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DENVER -- Jorge De La Rosa grabbed his glove and headed onto the field for batting practice as though it were another day at the ball park. Packers Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Womens Jersey . Only, this wasnt just another day for the Colorado Rockies hard-throwing left-hander. De La Rosa is still trying to come to grips with the news that he has a season-ending injury to his left elbow. The team placed him on the disabled list Wednesday, a day after he tore a ligament in the third inning against Arizona. He will have Tommy John-style tendon replacement surgery when the swelling goes down, possibly next week. The procedure will sideline him for a year. Even 24 hours later, De La Rosa was still digesting the stunning results. "I never really had problems with my arm. This is the first time, but theres nothing I can do," he said in a subdued voice as he sat in front of his locker following batting practice. "Its been very tough. Ive just got a lot of things on my mind right now. Well see what happens." With all-star Ubaldo Jimenez struggling this season, De La Rosa has stood out as the backbone of the staff. He was 5-2 with a 3.51 ERA. "We just lost not only a good pitcher, but weve lost a great kid for an extended period of time," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "Our tents arent going to fold." The Rockies now have to adjust their rotation on the fly. The immediate plan is to bring up righty Juan Nicasio from double-A Tulsa and have him make a spot start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. However, the rotation remains in flux. There is help on the horizon with Aaron Cook (fractured finger) set to come off the 60-day DL on May 30. The Rockies want him make his final rehab start Saturday with triple-A Colorado Springs before he rejoins the team. Cook, the teams all-time leader in wins, is eager to get his season started. The sinkerball specialist arrived at spring training needing a strong showing to secure the fifth starters spot, but he was slowed by a sore shoulder and then broke the tip of his right finger in a spring-loaded door in mid-March. "I just want to come in and give us a chance to win ball games," Cook said Tuesday. Clayton Mortensen has made a strong case for staying in the rotation, and the Rockies recently recalled fellow right-hander Greg Reynolds, who pitched 3 2-3 effective innings in relief of De La Rosa on Tuesday. But that stint pretty much knocked Reynolds out of consideration for a start Saturday, leading the team to turn to Nicasio, a lanky 24-year-old whos caught the eye of Rockies management. "Hes got a good arm. Hes got an Ubaldo-type arm," Rockies Vice Chairman Dick Monfort said. "Hes pitched well." Nicasio is 5-1 with a 2.22 ERA for Tulsa this season. He has 63 strikeouts and 10 walks in 56 2-3 innings. "Its an opportunity to give him a little taste and see what this is all about," Tracy said. "Weve seen this happen before: Guys like this take a walk up here and pitch a game ... and who knows maybe hell force us to the drawing board some more." The Rockies arent interested in exploring a trade to acquire another starter just yet. Theyre quite content with seeing what the pitchers in the organization can do first, especially since Esmil Rogers (strained back muscle) will soon come off the disabled list. General manager Dan ODowd just tested the market as he looked into deals for struggling relievers Franklin Morales and Felipe Paulino. Morales was sent to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later last Thursday, while Paulino was designated for assignment Saturday. "I have a pretty good feel for where clubs are at. Its just too early for clubs to do a whole lot right now," ODowd said. "Well look inside to begin with and adjust accordingly." To take De La Rosas spot on the roster, the Rockies recalled right-handed reliever Bruce Billings from Colorado Springs. Billings has never pitched at the major league level. "Very surprised," Billings said of receiving the news. "Its been no sleep and lots of smiles ever since." For De La Rosa, its just a matter of returning as soon as possible after undergoing the procedure. "Ill work hard and try to do everything they tell me to do to get better," De La Rosa said. "Thats all I can do now." Packers Jordy Nelson Youth Jersey . – Hockey Canada announced Friday the 17 mens hockey players born in 1996 nominated to the Canadian Olympic Committee to represent Canada at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria, taking place Jan. Packers Clay Matthews Womens Jersey . -- For the final tournament at Sherwood Country Club, Tiger Woods seems intent on leaving a lasting impression.Of course, sometimes its nice to just watch a good slap shot in action. Thats why well also include thiis video featuring the greatest slap shot artist of all time, Al MacInnis. Packers Julius Peppers Jersey. ' ' ' |
