DENVER -- The Rockies have moved lefty Jorge De La Rosa's next start from Friday against the Cubs to Thursday's at Coors Field with the Giants. Righty Christian Bergman, originally scheduled to start Thursday, will start Saturday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
The Rockies made the move to keep De La Rosa on regular rest.
Through two starts, De La Rosa has battled lower velocity and has a 12.46 ERA -- nothing like the pitching he has displayed while winning more games than any pitcher in Coors Field or Rockies history.
Pitching coach Steve Foster said he is aware of De La Rosa's pattern in recent seasons of an elevated ERA in April (before strong pitching, traditionally, in May), and acknowledged that he is keeping an eye on De La Rosa's velocity, although pitching on a cool night could have been a factor. But neither De La Rosa nor Foster nor anyone with the Rockies suspect there are physical problems.
"'De La' threw great in the spring, and we're going to try to get him back to that as soon as we can," Foster said. "You really don't want to put a lot of stock into [slow Aprils] as a coach, because you don't want a guy mentally thinking that. However, history shows us that some guys are just slow starters, and that's just the reality of it. It's not an excuse, though, and we don't look at it as an excuse."
Bergman's Wrigley introduction
Bergman, the Rockies' long man and spot-starter, struggled in his first outing, when he gave up four runs on four hits and a walk at Arizona on April 3. But he threw two scoreless innings against the Padres on Friday.
Bergman is excited about starting at Wrigley Field.
"I've never been there," Bergman said. "I missed it last year because I was rehabbing, and the year before because I was rehabbing. So it's exciting. Last time out, I pitched well. I don't put too much emphasis on how one outing went. I look forward to the next one."
Foster said the Rockies were considering using Bergman for an inning Tuesday night against the Giants to keep him sharp.
Righty Chad Bettis will start Friday and Tyler Chatwood will go Sunday against the Cubs.
Clueless whisper
Fans at Coors Field were shocked -- and some 1980s, old-school love song lovers delighted -- when Chatwood went to bat with George Michael/Wham!'s "Careless Whisper" blaring over the loudspeaker during a 7-2 loss to the Giants on Tuesday night. Problem is, unlike the Athletics' Josh Reddick, who began using the song proudly in 2014, Chatwood said he had no idea whose idea it was. Not only did he say he didn't request it, but he said he was barely familiar with the song. Apparently, he didn't become a fan of the jazzy saxophone intro, nor will he ponder whether guilty feet is a recognized condition that robs one of rhythm.
"I don't know what that was, but it wasn't good," Chatwood said, chuckling, and adding that he will not be using it in the future. "Isn't it like a WWE song or something? I want to say that's the only time I've ever heard it."