Rockies closer Street has shoulder inflammation

Mar 3, 2010 - 12:11 AM TUCSON, Ariz.(AP) -- Colorado Rockies closer Huston Street is experiencing inflammation in his right shoulder, a condition he calls normal for this point in spring training and one he said is improving.

Street, who converted 35 of 37 save opportunities last season, has thrown four times in spring training, three bullpen sessions and 10 minutes of live batting practice Friday.

"Coming off the mound, I felt normal," said Street, referring to Friday. "When we came in the next day, it was pretty stiff."

Street rested for two days. He said he began taking anti-inflammatory medication Monday and played catch. He played catch again from 90 feet on Tuesday.

"It definitely feels a little bit better," Street said. "There's still some inflammation we're trying to work out."

Keith Dugger said the inflammation felt by Street is "pretty normal" when pitchers "up the intensity a little bit" while going from bullpen sessions to batting practice.

"I would put last year's flare-up in September significantly more serious than what we're dealing with now," Street said. "And we came back in three weeks after that. We don't really have a timetable. But I want to be in games sometime soon."

After Street made an appearance Sept. 1 last season, he was sidelined with shoulder inflammation and didn't pitch again until Sept. 22.

Street experienced groin stiffness in spring training last year and said it led to "some arm issues" not only later in camp but the early part of the regular season, as well.

In other injury news, pitcher Greg Reynolds has a bone chip above his right elbow, the result of getting hit with a line drive Monday. It is not something that will require surgery, Dugger said, because the chip is not in the elbow joint, and he'll be able to pitch once the soreness and swelling subside in his elbow. In addition to X-rays, Reynolds underwent an MRI exam Tuesday. The Rockies are awaiting the results.

Reliever Rafael Betancourt, who didn't feel he was ready to pitch in a Cactus League game Thursday as scheduled, threw batting practice Tuesday and said he'd be "able to pitch a little harder" than he could four days earlier.

Betancourt, a set-up man who pitches the eighth inning and paves the way to Street, said he will again throw batting practice Friday, and on Monday will either pitch in an exhibition game or throw more batting practice.

Betancourt contracted a virus that prevented him from working out from Dec. 27 until Jan. 19 when he came to Denver to take a physical before signing a two-year, $7.55 million contract. That layoff put Betancourt behind when he came to spring training and after throwing batting practice Friday for the first time, Betancourt was wary of pitching in an exhibition game so soon.

Right fielder Brad Hawpe took swings in batting practice for the first time this spring. He is over an infection that developed in his left big toe when an ingrown nail was removed.

However, Hawpe isn't expected to begin playing in games until the beginning of next week, since he has done outfield drills and light running but has not sprinted.

NOTES: The Rockies have named their pitchers for the start of Cactus League play. Thursday against the Diamondbacks, Jason Hammel will start, followed by Jorge De La Rosa, Manuel Corpas, Randy Flores, Juan Rincon and Franklin Morales. ... Friday, the Rockies will send split-squads to the Phoenix area to play the Giants and Angels. Jeff Francis, who missed the entire 2009 season following shoulder surgery, will start against the Giants, followed by Chaz Roe, Esmil Rogers, Jimmy Gobble and Justin Speier. Given a choice, manager Jim Tracy prefers to keep Ubaldo Jimenez away from a division rival, so he will start against the Angels, followed by Greg Smith, Matt Belisle, Matt Daley and Matt Reynolds. ... In the Rockies' home opener Saturday against the Brewers, Tim Redding will start, followed by Jhoulys Chacin, Al Alburquerque, Edgmer Escalona, Shane Lindsay, Craig Baker and Andrew Johnston. ... In one of two split-squad games Sunday against the Diamondbacks, Aaron Cook will start followed by Samuel Deduno, Christian Friedrich, Corpas and Flores.