Rockies remove Redman from rotation

5/7/2008 8:46 PM

By ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) -The Colorado Rockies removed left-hander Mark Redman from their rotation, opening up a spot that is expected to be filled by right-hander Greg Reynolds, the second player selected in the 2006 amateur draft.

Redman lost his starting job after allowing 19 earned runs in 13 2-3 innings of his last three starts, including five runs in 2 2-3 innings in a 6-5 loss to St. Louis on Tuesday night.

``You have take it for what it is and help the team and help yourself,'' Redman said. ``You can't take it personally, you take it as a little kick in the rear to get going. Take it as positive as possible and go from there and get back on track and see where it takes you from there.''

With an ERA hovering around 8.00, the 34-year-old Redman might soon lose his job altogether.

Manager Clint Hurdle said Wednesday that Redman would be sent to the bullpen when he's available, but the contract Redman signed at the end of spring training included a 45-day clause that allows the Rockies to pay him only $250,000 of his $1 million salary if they cut ties with him by Tuesday, the 45th day of the season.

``I can't worry about anything like that,'' Redman said. ``They signed me knowing I could be versatile. They told me they didn't know if they were going to have me as a starter or a reliever. I pitched for them out of the bullpen last year. I want to be a starter and that's something I need to pursue and push a little harder on.''

Redman is 2-3 with a 7.84 ERA in seven games, including six starts. In his last start, he gave up all five runs with two outs and gave up a rally-igniting double and an RBI single to Cardinals pitcher Brandon Looper.

``It is a demotion. But like I said, they're trying to search right now,'' Redman said. ``My last 14 runs I've given up with two outs. It's tough putting the team in a hole like that, you just can't do that. They're just trying to shuffle things around right now.''

Aside from Aaron Cook (5-1), the Rockies' rotation has been a mess this season, as has the bullpen. Bad pitching is the main reason for the defending NL champs' slide. The Rockies began the night tied with San Diego for the worst record in baseball.

Ace Jeff Francis took an 0-3 record to the mound Wednesday night against St. Louis. Ubaldo Jimenez is holding onto hit spot by his fingernails and Franklin Morales has already been sent to the minors. The troubles began in spring training when right-hander Jason Hirsh hurt his shoulder and Jimenez and Morales failed to rediscover the groove they were in during the Rockies' run to their first World Series.

The Rockies have been looking at possible trades to help them out, including reacquiring Josh Fogg from Cincinnati or Julian Tavarez from Boston, but they will apparently turn to the 22-year-old Reynolds instead.

Reynolds was removed after two innings of his start for Triple-A Colorado Springs on Wednesday and his teammates congratulated him on his impending call-up.

Reynolds, who starred at Stanford, went 1-2 with a 4.85 ERA n 33 1-3 innings for the Sky Sox.