Weiss thinks confidence is Pomeranz's problem

DENVER -- Rockies manager Walt Weiss said the problem with left-hander Drew Pomeranz, who lasted 4 1/3 innings and didn't establish a true relationship with the strike zone in Monday night's 3-1 loss to the Marlins, is with the mind more than the arm.

"Ultimately, he's got to go out there with confidence," Weiss said. "Having some success will go a long way toward that. You have to throw quality strikes up here. You don't get away with it when you don't.

"That's been Drew's biggest struggle, throwing quality strikes. He's thrown some balls in the middle of the plate. You don't get away with that very often up here. It's a matter of confidence, going out there and having some success and building on that."

Pomeranz (0-4, 8.10) was 8-1 at Triple-A Colorado Springs before making his 2013 Rockies debut. He struggled for three starts, was sent to Double-A Tulsa for a start in which he experimented with a slider, then returned for Monday's game. Pomeranz's lack of confidence shows when he misses early to the batter, then throws a pitch high and over the middle to try to work back into the count. The Rockies want him to be aggressive low in the zone.

It's not clear what the Rockies' next move with him will be.

"You have to go out and perform," Weiss said. "You tend to have some patience with guys that have tremendous ability. That patience, most times, will end up paying off. We're seen it with [Juan] Nicasio a little bit this year. Hopefully see the same with Drew."