Rockies report: Helton, Francis on mend

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 13, 2008 at 9:38 p.m.

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Photo by Ed Betz / Associated Press

The Rockies' Mark Redman lasted just more than three innings after allowing five runs and eight hits to the Mets.

First baseman Todd Helton, on the disabled list with lower back inflammation, will be working out with the Rockies when they return from the All-Star break. Trainer Keith Dugger said a second epidural Helton was given last week "hit the area. He is rid of the symptoms."

Left-handed pitcher Jeff Francis, on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation, came out of his 45-pitch bullpen session Saturday in good shape.

Dugger said Francis will throw another bullpen session Thursday, after which a decision will be made on whether to have Francis throw live batting practice or go on a minor league rehabilitation assignment.

ALL'S WELLS

Right-hander Kip Wells will make a final rehabilitation start for Double-A Tulsa on Wednesday, then join the Rockies rotation, most likely a week from tonight against the Dodgers.

Wells, who had a blood clot removed from his right hand, is 0-3 with an 8.84 ERA in four starts for Triple-A Colorado Springs. He allowed six runs, nine hits and three walks in 41/3 innings in his last start Friday.

"We need to revisit him and we are prepared to revisit him in the starting rotation," manager Clint Hurdle said. "The quality of work is hard to gauge off minor league appearances."

ETC.

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki will have the stitches removed from his right palm Monday. That would put him on the fast track to get back on the active roster. . . . Right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook's first post-All-Star break start will depend on whether manager Clint Hurdle uses Cook in the All-Star Game on Tuesday. If Cook doesn't start Tuesday, he will draw the assignment Thursday against Pittsburgh at Coors Field, with Ubaldo Jimenez on Friday and Glendon Rusch on Saturday. If Cook does pitch Tuesday, his next regular-season start would be Saturday, with Jimenez on Thursday and Rusch on Friday. . . . Center fielder Dexter Fowler went 0-for-4 but made a crowd-pleasing catch in the gap in Team USA's 3-0 loss to the World Team in Sunday's Futures Game at Yankee Stadium. Right-hander Casey Weathers struck out three in one inning of work but also gave up a single and two walks. Right-hander Ryan Mattheus, the third Rockies prospect to appear in the game, gave up a two-run home run to Boston prospect Che-Hsuan Lin. . . . Third baseman Garrett Atkins went into the break hitless in his past 13 at-bats. . . . After going four weeks without a start in center field, Scott Podsednik has started three of the past five.

• July 14, 2008

  10:55 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Vulions writes:

  I can't wait to get Kip Wells back!! (Sarcasm) Nice ERA in the minors.

• July 14, 2008

  3:15 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  fjv1026 writes:

  Kip Wells in the Rockies rotation??? Are you kidding me??

  Hurdle says "The quality of work is hard to gauge off minor league appearances." Ummm, yeah, if your ERA is 8.84 in AAA, there's a pretty good chance your ERA isn't going to be much better than that in the bigs.

  Patchwork. Is this what Colorado Rockies fans deserve? Will someone (ie. Stan Kroenke) PLEASE buy the Colorado Rockies and fire Clint Hurdle?

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