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Rockies caught by Webb

Arizona pitcher weaves new gem, puzzles Colorado

Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 16, 2006 at midnight

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PHOENIX - Arizona right-hander Brandon Webb makes pitching look easy.

Rockies left-hander Jeremy Affeldt knows better.

While Webb was toying with the Rockies in Arizona's 5-1 victory Friday night at Chase Field, Affeldt's ongoing struggles continued in a late-inning cameo role.

Webb bounced back from giving up singles to the first three batters of the game to retire the next 16 hitters - and 27 of the final 30.

He ultimately matched a season-best 10 strikeouts, joining Dodgers right-hander Brad Penny as the only 16-game winners in the National League.

"Unfortunately, we've seen him very good a number of times, and this was one of his better ones," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle. "You can't miss opportunities against him because you don't get many."

The Rockies didn't make much out of their chances. Out of the three consecutive singles to start the game, they got their lone run, but then Todd Helton was thrown out trying to score on Matt Holliday's chopper to first for the game's first out, and Webb got on a roll.

The Rockies threatened again in the eighth when Chris Iannetta and pinch hitter Kaz Matsui led off with singles, but Webb not only retired the next three hitters in the eighth, but he also struck out the side in the ninth, finishing up his league-leading fifth complete game.

"He's a challenge," Hurdle said.

The challenge right now, though, is for Affeldt, who came to the Rockies along with right- handed prospect Denny Bautista from Kansas City in the Ryan Shealy deal July 31. Affeldt has a live arm that creates expectations, but finding consistency has been a problem for him.

The struggles continued against Arizona. After Rockies starter Byung-Hyun Kim gave up three runs in seven innings, Affeldt got the call to start the eighth. Orlando Hudson greeted him with a single, and after Hudson took second on a ground out from Luis Gonzalez, left-handed-hitting Chad Tracy laced an RBI double off the center field fence. Tracy eventually scored on back-to-back wild pitches from Jose Mesa, adding to the recent ugliness of Affeldt's pitching lines.

"I'd like to think it is something we can fix and will fix," Hurdle said. "His ball is up and in the middle of the plate. We know what's there. We need to get it out of him."

Affeldt has started and relieved in the big leagues. The Rockies think he could make a quality late-inning reliever, setting up closer Brian Fuentes. They are not planning to bring back veteran Ray King. The other in-house options are Mike Venafro, who is more suited for situational work, and Justin Hampson, who is seen as a swing man.

Affeldt likes the bullpen idea in general, although he said right now he's not in the frame of mind to be too excited about things.

"Right now, I'd have to say it has been a miserable experience the last few weeks," Affeldt said. "To me, a job is a job. It doesn't matter, starting or relieving, but it is a tough question for me to answer right now because I'm frustrated. I haven't done my job."

The Affeldt that entices the Rockies was evident when he first joined the team. In his first nine appearances, he allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks in 9 2/3 innings.

"Those first (nine) appearan- ces he was lights out," Hurdle said. "He shows us the arm and velocity is there. Sometimes left- handers take longer to pop. That's what we are holding on to."

Affeldt's past nine appearances haven't been as smooth. It's not just that he has given up 15 runs on 13 hits and six walks in eight innings. He also has given up towering home runs to left- handed hitters Carlos Delgado of the Mets and Prince Fielder of Milwaukee, and also served up two doubles, including Tracy's blast Friday.

"I've been working in the bullpen, and when I'm warming up, I feel like I have things in order, but when I get in the game I don't seem to do it," Affeldt said.

It's a repeat of the struggles Affeldt had in Kansas City, which eats at him. An avid outdoorsmen who grew up in eastern Washington, he welcomed the trade to Colorado not only for the lifestyle, but also because of his desire for a fresh start.

"It's almost unbearable," he said. "This is a bad slump. This is not kind of bad. It's terrible."