Rockies shake up roster

Sullivan, Barmes sent to Triple-A; Fogg No. 5 starter

Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published March 24, 2007 at midnight

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TUCSON - The Rockies made a statement Friday that reinforced their belief that they upgraded their roster for the 2007 season.

Center fielder Cory Sullivan and shortstop Clint Barmes, who hit 1-2 in the Opening Day lineup last season, were optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Josh Fogg was announced as the fifth starter, leaving Byung- Hyun Kim, the Rockies' No. 4 starter in 2006, to battle with right-handers Ramon Ramirez and Manny Corpas for the final two bullpen spots.

Willy Taveras, one of three players acquired from Houston for Jason Jennings, is replacing Sullivan in center field and as the leadoff hitter, and veteran Steve Finley won the battle with Sullivan for a backup role to Taveras.

Barmes lost out in a battle with rookie Troy Tulowitzki for the shortstop job. The Rockies still are exploring trade possibilities with Barmes that include Texas and the Chicago Cubs, who want him as a utility player. Kansas City acquired Tony Peña Jr. from Atlanta to fill its shortstop need.

"Defensively, 'Tulo' made the plays and Barmes made the plays, but offensively, we felt Tulo fits more of the needs in our lineup," manager Clint Hurdle said.

With speedy second baseman Kaz Matsui to hit second, behind Taveras, the Rockies will put Tulowitzki in a run-producing spot, hitting seventh.

The Rockies have until April 1 to make their final roster moves, but Hurdle said it was important to clear up issues as early as possible "so that everyone involved can put their focus where it needs to be."

Sullivan and Barmes, in particular, are provided extra time to deal with the emotional disappointments and get ready for the start of the minor league season in an effort to get back to the big leagues.

When Jason Hirsh was selected for the No. 4 role in the rotation last week, it left Kim and fellow 2006 rotation holdover Fogg for the fifth starter role, which Hurdle announced belongs to Fogg, a decision that underscores the Rockies' offseason announcement that finances will not be a determining factor.

Kim would have to be paid his entire $2.5 million salary if he is released, but the Rockies would have been obligated for only $906,250 of Fogg's $3.625 million contract if he is released, because Fogg's salary is not fully guaranteed.

"(Fogg) likes to compete," Hurdle said. "He doesn't get anxious about that. He doesn't take down."

In addition to Barmes and Sullivan, the Rockies optioned right-handed pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez to Colorado Springs, returned right-handed pitcher Matt Herges, left-handed pitcher Mike Gallo and infielder Erick Almonte to the minor league camp and released right-handed pitcher Danny Graves.

The move with Gallo means Tom Martin will return in a left- handed reliever role, although Hurdle said, "Gallo made his presence known. There's an option if things don't go well out there, he will be an option we can go to."

With the latest series of moves, the Rockies reduced their spring roster to 31 players, including right-handed pitchers Brian Lawrence and Dave Veres, who figured to start the season in extended spring training continuing to rehabilitate from surgeries.

There are two remaining roster decisions to be made, the final two bullpen spots, which will be from among Ramirez, Corpas and Kim, barring a trade or waiver claim, and the 25th man, which most likely will go to veteran John Mabry, who provides the veteran left-handed bat off the bench that Hurdle is known to covet, over right-handed hitting Ryan Spilborghs.

Oakland has shown some interest in Kim as a starting pitcher, but other teams, including Texas, Kansas City and Florida, have considered him as a possible reliever, and the move of him to the bullpen could give the Rockies the next 10 days to showcase him in that role in hopes of facilitating a trade.

Teams have been reluctant to seriously discuss Kim in a relief role, even though he was a closer for Arizona when it won the World Series in 2001, because Kim has complained about pitching out of the bullpen if he is not in a ninth-inning role. He no longer has a choice, at least not with the Rockies.

"He is going to have to find a way to move forward for the betterment of the team," Hurdle said. "We feel B.K. has the weapons to do that, and he also has a track record of (pitching relief)."

6 1/2 innings, rain

CHICAGO	COLORADO			ab	r	h	bi		ab	r	h	bi
Podsednik lf	2	0	0	0	Taveras cf	3	1	2	0
Roberts lf	1	0	0	0	Fowler cf	0	0	0	0
Ozuna 3b-2b	4	1	2	0	Matsui 2b	1	1	0	0
Konerko 1b	2	0	0	0	Van Kooten 2b	0	0	0	0
Allen pr-1b	1	1	0	0	Atkins 3b	3	1	1	4
Dye rf	3	0	0	0	Spilborghs rf	0	0	0	0
Terrero rf	0	0	0	0	Helton 1b	3	0	0	0
Cintron 2b	3	0	0	1	Becktel lf	0	0	0	0
Myers 3b	0	0	0	0	Holliday lf	2	0	1	0
Hall c	3	0	3	1	Bernier ss	0	0	0	0
WGonzalez c	0	0	0	0	Hawpe rf	3	0	0	0
Uribe ss 3	0	2	0	0	Affeldt p	0	0	0	0
Castillo pr	0	0	0	0	Tulowitzki ss	2	0	0	0
Anderson cf	2	1	1	0	Carroll 3b	0	0	0	0
Danks p	1	0	0	0	Iannetta c	0	1	0	0
Mackowiak ph	1	0	0	0	Baker 1b	0	0	0	0
Floyd p	1	0	0	0	Cook p	1	0	0	0
Mabry ph	1	1	1	0
Torrealba c	0	0	0	0
Totals	27	3	8	2	Totals	19	5	5	4
Chicago......	000	002	1	-	3
Colorado......	000	005	x	-	5