The Rockies have lost righty reliever Taylor Buchholz for the rest of the 2009 season and half of the 2010 season due to Tommy John Surgery. This is a big blow to the Rockies as Buchholz really stepped up last season working in 63 games (0 starts) in which he was 6-6 with 1 save, a 2.17 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP.

The Rockies have placed reserve infielder Jeff Baker on the 15-day disabled list with a left hand sprain. Baker has played in 12 games this season for the Rockies and he is 3 for 23 (.130 avg, .384 OPS) with 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base. The Rockies have recalled outfielder Matt Murton to replace Baker on the active roster and he’s off to a nice start. In Murton’s first 2 games with the Rockies he is 2 for 5 (.400 avg). Murton was also very hot in AAA-ball this season playing in 18 games in which he was 30 for 73 (.411 avg, 1.134 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 4 homers and 19 RBIs. Murton should do a solid job for the Rockies this season.

The Rockies have placed righty reliever Ryan Speier and lefty starting pitcher Franklin Morales on the D.L. Speier has a injured left hamstring and Morales has a strained shoulder. Speier has pitched in 5 games (0 starts) this season for the Rockies and he is 0-0 with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. He has pitched in 90 games (0 starts) in his career with the Rockies and he is 7-3 with a 3.99 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Morales has started 2 games for the Rockies this season and he is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. Morales has whiffed 9 batters and only walked 1 in 8 innings for the Rockies this season. The Rockies have recalled 26-year old righty reliever Matt Daley for his first taste of the majors. He has pitched in 5 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this season and he is 0-0 with a 1.13 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He has whiffed a stunning 15 batters this season while only walking 1 in 8 innings.

The Rockies will be without 27-year old righty reliever Taylor Buchholz for at least a month due to a tear in his right elbow. The Rockies are hoping that rest will heal him. He pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last season and he was 6-6 with 1 save, 21 holds, a 2.17 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. He was the most dependable reliever on the Rockies’ pitching staff last season so he will be missed.

28-year old lefty starting pitcher Jeff Francis will have exploratory surgery on his left shoulder soon and he’s anticipating the worst telling people close to him that he’s likely out for the season. Francis pitched in 24 games (all starts) last season for the Rockies and he was 4-10 with a 5.01 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. He has now pitched in 130 games (all starts) in his career with the Rockies and he is 51-44 with a 4.74 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. This explains why the Rockies were stockpiling starting pitchers over the winter.