Tsao pushes limits - 棒球

By Patrick Ridgell
The Daily Times-Call

DENVER — Chin-hui Tsao might reach 99 miles per hour with his fastball these
days, but he won’t be doing it on consecutive days any time soon.

That’s according to the preference of Colorado Rockies pitching coach Bob
Apodaca, who’s in no hurry to place any added burden upon the right shoulder
of the team’s closer.

Tsao opened the season on the disabled list due to rotator cuff tendonitis. He
saved the Rockies 5-4 defeat of San Francisco on Saturday in his first
opportunity of the season. He hit some high numbers on the radar gun while
doing so.

Apodaca said prior to Sunday’s series finale with the Giants that he doubted
Tsao would be available to pitch. Manager Clint Hurdle confirmed after the game
that was the case.

“I’m not eager for him to pitch (Sunday) at all,” Apodaca said.

Apodaca said Tsao needs to build to the point where he can pitch on consecutive
days, which he has not done since the shoulder flared late in spring training.
He’s not to that point yet.

Tsao is usually in the 93-to-95 range on his fastball, so Saturday’s velocity
caught a few by surprise.

“I don’t expect anybody to go out there and hit 99,” Apodaca said. “We’d
like to see those numbers in the strike zone.”

Said Hurdle: “(Tsao) seemed to be a little amped up. I’m sure he was looking
forward to making a good impression his first time with that opportunity and he
was letting it fly.”

Tsao said his shoulder feels pretty good and said he was excited to finally
appear in a save situation. He had little to say about his velocity, however.

“I don’t know,” Tsao said. “I don’t care about my speed. I just want to
keep winning.”

More pitching: Hurdle said Aaron Cook, who’s recovering from two surgeries
performed last year to relieve blood clots in his lungs, is progressing well.
Cook was scheduled to appear in his second live bullpen session Sunday. Hurdle
said his first one, held last week, went well.

The Rockies hope Cook will be ready in May.

Jose Acevedo threw four innings Saturday for Colorado Springs. Hurdle said
Acevedo had good command of all four of his pitches and was between 91 and 94
on the radar gun. He’ll start again in five days.

Jay Witasick, another recent acquisition, was scheduled to throw Sunday and
today for Colorado Springs so the Rockies can see how he responds to pitching
on consecutive days.

Ryan Speier threw the ninth for the Rockies, allowing a run. He was not
available Saturday due to the flu, Apodaca said.

Bobby Seay arrived Sunday with an inflamed left pectoral muscle. Hurdle said
it’s too soon to know if he’s headed to the disabled list.

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