Colorado Rockies’ Tyler Chatwood makes a strong case for opening rotation spot - MLB Update
Colorado Rockies’ right-handed pitcher Tyler Chatwood seems to be drawing close to sealing a spot on the team’s opening rotation for the upcoming 2013 Major League season.
Chatwood was instrumental in holding the Arizona Diamondbacks back in a game where the Rockies won 4-3. Tyler pitched in four innings and only gave away four hits and only surrendered a single run.
The 23-year-old was satisfied with his performance. He did have some issues but was able to work through them,
"What I worked on in between starts kind of clicked," Chatwood said. "I was pausing before, just to maintain my balance. But I felt like I couldn't get in a rhythm, so it was more fluid motion with my leg kick."
Tyler has so far played in two Major League seasons, one each for the Los Angeles Angels and the Colorado Rockies. He has so far posted an 11-17 win-loss record in 46 games, 37 of them as a starting pitcher. He has a career 4.96 ERA.
Chatwood is quite clear that he is willing to take any role although he prefers his starting pitcher role which he has done mainly during his career to this point.
"I've started my whole career, so I'd like to start, but whatever role they see me in that would help the team most is what I'm ready to do," Chatwood said.
He was a part of an inexperienced Colorado pitching unit in 2012 which was at the bottom of almost every pitching statistic in all of Major League. The injuries obviously did not help to the team’s cause and young pitchers had to take up big roles much earlier
than they should have.
Tyler says that last season was a learning curve as he was not too experienced at the highest level. The pitcher says that he likes to get outs right away and not wait too much to settle in.
"Last year, I really had no experience coming out of the 'pen," he said. "I have the attitude of going out there trying to get outs right away, rather than trying to settle into the game."
There are a number of other pitchers who are in the running and Chatwood by no means has a guaranteed spot. He will have to continue to perform well in order to get a nod ahead of the likes of Christian Friedrich and Chris Volstad.
Although Drew Pomeranz has done well, Walt Weiss believes that he will need more time to get into the top level. Four spots have already been sealed with Jorge De La Rosa, Jeff Francis, Jhoulys Chacin and Juan Nicasio.
It will be interesting to see whether Tyler Chatwood will land the role of a starting pitcher or not. By the look of things, there is going to be stiff competition and that is not a bad thing for the Rockies.
Tags: