Kuzul

The Friday game for the Colorado Rockies against the Washington Nationals has been called due to rain.  As Denver tries to impersonate Seattle, the Rockies lose their third game of the year to the weather, and the second one this week.

After watching the slop the two teams played in Thursday night, there should have been another rain out.

The game will be made up tomorrow (Saturday) at 12:10 Mtn.  Then the teams will play a second game at 6:10pm Mtn. This is a split double-header, so if you want to watch ’em both, you’ll have to have two tickets.

Ubaldo Jimenez will still pitch the first game, and Jason Hammel will start for the Rockies in the second game.

There will be some roster moves.  Eric Young Jr. will be put on the DL between games, Renck of the Denver Post is reporting.  That will put the roster back at the normal 12 pitcher, 13 position player split.

Sunday the Rockies and Nationals wrap up the series with a game at 1:10 pm at Coors Field.  The Rockies will start Jeff Francis in his first start since 2008, as Francis missed all of 2009 with shoulder surgery.  His shoulder was slow to respond and after a good spring training, Francis’ shoulder was sore and he went back on the Disabled List.  That set back was not a shocker, as Francis injury was as bad as a pitcher can have.

Renck is reporting that the Rockies will either send Greg Smith down, or Esmil Rogers to make room for Francis.  Rogers has a live fastball, and one of the best in the NL so far this year. 

His issue is his secondary stuff.  He’s got a good slider, but he’s inconsistent with it.  He also tries to slow it down, into a curve ball, but it doesn’t have a lot of break, and he has no control over it.  He needs work.  The Rockies think Rogers has a bright future as a starter, but might like to keep his fastball in the ‘pen for a little while.

Greg Smith on the other hand is a soft tossing lefty.  He could be a long man out of the pen, but his issue has been his walks. He’s give out 24 free passes this year, in 34 innings!  He also sports a BAA of .305.

Personally, I’m not crazy about soft throwing lefties on the Rockies.  The constant changing of release points, and breaks between sea-level, and altitude is hard on most veteran guys, but for a guy like Smith, it’s even tougher, because he can’t go back to a fastball as his is really hittable. 

Weather is calling for a few passing showers in the area on Saturday, but it looks to be clearing out and Sunday should be a Chamber of Commerce Day.