Rockies report: Francis' season is over

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 16, 2008 at 8:23 p.m.

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He Said It

"People want to see him, and that's understandable. If we are comfortable enough to take the next step, we will take it. If we don't get there, we won't."

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, on the chances of Todd Helton, right, who has been bothered with lower back problems, getting a start in the field in the final 10 games.

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Left-handed pitcher Jeff Francis will take off the rest of the season.

Francis, on the disabled list from June 29 through Aug. 6 because of left shoulder inflammation, experienced some discomfort during a bullpen session Monday.

Livan Herandez will start today in place of Francis.

"He has come back and pitched well," manager Clint Hurdle said. "There's no reason to force the issue."

Francis had made six consecutive quality starts but was only 1-2 with a 2.92 ERA in that span. He finishes 4-10 with a 5.01 ERA.

"I feel I threw the ball well lately, but I am disappointed I couldn't finish it out," Francis said.

WESTWARD HO

The Rockies will play three of the four American League West teams - the Athletics, Angels and Mariners - along with Tampa Bay and Detroit in interleague play in 2009, according to information obtained by the Rocky.

The Rockies will travel to Anaheim, Oakland and Detroit. The Mariners and Rays will visit Coors Field.

The Rockies will start the season with a three-game series in Arizona beginning April 6. It will be the fifth time in 12 years the Rockies and Diamondbacks will start the season against each other, the third time in Arizona.

The Rockies will host Philadelphia in their home opener April 10, then travel to Chicago to provide the home opening opposition for the Cubs on April 13.

ETC.

With Troy Tulowitzki's grand slam Monday and Iannetta's on Tuesday, the Rockies hit slams in back-to-back games for the second time in franchise history. Both times were against the Padres. Dante Bichette on June 27, 1994, and Howard Johnson in Game 1 of a doubleheader on June 28 did it the other time. . . . Iannetta's grand slam was the fourth of the season for the Rockies, who also got slams from Hawpe on June 7 against Milwaukee and Matt Holliday on July 4 against Florida. . . . Jimenez's fifth-inning single off Estes was his first hit this season against a pitcher other than Pedro Martinez. Jimenez is 2-for-3 against Martinez, his boyhood idol in the Dominican Republic, and 1-for-60 against all other pitchers. . . . Former major league pitcher Steve Grilli is a Rockies visitor this week, spending time with son Jason, a member of the Rockies bullpen. Steve said it was the first time he had been to Denver since he pitched for Evansville in the 1975 Triple-A American Association playoffs against the Denver Bears. . . . Padres shortstop Luis Rodriguez came out in the second inning because of a right triceps strain.

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