To Report

There's no such thing as too much pitching depth, and with that in mind, Colorado Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd told the Denver Post's Troy Renck that the team may explore bringing in lefty Dontrelle Willis. Willis, who was released by the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this week, was in the majors with the Cincinnati Reds as a starter last year, where he provided more highlights as a hitter than a pitcher.

Willis finished the year with a 5.00 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP in 13 starts, but he held lefties to a .127/.169/.183 line, and seemed like a natural candidate to transition to a specialist role in the bullpen. But Willis was ineffective and apparently unimpressive in camp with Philadelphia, where he allowed five earned runs in 2 2/3 innings.

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Jeremy Guthrie Expected To Be Named Opening Day Starter Soon

In what is really more of a formality when it happens, Jeremy Guthrie is expected to be named the Colorado Rockies Opening Day starter against the Houston Astros on April 6, reports the Denver Post. This has been hinted at ever since the team acquired Guthrie from the Baltimore Orioles for Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom.

Guthrie is no stranger to being an Opening Day starter since he did it three times for the Orioles. So far this spring training, Guthrie has done nothing to show that he shouldn't start a fourth one. He's thrown seven innings over his first two starts, allowing three runs and striking out three.

Jhoulys Chacin is the only other candidate to start the first game of the season, and he would have been it had Guthrie not joined the Rockies. The Rockies traded Ubaldo Jimenez in July, last year's Opening Day starter.

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Jamie Moyer Injury: Pitchers Suffers Setback In Bid For Rotation Spot

There won't be any reports of Jamie Moyer pitching in a minor-league game on Friday afternoon since he experienced stiffness in his left leg, reports the Denver Post's Troy Renck. While Renck's initial report had Moyer out indefinitely, further reports indicate it might just be a few days:

Jamie Moyer's leg issues don't appear serious enough to derail comeback. If only pushed back 3 or 4 days will still have time to make roster

— Troy Renck, Rockies (@TroyRenck) March 16, 2012

Moyer, 49 years old, signed a minor-league deal with the team earlier in the year and was one of several candidates to be the fifth starter this season. While originally an afterthought in that competition, the left-handed pitcher has posted a 1.80 ERA in five innings pitched this spring training, walking zero and striking out three.

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2012 Rockies Spring Training: Colorado Cuts 12 Players, Roster At 48

According to Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post, the Colorado Rockies made 12 cuts Thursday afternoon:

Right-handed pitchers (5): Stephen Dodson, Joe Gardner, Mike Ekstrom, Chad Bettis, Dustin Molleken.

Left-handed pitcher (1): Edwar Cabrera.

Catchers (2): Lars Davis and Matt McBride.

Infielders (2): Tommy Field and Ben Paulsen.

Outfielders (2): Jamie Hoffman and Kent Matthes.

The Rockies roster now stands at 48, according to Saunders. The Rockies still have question marks surrounding several of there positions, including their third base position, which means some position battles could extend late into Spring training.

Colorado has until April 6, when they open the season at Houston, to make their final decisions as to who will start and who will sit.

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Tulowitzki, Gonzalez Have Harsh Words For Ublado Jimenez

After Ubaldo Jiminez's comments about being unhappy while with the Colorado Rockies, SS Troy Tulowitzki and OF Carlos Gonzalez each fired back at Jimenez.

Jimenez spoke with Tracy Ringolsby of Fox Sports Arizona about not being fairly compensated while Tulowitzki and Gonzalez each penned big contracts, but Gonzalez told Scott Miller of CBSSports.com that it came under completely different circumstances,

"The problem was, we all had great seasons [in 2010]. Tulo got an extension, I got an extension, and he didn't because he was under contract. He took a contract earlier than me and Tulo. Sometimes, you make decisions that hurt you later. You have to realize that no one forces you to do anything in this game. Every decision you make is going to be there for the rest of your life."

Tulowitzki wasn't as nice as CarGo,saying that Jimenez should have focused on baseball on not on tjhings outside of your control,

"While I've been here, everybody's been treated fairly. There's a certain point in this game where you go play and you shut your mouth. And you don't worry about what other people are doing."

Jimenez's discontent carried through the clubhouse, leading to people questioning his desire to stay in Denver. Tulowitzki had this to say about the issue dragging out throughout the year,

"You don't know what the deal is. You begin hearing trade rumors, and once those started flying, you don't hear a guy say, 'This is the place I want to be.' You don't hear a guy say, 'I don't want to be traded.' When you have a situation like that from a team standpoint, you think the guy wants to leave."

Even though he didn't leave on the best of terms, Gonzalez seems to be fine with Ubaldo. CarGo spoke with Jimenez earlier this spring, and he hopes he does well with the Indians, "Because he's a great person and a great athlete."

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Rockies Spring Training 2012: Colorado Finalizes 26 One-Year Player Contracts

The Colorado Rockies officially announced finalization of 26 one-year player contracts for the 2012 Major League Baseball season. The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed (per club policy), there are plenty of interesting names on the list that could be contributors in the upcoming season.

Former Chicago Cubs outfielder and prospect Tyler Colvin was traded to the team in a swap for third baseman Ian Stewart, and the Rockies also acquired pitching prospect Tyler Chatwood from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in a deal for catcher Chris Iannetta. Spring training provide some surprises and upstart players every year, so it's not unreasonable to think that several of the players listed below could become important contributors for the Rockies in the 2012 campaign. Here are the 26 players signed that were signed to one-year deals:

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Jorge De La Rosa Injury Update: Rockies Pitcher Expected Back In July, According To Bob Apodaca

The last time the Colorado Rockies saw Jorge De La Rosa take the mound in a regular season game was last May when he tore his UCL. While reports over the last few months have painted an optimistic picture of De La Rosa's return coming in late May or in June, pitching coach Bob Apodaca expects his pitcher to return in July, according to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post.

Apodaca is just going on a straight calculation of the average recovery time from Tommy John Surgery, which is supposed to take over one year. However, that isn't to mean that De La Rosa can't make an early return. We'll need to see how he does in his upcoming bullpen sessions and eventually in his extended spring training sessions.

Apodaca says the team isn't "in a hurry," which would be an indication that the Rockies are confident in what they have in their rotation right now that they don't need to make a possibly brash move by bringing back De La Rosa early. With the reserves the Rockies have to plug in the rotation should they have a failure in the No. 5 spot, the urgency isn't there right now for De La Rosa's return.

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Rockies Springs Training 2012: Colorado Will Start Drew Pomeranz Against Diamondbacks On Saturday

The Colorado Rockies play ball for the first time this March on Saturday when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks at their shared Spring Training facility of Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. The pitching matchups for the game provide a glimpse of the present and future for both teams. Drew Pomeranz will start for the Rockies and Tyler Skaggs will start for the Diamondbacks:

@TylerSkaggs23 will start Saturday for #Dbacks vs #Rockies. @BauerOutage will follow him to mound. Collmenter to start vs #giants @TroyRenck

— Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB) February 29, 2012

Rockies will start Drew Pomeranz followed Josh Outman RT @SteveGilbertMLB: @TylerSkaggs23 will start Saturday for... sulia.com/new_post/7299a…

— Troy Renck, Rockies (@TroyRenck) February 29, 2012

Pomeranz is expected to compete for the No. 3 spot in the Rockies' rotation while Outman is one of several starters fighting for the No.5 spot or a spot in the bullpen. Skaggs, 20 years old, is not expected to break camp with the Diamondbacks, but the youngster struck out 198 batters in 158.1 innings between High-A and Double-A in 2011. Bauer was the third overall selection by the Diamondbacks in the 2011 draft.

The Diamondbacks are playing with a split-squad on Saturday, the other half going up against the San Francisco Giants.

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Rockies Spring Training 2012: Jason Giambi Can Expect 35 Starts, According To Jim Tracy

Jason Giambi, age 41, played in just 64 games during the 2011 season for the Colorado Rockies, down 23 games from his 2010 season. A stint on the disabled list in July caused him to miss some opportunities (and possibly even a trade out of Colorado). But Giambi is back once again, and he should be ready for more time in the field this season, reports the Denver Post's Troy Renck.

Manager Jim Tracy wants to see Giambi start 35 games this season and to also use him as a pinch hitter earlier in games. Giambi started 35 games at first base during the 2010 season, which should be attainable once again. Giambi is a career .254/.375/.492 hitter with 21 home runs for the Rockies.

Giambi won't be the only one who will spell Todd Helton at first base. Michael Cuddyer, slated to start in right field, is expected to also receive playing time at first base.

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Colorado Rockies LHP Joe Torres Suspended 50 Games For PED Use

Colorado Rockies fans received some unpleasant news Tuesday as Troy Renck of The Denver Post reported that minor league reliever Joe Torres had received a 50-game suspension for a reported infringement on the league's anti-performance-enhancing substance policy:

Rockies minor league lhp Joe Torres has been suspended 50 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance

— Troy Renck, Rockies (@TroyRenck) February 21, 2012

Torres pitched for Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Colorado Springs in 2011, putting together a combined 2.24 ERA. The 11-year minor league veteran had reached Triple-A for the first time in his minor league career in 2011. He sports a 4.51 career ERA in minors, and originally began as a starting pitcher after being selected in the MLB draft out of high school in the 1st round by the Los Angeles Angels (then the Anaheim Angels) in 2000.

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Rockies Spring Training 2012: Stadium, Cactus League Map And More

The Colorado Rockies are in their second year at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Az.., having moved from Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, Az. The Rockies share the facilities at Salt River Fields with the Arizona Diamondbacks, making them easy Spring Training buddies for exhibition games.

The Rockies and the Diamondbacks had held Spring Training in Tucson for years, but they became the last two teams in the area by the end of the 2000s. As other teams left for the Phoenix area, the D'Backs and the Rockies partnered for this facility and moved there in 2011, playing on Native American land. All 10 Cactus league facilities are now located within the Phoenix Metro area (map here).

Hi Corbett Field, however, is occupied now by the Arizona Wildcats baseball team for home games.

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2012 Rockies Spring Training Schedule: Colorado Begins Cactus League Play March 3

Pitchers and catchers reported to Colorado Rockies camp on Sunday, signaling the official start to spring training in 2012, but the Rockies won't hit the field to start Cactus League play until Saturday, March 3, when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Related: Rockies Spring Training 2012: Pitchers And Catchers Have Official Reporting Day

As Colorado prepares for the start of the regular season in April, the Cactus League schedule will take the team through matchups with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants, as well as defending American League champion Texas.

The Rockies finish up their preseason slate with three games against the Seattle Mariners before heading to Houston to face the Astros to start the regular season on April 6.

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Rockies Spring Training 2012: Pitchers And Catchers Have Official Reporting Day

Pitchers and catchers officially report for the Colorado Rockies on Sunday and will have their first workout on Monday. What should we be looking for among these groups of players?

At catcher, Chris Iannetta is gone, having been traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for Tyler Chatwood. Ramon Hernandez signed a two-year deal with the Rockies and will be the Opening Day backstop. Behind him, Hernandez might have rookie Wilin Rosario as his backup ... or he might have Wil Nieves. Rosario, 23 on Feb. 23, tore his ACL in 2010, but made his way to the majors for a brief stint during the 2011 season. He had 11 hits in 57 plate appearances, including three home runs. He could start the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs if the team wants to wait a bit for him.

In the rotation, Jeremy Guthrie has become the favorite to be the Opening Day starter, moving Jhoulys Chacin down to the No. 2 slot. Chacin moved into the No. 1 role last season once Ubaldo Jimenez was traded and faltered. The team is looking for better fastball control from Chacin, who led the National League with 87 walks.

Behind Guthrie and Chacin, the rest of the rotation is up for grabs, though the next two spots are close to being lock. Drew Pomeranz, acquired in the Jimenez deal, should be the No. 3 starter while Juan Nicasio, recovered from a broken neck, is ready to go and should have no restrictions at all. The No. 5 spot includes pitchers such as Jamie Moyer, Esmil Rogers, Josh Outman and Alex White, but Guillermo Moscoso is the front-runner for the spot.

In the bullpen, Rafael Betancourt officially takes over as the closer with the trade of Huston Street to the San Diego Padres. Matt Lindstrom left (with Jason Hammel) for the Baltimore Orioles in the Jeremy Guthrie trade. Zach Putnam was acquired for Kevin Slowey at the end of January and could now find a spot in the Rockies' bullpen as a result of Lindstrom's departure.

Here is a full list of pitchers and catchers:

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Colorado Rockies Sign Australian Prospect Robert Perkins, According To Report

The Colorado Rockies are no stranger to Australia when it comes to signing baseball talent. While Shane Lindsay never panned out while with the Rockies and David Kandilas was a 20-year-old outfielder for his third season with the Casper Rockies last year, the Rockies have turned to Australia with its recent signing of 17-year-old catcher Robert Perkins, reports Jack Etkin at Baseball America (subscription required).

He staying in Australia to play at MLB's Australian Academy and will spend some time in the Dominican next year. He'll graduate from high school in November.

Kandilas had his best season so far, hitting .327/.398/.548 with 17 doubles, 10 triples and 6 home runs in 2011. He also stole 15 bases. He played in 61 games after having limited playing time in his first two years.

The Aussie Invasion marches on.

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Rockies Spring Training 2012: Juan Nicasio Will Have 'No Limitations' During Camp

Six months after his neck was broken while pitching, Juan Nicasio is ready to work his way back into the Colorado Rockies' rotation for the 2012 season. Manager Jim Tracy recently reaffirmed that Nicasio "will have no limitations" when he returns to the mound during Spring Training, reports the Denver Post's Troy Renck.

According to Renck:

In fact, Nicasio will participate in the Rockies’ ragball drills, where pitchers are graded on their ability to field comebackers.

That was the type of play that resulted in Nicasio breaking his neck. The Washington Nationals' Ian Desmond hit a liner up the middle (video) and it was too fast for Nicasio to effectively get out of the way.

Nicasio is projected to be the Rockies No. 4 starter this season.

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Rockies Spring Training 2012: Rotation: Rotation Is 'A Work In Progress,' Says GM Dan O'Dowd

The Colorado Rockies enter Spring Training 2012 with uncertainty in its rotation, so much so that general manager Dan O'Dowd has called it "a work in progress." But, as Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post continues in that article, the rotation is taking shape with Jeremy Guthrie and Jhoulys Chacin taking the top two spots. Drew Pomeranz, Juan Nicasio and Guillermo Moscoso take the final three spots. But the Rockies do have a staple of pitchers that provide depth should one of those last three pitchers not muster a convincing rotation case during spring training.

While Alex White and Esmil Rogers are holdovers from the 2011 season, Tyler Chatwood (acquired in the Chris Iannetta deal), Josh Outman (who came over with Moscoso in the Seth Smith deal) and Jamie Moyer (free agent) could all be the next man up in the rotation after they land in Colorado Springs. As Andrew Martin writes over at Purple Row:

This is one of the best parts of having Colorado Springs just 90 minutes South of Denver, being able to call up depth on a near-whim. Should the Rockies get home to Denver and Drew Pomeranz is slated to start after making 5 straight starts, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Rockies give Tyler Chatwood or Josh Outman a call and Pomeranz the evening off.

Outman is also a possibility of being the swingman on the pitching staff, but the depth the team will have however things shakes out is a strong positive entering the season.

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Colorado Rockies Acquire SP Jeremy Guthrie From Orioles For Jason Hammel, Matt Lindstrom

The Colorado Rockies bolstered their pitching staff early Monday by acquiring veteran SP Jeremy Guthrie from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for SP Jason Hammel and RP Matt Lindstrom, according to a report by Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun and confirmed by FOX's Ken Rosenthal.

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Colorado Rockies Sign C Mitch Canham To Minor League Deal

The Colorado Rockies signed catcher Mitch Canham to a minor league contract, according to Matt Eddy. Canham was selected with the 57th overall pick in the 2007 draft by the San Diego Padres, making him a supplemental first-round draft choice in the same year that the Rockies selected Casey Weathers with the eight overall pick of the first round.

Canham has spent his entire career in the minors leagues, most recently with the Oakland Athletics in 2011. While Canham has played at the Double-A level for most of the past two season he has played 17 games at the Triple-A level.

Canham is a career .258/..343/.367 hitter with 20 home runs. He will likely find a nice role in the minors with the team. Canham was part of the back-to-back College World Series victories by the Oregon St. Beavers.

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Rockies Spring Training 2012: Jorge De La Rosa Progressing In His Rehab

According to recent post from Colorado Rockies trainer Keith Dugger (via Troy Renck of The Denver Post), rehabbing LHP Jorge De La Rosa will throw bullpen sessions with Dugger throughout Spring Training and beyond, preparing for a return to the big league team in 2012:

Jorge De La Rosa... continued his rehab throughout the winter with Andy Stover, a Minor League athletic trainer. Jorge continues to improve from his Tommy John surgery and is progressing with bullpen work. Jorge will continue to throw bullpens through most of Spring Training and will remain here at the beginning of the season and progress into when Extended Spring games before he goes out for an official rehab assignment.

De La Rosa pitched well for the Rockies in 2011, mustering a career-best 3.51 ERA and 3.36 FIP through his 10 starts, but left his May 24th start with elbow discomfort and his season ended then.

If De La Rosa's rehab goes according to plan, the lefty should return to the team sometime in May, which would give the 32-year-old enough time to start as many as 20 games or so.

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Jorge De La Rosa, Juan Nicasio Gearing Up For Colorado Rockies' 2012 Season

Colorado Rockies pitchers Jorge De La Rosa and Juan Nicasio weren't with the team at the end of last season, but they're preparing to be there in the spring, as Troy Renck of the Denver Post writes. Both pitchers are still rehabbing from injuries that cost them most or all of their 2011 seasons, but noticeable progress is being made.

Nicasio's 2011 season ended up Aug. 5 when a line drive from Washington's Ian Desmond struck him in the back and fractured his C-1 vertebrae. He's still throwing to hitters with a screen in front of him for protection, but he told Renck that he's excited to return to facing hitters without the additional protection and compete for a rotation spot during Spring Training.

De La Rosa, on the other hand, doesn't expect to return to the majors until May. But after having Tommy John surgery just eight months ago, that's a pretty optimistic timetable even for today's standards. The 30-year-old lefty is also throwing off a mound, though, even if he told Renck that the club refuses to rush him back to the majors.

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Nolan Arenado Rated Top 3B Prospect In Baseball By Jonathan Mayo

Nolan Arenado was rated as the top third base prospect in the entire sport by MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo on Thursday, when the prospect guru released his ranking of the top ten prospects at the position. The third baseman is considered to be Colorado's top prospect following a breakout 2011 season.

He should hit for average, and even if he doesn't hit a ton of homers, he'll be a run producer. There once was concern about Arenado's defense at third, but he's worked to improve and those worries are now gone.

Arenado, 20, spent the 2011 season in High Single-A. He turned heads with his impressive play, hitting .298/.349/.487 with 20 homers in 134 games. The lack of strikeouts in his game is particularly notable, as most prospects with his power potential strike out at a much higher rate than the nine percent figure that he put up last season.

The other players included in Mayo's top five were Minnesota's Miguel Sano, Washington's Anthony Rendon, Texas' Mike Olt and Detroit's Nick Castellanos.

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Colorado Rockies Spring Training 2012 Report Dates Announced

The Colorado Rockies announced Feb. 19 as the report date for pitchers and catchers.