The Colorado Rockies have been giving up runs at an alarming rate at home, but a visit from the Seattle Mariners could provide some relief.

The Rockies open a three-game interleague series Friday night against the Mariners, who have one of baseball’s most anemic offenses.

Coors Field has never been the most pitcher-friendly ballpark, but it’s been especially frustrating for the home team in 2012. Colorado fell to 9-11 there with a 9-7 loss to Arizona on Thursday – the fifth time in the last seven home games it allowed at least seven runs.

The Rockies (15-22) have a 5.67 ERA at home – worst in the majors. In the last 11 in Denver, it’s at 6.29.

It was the bullpen that struggled Thursday, although starter Juan Nicasio failed to make it out of the fifth inning. Rex Brothers gave up four runs in the eighth and Justin Upton hit a two-out, two-run homer off closer Rafael Betancourt in the ninth.

The Rockies failed to win their third straight, which would have matched their longest winning streak of the season.

Colorado’s pitching staff could have an easier time against the Mariners (16-24), who have dropped four straight and are 1-6 on a 10-game road trip.

They blew two late leads in a 6-5, 11-inning loss to the Indians on Thursday. Steve Delabar gave up three runs in the eighth, and after Michael Saunders doubled home a run in the top of the 11th to put Seattle ahead, Brandon League gave up two in the bottom of the inning after issuing three walks and a wild pitch.

“We gave them that game,” manager Eric Wedge said. “Walks killed us early and walks killed us late. I liked the way we battled back after they tied the score the first time, but then we blew it again.”

The defeat dropped Seattle to 1-12 away from home since April 28, with the team batting .216 and averaging 2.4 runs during that stretch.

The Mariners will send Kevin Millwood (1-4, 5.09 ERA) to the mound in the opener as he faces one of his former teams. The right-hander signed late last season with Colorado after being released by Boston and made nine starts, going 4-3 with a 3.98 ERA.

After struggling through his first six starts with Seattle, he allowed one run and three hits in seven innings of a 6-2 victory over the Yankees on Sunday for his first win.

“I thought he was outstanding today,” Wedge said. ”He did a great job with his secondary stuff.”

Millwood is 8-3 with a 3.30 ERA against the Rockies, last facing them in 2005 while with Cleveland, but several Rockies have hit well off him. Michael Cuddyer is 12 for 28 (.429) with two homers and four doubles against Millwood while Jason Giambi has homered three times among his eight hits in 19 at-bats.

Colorado counters with Alex White (0-2, 6.75).

After going 6 1-3 innings in his season debut May 8, White stumbled against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, allowing six runs in 4 1-3 innings of an 11-5 loss.

This will be his first time facing the Mariners.

The Rockies have won four straight against Seattle, sweeping a three-game home series in 2009.

Rockies pitcher Jhoulys Chacin allowed seven runs in 4 2/3 innings Tuesday at Coors Field. (Barry Gutierrez, The Associated Press)

No defense exists. No explanation will suffice. The Rockies must option Jhoulys Chacin to the minors. He has left them no choice. This isn’t a demotion. It’s an act of mercy.

Chacin was given the ball Tuesday night and asked to make a statement. His performance screamed for a SuperShuttle ticket to Triple-A Colorado Springs, switching spots with right-hander Alex White, after he allowed a career-high seven earned runs in a 7-6 loss to the Dodgers at Coors Field.

Where adjectives fail, numbers succeed. Chacin has three victories in his past 21 starts dating to last season. He’s 3-13 with a 5.14 ERA during that span. This is not an aberration, a bad night, a strike-squeezing ump. Chacin needs to leave so he can return as himself. The Braves are pursuing a similar track with former ace Jair Jurrjens. It’s jarring, but necessary.

Everything set up for Chacin to put his foot down Tuesday. Instead, he put his foot firmly out the door in the loss to the Dodgers.

There was no driving rain, as in his last start at Coors Field. No sun burning the retina of his left fielder, like his last outing at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

This was a postcard-perfect night. And Chacin clumsily spilled Ragu all over the mound. Chacin allowed a leadoff homer to shortstop Dee Gordon (he has one more than Albert Pujols, for those counting at home). Moments later Andre Ethier rifled a shot over the fence, leaving the Rockies in a 4-0 hole before the first out had been recorded.

The Rockies battled back from the 7-0 hole to get the tying run at third in the ninth but fell short, the hole Chacin put them in too big to dig out from. Part of the problem is Chacin’s weight. Or management’s unhappiness with his offseason conditioning, which, by all accounts wasn’t an issue from the moment he arrived in spring training. This is about performance. Chacin isn’t giving the Rockies a chance to win, a demoralizing slide that is compounded by struggling rookie Drew

The Dodgers’ Tony Gwynn Jr. steals second base under the tag of Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. (Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)

Pomeranz following him in the rotation.

He has forced the Rockies to call up White, who pitched late Tuesday night for the Sky Sox. White owns a 2.70 ERA and, while awful during his big-league cameo last year, he has demonstrated a better sinker and changeup over the last month.

At this point, the Rockies can farm out Chacin or pay ransom to the person that kidnapped the right-hander because this Chacin bears no resemblance to the promising rookie in 2010 and the pitcher who anchored the rotation for 10 weeks last season.

He is naked on the mound, left with no weapons. Once armed with a late-sinking 93 mph fastball, he consistently sits at 89 mph, and the pitch lacks finish. His changeup is terrific, but hitters eliminate it because he’s constantly behind in the count. His slider is no different. They stick their nose up at the pitch. It still breaks, but is typically so far off the plate hitters can check their swings.

There was a reason that the Rockies didn’t give Chacin a long-term contract last winter. They were concerned about how he finished last season. The free fall began when he experienced forearm tightness in Chicago on June 27. Until that point he was bucking for an all-star berth, owning an 8-4 record with a 2.71 ERA. Spring training brought biceps tendinitis and a finger blister, both of which were used to rationalize his lack of fastball velocity.

He might not be hurt. But he’s not right. His pitches have gone from electric to acoustic. Chacin previously owned the Dodgers at Coors Field, having shut them out over 15 consecutive innings.

Tuesday, one of the biggest rounds of applause came when Rockies manager Jim Tracy removed Chacin.

His next start will be against a California team. For his sake, it needs to be versus Fresno, not in San Diego.

Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1294 or trenck@denverpost.com

Colorado’s Tyler Colvin gets congratulated Sunday after scoring on a Jason Giambi single in the first inning. (Scott Boehm, Getty Images)

MILWAUKEE — So this is why the Rockies traded pitchers Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom to the Orioles for Jeremy Guthrie.

Guthrie was at his best Sunday at Miller Park in the Rockies’ 4-1 victory over the Brewers. With his sinker diving at the plate, he allowed one run and three hits in seven innings.

“I had more action with my two-seam fastball and I was able to use it more effectively and get some quick outs,” Guthrie said.

He has pitched seven innings in three of his four starts this year, but Sunday was by far his best performance.

Guthrie (2-1) pulled off a high-wire act in the sixth inning and came away unscathed. Aramis Ramirez hit a two-out double to right and Corey Hart walked. Brewers first baseman Mat Gamel stepped up and crushed a ball to deep left-center, but Tyler Colvin hauled it in at the base of the wall.

Colvin at No. 2. Colvin made a start in center and hit in the No. 2 slot, replacing Dexter Fowler, who was given a rest day.

Colvin has limited experience — and has enjoyed limited success — batting second in the order. But manager Jim Tracy said Colvin retooled his swing during the winter and can handle the role.

“He handles the bat extremely well,” Tracy said. “Tyler Colvin is a guy that you can put runners in motion and he’s going to put a good swing on and put the ball in play. We have played hit-and-run with him already during the regular season. I tested him during spring training to see if he was going to be able to do that.”

Colvin entered Sunday’s game with 59 career at-bats in the No. 2 hole and was hitting only .136 with a .164 on-base percentage. He went 1-for-5.

More on Moyer.  TBS baseball analyst John Smoltz had this to say Sunday about 49-year-old Rockies pitcher Jamie Moyer: “He’s doing it in rarified air and that to me is more impressive than his age. To do it in Colorado is something. I don’t think he came back to do it just this year. … I wouldn’t be surprised if he came back again next year.”

Footnotes. Sunday’s game was Tracy’s 800th win as a major-league manager. With the Rockies, he is 238-217. … Rafael Betancourt is 5-for-5 in save opportunities. … Jason Giambi had his first RBI of the season, driving in Colvin in the first inning.

Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post

Many baseball fans may have thought it a gimmick for the Colorado Rockies to invite 49-year-old pitcher Jamie Moyer to spring training this year. Cue the AARP/Social Security/Grandpa jokes, right? How many times do I have to hear fans around me at the games and the sports bar joke about how they could throw as hard as Moyer and that they should be pitching for the Rockies?

Well, the joke has been on the doubters so far this season. Not only has Jamie Moyer made the roster of the Rockies, but he has pitched very well in his two starts. Unfortunately, poor hitting and clumsy fielding behind him have cost him at least one win.

It’s rather amazing that hitters haven’t figured out how to hit Moyer consistently. The man throws fastballs in the 75 mph range, and I’ve yet to see a pitch of his go much faster. Occasionally, he might toss one in the 68 mph range. How can it be that he’s not been run out of the park in the first inning of ever game? I sat behind home plate for his start against the San Francisco Giants and I still don’t know how they managed to not murder the ball on every pitch across the plate.

Watching Moyer, the vast majority of the balls have been in play. Hitters are definitely making contact, but solid contact is infrequent. Moyer will give up a home run or two when he pitches, but it’s highly unusual to see more than a few batters in a row be able to hit him well. The key is having a good defense behind him because they are gonna see a lot of balls, but so far the Rockies have failed miserably there. In his two starts the Rockies have committed five errors behind him. That’s just inexcusable.

On top of that, the Rockies’ anemic offense throughout most of the first week of the season has also failed him. They scored just five runs over his two starts. Moyer is a pitcher that, perhaps more than most, is gonna need some decent run support. I’m not asking for ten runs a game. Moyer has only give up five earned runs this year. Clearly simply scoring three or four runs while he’s in the game could be enough to win now that the middle relief staff seems to be hitting its stride.

I have no doubt that the Rockies will eventually put it all together behind Moyer. I don’t honestly care about him becoming the oldest pitcher to win a game in the MLB. I care more about why Moyer was brought to Colorado. The Rockies need him to pitch five to seven quality innings every time he starts, and to bring that as long as he can this season. The starting rotation is a work in progress. Juan Nicasio was very shaky in his start against the Diamondbacks last night and his mental recovery from his fractured vertebrae may still be ongoing. Jhoulys Chacin is very young and showing it. The Rockies are still waiting for Jorge De La Rosa to get back from Tommy John surgery.

It’s not a joke that Moyer is pitching for the Rockies. He’s a quality arm delivering good innings of work. The Rockies could win these games that Moyer pitches if they bring their bats to the game. Moyer might be the difference between a bad season and a good season. That’s nothing to laugh about.

Julie is a Featured Contributor and has followed baseball her entire life. She’s been a fan of the Colorado Rockies ever since moving to Denver in 2001. Her goal this year is to watch 100 of their games. She’s seen six games in the first week.

After earning their first victory of the season off of Barry Zito‘s first shutout in nine years, the San Francisco Giants will look to continue their positive trend against the Colorado Rockies. Looking to rebound from a rough start on Opening Day where he lasted less than six innings, gave up five earned runs, and allowed two home runs, Tim Lincecum returns to the site where he earned his first career major league victory on May 11, 2007 in hopes of his first win of the season.

Unlike the first game of the series, manager Bruce Bochy will reinsert catcher Buster Posey and first baseman Brandon Belt into the lineup on Wednesday, giving Lincecum even more bats in the lineup for a chance at his first win of the season. After starting the entire Arizona Diamondbacks series, Posey was given his first of many rest days of the season to give him a chance to rest his surgically-repaired ankle. In his place, new backup catcher Hector Sanchez earned the start and quickly delivered in his first action of the season with two hits and a RBI.

While Posey’s game off was for rest, Belt was given the day off and a talk from Bochy after collecting only one hit in his first 10 at-bats. Despite his early struggles, Bochy plans on giving Belt an ample number of starts and at-bats unlike his varying usage during his rookie season.

The game:

The San Francisco Giants will take on the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field located in Denver, CO on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 5:40 p.m. PT. This will be the second game in a three-game series.

The season series:

The season series currently stands at 1-0 in favor of the Giants.

Where to watch and listen to the game:

The game can be watched live on MLB Network or locally at the following:

In San Francisco: CSN-BA & KNBR 680 (radio)

In Colorado: Root Sports & KOA 850 (radio)

The starting pitcher matchup:

San Francisco: Tim Lincecum

2011 season: 13-14, 2.74 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 220 Ks

Numbers vs. Rockies in last five years: 8-6, 3.27 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 119 Ks

Colorado: Jeremy Guthrie

2011 season: 9-17, 4.33 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 130 Ks

Numbers vs. Giants in last five years: 0-1, 6.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 2 Ks

Team injuries:

San Francisco: Clay Hensley (mild calf strain), Dan Runzler (aggravated strained left lat muscle), Freddy Sanchez (recovery from right shoulder surgery), Eric Surkamp (strained flexor tendon, left hand), Ryan Vogelsong (lower back spasms)

Colorado: Charlie Blackmon (turf toe, right foot), Jorge De La Rosa (recovery from left elbow surgery), Hector Gomez (strained right groin), Josh Outman (strained oblique)

Next series on tap:

Following this series, the Giants will host the Pittsburgh Pirates from April 13-15 and host the Philadelphia Phillies from April 16-18.

Meanwhile, the Rockies’ next two series will be at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks from April 13-15 and at home against the San Diego Padres from April 16-18.

Sources:

Giants-Rockies Preview, Yahoo! Sports

Lincecum seeks rebound against new Rox ace, MLB

More from this contributor:

Fan’s Preview: Will Barry Zito Lead the San Francisco Giants to Their First Win of the Season?

Fan’s Take: Did the San Francisco Giants overpay for Matt Cain?

Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants Finally Agree to 5-Year Extension: Fan’s Reaction

Former San Francisco Giants Catcher Bengie Molina Retires After 13 Seasons: Fan’s Reaction

San Francisco Giants SP Tim Lincecum’s Two-Year Contract Not Big Deal: Fan’s Take

Austin Chang is a lifelong San Francisco Bay Area native, baseball fan, and supporter of the San Francisco Giants. Follow this contributor on Twitter @_austinchang.

The Colorado Rockies lost this weekend’s series with the Houston Astros, and it may be a warning to fans that things aren’t going to go smoothly for a while. By no means am I already throwing in the towel for the season (that would be a bit overly dramatic). I am, however, trying to remain realistic and patient after these past three games highlighted the weaknesses of this 2012 Rockies team.

Poor Hitting Makes It Difficult To Win

The Rockies certainly struggled hitting for much of 2011, and that was one of the biggest weaknesses for a team that finished well out of the playoff race. 2012 hasn’t started any better. In three games against the Astros, the Rockies battled a collective .198 (20-201) and scored just 10 runs in those games. To make it even worse, four of those runs in the opening game were unearned (when the Astros committed four key errors).

The heart of the lineup is struggling as bad as the rest of the team. Carlos Gonzalez has gone 3-13, Troy Tulowitzki was 2-10, and Todd Helton has hit 1-8. Thankfully, new outfielder Michael Cuddyer is batting a scintillating .417 (5-12) and providing a rare bright spot at the plate.

Starting Pitching Is Not The Problem

I felt as if all three starting pitchers this weekend did what they were supposed to do. Josh Guthrie made it seven innings and allowed just three earned runs. Jamie Moyer made it five innings and gave up three earned runs. Juan Nicasio outdid them both, allowing just one earned run in seven innings. Middle relievers were a bit shaky at times, and they weren’t helped by some key errors in the field. However, considering how many questions the starting rotation had going into this season season, the Rockies seem to be in decent shape in that department right now.

Positive Things About Opening Weekend

Michael Cuddyer may be the best free agent pickup for the Rockies in the past few years. Not only has he been the best hitter so far, but his hustle in the field and on the base paths are great examples to the many young players on the team.

Juan Nicasio, recovering from a vicious hit last year that resulted in a fractured cervical bone, clearly has fully recovered. His seven innings on Sunday were fantastic, and it’s not going to be a surprise if he moves into the No. 2 spot in the starting rotation soon.

I’m still very excited about this season. With all the new players and pitchers, this is a very different team and it’s going to take a while for the lineup to come together. The Rockies are coming home to Denver on Monday for an extended home stand, and I expect that the hitting will begin to pick up in front of a sold-out stadium filled with Rockies fans.

Julie has followed baseball her entire life. Since moving to Denver in 2001 she has become a stout Colorado Rockies fan. Her favorite player has been Troy Tulowitzki, but she might switch loyalties to Michael Cuddyer if he keeps hustling and playing harder than everyone else.

Michael Cuddyer scores Monday for the Rockies in Tempe, Ariz. Catching for the Angels: Ex-Rockie Chris Iannetta. Chris Carlson, The Associated Press

TEMPE, Ariz. — The re-education of outfielder Tyler Colvin makes him a favorite to stick on the Rockies’ roster, especially with Charlie Blackmon out indefinitely with a turf toe injury.

If the Rockies keep just four outfielders, it might come down to a choice between Colvin and Eric Young Jr. In 2010, Colvin hit 20 home runs for the Cubs, but he became so pull-happy that he messed up his swing. He hit just .150 in 2011 and was sent down to Triple-A. This spring, he has concentrated on hitting to all fields, and it’s paying off. His versatility — he’s comfortable at all three outfield spots and has played first base — is a bonus.

Monday, against the Angels, the left-handed hitter drove in

a run with a solid single in the fourth inning and then singled, stole second and scored in the sixth. He’s hitting .400.

“I knew after the year I had, I was going to have to prove myself,” said Colvin, acquired from the Cubs as part of the trade for third baseman Ian Stewart. “I just have to keep hitting and playing good defense.”

The Rockies worked overtime to fix Colvin’s swing.

“The kid got in a rut and got himself in a lot of trouble,” manager Jim Tracy said. “Now he’s doing a great job of staying square and keeping his hands in front of him. He’s driving the ball the other way. He’s a really good athlete.”

Toe woes. Blackmon can’t run or put pressure on his foot because of his injury. “The injury is

more than the big toe, it’s the joint around the ball of my foot,” Blackmon said. “It’s very painful and whenever I put weight on it and rotate on it, it really bites me.”

Clearly frustrated, Blackmon said the only remedy is rest, but added, “I don’t know how much time I have to be sitting around and resting.”

Pomeranz making progress. Lefty Drew Pomeranz gave up one run and four hits in four innings. He moved the ball well throughout the strike zone, but he was not pleased

with his high pitch count (85).

“So far, this is the first time I haven’t been as efficient with my pitches,” Pomeranz said.

He said his arm feels strong and he has no problems from the right glute strain that sidelined him.

Fowler update. Dexter Fowler went 0-for-4 with a strikeout, dropping his average to .114, but Tracy praised Fowler’s defense and remains confident Fowler will find his swing.

Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. —  Even after hitting his first two home runs of the spring Sunday vs. the Reds, Todd Helton still couldn’t resist a joke.

“I need to save them because they are so few and far between now,” the Rockies’ 38-year-old first baseman deadpanned.

But when Helton started talking about his swing, he turned serious.

“Absolutely it feels good,” said Helton, who raised his average to .407. “To take all that you have been working on in the cage and translate that over to the game, that feels good.”

His second homer Sunday, an opposite-field power shot to left off Reds starter Johnny Cueto, was a good sign that his swing is in tune.

“That is the indication,” Helton said. “It was a 2-0

changeup. To be able to stay back on that ball, and to stay through it, is a big indicator.”

Helton’s chronic lower-back problem is under control, at least for now, and manager Jim Tracy likes what he sees.

“Todd is in a very good place right now,” he said. “He looks very strong in his legs.”

Chacin rebounds. Jhoulys Chacin rebounded from a tough start last Tuesday and pitched five solid innings. The right-hander’s fastball command — his biggest issue — was much better and he kept the ball lower in the zone.

Chacin allowed two runs and six hits, walked two and struck out two.

Footnote. Tracy confirmed that right-handers Alex White and Esmil Rogers, both of whom entered the camp as

potential starters, are now relievers. Rogers pitched an impressive one-two-three ninth inning, striking out the Reds’ Jay Bruce to end the game.

Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1720 or psaunders@denverpost.com

Rockies 7, Reds 3

At Salt River Fields at Talking Stick

Hits: Veteran Casey Blake, out to prove he deserves a spot as the starting third baseman, hit his first homer of spring, a two-run

shot to left-center in the fifth. … Utility infielder Jonathan Herrara improved his average to .368 with a double in the fifth.

Misses: Blake turned a routine groundball out into an error in the fourth when his throw to first sailed high.

On deck: The Rockies play the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium today (2:05 p.m. MDT). Lefty Drew Pomeranz starts for the Rockies and righty Garrett Richards starts for the Angels.

TEMPE, Ariz. — There was rust, but there wasn’t any pain. Chalk Wednesday up as a good day for Rockies left-hander Drew Pomeranz.

Making his first start since March 13, when he was pulled after two innings because of tightness in his right glute, Pomeranz gave up three runs on six hits, walked two and struck out two in four innings against the Angels’ Triple-A squad.

Pomeranz is expected to be one of the top four pitchers in the Rockies’ rotation.

“I felt great, really strong,” he said. “I have a lot to work on … I left some pitches up. I have some mechanics to figure out, and I’m working on some balance, but overall it was good.”

To continue reading this story go to DenverPost.com/Sports.

DENVER (AP) Todd Helton couldn’t convey how glad he was that nobody’s talking about the Colorado Rockies this year – and that was even before his college buddy Peyton Manning decided to play for the Denver Broncos.

A year ago, it seemed everybody had already anointed the Rockies the NL West champions after a busy offseason in which they committed nearly $300 million to their budding stars.

Amid all that optimism, they led their division for 38 days before the bottom fell out and they plummeted to a 73-89 record in what was easily the most disappointing season in franchise history.

Now, even after a massive makeover that included the infusion of veteran leadership into the clubhouse in Michael Cuddyer, Jeremy Guthrie, Marco Scutaro, Jamie Moyer and Ramon Hernandez, not many pundits are predicting the playoffs for Colorado.

And that’s just fine with these rejuvenated Rockies, whose best seasons, playoff runs in 2007 and ’09, came out of the blue.

”We don’t deal too well with expectations for whatever reason,” Helton said. ”So, I hope we’re going into this season without any.”

With this healthy dose of reverse psychology, Helton figures maybe Colorado will be this year’s version of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who were nobody’s pick in spring training last year or at the start of the season but ended up as division champions.

The buzz in Colorado, anyway, is with the Broncos following Manning’s decision to come to Denver.

”I’m excited. I think it’s a good move. He’s a great football player, one of the best of all time,” said Helton, who was Manning’s backup QB at Tennessee in the 1990s before both became stars in their respective sports.

”I think it’s a great thing for the town and will bring unbelievable excitement,” Helton said. ”I can picture him in a Broncos uniform. It’s a Broncos town and they have somebody to root for. He’s going to come in and play well and I’m excited to see it,” Helton said on the same day Manning called John Elway and told him he was going to be a Bronco.

After talking up his pal, Helton turned to a scrum of reporters as he left the team’s clubhouse in Scottsdale, Ariz., and cracked, ”I did get a hit, too, you know?”

At least he’s preparing for flying under the radar.

The Rockies didn’t handle the heaviness of high expectations or the weight of adversity well last year, when ace Ubaldo Jimenez showed up ill-prepared, got hurt and never found his groove before being dealt to Cleveland at the trade deadline. By then, Jorge De La Rosa had undergone Tommy John surgery and soon, rookie fireballer Juan Nicasio would suffer a broken neck when he was struck in the head by a comebacker.

Slugger Carlos Gonzalez stumbled along with star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and before long, the Rockies were freefalling.

”Oh, it was the biggest disappointment that I’ve ever gone through,” Helton said. ”I mean, there was so much expectation and we truly believed that we were going to be a good team and just to crumble the way we did and just to have the lapses and lose the games we did, just unacceptable.”

He said it was even more disheartening than losing the 2007 World Series to Boston in four games.

”Yeah. Because we weren’t expected to go to the World Series. We were at least expected to go to the playoffs last year,” Helton said.

So, general manager Dan O’Dowd brought in some veterans to mix in with the youngsters such as catcher Wilin Rosario and third baseman Nolan Arenado, two budding stars who will be on the Rockies’ roster this summer, even if they start out in the minors for a tad more seasoning.

Hernandez has been a godsend for a young core of pitchers that includes Nicasio, Jhoulys Chacin, Drew Pomeranz, Guillermo Moscoso and Alex White, among others.

Nicasio has made a remarkable comeback from his accident that could have paralyzed or even killed him last summer, and De La Rosa figures to be the Rockies’ ace when he’s healthy again come midsummer.

Gonzalez said he realizes now that he got off to a poor start in 2011 because he wasn’t as prepared as he should have been after a winter in which he signed a huge contract and was the toast of Venezuela following his breakout 2010 season.

So, he had a quieter offseason this time around and expects to return to his 2010 form.

After hitting .228 with just five extra-base hits in April, Gonzalez rebounded to hit .295 with 26 homers and 92 RBIs last season. But he also injured his right wrist from multiple crashes into the outfield walls, which sidelined him for 33 games.

The Rockies went 10-23 in his absence.

”I basically battled the whole year because after I hit the wall that first time, I never felt the same,” Gonzalez said. ”And right now I feel great.”

Gonzalez has long prided himself on his versatility in playing all three outfield positions, but the Rockies are hoping to keep him in left field this season, which should help him get more comfortable with the warning tracks.

”You know what would help me?” Gonzalez said. ”If Dexter Fowler plays 162 games in center field.”

That’s the plan, and Cuddyer is penciled in as the everyday right fielder, leaving Gonzalez in left.

”I would love to stay in one position,” Gonzalez said.

And off the DL.

Tulowitzki also recommitted himself over the winter, holding what came to be called ”Camp Tulo” in Las Vegas, where he worked out with several teammates, including Jason Giambi, Fowler and Arenado.

”Last year humbled me as a player, as a leader. And it humbled a lot of guys in this locker room,” Tulowitzki said. ”You look around and there’s a lot of different lockers that are empty from guys who have moved to other teams. It’s kind of a wake-up call.”

—

Follow AP Sports Writer Arnie Stapleton on Facebook and on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton

Colorado Rockies’ Chris Nelson attempts a leaping catch on a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks’ Matt Davidson during the ninth inning of a spring training baseball game Saturday, March 3, 2012, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Nelson dropped the ball, and Davidson was safe at first. The game ended in a 1-1 tie. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

PEORIA, Ariz. — This is his time.

That’s what Chris Nelson knows even if he would rather not delve into what it means. This opportunity, seemingly forever out of his reach as a first-round draft pick trudging through the minor leagues, has dropped into his lap.

With the chances of Casey Blake making the Rockies’ roster decreasing because of a neck injury, Nelson has a prime opportunity to go from faceless bench player to starting third baseman.

“I have been feeling like I could play every day as long as I have been coming to big-league camp. I take the same approach. I try to have fun with it and let my game take care of itself,” said Nelson, who’s endlessly smiling. “To stress about how many people

are competing for this and that, that’s just a distraction I don’t need right now.”

Nelson is no longer a kid. He’s 26 and out of options. This might not be his last chance at an everyday gig, but it could be his best.

“The message is clear: Take advantage of this,” manager Jim Tracy said. “He has responded.”

Once considered one of the Rockies’ top young players, Nelson was derailed by injuries and inconsistency. His career highlight remains his straight steal of home Sept. 9, 2010, at Coors Field in a win over the Reds.

Nelson hit .250 in 63 games last year, splitting time between second base and third. He was frequently the victim of a roster crunch, yo-yoing between Denver and Triple-A Colorado Springs. He arrived

in Scottsdale for spring training as a favorite to win a bench job.

Now he’s in line to help patch a position that helped sink the Rockies last year, possibly splitting time with the versatile Jordan Pacheco.

“He has the tools. Now it’s about getting the most from them,” shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said.

Nelson learned from last season, showing maturity after demotions. Rather than pout in Triple-A, cliché behavior, he played better.

“I didn’t want there to be

any question marks about me,” Nelson said.

That attitude served him well over the winter as he welcomed Rockies infield coach Rich Dauer to Atlanta for three days of defensive workouts in January.

Even if the third baseman is penciled in as No. 8 in the Rockies’ lineup, Nelson has to hit more to be a starter. His right wrist healthy — that limited him last September — Nelson has shown improvement turning on inside pitches. He’s batting .267 in 30 at-bats, but leads the Rockies in line outs.

“It just comes down to being consistent,” Jason Giambi said.

Nelson understands the landscape. It’s possible that he will merely keep the seat warm for top prospect Nolan Arenado, shifting Nelson back to a utility

role.

But baseball doesn’t always follow script. Nelson was once Arenado, a can’t-miss prospect, and his route became a slalom course.

And just as this path opened to third base, he was hit with a fungo groundball in the right temple during batting practice Friday.

Nelson all but waved off treatment. No time for this. Not now.

“It was a little scary,” Nelson said. “I was like, ‘Hold on, for a minute.’ I didn’t want to get hit by a batted ball. After that I told them, ‘I am good. I am good. No problems.’ “

Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1294 or trenck@denverpost.com

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Closer Rafael Betancourt is a notoriously slow starter, with his second half of the season almost always outshining his first. Noting that, the Rockies’ plan was to get Betancourt out of the gate quickly this spring.

That plan took a detour in the ninth inning Saturday against the Dodgers.

Betancourt, missing location with his fastball and leaving the ball over the heart of the plate, was pounded for four runs on five hits as the Dodgers erased a 6-2 deficit, although Tim Wheeler hit a walk-off homer to give the Rockies an 8-6 victory.

A misplaced Betancourt changeup nearly left the park, but a great catch by right fielder Charlie Blackmon avoided yet another hit.

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DenverPost.com/Sports.

SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rockies don’t have a starting third baseman or a backup catcher. Jordan Pacheco plays both positions (and first base for good measure) and continues to hit. Does it mean he’s a fit for the roster?

“You better believe he is,” manager Jim Tracy said.

While nothing is certain in mid-March, Pacheco remains a strong favorite to make the team because of his versatility — no longer dealing with a sore arm, he has improved behind the plate — and impressive spring at the plate. The former New Mexico star went 3-for-3 with three RBIs on Wednesday, lifting his spring batting average to .467 in seven games.

“I’d want him on my team. He has a very good approach,” hitting instructor

Carney Lansford said. “He goes foul pole to foul pole.”

Lansford also believes Pacheco’s swing would work in a bench-utility role.

Pacheco filled that spot last September, hitting .286 with 14 RBIs in 21 games.

Chatwood states case.  Using his slider more liberally, Tyler Chatwood kept pace in the race to be the fifth starter in the rotation. The right-hander allowed just one run in four innings Wednesday against the Rangers’ everyday lineup, which torched him last season (11.17 ERA, .458 batting average against).

“I think the competition brings out the best in all of us,” said Chatwood, who plans to use his changeup more in his next outing.

“He’s making quite a statement,” Tracy said.

Pomeranz

feeling fine. Rockies trainer Keith Dugger doesn’t believe pitcher Drew Pomeranz’s right glute injury is anything serious. Pomeranz felt OK on Wednesday, a day after experiencing tightness as he ran his scoreless string to seven innings. If he’s unable to throw a side session in the next few days, Pomeranz’s Sunday start likely will be pushed back.

Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post