Rockies overhaul 'pen

Two down; Corpas sent up with Shealy

Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

PITTSBURGH - The Rockies made the first move in a revamping of their bullpen Monday, hoping that smaller can be better.

Something needs to change.

With a 3-1 loss Monday against Pittsburgh at PNC Park, the Rockies' losing streak extended to eight games, during which Colorado has had no relief and little clutch hitting.

That prompted the decision to option right-handers Scott Dohmann and David Cortes to Triple-A Colorado Springs and bring up Manny Corpas, a right-handed reliever, and power-hitting first baseman Ryan Shealy.

"We are not putting the blame on those two individuals by any means," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Everybody is in this together. This gives us a chance to take inventory and decide who our best seven or six (relievers) are for the stretch."

Corpas, 23, has been the eye-opener this season in the Rockies' minor league system. After starting the season with Double-A Tulsa (Okla.), where he had a 0.98 ERA in 34 appearances, he was promoted to Colorado Springs and allowed one run and five hits in 8 2/3 innings in eight appearances.

"The guy has been pitching lights out," Hurdle said.

Hurdle also indicated the Rockies were seriously considering promoting Nate Field, a graduate of Heritage High School, but he tore a fingernail pitching Saturday. Left-hander Steve Collyer also has pitched well enough for a look.

The desire to bring up Collyer would seem to fit with talk among scouts the Rockies are actively shopping Ray King, whose monthlong funk continued when he came into a 2-1 game with two on and one out in the eighth inning, then hit left-handed hitting Sean Casey with a pitch before walking Jose Bautista to force in the Pirates' final run.

While the Rockies have struggled, they have received some steady work from their rotation and can seriously attempt to go with a six-man bullpen for the first time in franchise history.

The starters have the lowest ERA (4.17) of any rotation in the National League and ranked third in the NL with 569 1/3 innings. They haven't had a starter work fewer than six innings in their past seven games of the eight-game losing streak, and Byung-Hyun Kim's career-most 7 1/3 inning effort was the third game in a row in which the Rockies starter worked seven innings.

That has led to a lack of work for relievers, such as Ramon Ramirez, who came in ahead of King, his first appearance in eight days, and walked the only batter he faced.

"I've always got a guy out there I am trying to find time for," Hurdle said. "It will be easier with six guys. The starters are just eating up innings."

Shealy will be asked to provide a lift for an offense that is 3-for-36 with runners in scoring position the past four games.

Shealy hit .284 with Colorado Springs with 15 home runs and 55 RBI. He hit .330 with two home runs and 16 RBI in 36 games with the Rockies last year.

"He'll have an opportunity to spell (Todd) Helton and will be a big bat off the bench," Hurdle said.

Dohmann got the Rockies out of trouble in the eighth inning, getting Jose Bautista on a soft liner and striking out Ronny Paulino with the bases loaded.

"Definitely that was a positive ending," Dohmann said. "I bailed the guys out of a bases-loaded situation. I would like to carry on in my next outing here, but it won't happen, so I have to carry on in my next outing at Triple-A."