Cookin' up a storm

Rockies pitcher has made a big statement this spring

Throughout spring training, SI.com will feature regular dispatches from Sports Illustrated staffers assigned to scout camps in the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues.

By Phil Taylor, Sports Illustrated

Team: Colorado Rockies

Site: Tucson, Ariz.

Weather: Sunny but cool, 60 degrees

Player I Saw Whom I Really Liked: Aaron Cook. The 24-year-old right-hander has been close to perfect. He has not allowed an earned run in 14 spring innings, opponents are batting .200 against him, and he's given up only 10 hits and three walks. And his success hasn't just been against guys with No. 67 on their backs. Cook's preseason resume includes two impressive outings against most of the Arizona Diamondbacks' regulars. The young hurler throws a hard sinker that produces lots of ground balls, an especially important weapon to have in the thin air he'll be pitching in at Coors Field. His performance has confirmed the already high opinion the Rockies had of Cook, a second-round pick in 1997 who has spent five years in their minor league system. After calling him up last September, the team shut him down early, partly to avoid unnecessary wear-and-tear on his arm, but also to limit his innings so he would still be eligible for the Rookie of the Year award this season. Cook was penciled in for a spot in the starting rotation when camp opened, and it's now written in stone.

Around the Horn: New shortstop Jose Hernandez, who struck out 188 times with Milwaukee last season, one short of Bobby Bonds' major league record, is making better contact this spring. He struck out six times in his first 31 at-bats, a pace that would leave him at around 100 whiffs in a 500 at-bat season. Hernandez insists that he did not sit out eight of the Brewers' final 12 games to avoid setting a new standard, and that he argued with then-manager Jerry Royster when he was benched down the stretch. ... Lefty Denny Neagle, who's scheduled to start the Rockies regular season opener, has been sidelined with elbow soreness. An MRI revealed no structural damage, but Neagle has been scratched from his next outing, and if he can't make his scheduled March 26 appearance, that opening day start probably won't happen. ... Third baseman Garret Atkins probably won't make the team out of spring training, but remember the name. He's 17 for 25 in the exhibition season and manager Clint Hurdle loves him. ... The Rockies aren't concerned about new center fielder Preston Wilson's struggles at the plate so far. He's working on a new, wider stance with a shorter stride, in an effort to cut down on his strikeouts. ... The three-way battle at second base is likely to be won by Ronnie Belliard, a pudgy (5-foot-8, 190 pounds) 27-year-old who has shown good power and a steady glove. Pablo Ozuna has speed but has been shaky defensively, and Colorado wants to take advantage of Brent Butler's versatility by moving him around to other positions, including third base.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Phil Taylor will check in periodically with reports from his tour of spring camps.

 

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