Colorado placed Jose Ortiz on the DL Sunday with a strained left hamstring. Ortiz injured the hamstring in the first inning of the Rockies' June 12th game in Boston. He tried to play with the injury for a few days, but then Colorado decided to place him on the disabled list.

As Ortiz hasn't played that well this season, the Rockies likely welcome the excuse to give him a little time in the minors on a "rehab" assignment to try to work out some of his problems. Manager Clint Hurdle implied as much in statements made earlier this week. Ortiz is hitting .244 with a .309 OBP and .306 SLG in 160 AB this season on 39 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, and 1 HR with a 13:22 BB:K and a 2/2 SB%.

Brent Butler returned from the minors to fill Ortiz's roster spot. Colorado sent Butler down in early June when they activated Shawn Chacon from the disabled list, choosing to carry an extra pitcher rather than an excess of middle infielders. Chacon went on the DL in early May with a strained right pectoral muscle. His rehab went slowly but he's now recovered and rejoined the Colorado rotation.

Butler has assumed the second base starting duties. He's hitting .359 with a .379 OBP and 625 SLG in 64 AB on 23 H, 4 2B, 3 3B, and 3 HR with a 1:10 BB:K and 1/3 SB%. Terry Shumpert continues to receive regular at-bats off the bench. He's currently hitting .243 with a .326 OBP and .365 SLG in 115 AB on 28 H, 5 2B, and 3 HR.

The Rockies placed Rick White on the disabled list in late May with inflammation in his right shoulder. White rejoined the team on Tuesday slightly earlier than expected. Brian Fuentes, who the Rockies called up to replace White on the roster, returned to the minors upon White's activation. In the mean time, Fuentes was sent down when the team activated Benny Agbayani from the disabled list and recalled when Kent Mercker went on the DL. During his time in the majors, Fuentes has allowed 4 H and 1 HR in 4 IP with a 5:3 K:BB over 7 appearances.

Kent Mercker suffered one of the more graphic injuries this season. While he was pitching in the eighth inning of the Rockies June 5th game against the Dodgers, Mark Grudzielanek lined a ball back to the mound, which hit the pitcher's left hand and split the webbing next to his index finger. Afterwards Mercker was quoted in an AP article as saying, "I could see my bones and my ligaments and my tendon, so that's probably not a normal thing. When I was on the field I saw some blood and I figured I just probably lost a nail because it didn't really hurt. Then I looked down and saw that hole there."

He had surgery immediately following his removal from the game. Luckily, though he fractured his fifth metacarpal, he did not suffer any tendon damage. The stitches were removed last week and Mercker would like to begin playing catch again in early July. Mercker suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in May of 2000 and missed most of the rest of that season, then failed to make a team last season. Particularly considering his home park, Mercker was making an impressive comeback with a 24:11 K:BB in 24 IP with 24 H and 2 HR allowed. He may be able to return in August.

The Rockies placed Agbayani on the DL in mid-May with a strained left hamstring. His rehab went well and he was able to rejoin the team in early June. Colorado is somewhat disappointed with Agbayani's performance in a platoon with Todd Hollandsworth this season. Agbayani's only hitting .218 with a .273 OBP and .347 in 101 AB on 22 H, 4 2B, and 3 HR with an 8:29 BB:K.

When he went on the DL, the Rockies called up Dennis Stark to replace Agbayani on the roster. As that was at the same time as Chacon's injury, Stark took Chacon's place in the rotation and made 5 starts. He's allowed just 29 H and 2 HR in 37.1 IP this season with a 21:25 K:BB. Once Chacon returned from the disabled list, Stark moved to the bullpen.

When Justin Speier, who started the season on the DL due to an inflamed lateral hamstring, rejoined the team, Colorado sent Mike James to the minors through waivers. Since his return, Speier has allowed 17 H and 1 HR in 19 IP with a 17:7 K:BB.

About a week and half before being sent down, James was involved in an odd incident with a cab driver while in Cincinnati for a series against the Reds. James felt the driver of the cab was not taking him directly to the stadium from the hotel. Reportedly when James commented, the driver became offended, and they scuffled when he dropped off James. James' clothes were torn and he sustained scrapes from the fight. James was pitching well before his demotion with a 10:5 K:BB in 11.1 IP while allowing 12 H and 2 HR. He's a likely candidate to return if the Rockies suffer injuries to their right-handed relievers.

The main reason I have delayed commenting upon the Rockies' transactions is that I wanted to take time to look at the demotion of Ben Petrick. Colorado demoted Petrick in early May and promoted Bobby Estalella.

Petrick broke camp playing second fiddle to Gary Bennett behind the plate and was only given 43 at-bats before his demotion. When he was sent down, he was only hitting .163 with a .213 OBP and .233 SLG on 7 H, 1 2B and 1 3B with a 2:18 BB:K. If they didn't intend to seriously commit to using him in the majors, Colorado should have simply sent him to AAA to start the season. They've made poor choices with his development for the last few years.

The Rockies now appear to have abandoned thoughts of using Petrick as a regular catcher as he's playing the outfield in AAA Colorado Springs in the Pacific Coast League. Whether he just finds the competition easier or can relax without the stress of working on his defense behind the plate, he's hitting well at AAA. Right now he's posting a .311 BA, .415 OBP, and a .659 SLG in 132 AB on 41 H, 7 2B, 3 3B, and 11 HR with a 24:41 BB:K and a 6/8 SB%.

If his plate discipline improves, I'd be more comfortable with believing that he could bring the skills up to the majors when promoted. However his number definitely inspire some hope that the Rockies will still get some use out of their now 25-year-old second round pick from the 1995 draft, although I would have been intrigued if they'd tried to move him to third base.

Estalella took over as the starting catcher upon his promotion but has recently been playing less due to a sore shoulder. In 93 AB he's hitting .226 with a .318 OBP, and .538 SLG in 93 AB on 21 H, 8 2B, and 7 HR with a 13:26 BB:K. In a back-up role, Bennett has 31 H, 1 2B, and 2 HR with an 8:25 BB:K in 123 AB for a .252 BA, .313 OBP, and .309 SLG.

The Rockies had a good May but have struggled in June and are now carefully evaluating a number of players. They acknowledge that they are in a rebuilding phase and need to focus on the future but also want players who are producing now. Juan Pierre has been in a slump this season, though he appears to be coming out of it. The Rockies aren't overly concerned with his performance. They view it as a natural low that he will move past and see him as a vital part of their future. Colorado also retains faith in Juan Uribe and feels he's just experiencing some growing pains in his second year in the majors after a quick rise through the minors.

Their second base situation is more complicated. Jose Ortiz possesses both more power and more speed than Brent Butler. However while he hasn't utilized it recently, Butler has the definite advantage of superior plate discipline. Butler is also almost a year and a half younger than Ortiz. I'd have no problems with the Rockies sticking with Butler but I recommend that they at least return Ortiz to a starting position first so that they can hopefully raise his perceived value before a trade.