Valaika’s versatility still sidelined
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.» Pat Valaika has been taking infield at third, second, short and first, scooping grounders and throwing without pain. He projects as the Rockies’ super-utility player — when he gets healthy. That’s going to take a while longer.
“I think (opening day) is a realistic goal and that’s what I’m shooting for,” he said. “But the trainers are on top of this and they’ll let me know.”
A strained left oblique has limited Valaika to just three Cactus League games and seven at-bats. Currently, he’s swinging a bat only during soft toss and modified batting practice in the cage. Caution is at play.
“He’s not close to being in a game,” manager Bud Black said. “It’s just that the full-intensity, big-league hack that you have to take — it’s not there.”
Valaika is searching for silver linings while he sits out games.
“Knock on wood, but this is the first time I’ve been injured, so this is new to me,” he said. “Hopefully I get this out of the way and move on.”
Plus, he showed the Rockies what he could do last season, so it’s not as if he’s a raw rookie trying to garner attention. Valaika led all pinch hitters last season in RBIs (16), doubles (eight) and extra-base hits (12), and he also hit four homers.
“I guess it’s good this didn’t happen last (spring), because maybe things would have been a little different, but you never want to miss time,” Valaika said. “It’s tough because I use spring training to get a lot of at-bats, and during the year it’s usually one at-bat a game, so it’s tough to miss this time.”
Worth watching.
So what is Black looking for from his pitchers during these exhibition games? It’s certainly not raw numbers from the box score.
“I’m looking at how their stuff is, basically,” Black said. “Is their velocity where it needs to be? Are their mechanics where they need to be? More than anything, are they physically in a good spot? Are there any red flags on their stuff or on their arms?
“I know that if their velocity is a little short, it’s been proven to me over time that when the regular season starts, it will be where it should be.”
Footnotes.
Carlos Gonzalez, who has accepted a one-year, $8 million contract, was at the Rockies’ spring training complex for the second consecutive day, but the deal still isn’t official. An announcement could come Monday. … Right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (oblique) could be back on the pitching schedule in a few more days. … Right-handed starter Jeff Hoffman (sore shoulder) is making progress, and though he won’t be ready for opening day, the Rockies hope to see him pitch in a Cactus League game.