DAILY SUMMARY
Left fielder Dante Bichette skipped fundamental drills on cutoffs and relays Monday because of right shoulder soreness. But he was able to do his running and take batting practice. The Rockies will have a morning workout again today, and an abbreviated session Wednesday before playing their first game of the exhibition season Thursday when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks at Hi Corbett Field.
NUMBERS GAME
17
Jamey Wright has 17 pickoffs - including eight last season - which is second in franchise history to Armando Reynoso (23), who pitched for the Rockies from 1993 to 1996. No other Rockies pitcher has more than five pickoffs.
ETC.
Pitcher Mike Saipe, who made two appearances for the Rockies last season but was taken off the big-league roster during the off-season, will join the Rockies in spring training today. Manager Jim Leyland has become concerned about a possible pitching shortage. He had only 24 pitchers in camp and three of them are limited. Kevin Ritz and Mike Kusiewicz, both coming off shoulder surgeries, are not throwing off a mound, and Mark Brownson, who had a bone spur removed from his right elbow, is being monitored closely. Saipe will join left-hander Mike Porzio as the only nonroster pitchers in camp . . . Leyland said he is impressed with right-handed pitcher Pedro Astacio. ``I really like what I've seen,'' Leyland said. ``He's a proud guy. I think he feels good. I've watched him. You can tell he knows how to go about his business.'' . . . Former Rockies farm director Dick Balderson is in Tucson, scouting spring training for the Atlanta Braves . . . Leyland has run into a couple of old friends in Tucson - Chicago White Sox general manager Ron Schueler, the pitching coach in Pittsburgh when Leyland got his first big-league managerial job with the Pirates, and White Sox scout Ed Brinkman, who was on the White Sox coaching staff with Leyland. The White Sox also train in Tucson.
SPRING SCENE
Joan Layton is the Betsy Ross of spring training, a seamstress performing a vital mission. And she's no stranger to the Rockies.
She and her late husband, Otis, who died in 1995, operated the press room at Hi Corbett Field the first three springs the Rockies trained here.
Layton repairs uniforms on a sewing machine at her dining room table. She has done a little work this spring for Rockies equipment manager Dan ``Chico'' McGinn and more for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Chicago White Sox, who also train in Tucson, haven't contacted Layton, which is just fine with her because she isn't looking for extra work. ``I'm afraid I might get too much,'' she said. ``That's not good, either. Then I can't go to the games.''
QUOTE, UNQUOTE
Outfielder Larry Walker on expectations for the team in 1999:
``Basically, it's the same scenario you always have. You want to win. We've talked about it (among ourselves). We're not talking about it with everybody. It's not our focus. Our focus is getting ready to do our job.''
TUCSON WEATHER
Monday's high: 85
Monday's low: 44
Today's forecast: Mostly sunny and continued warm. Highs in the mid-80s. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwesterly in the afternoon. Clear at night. Lows in the mid- to upper-40s.
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